If you’re thinking about getting into power kites, buggying or even kiteboarding there is a bewildering number of kites to choose from. Its often a very difficult decision to make. Different people and retailers will have different opinions so how do you make that all important choice of your first kite?

To some extent it depends on what you want the kite for. A budding kiteboarder for example may only want to fly a smaller, simple kite as a training aid. In this case its probably not worthwhile buying one since a good school will have a number to fly. At the other end of the scale a small child has totally different needs. The decision at this stage is probably more critical. One bad experience could put the child off for good and we’ve lost our newest flyer already!

We’ll take a brief look at a number of “entry level kites” and hopefully take some of the headache away!

A simple but far reaching question? Firstly a kite needs to fly well straight from its bag (guaranteed-to-fly as I call it). It may sound like a fundamental requirement but don’t forget that a complete beginner might not have any previous experience with kites. The kite must be easy to set up with clear and unambiguous instructions and above all be complete. At this stage our beginner doesn’t know anything about lines and handles or straps.

The whole buying experience should add to the beginners expectations. A knowledgeable retailer can understand his or her requirements and offer sound advice or better still offer test flights and training.

If the kite looks dowdy and dull its unlikely to impress but garish graphics can be offputting. Personal taste is very important.

The kite should be durable. A complete beginner is likely to crash it many times therefore it must be well designed and well manufactured. Simiarly its no good having a good kite with poor, thin stretchy lines and straps that cut into the hands.

Finally, the intangibles. “Feel” is so difficult to describe however the kite must be exciting to fly. The power should be manageable and safe but still offer enough to satisfy the beginner as his or her experience develops. If the beginner wakes up in the morning , the wind’s blowing and there’s a hint of anticipation and butterflies in the stomach then the decision was probably right!!

Perhaps the most frequently asked question. Two line power kites are generally easier to fly. Pull left to go left and pull right to go right – obviously! The major drawbacks are launching and landing. A 2 line kite will always try to take off therefore it must be held by an assistant or the trailing edge weighed down with some sand. Landing is also difficult since the kite will want to re-launch and fly. Fly the kite to the edge of the wind window and let it sink to the ground. At this point the assistant can restrain the kite. In terms of control, you can use wrist straps or a control bar.

Four line kites have two main flying lines and two additional brake lines. They’re a little more difficult to learn to fly but the control is far more positive and precise. Similarly the kite can be stopped and reversed down the wind window for a landing. 4-line (or quad line) handles are the most common choice for control.

In this article we are concentrating on “soft ram air foils”. They rely on the incoming air to inflate a number of sections or cells in the kite. Once inflated the kite looks like a large inflatable wing (or inflatable mattress if you’re not technically minded!!) with a number of openings along its leading edge (not too dissimilar to a controllable parachute). They do not have any form of rigid frame (e.g. carbon fibre of glass fibre tube) hence the term soft. The main body of the kite (often called the canopy or sail) is supported on a series of lines called the bridle. The bridle on each side of the kite attaches to the flying lines. Consequently they’re easy to pack away in a small space. This type of kite can be 2 or 4 line.

There are several other types of power kite that we should be familiar with. One of the most popular kites on the market is the famous 2 line Flexifoil Stacker. It looks similar to a soft ram air foil but it has a flexible spar along the leading edge. Once the Stacker is in the air the spar bends into its characteristic curved shape. The Stacker and its larger variants are very fast and can be linked or stacked together to get more power.

The other kites to mention are the closed cell foils and leading edge inflatables. The closed cell foils are very similar to the standard ram air foils but have a series of one way valves on the leading edge to maintain the internal pressure and hence the kite’s shape. They can float on water for short periods of time and can be relaunched therefore they’re used for kiteboarding. Leading edge inflatables (LEIs) have an inflatable bladder in the front or leading edge and in a number of struts. They help to hold the kite in shape and ensure that the kite floats on water and re-launches if crashed or landed. LEIs are available with both 2 or 4 line control. 4 line control enables a degree of power control / management.

We’ve mentioned framed kites a little before. One of the most common and well known framed POWER kites (to differentiate it between a framed stunt / trick kite) is the 4 line Peter Lynn C-Quad. C-Quads offer excellent power for their size but require a slightly different technique to fly with handles which can be difficult for beginners. Peter Lynn has a curved 4 line control bar that works very well. We weren’t fortunate to get a C-Quad in time for the reviews however my own site www.prokites.com has a C-Quad page with plenty of pictures and it shows the curved bar to great effect. Obviously when flying any framed kite the flyer must be careful not to crash heavily nor indeed hit people or animals.

Its not practical to review every kite on the market, however we have presented a selection of those currently available. All kites are small and reasonably affordable.

HQ Symphony

The range of HQ Symphony soft foils ranges from the small 1.4m up to the 3.3m.
Our review kite is the 1.4m. Delivered in a tiny but very well presented package the kite is a rainbow coloured 2 line foil with 45Kg lines and good flying straps. Construction is very simple but effective and the kite flies well. Power is very light as expected for such a small kite therefore it makes a very cost effective kite for a small child. The 1.4 is probably too small for an adult but its easy to fly and looks good in the air. At a retail price of £34.99 for the ready-to-fly package its a great way to start. The larger kites offer equally good value with more power. Typical ready-to-fly prices are £59.99 for the 1.8m, £83.99 for the 2.2, £139.99 for the 2.7m and £169.99 for the 3.3m. The 3.3 can be converted to 4 line using the supplied kit.

Ozone IMP

Paraglider manufacturer Ozone is relatively new on the kite scene but they’re got it absolutely right first time with the entry level IMP, intermediate Little Devils and the Razor buggy race kites.

The IMP arrives in a small drawstring bag complete with a set of excellent flying lines and wrist straps. Construction is excellent therefore the IMP should prove to be very durable and crash resistant. Although its not as visually striking as the Symphony it still looks purposeful and bold.

Once in the air the IMP flies very well. Its incredibly fast and turns quickly. The first flight was made in a 20mph wind that proved to be too much for my 10 year old son. The IMP can generate a considerable pull therefore either be brave or careful! Its flying and turning speed reminded me of a Flexifoil Stacker. If we flew them back to back I’d guess there wouldn’t be too much difference.

Overall the IMP is a lovely kite to fly. Although only a snip under £50.00 including lines and handles it looks and feels high quality. Incidently the lines are really good with no springiness and the sleeving is sewn therefore no messing around with inaccurate line lengths. Highly recommended.

Wallend Air Skyno

Prior to flying the Skyno I’d had no experience of Wallend kites so it was interesting to see the Skyno.

The Skyno is a 1.8m 2 line soft foil with good quality lines and wide (and in our case shocking pink) wrist straps!! Although our kite had alternate black and green stripes the red and white version on their web site looks a lot more attractive.

Construction is excellent and the openings / vents on the leading edge are covered in a gauze material.

Once in the air, the kite holds its shape very well, helped no doubt by the leading edge gauze that should maintain a smooth airfoil shape better than open vents.

We were impressed with the Skyno in the air. Its fast and turns well – perhaps not quite as quick and responsive as the IMP but it seemed to be slightly more stable at the edge of the wind window in very turbulent conditions. The lines are fairly thick therefore they will reduce the speed a little.

Overall – a great kite. For interest Wallend also have the Holligan which is 1.2m and a range of larger kites which are detailed on their web site. The Skyno retails at £117.50 and the Hooligan £87.50.

Ozone Little Devil