Number of struts in different kites

[Rorke]

Does the number of struts influence what kite you ride?

I have really enjoyed my 9 and 12 Kima's in the waves this last season. (I don't think you can pimp a dead ho)
One of my favorite attributes is how they drift/float/hang. Perhaps this is because they are so light, only having 3 struts.
Of course there is more to any design, but in my search for a bigger kite, it is likely going to be a light, reduced strut kite.

I put this together while enjoying Dancing with the Stars with my pregnant wife. Obviously, I needed a distraction. Took over an hour.

Just wanted to contribute. If this helps anyone, great. hopefully it's accurate. Not all kite companies are included. Hell, I haven't seen 90% of these.

Off to kite Shalda Creek, blowin 20-23. 42F.

2009/2010 Kites (newest model available)

2 Struts
Best Guroo (small sizes)

3 Struts
Blade 2010 line up
Eclipse Nano
Eclipse Kima
Liquid Force Envy
Nobile N62
Nobile T5
North Evo
Ozone Instinct Light XC
RRD Religion
Slingshot RPM
Wainman Rabbit


4 Struts
Airush DNA
Airush Lithium
Best Kahoona
Liquid Force Havoc


5 Struts
Airush Varial
Airush Vapor III
Airush Generator
Best Waroo
Best Nemesis NXG
Caution Zombie
Caution Mayhem X
Core GT
Cabrinha Switchblade
Eclipse Thruster
EH Beast
EH Ovando
EH Rippehr
FOne Bandit 3
Flexifoil Neutron
GK Trix
Liquid Force HiFi Comp
Naish Helix
Naish Charger
Naish Cult
Nobile NHP
North Rebel (center floats)
North Vegas
Ocean Rodeo Diablo
Ozone Sport
Ozone Zephyr
Royal Era
Royal Solo
RRD Obsession
RRD Passion
Slingshot Octane
Slingshot Fuel
Takoon Furia Ltd
Takoon Pure
Vari Condor

6 Struts
Airush DNA LW
Cabrinha Nomad
Flexifoil Hadlow Pro
Flexifoil Ion
North Rhino?
Ocean Rodeo Rise
Spleene Q
Takoon Chrono


7 Struts
Cabrinha Crossbow
GK Sonic
Ozone Edge
RRD Addiction

[eag]

didn't the large sizes Slingshot Links have 9 struts. The best thing about those kites was the way the fell from the sky in lulls, maybe 9 struts is too many.

[FredBGG]

Flysurfer 0 struts 0 spars..... plenty of Spagetti

Peter Lynn 0 struts 2 spars

[FranP]

2 STRUTS !!

Best Guroo 2010 (small sizes)

[hobie1463]

Blade 2010 kites ALL have 3 struts.

[knuthansen]

9 struts?? Have never seen a kite like that..
But I think it is generally a good idea to develop different kite sizes with different priorities - e.g. bigger sizes less bomb proof, because you are not going to loop them anyway, therefore lighter and maybe even with less struts.
Personally I love my OR Rises, and my 14m is quite powerful, but apparently a bit heavy compared to other kites. And the 2010 models have even one more strut. However there are trade-offs in everything, so less solid construction might save 1/2 knot, but bring a lot of hassle if something goes wrong.

[bragnouff]

My 6m VSonic has 7 struts and that seems like a LOT of struts on such a small kite. Saying so it feels very solid and flies beautifully even in light conditions (to use on a buggy).
I guess the number of struts is just one part in the complex mix of design. If the kite is well balanced it will stay in the air. The SS Links obviously weren't correctly balanced, at least in their first gen.

[Bayzel]

Royal Solo 2010 have 4 stuts
Splene Q, small sizes have 4 struts
Caution Mayhem Have 7 struts

[kite_n_rnd]

Rorke,

BTW: Thanks for putting this list together.
It will be useful reference material...

Are all the kites 09s or 09/10??


KNR
p.s.
Bragnouff,

That sonic is a nice looking kite.

[tautologies]

11 struts Naish X10 stratosphere (or strutosphere) anno 2003