From 11 knots I switch to the 5 m2 as the 6 gets too big.
Use an 1100 cm2 wing and a tad longer/ bigger board for lowend and a 1200 cm2 lower aspect wing and smaller board when okay wind.
Peter
Thanks. I'm a little heavier than you are, my lines are a little shorter, and my foil is a little smaller, but I doubt that is enough to make that much of a difference. Either we have weaker winds (our winds are warm) or I need to work on my foil kite technique. Maybe a bit of both.
I disagree about the Peak4 8m, which gets a lot of bad press here. Comparisons against the 5m and 6m (which I haven’t tried) are misguided: those require more wind. If you want to compare, choose a 12-15m closed cell.
The 8m is still magic: it’s just a different kind of magic. Don’t forget, there’s barely enough wind. In my experience, the 8m is required, because I’ve had sessions in hot weather where it was barely pulling enough when parked, even with a 1450 HA foil (180 lbs rider).
Another thing that I learned recently: with 30m lines, the 8m gets me going in the lightest winds - i.e., those winds that don’t look like they could stop at any moment. I haven’t used my 13m ultralight closed cell (1.9 kg) even once this summer…
I have the Peak4 in 6m2 and 8m2. I am happy for the 8m2 also. I could not do without.
I would choose the 8m2 from 9-10knots. ~1100m2 wing, and 70 kg.
I am not sure when I will switch to the 6m2. But alot more wind. Maybe 15 knots? I prefer not to be underpowered, and find that the peak4 kites are fine a little powered, even though many write about bad high end..
For sure we have all different tastes. I am similar caracteristic as you (1100 65KG) and I am thinking to get the 3m with steady 15knot.... 20m lines. Switch to 12m lines with 18knot or more.
With the 5m I am using from 8-9knt on 29m lines to 15knot on 20m lines.
My experience with the big peaks was ok with the 8m... Wich has a usable progresive top end.
But the 11m not very good for my weight. Lots of unstabilities and uncomfortable overpowered very easily.
I think the big sizes needs a heavy rider, so they are not for everyone.
So the 8m is a lightwind kite if you are about 70Kg.... the same way 11m if you are under 90Kg ....no experience with the 13m
I disagree about the Peak4 8m, which gets a lot of bad press here. Comparisons against the 5m and 6m (which I haven’t tried) are misguided: those require more wind. If you want to compare, choose a 12-15m closed cell.
The 8m is still magic: it’s just a different kind of magic. Don’t forget, there’s barely enough wind. In my experience, the 8m is required, because I’ve had sessions in hot weather where it was barely pulling enough when parked, even with a 1450 HA foil (180 lbs rider).
Another thing that I learned recently: with 30m lines, the 8m gets me going in the lightest winds - i.e., those winds that don’t look like they could stop at any moment. I haven’t used my 13m ultralight closed cell (1.9 kg) even once this summer…
I agree completely. Used my 8m Peak4 and this summer the replacing 8m Peak5 happily in conditions where my friends were on 12-15m closed cell kites.
From 11 knots I switch to the 5 m2 as the 6 gets too big.
Use an 1100 cm2 wing and a tad longer/ bigger board for lowend and a 1200 cm2 lower aspect wing and smaller board when okay wind.
Peter
Thanks. I'm a little heavier than you are, my lines are a little shorter, and my foil is a little smaller, but I doubt that is enough to make that much of a difference. Either we have weaker winds (our winds are warm) or I need to work on my foil kite technique. Maybe a bit of both.
Actually, I think that the combination of those factors WILL make the difference. After all, we're only talking about 1 knot difference. In addition, who knows if we're actually looking a 9 knots or 10 knots? I have an idea about what wind I am looking at based on 40 years participating in wind sports, but I couldn't swear that my evaluation is accurate to within 1 knot. I'm just going on wind readings after the fact, at sites often some distance away from where I'm actually on the water.
The difference between the low-end performance of a 6m Peak and a 5m Peak isn't that great ... but it can be the critical difference between kiting and not kiting on any given day. I suppose the same is true of the 8m Peak. I've always considered that 10 knots is the low end for when I would consider going foiling and not really interested in chasing lower than that, but that's because 8 - 10 knot days - with consistent wind in that range - don't seem to occur with any frequency where I am.
I think the simplest way to describe the progression of Peak kites from small to large is that small Peak kites means more wind and more fun and large Peak kites means less wind and maybe not as much fun.
However whenever I hear people condemning Peak kites 8m and above as not being as good as the smaller sizes I slap my head in frustration. The big Peak kites may not be as fast as small ones but they are so much more responsive and manoeuvrable than virtually any other type or brand of kite in the same conditions. That makes the larger Peak kites fantastic by comparison
For most of us Peak users faced with light wind, we are still out there on a bigger Peak kite having some fun while inflatable and twin skin kiters are on the shore or dealing with an unwieldy large kite falling out of the sky that cost double or more the price of a Peak.
So don't condemn the bigger Peaks, you'll only discourage potential users from the opportunity to get enjoyment out of light winds.
Hi Guys,
Got a Peak4 5m for sale.
Used +-10 times.
Never Never dropped in the sea.
No damage, no repairs.
Excellent condition.
Located in Belgium
Price 400 euro.
Pm for pictures or info