Have lei kites gotten any better in the last 6 years?

[plummet]

I still ride 2011-2013 kites and have not demoed any kites that I thought out out performed mine. The only characteristics that have been improved are in the light wind department.

That's the boat I'm in now. My 2012 kites are getting real thin. The new stuff doesn't feel any better to me. Nor do I feel that my kites are holding me up compared to riders on new kites.

[Do-it]

Vegas- I use for wave riding.
Naish charger - this kite boosts and floats better than any kite ive flown.
Or razor - most powerfull kite ever.

[Peter_Frank]

Of course, "special" kites for light wind, hydrofoiling that is, are present the last 2-3 years only, and has not really existed before - so wrong to say they have gotten "better", as you got nothing to compare to

IMO, LEI kites for waveriding, 10 m2 and below, havent changed the last years - well, okay, according to the manufacturers they are WAY better of course ha haa, but they only tweak small things and colours, and use a lot of PR to get us to think they are much better, I mean this seriously

Thats how the game has always been, and will continue - the difference is though, that earlier there could be huge differences in how good kites were made - not any more...

Differences in how they work and to what, yes, but that got nothing to do with "getting better"

The hydrofoiling scene has opened up a whole new era of LEI kites, and now lately also foil kites are aimed for non-racers, which is a plus for many non hydrofoilers too in light wind and even light wind waves

I got many kites 1 m2 spaced, and with many years between (change when one is worn out), and also ride my friends kites now and then - and IMHO I can not see much or any change the last half decade of years
Which is good for us kitesurfers

Peter

[HellYeah]

"This year we made the graphics smaller, which will give the kite 1 gram of weight reduction and an extra 1/100th of a knot power" "This year we also added pulleys, to give everyone lighter bar pressure. This way, you don't have to go to the gym before you go kiting" "We also use loop end pigtails, so now those with soft hands don't have to strain their fingers and tie a knot" "Our kite is now the ultimate lightweight machine, oh but I almost forgot, we added an extra large flow valve! Now you can pump air into the kite easier, (too bad it adds 3 grams of weight to the kite)"

"Buy our kite now, you can get it on sale for 2000 dollars"

"If you want a bar included it will be another 1000, but call within the next 15 minutes and we'll include it for just 999.99!"

Yeah kites just keep getting better and better

[GraemeF]

I still ride 2011-2013 kites and have not demoed any kites that I thought out out performed mine. The only characteristics that have been improved are in the light wind department.

That's the boat I'm in now. My 2012 kites are getting real thin. The new stuff doesn't feel any better to me. Nor do I feel that my kites are holding me up compared to riders on new kites.

I think for the most part we're all constrained by our points of reference, gone are the early days of lots of new ideas coming thick and fast, so we all tend to get blasé . TBH I wouldn't know what a recent Naish flies like I rarely ever see one never mind get chance to put it up against what I'm flogging, so my point of reference is only previous year stuff from the brand I'm currently working with, or 2014 stuff from the previous brand which at that time was about to have a bad year anyway. We don't get the multi brand demo events we used to get when the market was young and growing explosively, nor do we get new companies innovating riskily because the profit base isn't there.

[SSK]

I think what is interesting in this question is the time period. Six years is right on the bubble. I think my answer to five years and my answer to seven years would be quite different. My reference is wave kites. My kites from 5 years ago are only slight improvements. My kites from seven or eight years ago are pretty substantial.

[DJwilson]

Good question....better materials, better inflation, better safety YES
More fun, purer flying machines, better all round packages = NO

[Chicken-loop]

In general performance has not got significantly better. However things like control systems, materials, kite stability and refinement have improved...