what helps you decide the most if you want to buy new gear?

- reviews in mags
- own experience by testing gear yourself
- what people or friends say at the beach
- reviews online

Let us know how you decide.

Thx
Toby

I'd like to choose based on magazine reviews, but they don't test enough kites.

I just pick something tried and true. I've been using Naish gear from day one and because of that will probably stick to Naish gear because at least I know their gear works. That's with the kites... for boards I've allways used underground as I've used them since day one...

I have to say a mix of these two:

What people say at the beach / in local stores. And leaning more towards web views/reviews

mag reviews and visual cues are what start my attention generally, but i have to see and test stuff in the flesh.

i was always unhappy with the subjective and none comparative nature of reviews in mags, so found the way forward was to compare kit to what you knew and flew.

the only mag that points scores is the german kitesurfing mag, and i have always found there reviews to be the most relavant and honest, its hard to lie about a performance area when you have to rate it against other kit.

and hell, i'm not even german, but i read it anyway, its reviews are that good, the rest of it sucks.....

watching how other kites fly first
to me thats the optimum way
I can see more than I can feel

then thoughts from guys I trust
and ride with local

a mix of reviews from here,
taken with an open mind
and a grain of salt

mags are the last resort
I dont know them
they dont know me
or where or when or how
I RIDE