I'm building a list of kites that I hope to make available for this forum. I would like to include a list of kites that anybody can think of that
would be good for ultra low winds. Something that can pull a board or buggy in 3-4 MPH winds. I've come up with the following:
3-4 mph you would need a 15m nasa. That's almost not enough wind for any kite IMO.
The problem with the wind in my area when it is in that range is that it is accompanied with lulls of no wind. I've read that most of the single skin
type kites handle low wind the best such as Peak or NPW.
As for speeds, you would need a 19 or 21m deluxe for sub 3mph anything but static flying. A phantom wouldn't pull anything in that either. 16m vapor
would probably do fine in that.
NAPKA US8008
Kites:
Ozone R1 V3 7m
Flysurfer Sonic v3 15m
Flysurfer Speed 3 Deluxe 19m
Peter Lynn Charger 2 12m
Ozone Access Reride 6m
Peter Lynn 2013 Reactor 5.5m
Peter Lynn 2013 Reactor 8.6m
Prism Tensor 5.0m
I must admit that having flown my 18m phantom more hours than any other kite I have flown, it will not pull me on a board or buggy at 4mph, especially
inland. It takes at least 8mph and that is still working the kite to get going in the buggy. I can static fly it in 5mph winds if I use something to
inflate it.
I have however buggies in 5mph winds with a 10.8 ReactorII.
Also did well with the Ranger 12m in lighter winds.
I am thinking. FB high aspect kites over 10m and de power kites like the speed 3's 19m will get you going in pretty light winds, some others as well,
open cell depower kites 12m or higher should do good as well like the Montana 14m. Even the PL phantom 24 m takes some decent wind to stay in the
air, that's a lot of material for a closed cell kite.
I've buggied with an 18m Phantom II in 5 mph winds, riding with Angus at Jekyll Island. Once moving it was on. Individual kites might have enough
variance that it makes a difference in that lowest of wind ranges.
10.8 Reactor II can go down to about 3 mph but not below. Vapors in 11 and 13m sizes are maybe better in all but the least of winds because they
aren't as difficult to turn.
HQ Matrix 15m is a low wind warrior, but I can't say how low. There were days on Ivanpah that it was one of the only kites flying at a 2013
gathering.
Coastal Wind Sports Team Rider Landsegler Disc wheels
PTW Hero Buggy - XXtreme ApeXX Buggy US 88 - Libre Hardcore IvanpahBuggyExpo.com Youtube link
Bob Muse
HQ Montana X 8m, Montana IX 12m, HQ Ignition LEI 5m,
PL Phantom 12m, 15m, Big Blu 24m+, Synergy 10m, Venom 10m, 13m , Phantom II 12m Vapors 3.8, 5.4, Crosskite Sonic 7m, PKD Combat 10.3m
Uturn Butane 2.5m PKD Buster 3m Genetrix Hydra 7m Ozone Yakuza GT 14m
I agree with FB high aspect race kite for the most efficientcy. Something in a 14m or bigger and on 35m lines. I would however caution, for smooth
winds only. When you are set up to make maximum use of what wind is there, it won't take much of a gust to get ya in trouble.
Libre hardcore (bf\'s and standards) KBSS suspension front end
Pegasus buggy
We live in ultra low wind country and while I am impressed with my 18m Phantom I had to fly my 10.8 Reactor and now 19m Speed in what we call ultra
low wind. 18m Phantom wouldn't be on my ultra low list. LOW wind, yes.
16m Century, 14m Yakuza, 16m JoJo for old school .
19m Spleene. 12m Chrono. Whatever the biggest Quantum is.
If you use double length linesets, any higher aspect FBs (8-10m) should have a big enough window to make some energy. My 10m Century II in 6.6
paraglider nylon can do it @ 3-4 mph.
Being fairly close to his area, I think his main obstacle in those winds will be having a steady light wind. If the base wind is in the 3-4 range
than it will most likely be accompanied by lulls of 0 and gusts 5mph over base wind.
PKD Brooza\'s 2, 3, 4 and 5.5 meter
Libre Bora\'s 6 and 7 meter
Libre stainless full race with standard and big foot light wheels
Nasa wings: npw5 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.7, 2.4, 3.1, 3.9, 4.8, 5.8, 6.9 meters
npw9 3.4, 5.3, 6.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 15.0 meters
Quadrifoil xm for sale
Here is me flying a 10m PKD Combat in no wind ,in a fog bank at the beach. They are able to do this due to "apparent wind" ,that is created by being
in motion.
Thanks for your input guys. @sunset-Jim - good call on watching out for gusts. @ssayre - this list isn't just for me and my area. I'm trying to
compile a list for everyone - but thanks for looking out for me . I've updated my
original list to reflect the input you guys gave. I'll try to continue to update as new posts come in and if I missed any, please feel free to shout
out! Now, anybody want to try to take a guess on the top three best choices on the list?
If my wind is blowing 3-4mph, it is more likely going to lull more than blow. But I can do pretty well with anything under 10mph with my 8.6m Reactor
II. When it starts to get below 5-6mph it gets really hard to buggy and I'm more likely just to static fly.
2016 Nobile Zen Hydrofoil with Infinity 5.1' splitboard
2019 Nobile 2HD with Ronix One boots
2020 Nobile NHP split foil with Ronix Parks boots
MG Supra ......... pulling KiteTrike
I've seen Mik333 run rings around me with a Century II 10m in just a few knots when I couldn't get a 9m Riot into the air. So I know that's an
excellent low wind kite (and it wasn't the lightweight version). I've also seen a 13m Vapor park and ride in 3.5 knots. Mind you, the guys flying
these kites are darn good pilots and I doubt I could have done the same with their kites. Don't discount the pilot skill needed for really light wind
flying.
John's got a good point. You have to know how to get the most out of the kite.
My 2 cents...
Closest thing to a light wind Arc, Phantom 2 24m (once you get it moving and making apparent) and 24m Synergy (More grunt than the Phantom, not as
fast but close enough in light winds.) F-arc 1600. (You have to be on your game and God help you on the off chance you lay it down and have to
relaunch but performs in light winds as well as a Speed 3 and goes upwind better)
Big Blu, the Arc Proto 24m+, is a great low wind rig. Park and ride to the max. But as mentioned (all this big arcs) it takes a lot to get them
fully inflated. Mechanical inflation is the only reasonable method. Otherwise in light wind, inflation is an all day project.
The 15m Matrixx, very close in performance to the 19m Psycho 5 DLX. Which we were surprised by given the smaller size and standard material.
9m Flysurfer Peak. Piloting gets a lot out of this kite in low winds as do line extensions and a 3" pigtail. We put it head to head with a number of
kites in light winds and it performs amazingly well. In a world where the lighter the winds, the higher the cost to ride, it's a welcome departure.
Haven't flown the Chrono yet. Hard to find impartial reports but there have been a few and almost all very positive. We're looking forward to
getting a demo in here and doing some side by side comparisons.
Fixed bridals offer the most grunt for the size and probably a near unlimited list of FB for light winds. Where I live FB just aren't practical
because the winds are always up and down and it's easy to go from just right to OP'd in a blink. Which isn't much fun IMO. But there are some days
where it would be nice to have some of that raw power. :D
Chris Krug-Owner @ Hardwater Kiting. Authorized Dealer of Ozone, Flysurfer, HQ kites. www.hardwaterkiter.com 603-986-2784
It's interesting you mention a low wind kite. For many folks likt myself, proletiat, soliver, ssayre, and others, we don't have low steady winds.
Rather, as soliver noted, it's 0-10 mph winds, with 5 being the average :-) I'm curious what the best kite is for these conditions, as you also cannot
assume you have the room to work the kite forever to build apparent wind, or have a low rolling resistance (think grass, not packed dirt or sand).
Yep, asking for the impossible, but it can't hurt to ask :-)
Currently enjoying a Charger 2 quiver
6.5, 8M, 10M, 12M <3
PL XR+ Buggy
It's interesting you mention a low wind kite. For many folks likt myself, proletiat, soliver, ssayre, and others, we don't have low steady winds.
Rather, as soliver noted, it's 0-10 mph winds, with 5 being the average :-) I'm curious what the best kite is for these conditions, as you also cannot
assume you have the room to work the kite forever to build apparent wind, or have a low rolling resistance (think grass, not packed dirt or sand).
Yep, asking for the impossible, but it can't hurt to ask :-)
Exactly the reason I like the 8.6m RII in my conditions. It's big enough where it will function in lighter wind, but small enough to sling around when
it lulls... It can be irritating as H377 trying to fly in light wind around Atlanta, but in reality, it's more often light wind than high wind. I
consciously don't even consider going out if the forecast is below 8mph, because usually if the forecast calls for 10mph it is actually 7mph when I
show up. With the 8mph forecast it's usually 5-6mph gusting to 10 occasionally. Not to mention that neither of my favorite spots are more than the
equivalent of 2 football fields... Let's just say I'm good at turning.... I can't even imagine trying to get a 13 or 16m to turn over in my local
spots.
ALL things considered, I think there's something to be said for the "smaller-big" sizes that allow you functionality along with maneuverability,...
These elements are key for those of us soccer-field style riders.
![[*]](images/perspective/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
. I've updated my
original list to reflect the input you guys gave. I'll try to continue to update as new posts come in and if I missed any, please feel free to shout
out! Now, anybody want to try to take a guess on the top three best choices on the list?
