12 vs 15m for Marginal

[Janus]

My 2 cts;
Me: 72kg, Nobile Zen Freeride, Soul 6, 10 and 12m. (sharing with my son)

Wind 6 - 10 kts G12kts : 12m. super combo in the sub 10kts and really able to loose the power in the gusts and very stable in the gusts, if this kite stays in the air you can foil. My son on the beach..

Wind 8 - 12 kts G15kts : 10m. the perfect setup, jumps are great (i prefer -3m lines but my son not on the TT), more lively in gusty conditions, keep it more in the window in gusty wind. My son on the 12 (with Skim & TT) and me on the 10, perfect.The money kite if you want to boost on a TT in 20+ kts, from 15 kts and a TT: Big smile..

Wind 15 - 20 kts G?? : 6m. with -3m shorter lines. great in waves nice drift in the kite. My son on the 10m boosting and in the upper wind range wanting my 6m... (and I have to take a 5m tube)

[Regis-de-giens]

At one point, you need to be lifted on the board, what ever the agility of the kite, and for this step a 15m (with longer lines to keep an efficient large loop) is necessary, even with 60kg. For ultimate low end above 70kg, even a 18m.(very light and agile) is useful... in my humble opinion

Have you tried a really big wing? While I have experienced the same as you (21m kite but not big wing), I am now trying a big surf wing and indeed you get lifted on the board with much less power = smaller kite.

My light wind wing is a 1200 cm2, so yes it is big. My ultimate low end is with the 15m and is almost the same low end as when i use my light-freride wing of about 880 cm2. I just need more skills (pumping the foil while looping the kite) with the 880 cm2. 1200 cm2 is more plug and play. Loop is still needed but no need to pump the hydrofoil.

I am not a fan of high AR for light wind and prefer the stability and continuous and grunty power during the loop of a mid ratio kite (which gives more grunt at low speed and more efficient to sinusoids to cross very low lulls). And by experience (excuse me for the self-confidence... ) i never saw any guy riding in lower wind with a high AR kite, on my steady spot , including several race europ champions on flysurfer vmg 21 (but heavier and shorter lines i must admit). My sonic2 (sold now... ) developps less effective power during a loop at waterstart than my Pulsion, my feeling.

[AndersP]

I had a wonderful lightwind session yesterday. Wind was 6-7 peaking 8-9 knots. In the weakest lulls I had to work the kite while i was in the water.. I no problem at starting with 2 sine turns. Just cruising around in 8-15 knots of speed.
Kite behaved very well and could hang at zenit almost all the time.

Gear: Gong 12m strutless (didn't use the batten) and Gong surffoil 1500cm2 with the 4'6 board. My weight 68kg.

[Cefirmeza]

came across to another FS sonic fr but this time found a good deal on a barely used 11m.
Can anybody say something about low end stability and relaunch of this kite? Is it also a beginner friendly foil kite?

[Foil]

came across to another FS sonic fr but this time found a good deal on a barely used 11m.
Can anybody say something about low end stability and relaunch of this kite? Is it also a beginner friendly foil kite?

I cant comment on that model, but that size for me will not deliver the goods in the super light wind that this thread is aimed at finding.
I have am 11mtr chrono V3 ultralight, and consider this not up there as the best super light wind tool.
my 13 however has been my most fun kite to use in next to no wind,
however, there is a very small gap the 13 misses, and my 15 chrono ultralight certainly fills this.
but, there is a but.
I don't enjoy using it, at least not in the winter winds as I get to feel the gusty bits as being far too overpowered,
And often end up with rapidly increasing heart rate moments as the little gusts try to turf me off the board,
thermal summer winds though feel quite different, almost a pleasure to use.
The Jury is still out on this kite for me, I did put it up for sale recently, but removed the add after a few days just in case I changed my mind when on holiday for two months in the warm winds of fuerteventura,
that holiday starts tomorrow, so my verdict on my 15mtr will be finalised by february.

right now my 13mtr chrono ultralight is my answer to finding the best kite for fun and boosting in featherlight conditions.
expensive option though

I must add that Steve my sailing buddy who is light at near 70kg just loves his 15mtr chrono v3 ultralight, I am 20kg heavier, but his skill level on a foilboard and foil kite is off the scale, so that plays a big part.

[Cefirmeza]

came across to another FS sonic fr but this time found a good deal on a barely used 11m.
Can anybody say something about low end stability and relaunch of this kite? Is it also a beginner friendly foil kite?

I cant comment on that model, but that size for me will not deliver the goods in the super light wind that this thread is aimed at finding.
I have am 11mtr chrono V3 ultralight, and consider this not up there as the best super light wind tool.
my 13 however has been my most fun kite to use in next to no wind,
however, there is a very small gap the 13 misses, and my 15 chrono ultralight certainly fills this.
but, there is a but.
I don't enjoy using it, at least not in the winter winds as I get to feel the gusty bits as being far too overpowered,
And often end up with rapidly increasing heart rate moments as the little gusts try to turf me off the board,
thermal summer winds though feel quite different, almost a pleasure to use.
The Jury is still out on this kite for me, I did put it up for sale recently, but removed the add after a few days just in case I changed my mind when on holiday for two months in the warm winds of fuerteventura,
that holiday starts tomorrow, so my verdict on my 15mtr will be finalised by february.

right now my 13mtr chrono ultralight is my answer to finding the best kite for fun and boosting in featherlight conditions.
expensive option though

I must add that Steve my sailing buddy who is light at near 70kg just loves his 15mtr chrono v3 ultralight, I am 20kg heavier, but his skill level on a foilboard and foil kite is off the scale, so that plays a big part.

Like some others said in this thread maybe the kite size would depend on the wing and the type of riding aimed.
For my 65kg (145lbs) I hope not to use anything bigger than a 11m for freeride foiling.
Considering the good deal I found on a foil kite I am taking the step. I am just curious if this FR model is worth trying or maybe I should wait to get a lighter model more suited for lightwind HF.