Hi guys,

I'm planning to retire my 2009 helix kites (6, 9, 12 and 14) this fall - my plan is to buy the new bandit 6 ... But I have a hard time deciding on the sizes.

I have come up with the following alternatives:

A: 5, 7, 9, 12
B: 5, 7, 10, 14
C: 6, 8, 10, 14
D ?? you suggest

I prefer to kite in waves - but do freestyle as well. Im 187 cm and 82 kg.

Help and input will be appreciated

Chris

C, unless you live in HI

Well what winds are you riding in / covering with the setup? I don't know the new bandits so take that into consideration...

Start with the most used size. Pick that. Always. Never cover a 10 with 9 and 11 and then skip the 10.

Then Choose the next size. For me it would be...10 it is my most used size, but I love riding a 9 so I would add a 9..could consider an 8 too.... In a 4 kite setup normally it would be pretty close to the initial size IMO. Then for those more rare and extreme days I would pick something that is perhaps two meters off the 9 or 8...go to 6. Then have a 14 or 13 to go on the super light days.

I mean that type works here..the winds are pretty much the same..with a 10 - 9 or 10 - 8 I could kite 80% of the time here, but with weeks of higher or lower wind where those other kites comes in to play.

You could probably get by with a 3 kite quiver. Start with your go-to kite as Taut suggested. Then go 3 to 4 meter up for your light wind kite, and 2-3 meters down for your high wind kite. With the range of most of the kites now-a-days, can't see why you need more than 3 kites. I actually have 4 kites to cover my range. Mainly because I weigh about 200 lbs, live in San Diego, and travel the coast a lot(17,12, 9, 7) If I did not live in SD, I would go 14, 10, 7 or 12, 9, 7.

how often is your 6m kite that you have now too big? would you use a 5 more than 3 times a year?
if not, then i would guess answer C 6, 8, 10, 14 is perfect for waves if the 14 turns quick(for a 14!).

I'm 200lbs and 15, 11, 9, 7 works well for me anywhere.

One can see that you ride in lots of different conditions (like we do here in DK), and that you are quite experienced.
And you have also discovered yourself (like so many others here), that a 6 and a 9m2 does NOT work for waves, too big a gap
And a 7m2 is too big for waves, quite often, so you need a smaller one for the "best" wavedays.


The Bandit has quite good pull, so if you used your 6 in waves now and then, then it might have to be a 5m2 as the smallest.

In this case, there is no doubt IMO, that you should go A: 5-7-9-12.

From 7 to 10 is a "just" possible gap though, and from 10 to 14 also. Not good but possible.
So if you can live with that, B: 5-7-10-14 is also a "cheap" choice for most windrange (I would never be able to use that though...)


If you rarely use the smallest kite - you could go 6 as the smallest.

Then you have to decide whether you find a 14m2 "Good" for freestyle, or slow ?
If you feel just fine with 14m2's, and you dont like to ride waves with big kites, go with C: 6-8-10-14.

If you find a "typical" 14m2 to be boring and feel big, you have to aim for a 12m2 as your allround and lightwind freestyle kite.
AND, it can be used in really light wind in waves too, if you like that (not possible with a 14).

In that case I would choose D: 6-8-10-12.


Personally I would go with A or D no doubt at all, but that is just me, I know.
I prefer a small step in the big sizes, contrary to what many others do - as there is a huge disadvantage suddenly, up in the big ones - so having a big step is a no-no for me here, as the biggest will just collect dust then, and I feel it is pure waste having it.
Whereas if the max size is only just a tad bigger this means you will more likely choose this kite when too low wind for the second biggest, and you will get way more good days instead of riding underpowered with your second biggest often (as you tend to avoid using your big kite if in any way possible)

But if you enjoy freestyle with a 14m2 and find it "really good" - go with B or C.

Simply a personal choice and liking, whether you want a 14 or 12 as your "go to" freestyle kite.


Just some thoughts and experience from a 78kg rider.


Peter

this is a good problem to have.

I appreciate all your feedback!!

@Tautologies : I ride in wind from 12knts to 30+ - never really got around to doing a log on my riding, so I don't know for sure which kite I ride the most, but the most memorable riding I do with my 6m2... Waveriding is allways with 6 or 9. I get your point about choosing the preferred size! and not around it. Furthermore I think 9 is properly the most used ... but that is with a small margin ...

@iblocalsurfer: I got by with a 3 kite quiver for the first year or so, but sitting on the beach with my twelve and seeing my skinny buddies have a good time, made me go for a 14! So this time around it has to be right from the first purchase ie. the small spacing in the small sizes... instead of only two m2 in the big sizes ...

@Dustfarter: I was 200lbs half a year ago, but that has made me think that I might go without the 14 -- and furthermore I need the small sizes

@Peter Frank: you're right about the small sizes I need less spacing ... and I think that I will be able to use the 5m2 5+ times a year, maybe even more. On at least three occasions last year I've been beached with my 6, just looking on the windsurfers . I tend to like riding the kite a little smaller than other guys with my weight - and adding a 7 would properly be the missing link on many days.

I've actually loved using my 14 - didn't really see it as slow, but that is also a weight issue, more weight and the big kites gets faster

All in all --- I think I will go for the 5, 7, 9 and 12 - and if I miss the 14 - I go on a SUP instead

Again thank you all for your feedback!

I made the mistake of going with my high end and low end kite (8m and 12m) without the one for the sweet spot. So, this year, I'll go with 8, 10,12 m OR Razors. The other added advantage of having a 3 kite quiver is that you don't use up any of your kites within a year, so in the end you get more longevity out of them.

I would skip the 5m and go with a 8,10,12 and light wind kite.