What kite should I get?

[HomerJay]

I recently got into foiling, and am thinking about investing in a foil-specific kite. Ideally, I'm looking for a single kite to cover about 10-20kts. I don't think I'll be out in lighter winds for a while, and when it's windier I'll be twintipping. My foil is a Gong Pro L (1350cm2) with kite stab.

After doing some browsing, it looks like either a wave kite or a single strut kite is the way to go. But what size will I need...??

My current (not-so) shortlist is:
North/Duotone Mono
North/Duotone Neo
Slingshot SST
RRD Religion
RRD Emotion
Ozone Alpha
Ozone Enduro

Any recommendations much appreciated!

[TomW]

I think you have 4 choices:
1. Moderate aspect foil kite like a ozone hyperlink 9m or Kitech FRS 9m ( I've ridden 9m hyperlinkfor years in those conditions. But really 20knots is a bit much on the 9m. 18 max is more like it.
2. Slingshot ufo , size uncertain but people saying a 7 will work, but personally don't believe it. I think you need a 9 and 5m or 9-7 ufo.
3. Single strut 10m
4. 3 strut wave kite, 10m. But 10 knots it will be small.

Problem is that lets say you are out in 10-12 knots. Thats barely white caps where i kite. Youd need a bit bigger kite. If its 18-20, that big kite is going to be too big.
For me, ranges of kite+ wind are: 8-14 knots, 13m. 12-18, 9m. 16-22, 7m 22-30, 4,5m.

So really for 10-20 you need 2 kites.

What i say here will be debated, because theres so much variety of conditions, foil sizes, weight and preferences on how much power you like to have on tap.

[jkrug]

So really for 10-20 you need 2 kites.

especially for foiling. for me, 10-13=16M, 13-16=12M,16-18=8 or 9M, 18+=6M.

[tkaraszewski]

Like others have already said, you can get a kite that will work for that wind range, but you will be pretty underpowered at 10 knots and pretty overpowered at 20. If you're really looking for 12-18 knots with the ability to handle some bigger gusts or lighter lulls, then the suggestions here should work well, but if you want comfortable power at 10 knots average wind speed and also at 20, you probably want 2 kites.

[jumptheshark]

Drop the three strut kites from your list.

Leaves the RRD, North/Doutone and Ozone. Naish, Peter Lynn, Slingshot, Liquid Force and several others also have single strut kites. Go 9m.

My advice? Commit and get one strutless kite. 8 or 9m.


Takes a while before your good enough to get down to 10-11 knots with an 8/9m but you have the right size foil. If you like wave foiling you’ll soon be sick of being overpowered and want something smaller for over 15 knots.

[Windigo1]

I use a 9m Naish Boxer to foil in that wind range with Gong M pro no problems plenty of power to ride in 10 knots it can go lower. In 20 knots you will be very powered but it's still very enjoyable. Starting around 15 knots the 7m Boxer works good but if I'm on the 9m and the wind goes up keeping the 9m is no problems. You are not considering Naish for some reason .. but of the ones listed if I had to pick I would go 9m Ozone Alpha for foiling.

[Flyboy]

Do you not already have some kites? I would focus on getting a kite that works in 10 knots & use existing kites for anything over 14 knots. In that much wind pretty much anything will work. Once you're fully committed to foiling you may want to get a more foil specific kite for 15 knots plus.

[oregonkiter]

If possible try out a no strutter: SS UFO and/or Cloud

Amazing foiling kites imo

[Peter_Frank]

I recently got into foiling, and am thinking about investing in a foil-specific kite. Ideally, I'm looking for a single kite to cover about 10-20kts. I don't think I'll be out in lighter winds for a while, and when it's windier I'll be twintipping. My foil is a Gong Pro L (1350cm2) with kite stab.

Snip....

Hi HomerJay, to advice it seems you need to tell us a bit more.

I noticed you wrote "am thinking about investing in a foil-specific kite".

But you did not say WHY?

To cover that range from 10 to 20 knots with one kite simply wont work, possible, but in no way fun nor usable, especially not for the freerider.

And as some said, which kites do you have now?

You dont write your foiling level either, "recently got into foiling" dont say whether you are a beginner floating around, or you can ride and carve just fine?

Do you have freestyle C shaped kites now?

As otherwise I can see no reason at all to get foil specific kites, only for low winds, meaning below 12 knots where lighter kites are much better.

Getting one kite for that huge range does not make sense....

Sweetspot for the average weight rider with your big wing would be something like:
10 knots - 9 to 10 m2 LEI
20 knots - 4 to 4.5 m2 LEI

A 7 m2 could cover maybe 12 to 16 or 17 knots, being a bit small in 12 and really big in 17.

Just to give you an idea what you are up against

Peter

[RalfsB]

My foil is a Gong Pro L (1350cm2) with kite stab.

I am using Gong Pro M wing, in light winds I prefer Gin Marabou 9m (power-wise close to a 11-12m lei kite), when it gets a bit stronger I use 9m Naish Boxer. When it gets even stronger, I ride a surfboard.
A while ago I tried a strutless RRD Emotion but did not like it, have not tried the latest ones.