New kite for a new year- 5m+ what to get, any suggestions?

[notbgd]

Hi All,

 

I'm looking to get a new kite for land-boarding. Ideally, It would be fixed bridle, something 5m+ (replacement for a old HQ Scout 4m).

 

I've heard good things about the Flexifoil Blade and Rage, but the PL Twister looks good too. Does anyone have any suggestions/ guidance about what would be best for land-boarding?

(I've got about £200 to spend, prob get a second hand one)

 

Any input would be great.

 

Cheers

Doug

[badgerjc]

Hq Toxic Absolutely love mine

[mick]

Why fixed bridle?

[slide]

if ya just learning to landboard , or kite gennerally , then a fixed bridle is (in my opinion ) much better, and a second hand blade is a do anything kite

i'm not keen on people learning on a depower (while its possible to achive more , when you have the basics )

people learning to jump on a depower develop lazy redirect , and rely too much on pull the bar in for lift -a bad habit

[mick]

Its all about opinions isn't it. He is replacing a kite so lets assume he can fly one.

[lonerider]

5 meter ozone flow is a realy good kite for landboarding in my opinion ,i use mine with the turbo bar ,on the beach in a good constant wind its great,if ya want a bit of serious power pansh ace kites r very lifty and powerfull and very reasonably priced new , u would have alot of change buying a new 5m ace from 200 squid

[Dave2005]

Looks to me like your considering the lifty kites "FF blade and PL twister". Ive not flow the twister but blades are lift machines, the rage not so much. I went from a 4m HQ beamer to my 6.5 blade v and was very pleased with it. Its very stable at the edge and not as aggressive as the older blades. Im just not a lover of the prolink handles, they give me blisters big time.

[Chaos]

Doug,

 

As you live by the sea I think you really should consider an LEI, if you want to go on the water eventually. I have seen plenty of flyers landboard with LEI kites, most very successfully, although you have to be careful to ensure the leading edge doesn't get hard landings, you may burst the bladders.

 

A flier I know uses an AAA kit on his 6m Rage, it enables him to fly it in stronger wind ranges, you may want to consider this option for a Blade or a Rage.

 

As other posters have stated, depends what you want to do, airs or cruising ?

 

Suggest you find some local fliers who use the kites you have in mind and ask for a go.

Edited January 18, 2012 by Chaos

[notbgd]

Reason for fixed bridle is that's what I have been flying most and it's to replace and existing kite that's getting a bit worn out.

I bought a 16m PL Venom on Ebay last year- bit of an impulse buy (classic newbie mistake!). At the mo- it's a bit too much kite for me (only got to use it a couple of times last summer/ autumn). Hopefully I will get more into it this year, but want something I can just pick-up and fly without too much fear!

 

Loads of really useful feedback- Cheers .

 

Doug

[notbgd]

Doug,

 

As you live by the sea I think you really should consider an LEI, if you want to go on the water eventually. I have seen plenty of flyers landboard with LEI kites, most very successfully, although you have to be careful to ensure the leading edge doesn't get hard landings, you may burst the bladders.

 

A flier I know uses an AAA kit on his 6m Rage, it enables him to fly it in stronger wind ranges, you may want to consider this option for a Blade or a Rage.

 

As other posters have stated, depends what you want to do, airs or cruising ?

 

Suggest you find some local fliers who use the kites you have in mind and ask for a go.

 

That's a really good idea (AAA Kit)- I didn't know they did kits that you could tack on to older kites to give the versatility of new kites.

 

The only other kites I could get a go on is a PL Hornet (which flies a lot like the HQ Scout) and a Guy that flies 8m+ de-powered Ozone kites.

That's why I thought I would get you guys to give me some input.

 

Cheers for the info.

Doug

[Chaos]

You have to be careful that the AAA kit will fit on the Kites bridal, I have seen them on a Rage and I believe the newer Blades have them as standard.

 

I know they will not fit on the Ozone Methods or Flows, as I fly them, the bridal's are completely different to the Flexifoil design.

 

Strongly suggest a look see on the forum for nearest well populated Kite flying area as a journey to see / try other kites would pay off dividends, ensuring you buy the right kite for your needs.

[Benbarden]

How well are u getting on with boarding the venoms may look big but it is a friendly kite more so than a blade. if you getting moving well on your board then mab try the venom again in light winds just don't send it hard and pull the bar in and try to get a go on the ozone 8m depower. I think you are best saving your money keep the scout or get a £50 fb because you will go to depower befor long so save your money till then

[notbgd]

Yeah, good shout- I should just man up. Had the Venom out few times in really light wind (one day completely unhooked - hardly a breath of wind). But also had it out when I first got it, bit of a gusty day and had a few "incidents"- lol.

[Batz]

Replace the 4m..... It's your only FB so a nice stable something around 5m will give you a decent boarding windrange BUT as said, use the Venom!

 

Or buy a 4.9 Blade and man up!

[ghatto]

I'm with badgerjc, I love my HQ Toxic 6.5 too! However, as Doug comes from Hastings, he might not have to put up with the high gust to decent wind ratio we have here inland. I considered the 6.5 Blade for here but to be honest, I get lofted enough accidentally with the Toxic when the wind suddenly ups the pace here. I would be still up there now if I was on the Blade 6.5. The Toxic is pretty dammed good at keeping its shape when everything else is falling out of the sky in our field.

 

I love it so much, I've just ordered a Toxic 5.0 for when the wind is just too brutal for the 6.5 but I note that at the moment, everyone in Germany and indeed Poland for some reason is snapping them up so there if very little stock left for us here in the UK. Waiting impatiently for more stock to arrive!

 

Regards,

 

 

Geoff.

[badgerjc]

I'll be getting myself a 5m Toxic aswell

Awesome in the Buggy

[bash1599968729]

The toxic is bloody awesome but not sure you will be able to get one for your budget. Some peeps who try them with me get a toxic as there first kite. The stability is great and it will jump with relative ease.

 

The kite replaced the crossfire and what a replacment total redesign and flys so well.

 

If you like the HQ stuff and can run to one go for it.

 

I find the 8m a but slow if I am honest and in really light winds on a landboard a bit of a handful but anything up to the 6.5 on a landboard performs very well.

[operationblade2]

Or buy my my Flexi Blade 5 4.9 for £250 RTF with Extreme Lines and Pro-Links with Strop, like new

 

Good price, at least £350 brand new!

 

Cheers,

Tom

[notbgd]

 

....man up!

 

yeah, that's the vibe I'm getting! lol

 

Thanks for all the input.

[Timmyk101]

or my 6.6 blade 3 for 150

good resale for when you move to depower in a few months

yeah, that's the vibe I'm getting! lol

 

Thanks for all the input.

[Batz]

yeah, that's the vibe I'm getting! lol

 

Thanks for all the input.

 

It's just going to be hard to replace your 1 FB kite with something bigger without you ending up with 2 low wind kites.

 

Personally if i only had 1 fixed bridle (hmmm I have 2, but they are for the kids............. a 1.2 and 3m) i would be having another 4.9 Blade III, I miss mine loads!

[mick]

or my 6.6 blade 3 for 150

good resale for when you move to depower in a few months

 

Now thats a kite at great money. Lovely and steady and ideal if you want a FB.

 

Mmm reading back. A 6.6 is not gonna replace a 4 mtre is it. But its a great low winder even so. It'll have about twice as much power as your 4 and a fair bit of lift which as a boarder you'll want even tho you may not want to jump yet. Mind with a 6.6 Blade, you might not have the choice.