cjay

A coated LPG would be interesting.

Yep, Kite Shoppe is who I would be buying them from. Pre stretched. Don't like the sound the non coated spectra lines make, and heard LPG is like that. Wonder if that OSK line is good. Guess it is basically LPG with coating but I don't know.

I am thinking PDSUL kite somewhere in the 1-5 mph. Whatever wind range that kite flies in where I don't have to run that much, that is how low of wind I will fly in.

50# X 50' sounds like a good length to start with.

I see. Price isn't really the relevant factor for me, it only factors in if one place is price gouging over another on the same product. I am not interested at all in making my own line sets. Pinching pennies and making my own line sets is a waste of my time, which is worth more than the small amount of money I would save by doing it. I don't feel the need to make a line set just to be able to say that I did, or to prove that I can, because I have no doubt that I can. People in my circle would not be impressed in the least that I tied a few strings together compared to the stuff we work on. I like to get set up with what I need so I can spend more time flying and less messing around with making sets, and I am supporting the kite industry by doing so. So I buy the good quality, pre stretched, pre sleeved, complete line sets, None of my lines have changed length yet or needed anything else.

I am going to order some LPG line sets for UL and SUL winds. I am trying to figure out what length of line to get. I have a preference for 85' line length for regular flying. It appears that people prefer the 50# X 100' lines for sul wind, Is there a practical reason why people use 100' lines for UL wind instead of 85' lines? Also what purpose would 50# X 50' lines have in ul winds instead of 85' or 100' lines?

Interesting.

Hey RobB, I saw you got rid of your Tica, what did you think about the precision of the Tica compared to the Widow Maker? I am interested in how well it cuts a straight line and patterns like squares.

In what way? Did you talk to Shanti about it? I have never washed mine, always just coil them up and put them away. Most of the sand comes off during the coiling though.

The reason I asked is because I see people preferring the LPG over the Skybond but not so much the other way around, so it will be interesting to try out the LPG for myself.

That is good info. So you like your LPG better than your skybond?

I am getting the current Mamba, I am more into the precision and not the tricks. It will be interesting to hear how people like the new version though.

I ended up ordering a standard Mamba as Ken recommended.

I decided to post an update on the Matrix 90# X 75' line set since I got a good session in using them a while back with several of my kites. I used them for an hour or two in about 6 or 7 mph wind. My first impression of them was correct, I like my skybond 100# x 85' lines way better than the matrix lines. To me, the skybond lines have a more connected wired feel to them, and seem more responsive. I couldn't tell if the matrix lines were stretching more than the skybond lines or not, or if that had anything to do with the feel or not. The Skybond line set is 10' longer than than the Matrix, and 10# higher rating. The matrix lines seem like they are in between a standard spectra and a skybond line. Not as stiff as the skybond, but they do seem to have some type of coating on them. I like the more wired feel to the skybond lines and don't really care for the softer line feel of the spectra lines anymore. I don't find the orange color of the Matrix lines to be any more visible on the ground or the sky. Getting an accurate measurement of the lines using digital calipers isn't perfect since it tends to compress the line while trying to get a measurement. Taking multiple measurements, they look about the same, around .0190 in, or about .45 mm in diameter. In summary, I don't see myself buying any more Matrix lines for my own use, but I do see some applications for them. They are a decent value and seem to be a decent line set so far, and are probably a good option for someone who bought a cheaper production kite that came with a poor quality line set. Also they are good to have around for other people to try out for comparison. Or a good line set for a thrashing on. I am going to get some LPG line sets next even though they are said to pick up more debris in the sand than the skybond, and have less stretch than the skybond, I will have to see for myself.

Thanks for the info. I ordered the standard Mamba and will get a different dedicated SUL kite for the 2-5 mph wind range.

Hard to imagine having my first and only really nice custom kite and only being able to fly it in mostly UL wind range, so a standard makes more sense in that repect. i dont think my lower back could handle the pull of the standard in strong winds in the power section of the window though. Would buy both if i could afford them, but standard winds is what I fly in the most so that is what I should get, I am not trying to do tricks in ul winds yet.

i was wondering if that applies to the Mamba as well? i was planning to get the UL but my gut tells me a standard would be the better choice. Because it is hard for me to imagine not being able to use the Mamba except mostly UL winds. if there was no use for a ul version, i would certainly choose a standard.

Here is a thread about the OSK Challenger. I thought about buying one and looked into them. Decided I didn't need one because I doubt it does anything much better than what I already have. https://kitelife.com/forum/topic/7783-osk-challenger/?tab=comments#comment-73791 I looked into the Jinx and Level one Badass also. I emailed Paul Debakker about it since I believe he designed the Hydra, the Focus kites Jinx, the OSK Jinx, and the Level One Badass. Here are a few things he said about the kite: The osk sails are all cnc lasercut, whereas the focus jinxes were hand cut. Andy should be able to achieve higher tolerances and consistency from batch to batch and within batches. He will have an updated bridle soon (ask him about it) and the kite flies exactly the same to me a my Focus ones. The Jynx is the more precise and slightly slower kite of the two, the Hydra is its more radical little brother. The Jinx definitely likes precise inputs and will reward precise flying style. The Badass is more forgiving that way but ultimately will never look as "crisp" in the sky as the Jinx. Yes, materials are largely the same, same icarex pc31 in all three and different, but same quality, frame materials. Build quality of all 3 is pretty much the same.

I decided to order a Mamba. Currently making the color choice. Think I will get the UL version, that should prevent me from pushing it too hard and destroying it. I didn't know how a standard Mamba would hold up to heavier or variable winds and crashing like my beater kites, so I don't think a standard would be the right choice for my application.

I will add that the Widow NG buzzing or roaring sound is relative to how high the wind speed is and how fast you are cutting across the power section of the window. I wouldn't call the frame particularly tough or sturdy compared to a fiberglass rod framed kite or one built tough for crashing. I always have spare rods and an extra kite to fly, cause I often break mine.

If you like strong pull and a loud roaring sound, the Widow NG has it, especially in the power section of the window. Pull tends to be a bit much for me at 9mph and above and I just start breaking it. It has good precision though. Cuts a straight lines really well but sort of hesitates in turn transitions at the extreme horizontal edge of window until it the sail loads up again and it gets moving. I would be careful with it in higher wind speeds for smaller, lighter, or weaker people though. I broke mine some. C clips broke loose and had to be re glued several times. Spine piece also came un glued and slid inside of spine and had to be re glued. Super glue didn't hold either. Kite shop used some 2 part epoxy to really keep it together. Broke the frame several times also, but I hammer on mine. I haven't flown the ITW Kymera but I don't think you can beat the deal if you can still get one for $112. Prism quality I have heard is hit or miss as of recent years. I know a kite shop that refuses to carry them. When they were made in the US a long time ago they were pretty good from what I have seen. Quantum is a popular kite. I have read that there might be knock offs on scamazon.

I don't personally have that much experience or knowledge about the subject, so I compiled that info while I was learning about it and put it in a format in order for me to be able to comprehend it better. Basically I was having difficulty understanding it, so I used that process.

I supersize with that.

The info I posted is all I am going to post about it. If that isn't good enough for you, then feel free to search the forum for more info. As to the symphony pro kite crashing, I was referring to my personal experience with the one that I have. You can feel free to begin to proceed to obtain those details by referencing the comment that I made which you quoted for reference to that info.

If you aren't capable of scrolling up about 10 posts on this page and reading that information which was already posted here dated December 30, 2018 then I can't be of any help to you.