Zephyr help please.

[Cool_Aid_Guy]

Hey guys i need some help.im going to buy a prism zephyr and i know a few of you have one so i need a in depth review and if possible a comparison to my e3.I've made all the bridle mods so it flies beter and i have rollbars on it,(picks in "e3 mods")

cheers c.a.g

[Jason]

The Zephyr is a light standard kite and not a UL.

It will fly in lighter winds if you remove the top spreader and attach the pull the nose in to the top knot or more.

Check your bridle measurements after a few hours flight as they can stretch.

Jas

[steve_hobart]

Hi cag,

Glad to hear you are enjoying your E3.

I have had two Zephyrs over the years..both times I sold them as I was not particularly happy with them. They are a nice quality kite, however their bottom end wind range is not particularly good, they are certainly not a SUL and barely an UL IMHO. I also found that they were not particularly "neutral" for tricking and had a few idiosyncrosies that I didn't particularly care for.

I replaced my Zephyr with a Silver Fox UL - IMHO a far better trick kite (with flight characteristics closer to the Nirvana). The SF UL is not a SUL, but it is an UL and has a better lower wind performance than the Zephyr (regardless of what Prism claim). Also has good ongoing support from the manufacturer.

The quality of the SF range is not probably as good as the Zephyr, but I reckon that they are a far far better trick kite than the Zephyr at a better price.

Just MHO.....Jason at Briskites has the SF's......also worth considering is the SOUL - not sure if that comes in an UL version.

Cheers

steve

[KaoS]

......also worth considering is the SOUL - not sure if that comes in an UL version...

Yes it does, and it is a very nice light wind kite. I'm keeping mine!

I sold my Zephyr after not very long. It isn't a bad kite, but for the wind range it is best suited to I'd recommend a Blue Moon Exile - a much better kite!

Kevin

Willunga, S.A.

[Cool_Aid_Guy]

yaay i got my zephyr today

too windy for it today but tomorow ill take some pics of it in the air

[Must86]

Hey CAG...

You're going to enjoy your Zephyr. I like mine way more than the E3. It will fly down in the advertised wind range, you just have to prep it for that... remove the weight, remove the upper spreader, adjust the bridle, and fly on 13 meter lines.

I never fly my Zephyr with the weight in, I think the weight is what causes it to fly weird, like other people complain about. Maybe the weight is too heavy, I don't know, but I never have a use for it.

Make sure the ferrules in the leading edge are tight, reglue them if needed. I hear they have a tendancy to slip. Overall, the Zephyr is a very tough, well made kite, and should serve you well for years. Mine has, and it was in the first batch produced.

~Rob.

[steve_hobart]

Rob,

What's your opinion of the E3?

cheers

steve

[Must86]

Wow, the E3. It's hard to say... hated it, grew to like it, was having a good time with it and found out the hard way about a problem with the center T/Spine. It seems that the hole in the center T is a little bit bigger than the spine, and creates a weakness at that point. Well, mine snapped right there, and ripped a 4 inch gash in the sail.

I'll say this... the wind was 10-15mph that day, and a gust did cause this, but the gust was by no means close to the rated top end wind range of the kite. This would've happened to me long before this on other kites, and I have never had this happen to me, on any kite.

My only point is... if you have an E3, check how your spine fits in the center T, if it's loose, put a wrap of tape in there or something to tighten it up.

It's kind of a heart-breaker because I was just starting to like the kite after a few months of not. I got it adjusted to the point that it flew the way I liked it (~5 hours of test & tune, + help from Jared) and got maybe another 2 hours out of it.

So, eventually I'll get around to sending the sail back to Prism to see what they can do with it, and in the meantime, I haven't missed it too much. I have other kites I'd rather fly anyway...

~Rob.

[Cool_Aid_Guy]

Thanks for the reviews guys.I've flown it and love it but i just baught a rev b series, so.... In light winds (under 5-7 knots) ill fly my zephyr and over that ill fly the rev.Im geting a vented b series soon so im covered in all winds. And as for the E3 its going to be in the cupboard for a while, unless anyone is intrested in it. Pics are in E3 mods page.

P.s. Anyone got a Rev Shockwave? Wats it like?