Radsails Pro II 3M

Hi all, I thought I would just post a few thoughts on my most recent purchase......A rad Pro II 3m.

I bought this kite primarily as a hig wind kite but also as a practice kite for me to blat about with as I build up to using my blade III 4.9 in higher winds.

General:-

This size kite is a good start before moving onto the bigger stuff as it is small enough to control and learn in "normal" wind conditions but it also has some very good traction and good lift in higher wind conditions. I have been using this as a starter kite for me to actually stand on a mountain board and learn to balance myself properly!

The bag:

A fairly good rucksack with venting meshes in the right places and a substantial front pocket for all those extra kitey bits! Expandable straps in all the right places although you wont need them if you fold the kite properly. There is ample room in the bag!

The handles:

Nice handles as far as a budget set go. I miss the neoprene of the flexi handles.... They also come with hooks at top and bottom that enable you to wind the lines in (similar to a bar). This is excellent as it keeps the lines fairly neat and I havent had a load of tangles since owning the kite!

Build quality.

Looks fine to me (I am no expert). Intake vents have gauze on them similar to a blade. All the bridles are sleeved dyneema although it is Knotted and not sewn. Leaders are color coded. There are no croc clips for keeping the bridle organised. (Why dont people do this as standard? its a couple of bits of velcro!) Having said that - so far no bridle tangly things.

Lines were all equal on opening the bag from marrionville - always a good sign. Only initial concern was the weight of the lines but this hasnt really been a problem in winds up to 15-17mph as it dragged me down the beach.

First flight:-

Staked out, set up kite, it sits staring across the field as I put me killers on and I am thinking this will be a doddle "ive flown a blade!"

So - tug - whallop up to zenith with some nice tugging as it went through the zone. As I flew the kite all over the window It began suffering significant "stutter" in the power zone. It was like getting power on and then switching it on and off rapidly through window. This continued for about half an hour with significant luffing in odd places in the window. I put this down to lumpy winds but at the back of my mind I thought I may have wasted £100.

Thankfully I persevered and the stuttering disappeared and has only returned once more during very lumpy winds and it was exacerbated by the fact I had trimmed the power lines by 2" in a previous flight.

One warning - dont misjudge this kite on first flight! It does "settle in"

Too be honest once the stuttering had gone I have got to say I love this kite in good winds. I can throw it all over the place and treat it very badly in the sky and it delivers again and again. It does have significant lift in high winds so dont treat it as a small kite and it provides some nice traction for learning on a board without the awful SNAP a blade can give as the power comes on.

This kite is very fast turning and does turn on a sixpence with the right touch of brake. It is quite happy to sit at zenith generally but it is fairly easy to judge where it is in the window through the handles as when it is at zenith it is happily trying pull your arms vertically. It doesnt generally overfly if the lines are set up correctly but when it does it WILL luff and you can end up with a bag of washing on a string if you arent careful. Additionally it does take a little work in lumpy winds.(doesnt every kite except a paraglider?)

I would not give up this kite as it is a great recreational peice of kite for a small amount of dosh.

The most important bit - Its yellow!

In conclusion - A great, cost effective kite. good for learning but dont take it out on your first flight in 20mph winds - it will catch a beginner out. I am 17Stone and it likes to pull me about in high winds.

Hope this helps any new guys starting out!

By : grogamanda