Flexifoil Proteam 8

First Impressions:
Good quality bag but could do with a carrying strap as it's an awkward shape. Bag is mesh vented to allow moisture to escape. Small pocket inside the bag to store your lines but the padded handles have to be slid down the bag as they're too big!

Once you have the kite out you notice the excellent build quality, as you would expect from Flexifoil. Gauze covered vets add some small amount of stiffness to the leading edge but are mainly there to prevent debris getting into the kite.

Handles are very chunky and well made.

Full instructions are included, as is a safety leaflet, manufacturers guarantee and a sticker. As with most Felxifoil gear, there is a 30 day repair voucher included in the price - an excellent idea!

Setup :
Very easy indeed. Construct the leading edge spar and slide it into the kite. Lines go through a metal loop attached to the kite and then slip over the ends of the spar with a larks head knot. Job done. A quick check to make sure the lines are the same length and you're ready to fly.

Launching :
Initially, I found it difficult to launch in low wind without the help of another, but a little practice should sort this out. Once you get the technique down the launch is usually fast and the kite hits the zenith quickly with little or no over-fly.

Flying :
Extrememly workable and quick through the air. The leading edge spar means it won't fold if the wind leaves you in the lurch but it obvioulsy adds some weigth to the kite so you'll need more wind than an equivalent sparless kite...but not much! My first outing with the Proteam was off the Durban coast in South Africa and with a pretty hefty wind I was feeling the pull but never felt in danger of being involuntarily dragged.

Not had the opportunity to stack these kites but obvioulsy the more kite area, the more pull you can get. Stacking also looks very cool but remember to have the largest kite at the top and work down!

Landing :
Well, it's a 2 liner so it's not just a case of backing it down the wind window. Moving the kite right over to the edge of the wind window allows you to, with some practice, land relatively smoothly.

Overall :
A great first kite. Superb build quality (I've dropped this pretty heavily into the ground several times when I was learning with no damage at all), excellent flight behaviour and will never get sold as it's great for days when it's just too windy for the rest of your quivver. Reltive to the rest of the market, they're not the cheapest around but they are a classic in the kite world, very adaptable and will take a proper hammering from a beginner and still come back for more.

By : Jangla