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Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:03 am
by tautologies
cleepa wrote:I have an 8m strutless kite. I got it for riding in the surf and have been pretty amazed at it's performance for that. It is more powerful than a conventional kite at the same time as turning faster for the same size. It also has improved drift due to the light weight. It has other interesting characteristics that I am still learning to use. So far, relaunch has not been much different to anything else. The one downside as far as I'm concerned is that the lack of struts makes self landing by pulling on a front line a bad option. The kite can easily blow away if not held down, so self landing that way is not an option. I can't comment on jumping because I haven't tried it.

At any rate, I think it's worth approaching this kind of thing with an open mind. I ended up buying my strutless kite because I found the big thread on here about them very interesting reading. I used to be a skeptic, but that thread made me rethink. I have been really pleased with what I have found.
Mine self landed fine on every session. I land and run over to it. Now the spot I am landing has a bit of a windshade so it is not a nuking windy beach. I am quite sure the kite would work fine with an anchor landing too as it sits fine on the wingtip.

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:32 am
by Jantrit
I just ordered my cloud 17. I am in the same situation as the other dads if this kite can get me a couple extra sessions even if it is just cruising around I will be happy. I appreciate the lack of struts from a maintenance point of view. I looked at a number of light wind options and my conclusion was that there are a lot of great kites out there and many of the reviews boil down to personal preference and riding style.

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 3:24 am
by DrLightWind
Starsky wrote:The short commings of a strutless kite will prompt designers to tweak canopy profile and shape to a point and possibly teach us a little more about what and how a strut can help the overall design, rather than just assume they help.
:thumb:
And like wise once you have a good canopy support and good L.E. support,
what you got is a Strutless Pumpless AirFoil with a Supa light weight and flying in 2 knots :idea:
Brakes down vert fast without squeezing the air out of it and folds down to your small backpack :lol:

DrLW

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:56 am
by Gigi;)
Read other strutless posts, but maybe this post will get some interest:

viewtopic.php?p=788376#p788376

Image

:bye:

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:39 am
by Westozzy
I'm not sure there is any justification for bagging outright this design movement. It offers a certain segment of the market another specified option to meet their specific needs. Nor is it accurate to say this is a ground breaking design that will surpass all other approaches. But it is posts like this that narrow down the pros and the cons for the individual to decide if this is the kite for them. There will always be those that see the extreme end of each argument, I'm sure the truth lies somewhere in between!

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 11:58 am
by DrLightWind
It doesn't look like having a tendency to Hindenburg according to preliminary testings :lol:
So the Strutless is a good idea but as the example shows it can be developed further
with a better canopy support.

While the result will be coming with a heightened steering response in few weeks,
what some foils and LEI kites are lacking.......
But I suggest the Pumpless Airfoil for experienced kiters, travelers and "Supa" light wind riding,
who are looking to add a special second or third kite to their quiver :idea:

DrLW


Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 12:51 pm
by NYKiter
I got my hands on a cloud demo and my overall impression was that it turned extremely quickly and had HUGE low end....
Pretty impressive. Im not a jumper so I cant comment.

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:44 pm
by Osprey1
Here's a couple of shots of me from a 9-10 knot session the other night on the BRM 17M Cloud. I know the kite is too high in the weak railey pictured below but it was indeed light and the wind was up higher.

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:12 pm
by windrupted
tautologies wrote: ........I got my strutless kite for waveriding. So far it has worked really well for that.......

I'd like to hear more on how it goes for you in the surf? Maybe how it compares to a light 3 strut wave kite? Does it turn faster? Will it wad up or twist in bad air? Steady thermal wind only? Can it handle gusty stormy conditions at all?

I am anxious to try one but haven't seen one yet. I do notice that sometimes a kite that works fine at some offshore spot that has no land mass interference may not hold it's shape well in say, the lee of a bluff. Do the lack of struts contribute to this? Many spots where I kite have areas of rotors and terrible holes due to the adjacent bluffs. But the waves get really good in there!!!

I am really hoping that these lighter new designs will allow for access in more varied conditions, staying aloft due to the light weight. Does it get through the holes better? In waves, i have found that simply staying in the air when i get badly maytagged (tumbled) in big soup is one of the most important traits a surf kite can have. Just gazing at some of these photos, they look very futuristic.

Re: Strutless kite trend

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:50 pm
by MehYam
Where did 1-strut designs end up? Does it at all give you a compromise between the strutless and strutful options?