A quick brainstorm...
Look for a wingspan of 7' or more and a wrapped carbon tube frame.
Skyburner has the Freestylist, which is a great value with its excellent build quality and performance.
Prism Zephyr is a great flying and precise kite capable of tricking, and I know where you can get one for $140 new (I just don't know if I can post the name of the shop).
The Premier Widow is reported to be a good one. It is based on the Skyburner Widowmaker.
As mentioned above, Skydog has some highly rated performers with the Dream On and the Jammin'.
On the used market, tons of great kites to keep and eye out for. Reading through forums will give you some knowledge of what to look for. Some that come to mind are: Top of the Line North Shore Radical and Hawaiian Team; Prism Quantum Pro, E2, Zephyr, Eclipse, etc; HQ Jam Session, Tramontana; just to list a few.
Foils are great to look at too. HQ, Prism, Skydog, Premier all sell them. They are fun to fly, store in a bag and won't break in a crash. Simple foils that are dual line and in the 1.5 to 2 meter size range are the way to go just starting out. The aerodynamic power will amaze you.