Very intersting discussion here! I´m absolutely new to this low wind thing here, no experience at all. Just bought myself a foilboard and willing to learn...
I was surprised in this discussion here that there was not much of a talk about no strut or one strut inflatables.
Ist´t for example a Gong strutless 17m² THE bang for the buck lightwind machine as it costs just 500€ plus some 250 for the 69cm bar maybe? That would be brandnew equipment compared to a few years old foilkites for the same money with maybe already worn out tissue and bridle issues...
Have not used a strutless kite yet, but the videos of Gong and Boardriding Maui really look like fun. It mite have one more advantage over foilkites: you can just wait some 15 minutes and hope for the wind picking up again when the foils already in the water...
Talking about bang for the buck: Who of you guys has bought a Pansh foilkite and could use it right out of the bag? Just the way it was, no modifications whatsoever? And would you guys buy Pansh again? All threads here end up in bridle modifications talk and I could not find out if that was really necessary or just a little bit nerdy hobby for the fun in doing some experiments one probably would not do on a 2500€ kite. Talking about Pansh: How are their waterstart abilities compared to other foilkites? How ist their tissue, how are their intake valves? How long can they rest on the water until restart and hows that compared to other brands, and compared to used tissue of other brands?
Talking about easy modifications for lighter winds: Why no longer lines? Mite be the cheapest way to gain more lightwind abilitys, no? Why this new trend with the short lines? Weren´t people using line extensions on their normal 24m lines some years ago to have more low end? Wouldn´t that also help a lot to have a longer "deeper" surge on a powerdive, to get you up on the foil? And also give you some time in a lull to keep the kite in the air? Old school huge bars and long lines? I think there was one Gong promo video online where they were riding their 17m strutless on 60m lines in almost no wind...
And last but not least: How much money did you guys spend to gain that last knot foiling on a loooow wind day? Is it worth it for you, or was it in the end mostly crappy sessions and a lot of swimming with tangled lines anyhow? Would it have been better just get a SUP or a new bicycle?