jeepinjeepin Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 I'm partial to Prism kites and am considering a smaller power kite. I'm not interested in boarding, buggying, etc. but wouldn't be opposed to being dragged when the wind comes up. Of the older P4, the Snapshot 2.5, and the Tensor 3.1 which one would you choose and why. Assume that the first 2 would be converted to 4 line control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkieRob Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Personally I'd go for the Tendor for 4 reasons. Its newer so would have "better tech" involved. I like the convertible bar/handle set up. And finally, I like the graphics better. I have no idea which would fly better though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Personally I'd go for the Tendor for 4 reasons. Its newer so would have "better tech" involved. I like the convertible bar/handle set up. And finally, I like the graphics better. I have no idea which would fly better though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The Tensor series does look good and I agree with the new tech reasoning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkieRob Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Sorry for the spelling... Tensor... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmadz Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 The tensor series is bar control. I like my 1.9, but it is with straps and those can hurt after a while. I imagine the 2.5 is just as rough. The tensor series can be switched to a quad line/dual handle and that might work, but I don't know anyone who has used them and how the handles hold up. The tensor does have depower line when used as a dual like most other power kites. The new Tantrum series is a dual line bar. It depends on what you're looking for. Prism must have thought there was a market gap to offer this new line of power/trainers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Sorry for the spelling... Tensor... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Should be Ten$or 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 The tensor series is bar control. I like my 1.9, but it is with straps and those can hurt after a while. I imagine the 2.5 is just as rough. The tensor series can be switched to a quad line/dual handle and that might work, but I don't know anyone who has used them and how the handles hold up. The tensor does have depower line when used as a dual like most other power kites. The new Tantrum series is a dual line bar. It depends on what you're looking for. Prism must have thought there was a market gap to offer this new line of power/trainers. It was my understanding that when the Tensor is flown from the bar, the brake lines are tied together and still used for de-powering. I may be wrong, I only know what I've read. But a 3 meter kite flown on 4 lines is pretty easy to control in winds up through the teens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 If you're shopping price I suspect the P4 would be the least expensive. But if you want to add Prism four line accessories to it or the Snapshot then the Tensor is very similar in price. Certainly within range. When I bought my 2.5 I just wanted a larger foil than my little 1.2 & did not look into the possibilities. So I bought the kite then almost immediately added a Prism control bar, a second kite killer, brake line set & a kite stake. Add to that a couple shipping charges from shopping around & I might as well have bought the Tensor 3.1. I spend almost exactly the same amount & wound up with a great kite but not a Tensor. But even though I don't intend on selling any kite I ever buy, the Tensor would be very easy to resale with little loss. The Tensor 3.1 also comes with a great kite bag that will easily carry a second kite & extra gear. The accessorized 2.5 would be harder to sell & I would probably not do as well financially. Later I did acquire a Tensor 4.2 & a Tensor 5.0. I will be getting a 3.1 this year next time I go to a particular beach kite store that usually stocks them. Needless to say I like the Tensors. Now as to flying the kites. The control bar is of a nice quality & the convertible feature is pretty neat. It also has long leaders & the line sets are easily wound around the horns of the handles in either configuration. When flying the handle set as a bar the kite is pretty intuitive to fly & that may good for first flights or for those who prefer a bar. The bar set up has both brake lines attached to the center of the bar & through the bar to the kite killer you wear on your wrist. You pull slightly on the center line to back the kite down in the window or pull a bit more to collapse it. If you let go of the bar the kite killer applies full brakes & the kite folds up & falls to the ground but it is still attached to your wrist with the kite killer. There is also a quick release to detach the kite from the kite killer which could let the kite fly off with the bar dangling. Ideally not a safe thing to do but a last resort to get you unhooked from the kite if need be. If the kite lands leading edge down you pull on the center line to launch the kite upward then roll it over & fly off. That alone is a great feature. In the bar mode the brake line use is limited. Static flying of foils is done mostly on the upper lines with the brake lines slightly sagging. This is quite different compared to a Revolutions kite quad line set up where all lines would typically have some tension on them for complete control. I fly my foils on handles as that is my preference. Some fliers say they are not as comfortable as they would like but I have not noticed any issue. It may be how you hold them matters. With the handle mode you should have a kite killer on each wrist. Flying in the handle mode allows you to use the brake lines to turn the kite more quickly or tighter. Pull the left brake line & it slows the left corner of the sail a bit & initiates a left turn. Pull the top line while applying some brake to the bottom & push the opposite handle away from you to get the maximum effect. But you still fly the foils mostly with the top lines. These foils need to be inflated to keep their shape so forward motion is typically needed. You can stall at the top of the window but it is harder to do elsewhere. Perhaps I have said too much but more could be added. SHBKF 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Right now the only new P4s I've found are going for $270. The Snapshot 2.5 is down around $175. The Tensor 3.1 is around $350. That puts the P4 out and makes the 2.5 look pretty good. I'm not in the market yet, but hope to be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted September 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 eBay was kind. I have a pair of Snapshot 2.5 kites coming to me. I'll be selling one to lessen my expense. I can't wait. Edit: a buddy on another forum (non-kite related) watched some videos and now I'll be sending him one of these babies. Another one infected... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted October 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 SHBKF, on your Snapshot 2.5, are the main and brake lines the exact same length? I tried to fly mine today for the first time and it acted like it was in full reverse even with the handles in power position. I came home and spooled the lines off on to a card winder and the flight lines are a good 20-22" longer than the brakes lines. The leaders on the brake lines are almost that same length. Just trying to sort things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 SHBKF, on your Snapshot 2.5, are the main and brake lines the exact same length? I tried to fly mine today for the first time and it acted like it was in full reverse even with the handles in power position. I came home and spooled the lines off on to a card winder and the flight lines are a good 20-22" longer than the brakes lines. The leaders on the brake lines are almost that same length. Just trying to sort things out. I first learned about equalizing my line set for quads, not from the forums, but from the same situation you have encountered. I originally bought my Snapshot 2.5 as ready to fly with two lines & straps. I flew it that way only once. Then, in my usual eagerness, I ordered all the extra parts to fly the kite as a real quad. My first attempt at quad flight was the same as flying two line because my brake lines being too long by a similar amount. So opposite from yours. It took me a bit to even figure out what was wrong but the brake lines were really drooping. There was not enough adjustment length in the handle leaders & brake lines to compensate out in the field. When I got home I staked out all four lines in the yard & had a puzzling time figuring out how to untie the the sleeved lines in order to shorten them appropriately. I got them all to what I thought was close enough to being the same length. Like within a half inch. Today I would get them much closer. I fly my Snapshot with the brake lines slightly drooping now. Primary flying on fixed bridle quad foils is on the top lines. Oh, and to this day I keep the top & bottom sets on separate winder cards in case I want to use them for dualies instead. On the next attempt I was pleased that I was able to fly with the bar using the outer lines to steer & the center line to back the kite down. I also did my first reverse launch by pulling on the center line but I still wasn't quad flying. That was the only time I flew in the bar mode. Later, after converting to the handles & adding an extra kite killer, I was learning brake steering & faster, tighter turns. Two months after that I got a Rev. The RTF Tensor 4.2 I have was not set up perfectly out of the bag either. But by then I had learned about knotted leaders & had no trouble correcting it. It had too much brake as delivered. Would not launch except in strong wind & even then the tips would not inflate. A small correction & it was quite a handful/armful. I could go on a bit more about what I've learned since. There is much more to foils then I first suspected. SHBKF 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted October 4, 2015 Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 Quote: "I could go on a bit more about what I've learned since. There is much more to foils then I first suspected. SHBKF" And then you start adjusting the bridle to make that foil fill until it's solidly inflated. Then it really rocks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted October 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 I got it up and flying in quad control today. For those familiar with Prism's quad handles, right main line was all the way back at the horn, left main was about 8" from the horn, and both brake lines were all the way out at the end of the leaders and could have used a little more slack. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Lane Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 I love the tensor 3.1, if I could afford one I'd have it. My vote is the tensor... It's not too much, it's not to fast, it reminds me of the skydog 2.8 SDT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Hi, Mr.Lane, and welcome to the forum. Good to have you aboard. I look forward to flying with you someday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted October 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 I love the tensor 3.1, if I could afford one I'd have it. My vote is the tensor... It's not too much, it's not to fast, it reminds me of the skydog 2.8 SDT. I found a second on eBay that I could afford. I had to sell my Snapshots to keep it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Lane Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Hi, Mr.Lane, and welcome to the forum. Good to have you aboard. I look forward to flying with you someday. The Carolina Kite Fest is this weekend. I work for Don and Jeri Dixon at KitesUnlimited. thanks for the welcome. glad to be here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Lane Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 I love the tensor 3.1, if I could afford one I'd have it. My vote is the tensor... It's not too much, it's not to fast, it reminds me of the skydog 2.8 SDT. I found a second on eBay that I could afford. I had to sell my Snapshots to keep it though. WHAT lol i was looking online day dreaming about one and on ebay, they were all 349 and up what did you luck out with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepinjeepin Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 I love the tensor 3.1, if I could afford one I'd have it. My vote is the tensor... It's not too much, it's not to fast, it reminds me of the skydog 2.8 SDT.I found a second on eBay that I could afford. I had to sell my Snapshots to keep it though. WHAT lol i was looking online day dreaming about one and on ebay, they were all 349 and up what did you luck out with I found one with some dye bleed over for about $250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Lane Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 man that is epic. good price. excellent kite. lol why do we have big kite dreams and little kite pockets lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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