What is best light wind kite?

[phree]

What kite for just cruising in light winds with floaty board to replace a Naish X2 18 ?

[MissionMan]

Probably the Flysurfer Silver Arrow 2 19m. I don't think anything will really match that.

[gideonlow]

*Yawn*

Do a search, the same topic comes up about 50 times . . .

[phree]

Thanks Mission Man. Anybody else? BTW Gideonlow, I did search but the results were dubious so please bare with my boring request for help on the forum!

[Pump me up]

Ram lovers keep circulating their lies. We know ram lovers are prone to exaggeration and just plain misinformation eg see the following thread: Ram airs jump 8m in 8 knots ("The future is bright, the future is foil")

Ram airs are NOT better light wind kites than inflatables. Modern inflatables perform MUCH better than ram airs in light winds.

If you read any of the threads on this forum, even some from Toby himself, you will see that inflatables outperform ram airs in light winds. eg I think it was Toby who described how a Rhino2 20m was staying upwind while equivalent Titans were drifting off downwind.

Ram airs are inferior light wind kites because they:
1 Have excessive drag, compromising the Lift/Drag ratio
2 Turn VERY slowly
3 Have incredible inertia. The Speed 2 19 contains over 11kg of air in its pockets, compared to about 3kg in the Waroo 20m.
4: In wind dropouts, you're much better off with an inflatable.

Despite what anybody tells you, you won't really have fun on any kite (ram air OR inflatable) unless the wind is over about 8 knots. This is the starting point for BOTH ram airs and inflatables, but because of the reasons I've outlined above, inflatables are vastly superior. And this is just the starting point. You won't really be having fun until it hits about 10 knots on an inflatable OR a ram air.

For the definitive light wind comparison, check out the thread on the light-wind show down in San Diego.

Ignore the lies. Ram airs are aerodynamically inferior compared to inflatables.

[Another Toby]

Thanks for the constructive input PMU. Fascinating.

I think the question is, does anybody think they can beat the Flysurfer 19m SilverArrow2 in a light wind challenge? Anybody?

Another answer to the original question, replacing an 18m X2, I think most 13m+ SLE/Bow's would do the job, with much better top end, but the big Flysurfer Speed2's are the best. I think the 15m would be pretty sweet.

[gideonlow]

Thanks Mission Man. Anybody else? BTW Gideonlow, I did search but the results were dubious so please bare with my boring request for help on the forum!

You can start with these threads:

phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2339271&highlight=silver+arrow
phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2338414&highlight=silver+arrow

They probably cover 95% of people's opinions on this forum.

Cheers,

Gideon

[phree]

Hey thanks yeah?! I am also looking at the Cabrinha Contra. I found a wicked thread on that subject if anyone is interested:
phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2328877&postdays= ... sc&start=0

[MissionMan]

You can ignore anything from Pump me up. He has the IQ of a brick and thats being generous.

I don't ride foils, I ride LEI's (Takoon Nova 2) and I'll tell you that foils are better light wind kites. If I wanted the ultimate light wind kite, I'd go for a foil.

I tried the contra and it is nice, but put it side by side with a silver arrow and you are going to need 21m of contra bow size to get the same amount of power at least.

If you have your mind stuck on bows, then the contra is an option, but if you are prepared to broaden your mind, a foil is the way to go.

[Rockstar]

Get the Contra.

Its hands down the best all round performing light wind kite.

A 14 m will easilly replace X2 18 in light winds,and if it picks up,the Contra will still be good up to 25 knots.