Kiteforum.com

Developed some elbow issues last season and reading through the forums it seems like low bar pressure kites are part of the solution.
Currently riding 2010 cabrinha crossbow 10m 2011 switchblade 12m.
Which freeride kites have low bar pressure?
I would prefer to stay with cabrinha if the new kites 2013/2014 have significantly less bar pressure but am open to other brands.
I ride mostly in 17-30 mph conditions and like boosting and want to get into waves this season.

Ozone Edge is lowish if you must go with an inflatable. Lowest for me was the flysurfer and Chrono (foil kites) if you are open to those kites. There is a transition period but once down can really work in your favour.

Foil kites kill the punch, but in return rip you upwind and can get some killer air and float. Lowest to date was the foils. Sorry

Not sure how higher aspect inflatable kites vs lower aspect kites differ in bar pressure. Maybe brand by brand or aspect by aspect.

Ozone Edge again !

I'm 93kg, (205Lb), and with my big board, can get rolling with my 13M, in about
13 to14mph ; the 142 underground i can comfortably handle 28 to 30mph, but hang-On in more,
for a short time.

The newer Edge has a slightly larger LE, so i suspect those numbers are a bit lower ?
Bar pressure is Very light with that kite, but the AR is kinda high. If i want to loop
it in a transition turn, or a deep water start in light winds, i kinda need to grab the
back-line with my hand, and give it a pull.

Bille

Cabrinha is known for big barpressure and have ruined many elbows. But the Velocity has much more nice barpressure than crosbow and switchblade.
Other kites I have tried with nice low barpressure is the Slingshot Rally 2014 (freeride kite) and Edge (Race kite like Velocity).

Rally??
Form elbow issues consider some kites may have okay bar pressure but to initiate the turn can he harder and cause strain. Generally delta based kites can exhibit these characteristics. You al so need to consider that some kites the bar pressure will increase with increasing wind, generally I'm finding on static bridles seem to be more prone to this. Not always though just generalising a little, but it's what I've found and look for.

Yeh edge for sure.

I suffer from tennis elbow.

I found the North Rebel has a great light bar pressure when the steering lines are set on the lowest setting and the the Y has some slight slack.

Its a pleasure to fly.

GO NORTH!

I've got bad arthritis in one elbow and one wrist. Really pleased with the bar pressure on the 2014 SS Rally, I own a 12 and an 8.

NYKiter wrote:I suffer from tennis elbow.

I found the North Rebel has a great light bar pressure when the steering lines are set on the lowest setting and the the Y has some slight slack.

Its a pleasure to fly.

GO NORTH!

Yeh rebels another good call...ya looking for something with some aspect bro.



The rally...okay I felt yeh okay and pressure but turning the thing required a fair bit of input, but that was a 2012 and a 2013....not heavy but enough to give me the shits.

My 2013 LF NRG has very light bar pressure with quick turning if you use the minimal bar pressure attachment point on the kite (clearly labeled with multiple points/options available). Personally I need strong bar pressure to know where the kite is, both in the wind window and in terms of power, but if you WANT light bar pressure, its definitely available. Becomes feather touch in that mode - I feel like I have to reach out Luke Skywalker style with The Force to figure out where the kite is.

No idea how it would handle in big waves, if thats important you might need something else. At the least, talk to someone with wave experience (I have none with my kites, biggest waves around here are like 1 foot).

I have the 12m 2014 Rally and I would not consider it low bar pressure. The 12m Rebel I tried yesterday has lower bar pressure. The Edges I have flown have lower bar pressure. I find the bar pressure on my Dice to be lower. However the pressure on my 12m Rally is less than my older 13m Slingshot Rev. It is less than the 2012 Cabrinha Switchblades. So in the end I will call it MEDIUM