Wayne Dowler

Ghost Rider

What is its purpose - kids or other adults learning? Again look at wind ranges (with a grain of salt) and determine what size best suits the need. Unless small kids are the target, I'd look for as large as I could stand - usually bigger wind range. We all go through pretty much the same ordeal, buy kites now that we out grow within a short time. Then it is hard to sell because in our minds it is almost brand new. But we have outgrown it and usually seek something better - been there, done that! Most end up with 2-3 in the end that become favorites, something for light, medium, high winds, and lines for the needs of those couple. All the rest stay in the bag or closet!

Just be aware that smaller kites, in general, need more wind to fly. Same with fiberglass, as it is heavier. Most of the dualie "trick" kites are full size - 8', they usually have decent wind ranges and can be tuned to individual tastes for specific tricks. Or some do some things better than others. Not been in the dual line camp much for years, but I try to keep up with current info. Really have very little opinion on any of your suggestions, but I've heard good stuff on the Widow NG. Pretty capable kite that is roughly half the cost of a Widowmaker. Light wind is a whole different ballgame. You will find almost every manufacturer's stated wind range to be optimistic at best. Add a few mph to the low end and cut back the top end by the same. Yes, you could fly in some ranges, but should you is the question. Nothing replaces skill in these conditions, although good equipment definitely helps. Good light wind wings are usually fairly expensive due to materials used and time spent designing something that defies gravity. Add taking into account an individual's flying style, they might be considered fragile by some. Use that Widow as your learning kite, pretty robust, good wind range, decent trickiness. Then consider others after you master that one - IMHO. YMMV

Both items are available until stock runs out at stores and then can only be gotten used!

John's posts may be spotty - in Europe at the moment!

Are you also on FaceBook? The maker of those kites is fairly active on there and may be of help.

On the topic of "Lawn Darts": Panic! Kite is going to crash - what to do?!?! Let it!! That's right - let it! Stop pulling and learn to "Give to the Kite!"! All that pulling does is drive that kite into the ground harder! Step forward, create slack, and take all the "oomph" out, letting the kite fall as gently as you can. Better to need to set things upright, than to go down and find something broken and ruin your day.

Today - just about any kite is going to be carbon fiber framed - stronger and overall lighter than fiberglass. You will find better fittings too on more modern kites. The reason so many light wind kites are so expensive, is that the materials used are exotic, not the usual run of the mill stuff. Plus somebody spent a bunch of time figuring out how to defeat gravity! My Rev Zen sold for $440 new - not cheap! It's a trade off between the good boutique kites made especially for these conditions, or settling for something close and working on your skills so that when you can get that better kite, you appreciate it! So you're looking at a special breed of kite .....! All that being said - there isn't anything "wrong" with the 4-D. Smaller, easy to transport, flown on lighter lines - it is a different feel in your hands, but not necessarily a bad one, just different. I still own a 3-D from back in the 90s, used it as my travel kite, took to work, whenever I felt a need to fly, etc. Smaller and light and needed a light touch, not a ham-handed one. Doing research is great, but until you fly that kite in your hands, in your conditions, it is all a guessing game. Some connect with whatever it is they might fly, others just can't stand some stuff, they just don't enjoy that particular "feel". When I started searching for a light/no wind kite, I ended up going through several - why? Because they had abilities, but I had no skill. Whatever you decide on - there is NO substitute for this - Time on the Lines!! I don't call it practice, but that is what it amounts to! Every time out, learning more about the equipment (how it works, adjustments, etc) and how YOU interact with it! The only way to further your skill set is to get out and fly! And there is nothing wrong with having several kites to do the different jobs asked of them. Most dual line fliers end up with at least 3 - something for light, medium, and higher winds. And a bunch of lines to mix and match accordingly. Nice thing is after accumulating your kit - the wind blows for free!!

If I converted measurement correctly - that Expresso is less than 4' in wingspan? A bit weighty using 150# lines! Not knowing the weather you deal with locally, 90# lines might work? Really depends on the kite's design and conditions you use it in. Does the kite pull strongly? 85' sounds OK for length, just got to find a weight not too much for it. Or maybe both shorter and lighter? Sorry have no experience using this sail - kinda guessing on what could work....

Looking closer at some of these - the ones on my Jam Session went from standoff to stand off, if I remember right. Didn't fly it in that configuration very much, so I might be wrong there!

Good old Rev roll up bag here for my quads - just about all I fly at a festival anymore. I put a second strap on it and made it a backpack style, leaving my hands free to carry my cooler and small bag of flying goodies. In a pinch, I can roll a tarp and/or a sun shelter in it, especially if I plan on an all day affair!

Polyester is also known as Dacron and is not suitable for stunt kite lines. Way too stretchy, even in its best form. Good for single line kites only, that stretch will take up the shock of lulls and gusts. Would not advise for stunt use! Polyethene or polyethylene (dyneema, spectra) is for stunt use. I would suggest sticking with known lines - LPG, Shanti Speed, Shanti Skybond. If you can find them - the Prism lines are OK too. Some of the internet stuff is pretty much junk. Expensive - yes, but not the place to cheap out - IMHO!

This is just my opinion, but shared by many others - The only thing keeping you in contact with your kite - is the lines! Stretchy lines give you way less control, all the good stuff does. I've used just about every line made in almost 30 years of flying. I prefer NOT to skimp on my lines. YMMV

Most. Theresa at the Kite Shoppe, prestretches all her line sets before making them up. I've made many of my own sets using a luggage scale to evenly stretch all my lines. Eventually the coating will wear, the line inside wears, and they get plain old worn out. You can make "shorties" out of them if there is still good left.

Dyneema and Spectra are material names, not finished product names. Laser Pro and Shanti are both kite line makers, using Spectra and/or Dyneema in their manufacturing process. As with most raw materials, you can get differing grades of your raw materials. Kite line makers (known) use the best to start with, as it is a "niche" market. The issue is weave, tighter is better in kite flying. More direct feel between you and kite. The looser weave is for fishing, the looser weave absorbs shock of the hook set better. Why there is so much difference in price, they use less, that and the overall production percentages - probably something like 95% to 5%, fishing line to kite line, make our lines more expensive.

Reason for the differences is that not every store or company supplies lines with every kite. You can order from a manufacturer, the "package" in many variations. Quads are an example: lines, no lines, extra frame, etc. Some stores buy a cheap set to throw in the bag after they get them. Some makers supply their "own" lines, that way they know what you are getting. Varies!

Mr. Weedah??!!??

I use a regular winder for mine, but would use an old Carey winder if used much. That would wind them up so fast .......! Too bad you have to look hard for them - think they are out of production.

That long - I would suggest - yes, get at least 1 set of 50# in a length you like and will use! A lot less drag and can even lower that low wind capability for you a bit!

What lengths? Some don't like 50# much, too easy to snag on grass and damned near impossible to undo a knot. 90# will work pretty well as shorties, but there is a difference in the lighter lines, the longer you go! So it really depends on your favorite length, on the need for lighter lines. Even as a quad flier, I use 50# for several line sets in light winds - 30', 50', 85', and 120'. All but the 85' are my solo lines, 85' are my team's choice, along with an SUL. YMMV

20 mph?? Ain't no way I want to be flying a std in those winds!! By 20 mph, I'm on an X/V!

Just remember it is all a compromise!! Lose too much weight and lose "trickiness". Add too much and lose light wind capability. Everything affects something - it's your choice on what to affect!!

Like I said - it's a guess! It's all about how my kite feels in my hands on that day! Even my mood affects my kite! But like I said - I'm also one to switch to something vented as soon as I think the wind will still keep it full and driving! I am not bound by product info, wind ranges, etc, - just how my kite feels, in my hands, on any given day!! I guess the overlap explains why a mid is usually thought of as a "luxury", not a necessity. Swapping out frames will usually overlap the std and f/v - why it is the recommended first stage in a quadhead's purchase order. You can usually get enough overlap to make those 2 sails work by frame swaps. If you are a team flier and do demos and stuff, then having the full set makes more sense, or your budget allows. Each kite has a sweet spot in the wind range, a place where it is the best, By frame swaps, you CAN get enough overlap to fly, just not as well. Maybe that f/v is a tad underpowered? Maybe that std is a bit overpowered? It's all about compromise!!!

I haven't flown any of those, but my Ozone is the predecessor to the Zephyr. I believe they upped the top range over the Ozone, might be from better rods available at this time from the past.

How low is considered "your low"? Kites that are designed to work in this area are usually pretty spendy, due to materials used and the designer's ideas. Might be better to save for something really good, than run out and get anything, hoping it can do! Also keep an eye out on the used market - but - have cash in hand! Sometimes stuff hits the market and goes before you know it! I went through this many years ago when first learning. Went through a bunch of stuff thinking they were the "perfect" kite for light wind. Finally realized it wasn't them that lacked, it was the guy holding the lines! Not knowing about matching lines to sails, sails to winds, etc. Took time, but it came. I ended up with a Prism Ozone for light stuff. Out of production, but still around used. The Pro Dancer from SkyBurner has to be one, if not the finest light wind kite out there, but they are spendy. But if you're determined to fly ..............