4 line or 5th line

[downunder]

On I take it it you haven't flown the dice on 4 and 5 lines then? Or are you taking only about tensioned 5th line kites. Have you tried many ozone kites? Seem direct enough to me.

That's like saying rear wheel drive is better than front. Or vice verse. And than you have all wheel drive:) Personal feeling, preference and a skill of the driver.

[dazarter]

Try yourself first....i did have 5th line kites and they really annoyed me...did not have too many problems with wrapping etc etc....but also no benefits at all.....i now ride 4 line kite and am really happy about it, 5 lines are just too much trouble, with 4 its easier end of story, they start just as well, have excellent safety (on one line), easy setup, costs less to replace, looks beter, if you ride alone alot and on lakes dont even think about 5 lines, after the first line salad with 5 lines you'll regret it....my 4 line kites actually are calmer after releasing than 5th line kites that i have tried.

If you want rebels than you have no choice but 5 lines....never tried them just too expensive for me should be good though....but im staying fixed to 4 liners anyway.....

[JGTR]

Flown Evo on 5 lines and its a different kite

[Wiski23]

Split my 12m 5line mutiny C kite in half today Kite Stalled then inverted on way down,surf took it, 5th line wrapped than bang! Sliced it in half... GUTTED!!
Q. Fixable? Will it fly the same? Easy repair?

Cheers wiski

[bnthere]

i think most of this debate is pretty well hashed out in the previous comments.

i would argue with an early comment regarding single (4line) centerline systems being likely to result in a line tangle that is difficult to sort out on the water and relaunch after releasing the bar onto the leash system, that is almost never the case. in my opinion resetting and relaunching a kite disabled by a single (4line) centerline system is easier and less likely to result in a line cross than relaunching a kite which is laying on its back or straight into the wind on its LE after disabling onto a 5th line, but both are equally effective at bringing down a kite when you need to.

a little side topic: i believe there is only 1 kite left that requires a 5th line. the North Rebel. any others? (the rebel btw is a great fast freeride kite, and super popular, but it should be recognized that there are other kites of the same/similar shape and performance which use a bridle to support the LE as apposed to a 5th line.

[matth]

Vegas and Dyno are both 5lines only. Liquid Force has a 5 liner also. I am sure there are a few more. I think 5 lines benefits easily out weight their negatives. And most kite companies do not want to scare people off with 5 line kites, so they make complicated bridals and use pulleys to try to achieve the performance and safety of a 5 line kite.
Ironically 5 line kites are actually less complicated.

[edt]

i think most of this debate is pretty well hashed out in the previous comments.

i would argue with an early comment regarding single (4line) centerline systems being likely to result in a line tangle that is difficult to sort out on the water and relaunch after releasing the bar onto the leash system, that is almost never the case. in my opinion resetting and relaunching a kite disabled by a single (4line) centerline system is easier and less likely to result in a line cross than relaunching a kite which is laying on its back or straight into the wind on its LE after disabling onto a 5th line, but both are equally effective at bringing down a kite when you need to.

a little side topic: i believe there is only 1 kite left that requires a 5th line. the North Rebel. any others? (the rebel btw is a great fast freeride kite, and super popular, but it should be recognized that there are other kites of the same/similar shape and performance which use a bridle to support the LE as apposed to a 5th line.

foil kites like fly surfer need 5 line for the safety, most c kites like Vegas torch best gp need a tensioned 5th line dyno needs 5th doesn't it plenty of kites the rebel is pretty unique tho

[matth]

Split my 12m 5line mutiny C kite in half today Kite Stalled then inverted on way down,surf took it, 5th line wrapped than bang! Sliced it in half... GUTTED!!
Q. Fixable? Will it fly the same? Easy repair?

Cheers wiski

My 2010 Ocean Rodeo Rise split in half when I dropped it in the surf also. Surf will eat any kite.
I have read that with 5th line it is best to hit safety and flag kite in the surf. With 5th line safety this actually can put the kite in a better position and take less damage than a four line. Lots of 4 lines kites like Cabs(NOT 2014) and OR will not depower and rollover if you do not move towards them.

[longwhitecloud]

have never damaged a kite with 5th line in 7 years. has happened though - if it wraps i flag out completely and haul it in. I

5th line..... pain in the ass sometimes - your best friend in dodgy situations/ easy relauch

been riding a dice - kind of hard to knows what is going of for freestyle - so fast and light bar pressure - im like.. how did the kite just do a 3/4 loop! guess u would get used to it a bit

i think 5th line kites (well all kites) need to be flagable onto single front line - fully flaggable to kite span stretched out..

there is a gap in the market right now i reckon for a combined wave and freestyle kite. specialist kites take away the awesome diversity of kiting to me.

[marlboroughman]

I own 5 line kites since 2005 until today with no single issue and those are the best kites in my quiver I always try something new on 4 lines and always get burned like with the RPM and Park. I like the kite to fly deep in the window and the 5th is really nice feature to stop it from back stalling. My Vapors fly on both set ups but with bridle the turns become more pivotal some people like that, I don't know why, anyone can explain what is the pivotal turn for.