I've been flying kites for a little over 3 years now and just can't get away from them. I've been wanting to get a traction/ power kite for a while now and at since it's getting closer to summer I thougth I'd start looking for one.

I've been getting more confused, however, the more I look into it. I guess my only two criteria are my $350 budget (ready to fly) and my weight (160lbs). I want a kite that I can get pulled around with pretty good but also switch to some landboarding in the future but not having to buy a new kite.

I've been looking at the New Tech Kites Ballistic and the HQ Beamer III. I'm not sure what size to get since I don't have any experience with these types of kites. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! Thanks guys!

Beamers are perfect and stable. Good for starting out.
I recommend a 3m to start.
Good luck!

Your title says "third kite" , but this is your first kite ? :puzzled:

Haha! Just realized that could be confusing too! It's my third kite but my first traction/ powerfoil kite. I had a NTK Pyro and then last summer I bought a NTK Spirit Quad. So I have some experience under my belt.

Oh ... I see. So then yes it is your first real kite
I have about a dozen stunt kites that haven't been out of my carrying bag since I got into traction kites.

I think beamer is going to be your choice. I haven't heard too much about the ballistic. I was going to buy one of those as my first kite, because they look good, but the lack of reviews scared me away. Also they have been discontinued, new tech is coming out with a different model and its a depower. Atleast thats what I have heard from new tech.

Yeah, I haven't seen much praise about the Ballistic's either. Beamers are fairly inexpensive compared to other's of the same size so I'm thinking those are my first option. I don't know what size of kite you would need to do any tractions sports like landboarding. Would a 4.0 Beamer be enough or more than enough? From what I'm finding on the internet so far it's in the lower range of "just right".

My friend got a Ballistic and the handles ate through the leaders, the lines stretch like elastic, and it already had a way too much brake pressure. We put the brakes on the farthest up bridle knot and the power on the closest knot, and it still wouldn't fly, we needed to tie a knot in the leaders at the handle and even then it needed almost full power. Not a good first kite in my oppinion. He never would have gotten up if I wasn't there to help out with it.

My 2 cents

definatly the beamer over the ballistic i have flown both and the quality on the beamer surpasses the ballistic, better kite, better lines, better bag ,kite killers and comes with stake. 3- 4 meter range depends on wind, weight of flyer and experiance of the flyier, you have flown on quad lline with the spirit quad for your first flight start in lower winds and you will be ok

The Beamer III is going to be my first chioce. What would be a good size to get that I can still grow into a little but won't be overpowering for the first couple of flights? Hopefully I'll still be able to afford that size.

You may want to consider the Prism Stylus P.4 (based on your budget). It is really a great kite. See my review in the review section.

Dblcrona

For your price range you could probably find a nice Ozone Samurai 3m on Ebay. It is a little more expensive compared to the HQ beamer, but the quality difference is night and day. Don't get me wrong I started with a BeamerII 3.6m TSR and yes I loved it but since then I have purchased two Ozones and a Flexifoil both brands were a step above the HQ. I probably won't buy another HQ. But thats just my 2 cents, SFK out

i have a beamer and would agree that both flexifoil and ozone are great quality really night and day. i would look on ebay or maybe a member around here may have a kite in your range for sale. but if your in a hurry or are not sure their is nothing wrong with a beamer their great beginner kites and i beat my senseless all the time. i brought mine out in 25mph yesterday and had a blast so it will hold up. i would definitely go with a 3 though.

The Beamer TSR 3.6m was my first kite to buy and fly. I have had it a year now and has had some beating to it, however it has never torn. The only thing that has broken on it has been the safety leash, which HQ replaced for free. Since then I have broken it for a second time but the winds were quite strong and the safety leash did not kill the kite's power 100%. It's a solid kite though if you want to get into the sport for cheap, I bought mine for $280 from www.awindofchange.com. But I have to agree with sodfarmkiter that Ozone and Flexifoil are solid kites and you get what you pay for. Here is a video that I made to give you a reference of what a 3.6m kite will do in higher winds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCvIJwU3l9I


Jon