Hi guys. I ve been using a 10m Bandit for a year in a wind range 18+. Now that I moved, I need a kite for much lower wind ranges. something I can use when there s around 10+ kn.
With all gear and wetsuits, I am 90kg.

Is there any 12/13m kites you can recommend that have enough power to give me a smooth ride in 10kn. Ideally, it would be a kite that would turn quickly enough and give me enough pop to do some basic tricks in wind ranges around 18/20+ and still has a good depower so that control is not much of an issue when it becomes gusty.

Thanks for any reply. Cheers

Well im 85 and use my Cabrinha Swithclade from 4.5 m/s ca 9 knots...
Thats with my 6.1 surfboard or a raceboard.. There is really not enough wind for tricks apart from surf jibes/tacks as long as the wind is under 10 knots for me..

Lightwind is dependent on alot of things. your skill level, board and kite..
If you want a powerfull 12 meter the switchblade is my favoritte for 2012..

If you wanna do simple tricks in sub 10 knots conditions you would need to look at a much bigger kite and board..

I say.. get a surfboard that works for lightwind.. Better, chaper and more fun than a big kite..

If you like the Bandit why not a new Bandit 12/13?

Ofcourse we can all shout out our favorite brands and stuff but what kinda kite you like?

Your expectations are too high. you want to go 300mph but you only want to buy a Dodge Neon.

Make it realistic and you will get better advice.

for 10 knots and a lw board ( not a race or surfboard) u should aim to 14/15m kites (X-bow, foils, switchblade, hydra, whatever big kites)
for a regular 10knots over year, aim towards a real lw kite: 17/21m ( dedicaced LW kites)

and a good board, that helps a lot.

u can do newschool/unhooked kites even with the fat speed3 21..

i agree with stefaans on that.


i weight 70kg, i have mostly 8/15knots, i have a directionnal +15 for under 10 and my regular TT +15 until 20knots (i can alos use my regular 10 past 15knots) i lite to ride powered.

i would weight 90kg and i would be in a 8/10knts zone, i would buy a speed3 21 deluxe so i could be able to jump at 2m for 90kg.
parked and powered upwind , sinning = underpowered = it sucks. i hate sinning kites.

Thanks for the info. Looks like I have to let the idea go that I can get away with anything as small as a 12 or 13.

well, u might stick with thoses size if u want to waveride with a surf . easier to use a nimble kite for that speciality. big size are slow , u can't help that, need to recalibrate your timing. just when u use a 6m instead of a 10....

lw requiers usually specific gear and skills....
- a good board ( if the board is too small, whatever the size of the kite, u will have troubles)
raceboard, doors, directionnals, wide boards.
- a high/very high aspect ratio kite (easely parked in low winds and allow to edge , parked )
- some good skills in the low end

for me LW is 7/10knots, above, i can ride with a 12 and my directionnal....
but at 10-12knots with my 15 and my directionnal, i can go above 20knts ( rider speed) and if i edge and sheet in


-LW: a kite that will also be easy to relaunch and/or be able to stay in the lowest wind possible....
a kite that can t be relaunched = u swim/pack
a wet kite is harder to relaunch in low winds = it s better to have a kite in the air than in the water...

ie: with a raceboard, it s possible to ride in a wind that won t be enough to relaunch it...keep that in mind.

If I were you I'd take a look at the Blade Fat Lady. It's a 17m and pretty fast.