Hi all,
just started kitesurfing this year after about 20 years of windsurfing....

I love it, but will keep my windsurfing gear for storm weather.

I bought a F-one Bandit IV 14m as a first kite and I am now looking to buy one or two smaller kites. Since my wife wants to start kitesurfing as well I guess it will have to be two.

My weight: 200lbs / 90 kg
My wife: 130lbs / 60 kg

Options:
a) 14, 11, 8
b) 14, 10, 7
c) 14, 9 (if I want to get away cheap)

Thoughts?

I ride bandits and this year will be changing to a 10/7 quiver.

I vote 14/10/7, but would depend on your riding style and local wind conditions,

Goodwinds and kitesafe.

Used to ride bandit 5 and had 14/11/9 (had another brand 7 for when it was windy).

My son is a f-one team rider and has 14/11/8 and that works really well for him until it is averaging about 30 knots. He weighs 170 and rides a surfboard. There were a couple of times this season where the 11 was a little much and the 8 was a little small but he always made it work.

For sure 14/9 is too large of a gap.

depending on your local conditions and how you ride you could make either 14/11/8 or 14/10/7 work. If it were me I would go 14/11/8 (which is essentially what I did when I was on B5`s)

Mark

My advice is to pick the perfect size kite for most of the conditions you'll be going out in then fill in your quiver around that.

As a beginner having a big range in kites means you end up taking out a too big or too small kite most of the time and that sucks for learning. Since your wife needs her own kite too pick the perfect kite for each of you.

If your average winds will be 20 knots on a TT then you'll want either a 10m or 11m and she'll need a 7m or 8m. (width of board and style of kite can change those numbers though)

A mate is riding bandit 4's and has the 11 and 8. He feels there is a gap, and is getting a 9 to cover.
Said the 11 is a handful at 20 knots and the 8 doesn't really start to sing until 25 knots but great there after.
With sizing normally go up a 1/3 or down a 1/4 for a nice quiver balance, but this doesn't seem to fit his experience, as his quiver should work for him with this guide.
maybe 14,10 and 8 would be a better choice?

Gaps can be bridged through board selection. Use a Mutant for 'meduim winds', a sector for light and a shinn monk to take it to the max. Consider adding another board to your quiver, I use a 6m and 10m and easily bridge the gap. Also build your quiver around a kite that you will be out 80% of the time in, and the same for your missus. Then add kites and boards around that would be my advice. Works for me anyhow. I tend to only need to take two boards for a kite and with three kites gives me ample combinations to meet the conditions of the day.

we're missing some critical information here...what is the wind like?

Also there is a HUGE gap between you and your wife. Just be aware of that

Thanks for you comments.

I live in Prague, Czech Republic. Not an ideal place to live when you are into windsurfing/kitesurfing.

The closest bigger spots are in Rügen, North Germany and then Denmark.

I know there is a big gap between me and my wife, but there is no chance I am loosing weight and it's impossible for her to gain some.

Ok, I'm leaning towards 7,10,14 or 8,10,14 as two of you have suggested there might be a gap between 8 and 11.

Though I'm still thinking about just getting a 9m2. Could I get away with it?

I am not saying that size doesn't matter but I wouldn't be too concerned about 8 or 9 or about 10 or 11 etc. If you can't make your mind up at all, drop a coin! Technique matters more than size when it comes to +/- 1 square meter of size.