Just looking at getting into kite tractions sports and I think I'll need some help choosing a kite.

I'm looking at buying an MBS Comp 95X, but I'm pretty unsure about what kite I want. I've never done this before so I know I don't want anything too crazy, but there's not a lot of wind around. I'm looking for something that I can ideally fly in 5-10mph wind though ideally something that wouldn't kill me if things got up to 15-20mph.

Right now I was considering the Buster Soulfly 4.4m (which is now discontinued) because it seems to be the right size and rather cheap, but I really don't know enough to know whether or not this would be a good idea . Any suggestions or places to learn more would be very appreciated. Can't wait to start learning this!

Edit: Also, I'd love to know about some places to buy power kites in the US. So far it looks like most places that sell them are located overseas.

You can check with me as far as US based sales. Also, there are other fine retailers on this forum. For first kites, please consider a 2 or 3m kite. Especially if your winds will be getting in the 20 mph range. A peter Lynn Hornet, HQ Beamer, or even a SkyDog Powerfoil are good places to start. The Buster in a smaller size too. Its a lot of fun. Welcome to the forum by the way.

It'd be nice if a kite I get could handle 20mph winds, but it looks like most winds are around 5-10mph with gusting up to 15mph. If the first kite I buy can't handle winds above 20mph then I'm fine just not taking it out those days since they seem pretty rare. Now, if there are 3m kites that still have some power below 10mph I'd be interested, but I'm under the impression that I'll want something closer to 4m if my wind is this mild.

Mike: Sent you an email.

Mike has given you some sound advice.. Wind ranges for fixed Bridle kites are fairly narrow. You low wind kite will not be your moderate or high wind kite.. Start with the 3M, you'll have a much safer learning environment & you'll have a kite to use in progressively higher wind as your skills grow,, I agree with Mike on the HQ Beamer, PL Hornet and the Skydog Powerfoil.. I flew one of the SkyDog Powerfoils today for the first time and was impressed..

You will notice that we all list multiple kites in our quiver. That is because no single kite will do it all. You are best off going into this sport accepting that you will have to build your quiver as you develop your pilot skills.

Don't be so sure that you won't find a 3m kite powerful. It will be more than enough power to ride in your higher winds. It will serve as a high wind kite once you master it but will be the ideal size for gaining kite control. It is ALL about kite control and time spent on the ropes. Start too big and you end up defending yourself from the kite + taking it out in too strong of winds potentially hurting yourself and getting turned off of the sport. A 3m flies early and allows you to fly into higher winds. Increasing your fly time and progression.

I realize I'll likely get more kites in the future if I find I really like this, right now I"m just worried about getting something and not having enough wind to really use it. I'm seeing days where the wind is predicted to get up to 7mph or less. I certainly don't want to get myself hurt though, so if you're all claiming a 3m Beamer will work for me then I think that's what I'll go with.

Most any power kite will fly in 3mph of wind, but the wind range is mostly to show you how much you need for them to provide traction for a board, buggy, water.

If the wind is around 5mph am I going to get enough pull to at least roll around on a mountain board?
All the same, it looks like I'm going with a 3m Beamer as it seems the consensus is I shouldn't start with a 4m kite.

Quote: Originally posted by rofer

I'm looking for something that I can ideally fly in 5-10mph wind though ideally something that wouldn't kill me if things got up to 15-20mph.

Rule #1. Let go of the handles if it goes south!!!

Only experience will teach you what is good wind, and what is bad. The 3m is a great starting foil as all the others have suggested.

Static and traction flying are two different animals. Take a 3m fixed bridal. For static flying you want to enjoy just flying it around and not be out of control. For traction however, you want the extra power to gain motion on a board/buggy. What would be a little too much wind to handle simply static flying, fits just right while in motion. You would need to start getting the 3m into the teens for some big smiles on the board. Don't expect much out of a 3m on a board with 5-10 winds (IMHO).

Get that 3m and fly the heck out of it static. Fly it with your eyes closed almost. Learn the wind window, and the limits of you and your kite before traction. There are a lot of kite peeps not too far from you. A meet-up would be invaluable to look at all the types of kites and gear. Maybe even try to make it out to Wildwood Buggy Bash this fall in NJ.

Again, All in my humble opinion.
And welcome!!

First of all, FORGET ABOUT "enough power," and get a helmet. Ok... Carrying on...

Ok,... I'm surprised no one has said this yet, but put out of your mind the idea of the board for a bit... The board won't do you ANY good until you learn to fly the kite. THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING YOU CAN DO is get a 2-3- or 4 meter kite and learn to fly static (in other words, WITHOUT THE BOARD)... We usually recommend a 3m kite for a newby because it is the most versatile size for a NEWB... Flying this kite in any wind conditions teaches you kite control, your most valuable skill. You can't do anything of any worth with a buggy or board if you don't know what to do with the kite... Once you can fly the kite blindfolded or without looking at it (meaning you've developed kiting reflexes and valuable muscle memory) start to add the new variable of the board (or movement).

As I said, most start with a 3m, but if your wind is typically lower or you are a bigger dude, then a 4m can be a good start. But DO NOT try to start with a BIG kite... You want to learn to CONTROL the kite not SURVIVE the kite. When you start small you teach yourself very valuable lessons about how to manage and fly the kite, and put the kite EXACTLY where you want it, thus getting it to do exactly what you want it to do. When you start to big, you only learn how to react to what the kite is doing.

All that being said, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the power of these kites or the possibility of SERIOUS injury.

Oh yea... Buy a helmet.

3m kite and a helmet....buy the board in sept

Try and accept the fact that you will need 1 size of kite for learning kites skills and setting memory reflexes and a much larger kite to get moving in 5mph winds. You need to learn how to control the kite and milk all the power out of it BEFORE you combine it with a board. If you start with a 3m it will speed up your learning curve and serve as your high wind kite once you progress. If you start with a 4m progression will be slower and you won't have anything to fly in the 15 - 20mph wind you describe down the road.

Once you have gotten your skills down look for something around 6 - 7m to get you going in the lower winds. It is much easier to learn the board skills with a large kite moderately powered than a small ( 4m ) kite that you have to work to gain power and keep moving.

Don't feel bad. We all wanted it all at once when we started but experience will show you that this game is all about progression. Probably why the best lesson videos are actually titled " progression ". That ends up being the beauty of this sport, you continually progress. :D

Well .... at least until you get old. Then you just rely on the skills you gained while you could handle the bumps and bruises.

yep... like I said... set the board dreams aside and learn to fly first... thanks for the back up gang.

oh yea... buy a helmet

did I mention to buy a helmet?

You've definitely convinced me to go for a 3.0m to start. I'll probably end up getting something in the 5.0+m range later when I get this figured out, but I guess I'll be learning with a 3.0m one.

However, I don't think anyone'll have any luck convincing me not to get a board right away. I get the importance of learning each separately before I try the two together, but even alone the board looks like a lot of fun. I'll probably buy the two, head out to a nice grassy hill and alternate between them. You don't have t worry about padding either, I also inline skate and mountain unicycle and I owe my current condition to all of the padding I have.

Question about putting the two together though, if I focus pretty intently on learning to fly the kite static would it be unreasonable to try it with the board after 4-5 days? As an undergrad this August I'm pretty much completely free up until late August where every non-academic part of my life is put into slow motion. I was hoping to get up on a board with my kite before that, but if that's really not a good idea I can probably put that off until Winter break when my life resumes again.

If you are not up and riding by the end of August, do all you can to make the fall Wildwood event. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=28428#top
Sounds like you have some experience with extreme sports, use your good judgement and you should stay safe(enough). Realize that riding gravity will be somewhat different than riding under kite power, but nothing you won't get used to. Welcome to the addiction, and get a p-t job(at least) 'cause your wallet is gonna need it!

I've been on a skateboard like 40 yrs...I just don't see going downhill on a atb working out the way everyone imagines...which is half the reason I can pick off used boards on Craig's list like its my job..they are perfect for kiting though...best thing you can do is get your kite skills.. I'm talking way more than you think..than pad up and step on a skateboard for your first motion.. Those straps on the ATB aren't very forgiving ...3m kite good move..Welcome, be a pilot 1st

Welcome to the sport Rofer. To give you a good idea of what small kites can do,and why you want one , here is one of my vids. I went 2 miles in the length of this video. https://vimeo.com/80200976

Yes you can combine the board and a 3m kite after mastering the kite. People who pick it up fast only need 10 or so hours to be flying blind. Plan on picking up the 5mish kite soon if your winds are truly typically that low. You can buy used to save money. You can sell a 3m kite pretty quick since most folks choose the keep theirs. Buying and selling used cuts your losses.

The trick is that to get enough power to ride / stay upwind you will need really strong winds and they are dangerous winds to learn in. When you start on the board and 3m in moderate wind accept that you will only be able to run down wind and enjoy the ride.

Even when you think you've got the kite thing figured out, you will forget 80% of what you know when the wheels start rolling. I remember that first time in a buggy (no balance issues to worry about) and how I was horrified that I was rolling towards the surf at walking speed. It's one thing to get rolling and totally another when you find yourself rolling along at 10-15 mph. When you start rolling, you need to be able to anticipate what the kite is going to do 6-10 seconds before it does it. Put 2 experienced pilots behind someone learning and they will both simultaneously bark advice for something that hasn't happened yet. I've seen it countless times.

Good decision on the 3m Beamer and a helmet. The 5m kite will be a perfect next step and it will also be an incredible eye opener and make you realize what a bad mistake it would've been to buy it first.

Buy one, buy it now, have fun. Also, don't discount the fun you will have with it without a board. I had 3 kites before I had any wheels and had a blast. Some are kite fliers first (which is me) and some buy strictly to get into movement. I love both, but my main source of enjoyment is flying a powerful kite no matter what I'm doing with it.

I just wish I had better winds where I am. Looking at wind finder it seems I'm lucky if the winds average above 7mph for any month. Still though, if I can learn flying static I should have some fun. Now I just have to place some orders and obsessively check the tracking links at work.

Another challenge will be finding a good spot for clean wind. Wind flows like water. Trees and houses etc. will mess up your wind for 7 - 10 times their height down wind so not just any park will work.

Trying to fly in dirty wind can be super frustrating even once you know the ropes.

I see a Beamer 3.6m for sale on here for what looks like quite a good price. Is that going to be too much to start with? I've seen people here previously recommend it for a beginner.

Beamer is a pretty tame kite. 3.6 won't be too bad. You will likely find it's a bit big for your high winds ? Particularly at 1st.

The 3m will serve you better as a high wind kite down the road. If the 3.6 fits your budget better and leaves you room to purchase a larger kite sooner it maybe a good reason to go for it ? It still won't be big enough to stay upwind in the 7mph wind you describe.

Ended up going with the 3.0m. Figured getting the much newer kite would probably be worth it, plus having the greater wind range could come in handy. Now I just have to impatiently wait for it to get here.

Good choice. You'll like that kite. Say good bye to any extra money you'll ever have now. Lol
The kite addiction begins..

I think I have a hobby addiction which is likely worse. I keep picking up all of these really cool hobbies which all require me to buy some kind of neat gear.
The problem with this one is there are all sorts of cool things I could get into. By this time next year I might have a (water)board and a snowboard to go with the new kites I'll of course pick up. Well, at least I've got some money coming in.

someone w/ money coming in is not what we are used to around here...i thought you had to be broke to be a kiter

Heh, I didn't say I had enough money, just better than a lot of undergrads.

LOL. Yeah. Become a kiter, and you will be broke.