please rate the 3 biggest (wider) wind range LEI kite today

[Faxie]

To me the "old" genetrix Hydra has an enormous wind range. Heavy kite and not agile, but a light Weight Friend, 60 kg, was using the 7m up to 55 knots with still comfort margin.
So, one of the best choice if you only consider the wind range and safety in high winds (and high jumps)

First that came to mind.

[nothing2seehere]

To me the "old" genetrix Hydra has an enormous wind range. Heavy kite and not agile, but a light Weight Friend, 60 kg, was using the 7m up to 55 knots with still comfort margin.
So, one of the best choice if you only consider the wind range and safety in high winds (and high jumps)

First that came to mind.

Genetrix Hydra. So much depower that it was the only kite where the manufacturer suggested hot launching as a safe way to launch. Watching it done I was always surprised how little pull there was compared to launching a foil kite. Speaking of which - widest comfortable range of any kite I've flown is definitely a foil kite. But I can understand why they aren't for everyone.

Multiple line lengths on your kites make a huge difference to the comfortable wind range. Having 3 bars with 24/22/20m lines can really help you get the maximum wind range out of kites that are designed to sit forwards in the window (Rebel/Evo/Orbit/Xr7 style kites). Haven't tried on surf kites designed to sit back but would imagine you'd see a good improvement in windrange too.

[rnelias]

Genetrix Hydra. So much depower that it was the only kite where the manufacturer suggested hot launching as a safe way to launch. Watching it done I was always surprised how little pull there was compared to launching a foil kite. Speaking of which - widest comfortable range of any kite I've flown is definitely a foil kite. But I can understand why they aren't for everyone.

Multiple line lengths on your kites make a huge difference to the comfortable wind range. Having 3 bars with 24/22/20m lines can really help you get the maximum wind range out of kites that are designed to sit forwards in the window (Rebel/Evo/Orbit/Xr7 style kites). Haven't tried on surf kites designed to sit back but would imagine you'd see a good improvement in windrange too.

In fact you don't need multiple bars but lines segmented...

I only now a few bars that come with lines segmented. Clickbar M comes with 22+2m. Cabrinha AV8 comes with 16+3+3 -- I use this bar with my FS Souls 8/12m and it's an amazing bar.

[nothing2seehere]

True. But I prefer different bars as its a lot easier to pull out a different bar as the wind picks up than it is to take off line extensions.

[alpaia]

Hi I would tend to agree that kites that can go to the edge of the wind window and have a neutral profile have a great top end.
II had a takoon furia liike that : thin profile, high aspect ratio, 5 struts and the way the bridle allowed the kite to fly well nearly depowered was great.
That is the opposite of a low aspect, "baggy" mono strut kite for instance that sits lower in the window and pulls a lot and starts flapping when sheeted out.

Having said that as edt said the top end has a lot to do with the rider and also the water conditions it is harder to hold power if very choppy.
And yes increased ar throw is great ( with a short connection ) you can depower fully without touching the trim so feels safer ( I use 70cm throw )
and of course playing with line length is an effective and very cheap way of extending the range of a kite - I tried my 10m pivot with lines from 21 to 26m really inetresting

[pj sofine]

After riding rpms since 2011 I bought a 9mtr 25 pivot. From my limited 20 yrs of kiting this kite has a huge wind range.If I was forced to have only 1 kite I could be happy with the 9.Foil then surfboard then twintip .Wind range 12 -35.And I'm 215 lbs.

[fernmanus]

After riding rpms since 2011 I bought a 9mtr 25 pivot. From my limited 20 yrs of kiting this kite has a huge wind range.If I was forced to have only 1 kite I could be happy with the 9.Foil then surfboard then twintip .Wind range 12 -35.And I'm 215 lbs.

Yeah, if you have the right foil setup, you can cover most of the wind range with one kite. Not everyone likes that style of riding, but some make it work very well. If you are light enough, you can skip the surfboard and go from foil to twin tip. We have one guy that does it on a 10 Evo and another on a 12 Rally and one guy on a 11 Sonic 3 They make it look fun! All three of those kites have good range.

[Eckhardt]

Edge v10 11m user it in 14 knots flatwater fun up till 38 knots gusts survival.

[Archer77]

I think your question is valid. Wind range is important and NO, it is not just the rider alone that makes the difference. Ask any pro if they can use ANY 10m kite in 50 knots. The answer is obviously no. I am not saying that individual ability does not make a difference. It does, but it is not the only factor.

However, if you want to narrow the choices to 3 kites, you should state what type of riding you intend to use the kite for. A wave kite with a large range is going to have different characteristics than a big air kite or a light wind kite, etc. Give us a better idea of your intended use.

mostly freeride - big air, but I was trying to understand also what type of kite give consistently more wind range

[Archer77]

Edge v10 11m user it in 14 knots flatwater fun up till 38 knots gusts survival.

eckhardt what is your weight approx? with the 8m Edge V10 what wind range you have? (please tell the maximum, and the comfortable one...) I recently bought a used almost new 8m V10...