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@SHBKF very nice Invictus! I've have two Horvath gliders on their way. His "I'll be back, Darling" combo. @Breezin Glad a Cadillac save you buddy. We'll try to give 18 wheeler's a little more distance with it. In two weeks we should have at least five Symphony 2.2.4's together for a large fly/pillow fight! @riffclown @Mike Klaiber @John Barresi @windpoacher/Eli Russell and myself (Am I missing any other owners for that weekend?). Stoked!!

Finished it yesterday and took a few minutes in the swirl to do a bridle check... This one is a keeper..

Relax folks had beans last week. It's kite kind not that kind. Flew the Hydra yesterday and winds went from 1 to 15 the whole time.Should have flown the foil. Now I think I understand the term bumpy winds. Never got my dance on and spent most the time trying snap and slide stalls.Good practice but felt kinda blah. Wind would load and unload sail before I knew it and spent a lot of time regaining control. When I went to take down the kite I realized I had been flying with the red sleeve at kite and red strap in my left hand. No wonder my timing was off . Yeah if it was that easy most of us wouldn't fly. Got my new Widow Maker Pro std. today. Set the kite up for pics. Had some questions and called K&FT. So excited I could hardly talk. Really!!! Winds were pretty similar today but thankfully Iv'e learned some patience.Did some stalls but mostly just flew.1/2 hour in winds started gusting 15 mph + and put it away.Flew my foil for awhile and had a good time. Thank goodness it relaunches 95% of the time. Really has helped my precision on the frames zipping that thing around close to the ground. Read the laments of many who have got their new kite only to have to wait for good winds. Sometimes days. Got a little more empathy now and I even got to fly a bit. Sigh just when I thought I was getting the wind figured out a bit the season changes. Hopefully when fall comes I'll remember most and won't have to learn all over again. Had such a good time on the foil today really thinking the Spiderkite 1.2 is gonna be here sooner then later. It really never will end will it. There are just way to many cool kites.

First time a kite knocked me down I wasn't even flying. Looked at the price of a Fearless Light Vented [man I want one]. Got light headed, knees buckled and fell flat on my face. 2nd time flying the Addiction got to laughing so hard forgot to breathe. Woke up looking skyward with a big grin on my face.

@esinger I'll also have a few spares on hand as loaners..

Put very simply: If it feels like it's out of control it is. Don't fly it if you can't control it.

Many know me on here as a quad flier mostly. I carry 5 different versions of the same kite, just with differing vents. I had a stroke years ago and will swap out sails in a minute, if it feels overpowered to me. I call it - "Time to get something with more holes in it!" (more venting) I'd rather be standing, than doing a "Superman" getting dragged down the beach!!!

So, back about 9 years got flying quads. Bought a Rev 1.5 SLE and was having lots of fun, except on very windy days when control went out the window and I spent most of the time just trying not to crash. Hey, a vented kite will solve that problem, right? Yup, so I bought a Rev Phantom 1.5 vented. Kite arrives, wind stops blowing. For 5+ weeks it stays at zip or at least a lot less than the full vent needed at my level of expertise. Enough to fly the standard sail sometimes, but not the vented. That will teach you patience and frustration in equal doses.

I advise everyone to throw away any wind "ratings" by the manufacturer and use some personal caution!! Just because it says "rated to X mph" doesn't mean you should fly it in X mph! Most top ranges are way above what the "average" flier can handle, so too the lows. In the hands of an experienced piiot, yes. Learners or still not confident - no! Use caution! If it feels like too much wind - why risk it!

Yeh I use the glove hitch as shown above with good results. on my 4D. A slight change to the clove hitch is the "Constrictor Knot" if you don't ever want a rope/cord to ever loosen once tightened. I use this knot a lot for lashing parts together. Also the top of my power kite handles. (using a single piece as the leaders on both sides and the strop combined). Really the only way to undo it once it's had pressure applied to it is...........

I really appreciate you guys taking the time to give such detailed, thoughtful answers:) I'm thinking the Synapse 170 is the way to go for now...well once I can justify another kite purchase;) But I am still torn between that and the Symphony Beach 2.2. Will have to wait a bit while the Quantum and 4-D get some mileage on them. Thanks again from this newbie:)

"Jester II" hit the starting blocks today. Decided to make the pattern vertical this time.. LE will be White Edge Binding will be Orange. Panels are basted and ready for sewing..

According to my mrs I’d never be happy even if I won the lottery and spent the lot on kites !!!! Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

Silly me I forgot to say I have my HQ symphony 2.1 that I modded to a 4 line using riffclown’s mod instructions flys like a dream [emoji4] that must of been two years or so ago now [emoji4][emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

Dammit. Stop building kites. You make me look lazy! Looks like a winner to me!

Lol Breezin, now that is what life is all about

The constrictor variation of the clove hitch would actually be quite good for this purpose. The clove hitch, when tied around a smooth surface, such as plastic, tends to loosen when tension is released. The constrictor will continue to grip the fitting once you break down the kite so you don't lose your adjustment each time.

The 2.2 Symphony may be a bit much for them in "stronger" gusty wind, but it is a kite they can grow into, assuming they will grow some. As long as you choose the wind you fly in carefully, they'll be ok. I had a Thunderfoil 2.4 (very similar) that put me on my face and I broke a rib in the process. At the time I weighed 155 pounds and was flying the kite in 15+ wind. Just remember to respect the wind. You've seen what tornadoes and hurricanes can do.

Wow SHBKF I want one of those too !! Is it a Gentleman? Last time we were in Vegas looking at dozens of hot rods and exotics at a show Wife stopped and pointed to a car pulling into the lot. What is that she asked in awe. It's a Maybach I replied. Now if I can get her to look at kites with that same discerning eye her life will become more enriched and mine a little easier. Last Cadillac I had could fly. Well once anyway. 18 wheeler running a red light knocked me 62' thru the air. Killed the car but not me. Getting close to 6 years later and I still thank that Cadillac. Just did . Oh my a 1960 black 62 series driving south from Kona to the southern tip of the Island. Flying on green sand with another kite out along the weed line catching dinner.Later eating dinner watching land being formed off to the east while the sun sets. Hawaiian snow wafting thru the air. Little beer, little Tequila. Cozy sleeping bag and in the morning do the same for breakfast. Now that's something the Wife would go for. Note to self call travel agent for bribe arrangements before calling Tim Benson.

Recharge and Jester II both are completed.. After April in Corolla, Recharge will have a new home down under..

When I came home one day last year, there was a 2016 Cadillac in the driveway... I have plenty of leverage in the "Another Kite?" domestic arguments, it's now just a roll of the eyes LOL

Caution, caution, caution but calculated risks are exciting. Winds gusting over 15 today so I flew the 1,4 snapshot for about an hour and a half. Iv'e had my 10 and 12 year old grand sons in similar winds but not over 20 and right there with them. If your girls are pulling bows and good shots they will want the excitement. Pull on a kite is different but still pull. Another cheaper kite to consider is the HQ Delta Hawk. Lot's of speed and pull with 1 of the highest wind ratings.Framed so be sure and duck. Better yet stay out of the way especially in 40 plus. Less of a learning curve than power kiting. OSK has a Whizz which is supposedly HQs fastest kite for $85.00. I'd probably ruin it but you folks could fly it. Researching and learning is 1/2 the fun huh . Once you learn aspect ratio the learning about all kites becomes easier.

i forget to mention, i kiteboarding at one point. i had this kites: 4 M slingshot, 7 M north neo, 10 M Cabrinha , 12 M Slingshot, 13 M Slingshot and 15 M Naish. great kites, great sensation, extremely good rides but with age i realize is to much power for me even after 15 years of competition water polo play. i sold them in a blink without regrets But... this is me.

for that riffclown i recommend her 1.8 Beamer and not bigger . surface of Symphony 2.2 is 1.738 M if you want to use same numbers. comparative picture are nice (2 M Vs 1.738 M) but what you say i know already, SURFACE make the difference. Breezin, for most of us 20 MPH winds are exception, is 2 maybe 3 times per year, that is the reason i have a Zen and Indoor Rev. your choice to pull out any kite on higher then 20.from what i know is not built yet the one to start at 15 withstand a 25 and you to be safe on the ground. anyway, please note, all this are Mine opinions based on MI experience and i accept any changes how long are viable. Thank you

Be very careful how you mix those sizes.. Beamer 1.8 is a power kite and is in square meters.. Synapes and Symphony are "SPORT" sizes and are not on the same scale at all.. a 1.8 Beamer is LARGER than a 2.2 Symphony.. Obviously I'm pretty partial to the Symphony. Here a 2.2 Symphony on top of a 2M HQ Crossfire.. There is a huge difference between sport size and power size. We need to be very careful not to perpetuate that size discrepancy.

Go to the GWTW forum. For sale are a bunch of Flexi-Foils.One of the top rated foil makers in the world. Some 1,2 quads in that price range that are brand new. That's close to 1/2 off. Flexi says they tested the kite in 50 mph winds.They have wrist bands that in an emergency de power the kite. Just make sure they're adjusted for the flyer so they work. Couple years ago the Synapse took the place of the Snapshot. My Snapshot 1.4 will pull nicely in 15 to 20. Over 20 pretty good work out. It relaunches with a couple yanks to get the baffles pointed into the wind. Don't know much but I do know over 2.3 do a lot of research. Understand aspect ratio and go from there. Over 2.3 you can get in harms way real fast. Look at the Spiderkite neon 1.2. Clocked at over 120 mph. That's my next foil and it's $89.00. Got some more learning to do first. Here's an example. Out in 20 plus. Took a break and staked the kite. Relaunched pulled out the stake and went a 1/2 mile south. That is my longest walk of shame so far. Live on the prairie so no trees but barely missed a barb wire fence. Nearest house that way is a mile off. If it would have went that far might not have seen it again. Neighbor likes anything that flies .The Synapse 140 has polyester lines[More stretch],170 up have dyneema.