Hey guys, I got hooked on kiting via my Prism Quantum. The first few times I was flying in low winds, however, I finally got a good windy day and i realized what i loved most besides having such great control was the PULL a 6ft stunt kite gives you. I love leaning back into the wind...

That being said: I need some experienced advice to hlp me on my next purchase...

Here's what I'd like. (I'm 5'10, 230lbs) and I'd like to lose some weight and have some fun in the process.

Long story longer, with very little research I settled on Prism's Snapshot 2.5. Reasons being this. I love the quantum, good experience with their products so far. Also, I want something big enough to have fun and small enough to not kill myself on the relativly small area i kite in. Also the Snapshot has a 2 or 4 line set up, so if i want to use it as a trainer for a larger model I can. Price was also a factor, $150 seems pretty reasonable.

Are the lower quality foils so bad? Do i need something larger to get a workout? I don't need to do jumps with the foil. I just want it to pull hard...

Thanks, in advance, for your feedback... Much appreciated.

you obviously have a kite problem....you are gonna need more......lots more and if you want to hang out w/ us break out the wallet and tell me what’s really in there

Yeah. I don't really know how to respond to that. Was that a question or advice? Because it seemed like neither.

To answer your question(?), $300-450 is the most i'd consider paying. I dont have constant wind or wide open spaces around here so, unfortunately, it's going to be rare for me to get a really good day... Unless a hurricane's coming *wicked grin*


So... I know i need more kite. How much more? Dual or quad? Cheap or expensive? Buy it second-hand or online?

You all have the knowledge! Impart it upon me, a poor miserable noob...

sorry,, got a bad sense of humor or so im told...we all may have different opinions..i think if you really like getting pulled around you should get a 3m 4 line kite...what you picked out is fine and a good next step but i think 3m/4line will serve you longer...it is the kite i am always comfy with and is used most often..im <160#'s ..its plenty of kite but not too much for phase2.....have lots of fun and welcome aboard..ohh yea, never tell anyone how much is in the wallet:D

Ozone, HQ, Peter Lynn, PKD, and I am probably forgetting one or two other top brands with good prices and amazing quality. That is where you start looking first. Also, I suggest about 3 meters to begin. Take it slow and get lots of practice. You will be wanting to move up to larger sizes after a while.

So what's a solid/well built 3m kite? Do you need a harness for a smaller/medium sized kite like that?

Anyone else have advice, feel free to lay it on me...

Forgot to say: thanks demoknight, thanks abkayak...

Also: Best place to buy?

You don't NEED a hardness for any fixed bridle kite. A Harness will help you fly longer without wearing out your arms. A good beginner kite is a 3.0m Beamer. I don't think anyone here would argue that, but they might have other recommendations as well.

no..learn to fly it real good first than we get harnesed when the flying thing is down pat... all those 3m foils are fine take your pick go used and buy 2...thats how i roll

I've owned Snapshot 2.5 and it's a fun kite to fly in both 2 & 4 line mode. If you already had one, I'd say fly it in 4 line mode for a while and research a 3-4M. You will be wanting more very soon and the step to a 3M kite (HQ Beamer, HQ Toxic, Ozone Imp Quattro, , etc.) might cost you less in the long run. Also keep in mind that a Snapshot 2.5 is a vastly different kite than a Rage or Bullet 2.5. A 3M kite is going to be a real handful until you learn some of the control basics.

Find someone in your area that already has a larger kite and spend time with them instead of money if possible. It gives you a better insight into what works for you.

Thanks riffclown. I liked your symphony 2.2 4-line conversion. Looks like a great kite.

I appreciate the feedback. More please. You must know how this is. You can read all you want and watch all of the videos you can find online, but it won't help near as much as a few well -informed opinions.

Best place to buy a used kite? This forum? (a 3.0 Ozone Flow just sold that would have been perfect for me)

Also, what i'm taking away from the new information so far is that 3m+ quad line kites are hard to fly and i might need experience with a smaller kite... Any other thoughts on this.

Thanks for the responses...

Let us know what area you are in. It's always good to meet fellow kiters and try new kites. I flew with 3shot one day and ended up buying 2 Flexifoil Bullets.

I was in your shoes not long ago and I bought the snapshot 2.5. Loved it but immediately wanted to to make it 4 line so I only had it a month before I bought handles and lines. Flew it for another month then bought a 4 meter twister. I've flown that for a month and have wanted another kite ever since I purchased it. Don't get me wrong, I love the twister. My point is that once your hooked your basically are always wanting another kite. With that said, If I had to do it all over again, I would have bought a 4 line 3 meter on handles to start with and a 5 meter kite as my second kite. You don't want a harness if you want a workout.

As for the kite brand / type. My boss just bought a 4 meter hornet from Big Mike's as his first kite. We took it out in relatively light wind and he learned to fly it the first day. I flew it as well and it is a great flying kite and very well made.

I live an hour and a half north of Tampa Florida in Citrus County. In between the Crystal River/Inverness area. So don't get me wrong, i've got places i can go. But i have to travel.

Anyone on the west coast of Florida? Hell... East coast? I could make a trip over...

Again, thanks for sharing any info you might think i'd need (or stuff you wish you'd known) starting out.

Hello Ferrous, welcome to the forum and the fun! A 3m kite is not going to be hard to fly. It is the most recommended "beginner" size kite. Like the others have said, HQ, PL, PKD, Ozone, all have great beginner size kites, it's picking the right version of kite. Yes you can buy used, but be careful not to get something like a Pansh Ace, PL Vapor, Ozone yakuza, these kites are at the upper end of performance and will be more difficult to fly.

Feel free to give me a shout on the phone, my number is in my sig.

I live an hour and a half north of Tampa Florida in Citrus County. In between the Crystal River/Inverness area. So don't get me wrong, i've got places i can go. But i have to travel.

Anyone on the west coast of Florida? Hell... East coast? I could make a trip over...

Again, thanks for sharing any info you might think i'd need (or stuff you wish you'd known) starting out.

you should get a couple of cases of Jai Alai and bring them to Wildwood,NJ for the bash......that would be great..you can fly all my stuff and i'll drink..get a 3m/4line..do it today-tomorrow the latest..be impulsive..i would buy any 3m that i dont already own..havn't met one i didn't like yet..been thru 5 already..jusayin

Love to man. But i am tied to florida right now helping my mom through cancer and taking care of my little sister... No sympathy for my buzz-kill skills please...

Jai-Alai beer good? Must be one of the few FL beers i haven't drank too much of...

Here's another question that may or may not be stupid:

What's the largest kite you would fly, on land, on your feet, safely?

Also (sorry for all the questions) Does anyone have experience with the Prism Tensor Series? I was thinking 3.1...


I AM GOING ALL IN, TAKING ABKAYAS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-S ADVICE AND BEING IMPULSIVE!!! IN 48 HOURS OR LESS I WILL PURCHASE MY FIRST POWER KITE!!! SUBMISSIONS AND ADVICE GREATLY ENCOURAGED!!!!!

my last post for today...i like you..Mom/Sis 1st and than we kite..thats how to roll...dont worry abt the big kites they will come w/ time but 24m biggest i've seen...and yea Jai Alai is the bomb..no experiance w/ Tensor but i'd buy one no second thought.....i've seen plenty in other peoples hands..may you have a larger area to fly and the wind gods smile upon you...this wkend it's my turn

Quote: Originally posted by Ferrous_Hominid

Also (sorry for all the questions) Does anyone have experience with the Prism Tensor Series? I was thinking 3.1... I AM GOING ALL IN, TAKING ABKAYAS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-S ADVICE AND BEING IMPULSIVE!!! IN 48 HOURS OR LESS I WILL PURCHASE MY FIRST POWER KITE!!! SUBMISSIONS AND ADVICE GREATLY ENCOURAGED!!!!!

I have a Tensor 5m and I love it. It is a super stable kite. Very easy to fly. It is relatively responsive to just pulling the power lines, and also likes to be whipped around by the brakes a little. The largest kite you would fly on your feet depends on how much fun you have being dragged. I frequently static(on foot) fly my 8.0m HQ Toxic just because it is a real monster to zoom around. I love me some barefoot sand-skiing

Demoknight - Thanks for the response.

So I'm looking for a 2 line that can convert to a quad.

3m to 6m.

Peter Lynn, PKL, HQ , Ozone or Prism...

I've never seen anyone using a helmet while static flying but I'm sure i could figure out a way to smack my melon...

Any other accesories you *need* to have for this type of Kiting? Stuff I can factor into the final price...

Thanks again for the info. I'll post my decision in 2 days. Then pictures when i get it up in the air!

I would totally skip two line kites if I were you. Four line is the way to go. A four line kite can usually be flown almost identically to a two line kite. That is, just by push/pull turns. Then, when you get some practice, you can slowly start incorporating some brake pressure in your turns for tighter turns. You would be surprised how fast I can whip my 8m kite around. Plus, while learning, it is invaluable to be able to relaunch from the nose down position.

Peter Lynn's kites look pretty cool. The Hornet looks good. Thanks ssayre.

I don't really have any kind of reference point for comparing kites though... I'm kind of relying on your recommendations.

I like Tensors, but they are probably the most expensive beginner kite you can get. They are excellent kites, but I wouldn't say that they are any better than a Beamer. Take a look at the HQ Toxic line. I love mine.

HQ Beamer looks pretty good too. Any suggestions?

I was told in this forum.that as soon as I got used to a 3m i'd want a 5m. Why would you want both? I'm assuming they do different things for you...

I think i want one. Honestly i can't afford 2. So my question is this:


I know this question might seem too dark and evil for enthusiasts such as yourself but here it goes:

If you could only own ONE power kite. Which one would you own? What's the best/most versatile kite you've ever flown?

It's probably not a good question since i dont have any experience, but go ahead and humor me if you don't mind...

One more thing for tonight and then i'm done!

Best online store for buying a kite?

That is a trick question. You cannot own only one power kite. You want different sizes for different wind speeds. The higher the wind speed, the smaller the kite. The lighter the wind, the larger the kite. It takes 15-20 mph of wind to make my 5m kite pull like my 8m kite does in 10mph.

Thanks demoknight.

That's why i thought getting a 5m or 6m might be better for me. Locally i'm lucky to get high winds, they just dont happen that often. So i figured if i could lauch it in lower winds i would use it more often...