Pansh Ace 7M

Being pretty much a beginner and only having 1 kite (a Rage 3.5) I thought that a second kite added to my "bag" would help cover more wind conditions. I bought the Rage with a view to buggy with it, but unless you're out in a gale it wasn't really up to the job. I'm a big bloke: 6'4" and 14.5 stones in weight.

Having heard about Pansh, and needing a second kite I perused their web site. With Pansh being a pretty much unknown quantity I really wasn't too sure what to get or even what I'd be getting but I'd read the other Pansh reviews in this forum which was reassuring at least.

The descriptions of the various models on their site are pretty vague to say the least, but ultimately I plumped for the 7 metre Ace.

The total cost including PayPal's "service charge" was £69.83. Definately worth a punt I thought. Even if it wasn't that good, at least it would give me some experience at flying bigger kites as and when funds allow.

One thing to note is that Pansh are gradually pushing the prices up little by little. OK the prices are "discounted" but for how much longer only time will tell. At the time of writing this review their web price was still the same as I paid and the full RRP was £341.25.

The delivery time was startling. The kite was despatched from their premises on Tuesday night (China time) and was delivered to my front door at 2.00 p.m. today! How's that for prompt service.

The kite comes in a white ripstop drawstring stuff sack (which other reviewers have thought is made of offcuts, I'd agree). Not the most rugged of bags I've seen.

There are no handles supplied with the kite, which judging by other reviews was no bad thing, but the lines were includeded.

I ordered a set of Flexifoil lines and handles off the web in readyness.

Now to the kite itself. The colour scheme on the 7m is pretty bland, predominantly white with mid-grey leading anfd trailing edges and "PANSH" emblazoned along the right hand side.

Unfolding the kite, I was met with a real jumble of bridle lines. It looked as if they'd been knitted together. It took quite a while untangling the mess and sorting out the lay of the bridle - no twists etc. The bridle lines are of a fairly open / loose weave and don't shout quality, but only time will tell. The feel of the ripstop is pretty good though and the stitching I thought was excellent, no loose threads.

Connecting the Flexi flying lines and handles was no problem using Larks Heads. Unlike earlier reviews of Pansh's, the bridle lines were equally long on both sides.

So having sorted everything out, it was time to take it out for a fly. I use a field nearby, which is fairly open to the east and the wind speed this afternoon was about 2-3 mph.

Having laid a faily strong pull was needed to get the Ace airbourne. The kite flew better than expected, probably due to my overall inexperience. It flew well at the top of the window very nearly at 90 degrees off the deck and was extremely stable and gives loads of lift.

Dropping the kite through the window, it pulled like a steam train. As I said earlier I'm a big bloke and unintentionally manged some fairly long and scarily long jumps and drags.

At the edge of the window the kite tended to luff, but a tug on the lines sorted things out. More long and scary jumps.

Most of the time apart from at the edge of the window the kite kept inflated. After an hour of experimenting with the Ace, my confidence was growing, but my arms felt as if they were being pulled out of their sockets.

I've not had chance to try it in my buggy yet, but I'm sure it will do the job admirably.

So was it worth just short of seventy quid. Definately.

As a beginner it scared the hell out of me initially (I'm sure it's got more tricks up it's sleeve to take me unaware). If you're an intermediate flyer and can't afford a large Blade or a Rage it's definately worth getting.

By : hillside