Favorite dual line kites from 2000-2009?

[John Barresi]

As we come to a close on another decade, I'd like to poll our members and find out what YOUR top (favorite) five dual line kites are, choosing only from those released 2000 to 2009.

I appreciate that some of our members are just "a couple of years old" in this community, but don't let that stop you, I still want to know!

My own personal favorites in no particular order...

- Sea Devil by Lam Hoac > super trick kite, very forgiving, decent precision, moderate pull/loading.

- Exile by Blue Moon > excellent on both tricks and precision (50/50), good sail pressure.

- Shiva by Cavalier du Ciel > very limited trick ability, but SUPERB precision and old school ability.

- Jump by Level One > a much smaller kite, this one does everything I throw at it, light pull but great feedback.

- Freestylist by Skyburner Kites > another great balance between trick and precision, leaning slightly toward the latter, good sail pressure as well.

My tastes generally run toward "all-rounder" kites with good sail loading (pull/pressure/feedback/line tension) however, good balance between trick and precision...

There are a whole BEVY of other awesome kites that specialize in either tricks or precision, and of course, the kite experience is so subjective... Hence my question!

[Guru4tru]

Well, I can't give you the Top "5". As you know I'm a beginner and have no one I fly with to get famular with other kites that I myself don't own. But with that said, and having little to compare it to, my favorate kite presently is:

Nirvana SE UL (her name is "Destiny") She's a joy to fly. Sharp instant reactions to any command, loves to float & turn, and every now and then I can get a 5 wrap YOYO out of her and that's Beautiful when she unwinds!

Keep It Up!

Duane

[Baloo]

Got to be Sea Devil for me. Thank you Lam. Love watching folks who can fly it trick it for me. Just not got the skill myself.

Also the Beetle by Flying Wings, cuz it has got my Wife interested in Kite flying.

Would also include the Hypnotist, not sure when they came out, think it might have been bought in 2000, like that too as it used to be Ben's.

Cant say much else, the other dualie I have is pretty rubbish compared to the above.

If we are taking votes for most fun SLK in our bags, that has got to go to Stephen Hoath's Bai.

[Hedgewarden]

Hmm, I have NO top of the line kites. But among the consumer grade kites, of which I have picked up too many following eBay auctions during the winter months when there is no good flying...

Premier: Nighthawk. For the price and size, a great kite for newbies like me to learn tricks. Also, decent precision. Good low wind performance too. I doubt anything can beat it at the price. Fun to fly.

Flying Wings: Silver Fox. These always amaze me when I return to them - great precision. Now exploring the "blue bead" settings for tricks. Includes my only vented.

Premier: Addiction. For the price, a great learning kite. It does much more than it should, and is fun to fly. My recommendation for the first "step-up" or share with newbie friend kite.

HQ: Gallego. This is my favorite kite for ballet. My usual "go to" kite.

HQ: Phoenix Supreme. I plan to learn more tricks using this kite.

HQ: Breeze. My only good UL, it always comes through when my other kites are grounded.

Well, I cannot order my preferences any more than I can say licorice is better or worse than chocolate. I would hate to lose any of these kites.

-Howard

[sirrom]

1) Need to go with my Fearless Light with Icarex by Lam Hoac all kinds of tricks in winds 5-20mph.

2) In low winds my Sea Devil SUL by Lam Hoac this is a great tricker in the low 1-5 winds.

3) I pull out my Jump by Level One (thanks to John for the introduction) when I just don't feel like going big and it does all the tricks the above two do.

4) When no one is flying cuz there is 0.0 winds, out comes my little I-Nak by Sky Burner, always a pleasure to fly when nothing else is in the sky.

5) Going bigger with a wingspan of over 10feet, the Firestorm by New Tech with 200lb test line can pull you around the sand box and sounds like a train going by for the non attentive spectator.

These two are by far my favorites Thanks Lam

[Dagnabbit]

So is the question what do we consider the top five of all DLKs released 2000-2009, or do we consider the top 5 from what we've flown, or top five from what we own? Because there's definitely a couple of kites that I've either flown once, or just lusted after, that I'd consider better or more significant than what I own (or that I've flown- so I guess I really couldn;t have an opinion about that after all). And being a relative n00b (got serious about kiting in 2005, flying off and on since 1986), maybe my inexperience really shows.

I think all of these kites were released after 2000.

And I guess it matters from what position we're looking at this as well- I have a stack of Trlbys that are a pain in the rump to deploy, put away, untangle before a launch or after a crash- but during flight- HUGE grin (and sentimentality rules supreme here, it was a stack of Trlbys in 1986 that got me into sport kiting in the first place). Or my 10' Speedfoil... not a lot it can do except give you a FAST workout- again, huge grins. Or my Firestorm on 150' lines with a 100' tail. Not a lot you can do in terms of tricks- but very flowing and graceful, something I fly once or twice a year at kite festivals for a public demo.

So, I guess from the perspective of someone who flies a lot of precision and fumbles with improving tricks:

Sky Burner Widow Maker: flying a friends right now, raising the funds to get my own. This kite is my friend. Period.

Flying Wings Silver Fox: I don't own one any more, since I now have a Soul (won right here on Kitelife!), but I consider significant because it put a very trickable and forgiving kite into a very affordable price range.

Prism Zephyr: great in light winds, very forgiving when tricking

Sky Burner Pro Dancer SUL: I don't own one personally, I have a spare on loan from the team I fly with. Only big wing I know of that can still fly team well in 1mph.

Sky Burner T&T Comp: Again, I don't own one personally, my team flies these. Very, very precise and oh so smooth.

And now I'm starting to get into indoor- so there's a whole other field of exploration for me! :) Kiting is so cool....

[quaa714]

What the heck's a dual line kite?

Flame on!!!!!

[John Barresi]

Ohhhhh, you are asking for trouble aren't you? <grin>

In simple terms, it's like half a Rev.

JUST KIDDING

(I fly Revs mostly these days - but I still love both, and fly the snot out of both)

[quaa714]

Ohhhhh, you are asking for trouble aren't you? <grin>

In simple terms, it's like half a Rev.

JUST KIDDING

(I fly Revs mostly these days - but I still love both, and fly the snot out of both)

Keeps them coming back for more!!!!!:)

As you know Iam old school dualie.

Original Hawaiians, Crystal Power kite, etc.....None of the stand offs, yo yo stoppers here!!!:lol:

[windofchange]

For me, the requirements for a top kite would have to include everything, exceptional tricks, good precision and control and must have top-notch construction / materials. The kite also has to be readily available for purchase at a (somewhat) reasonable price (for a high end competition series kite anyways). Last but not least, the kite has to have that sex appeal look! This can be so controversial on what looks good and what doesn't - but for my post I will put what looks good to me. LOL

The top 5 kites are:

My # 1 pick - Skyburner Widow Maker - this kite does it all, precision & tricks (more than I can throw at it), and exceptional build. The construction alone sets this kite above the rest with it's rolled seams, wrapped leading edge and Nitro black diamond tapered carbon rods. There's nothing that sets the level of kite like a signed sail, and all of the Widow Makers proudly boast "Made in the U.S.A" hand written right on the sail. Customs even come with Jon T's. Signature - the builder is proud to put his own name on the kite and you will be proud to fly it. The Widow Maker is also one of the few kites to come out lately with a sail layout that isn't claimed to be a "Nock-off" of some other design. The spider look is awesome (IMO) and very unique. No mistake what kite you are flying when you put one of these in the air. For a kite that does it all, the Widow Maker rocks!

# 2 - Skyburner Widow Maker UL - Ok, the Widow Maker gets the top two picks from me. Not because of favorites for Skyburner but because both of these kites are just plain awesome in every aspect. The UL is the best UL I have ever had the chance to fly and will trick down in the 2 mph range very easily. It also does more than my feeble skills are capable of doing and does them with extreme precision and grace. Many times I have pulled off a Taz or Comete and known that it was the kite that made the trick possible cuz I screwed up the inputs half way through. Out of all the UL's that I have or demo'd, the Widow Maker UL is the one that other pilots come to me and ask to put it in the air. The range of WM UL covers down to SUL Range (1 - 2 mph when weight and upper spreader is removed) but also very trickable up to 6-7+ mph. Not only will it fly in 1 mph but it will also trick in those winds as well (with a little work). The Widow Maker UL is not just a Widow Maker standard with lighter rods, Jon T. redesigned the entire kite specifically for UL flying which makes me put this kite on its own listing instead of grouping it with the standard.

#3 - Benson Deep Space. If you can trick - this kite will push you to the next level of awesomeness!!! Construction is second to none, looks are awesome, roll bars are perfect and the Trick Or Treat DVD just makes you wish you had this kite. If you don't like the Deep Space, work on your skills and then come back to it. Fast paced trick monster to the extreme!!!

#4 - HQ Infinity - This is probably one of the most underrated and unspoken dreams of a kite on the market today. This kite is excellent!!! Every bit as good as the highest end boutique kites available today at a price that is very affordable. Completely adjustable bridle system lets you set the kite up for precision or tricks - or just tweak it to fit your personal flying style. It has pre-installed pig tails on all three bridle connection points with about a half-dozen 1/4" adjustments. Tail weight is unique and pre-installed, carbon frame, PC31 Icarex sail. Available in standard and vented models. You can have any color you want as long as it is black and white. Just a very good looking kite that flies even better.

# 5 - Flying Wings Soul - Have to give this kite credit because it too has not had near the response that it deserves. Not only is it a high end kite that can compete against the best of them, it has tons of customized features that puts this kite in the upper crust of kites. PVC tubing on the bridle lines to help protect the lower spreaders, folding flaps on the stand offs to keep from wrinkling the sail when putting the kite away, Customized marked rods that have the label reversed on one side so that when assembled the wording reads the same way (instead of one being upside down), customized stitching of the "Soul" logo on the kite, double stacked yo-yo stoppers that can be folded back for precision flying or stood back up for tricks, and top notch construction out of PC31 Icarex. Flying the Soul is a treat as it too tricks with the very best of them, not to mention that really cool "Rising Turtle" trick that the Soul excels at.

Well, that's my list anyways. I know there are tons of others that also deserve credit for what they are and can do, but these would top my list.