How to choose your next new kite
Someone walks by with a brand new crispy kite. The canopy rustles perfectly in the wind and the colors are brighter than your future. Suddenly your trusty old gear looks a bit tired and faded. The urge to buy new kites hits you hard.
Wanting new kites is easy but deciding which ones to actually buy is a completely different story. You need a logical approach to navigate the endless options of shapes and sizes.
Assess your current skills
Before you even look at a shiny new catalog you need to take a brutally honest look at your current kitesurfing abilities.
A common mistake many riders make is buying gear for the level they wish they had instead of the level they actually are. If you are still working on your water starts or basic transitions you need a kite that forgives your mistakes. You want something that relaunches easily when you inevitably crash it into the water for the tenth time today. Buying an advanced kite too early will just leave you frustrated and exhausted. Advanced kites are built for specific performance and they require precise bar inputs. They simply do not tolerate sloppy steering.
To figure out where you stand ask yourself these honest questions:
Current level: Can you consistently ride upwind and perform basic transitions
Crash frequency: Do you drop the kite often and need an easy relaunch
Progression goals: Are you learning your first jumps or unhooked tricks
Frustration tolerance: Do you want a forgiving kite or a challenging one
Define your riding style
The kitesurfing industry loves to create specific gear for specific disciplines. You need to know what you actually want to do on the water. Are you looking to boost massive jumps and hang in the air forever. Or do you want to smash waves on a surfboard. Maybe you just want to cruise back and forth on a Sunday afternoon and attempt a few awkward backrolls.
Here is a technical explanation to keep in mind regarding kite shapes and their aspect ratios. The aspect ratio is the proportion between the surface area of the kite and its wingspan. Let us look at the main options available to you:
High aspect ratio: Looks long and skinny for massive lift and big air jumps
Low aspect ratio: Shorter and stubbier shape that drifts perfectly for wave riding
Freeride models: The ultimate all rounders that do a little bit of everything well
If you are not entirely sure what your style is yet you should absolutely look at freeride models. If you want more details you can check out the post on what's the difference between a big air freeride and wave kite to understand these shapes better. Knowing your style narrows down the overwhelming market to just a few solid choices.
Check brand compatibility
We all love to mix and match things but kitesurfing gear has some strict compatibility rules. If you are only buying the kite and planning to use your old control bar you need to do some serious homework. Not all bars work safely with all kites. The connection points on the lines called pigtails might be different. Some brands use loops on the steering lines while others use knots. You can usually fix this with universal adapters but that is just the beginning of the compatibility puzzle. The bigger technical issue is the line split and safety systems. Here are the crucial things you must check before mixing gear:
Line split: Does the kite require a low or high split configuration
Safety release: Does your bar flag out on a single front line properly
Line length: Is the kite tuned for twenty meter lines or longer ones
Pigtail connections: Do the knots match the bridles on the new kite
If you fly a kite designed for a low split with a high split bar it will pinch the kite shape and completely ruin its flying characteristics. Your control bar is your steering wheel so you want it to match perfectly. If you are curious about the specifics of mixing gear check out the post on can you mix and match kiteboarding brands to avoid creating a dangerous setup. Never compromise on safety to save a few bucks.
Build a logical quiver
Most of us cannot afford to buy five new kites at once, sadly enough. You have to build your quiver strategically. Your quiver is your collection of kite sizes and it needs to make sense for the conditions you actually ride in. Think about the local spot you ride most often and build around that average wind speed. Here are some examples of logical setups:
Two kite setup: A twelve meter and a nine meter for an average weight rider
Three kite setup: A twelve and a nine and a seven to cover all bases
Light wind focus: A fourteen meter and a ten meter for softer summer breezes
Storm chasing: An eight meter and a six meter for strong winter winds
If your home beach rarely sees wind over twenty knots you should focus your budget on larger sizes. Do not buy a six meter kite just because it was on sale if you will only use it once a year. Spacing your kites properly ensures you are never stuck on the beach watching others have fun.
Test everything you can
You would not buy a car without test driving it first. The same logic applies to kitesurfing gear. Reading reviews online is great but nothing compares to actually feeling the kite on the water. A kite that one reviewer calls highly responsive might feel incredibly twitchy and unstable to you. Everyone has different preferences for bar pressure and turning speed. Make a real effort to attend demo days at your local spot. Brands travel around specifically to let people try their new gear.
When you finally get your hands on a demo kite pay close attention to these specific feelings:
Bar pressure: Notice if the pull tires your arms out too quickly
Turning speed: Watch how fast the kite reacts to your steering inputs
Water relaunch: Drop it down intentionally to test the recovery speed
Upwind drive: Feel how easily the kite pulls you back up the beach
Taking the time to feel the gear yourself guarantees you will not end up with buyer remorse. Ask your kite buddies if you can take their gear for a quick spin. Most kiters love showing off their toys.
Decide on new or used
Now we reach the ultimate budget question. Should you buy brand new or look at the second hand market. Buying new is an amazing feeling. You get the crispy canopy, the warranty, and the peace of mind knowing the gear has zero wear and tear. You also get the latest innovations in materials like lighter dacron or new canopy fabrics that make the kite fly better in marginal conditions. But brand new kites come with a massive price tag that can make your eyes water. If you are trying to save some money the used market is full of fantastic deals. Many riders upgrade their gear every single year leaving barely used kites looking for a new home. However buying used comes with serious risks. If you go the second hand route absolutely follow this checklist:
Canopy crispness: Make sure the fabric still feels stiff like crisp paper
Tiny pinholes: Hold the kite up to the sun to look for small holes
Leading edge: Inflate it fully and wait thirty minutes to check for slow leaks
Trailing edge: Look for heavy wear and stretching from flapping in the wind
When you buy a used kite you should also ask the seller how many times it has been flown. A kite that was used five times by a weekend warrior is vastly different from a kite used fifty times by a professional rider practicing kiteloops. A smart used purchase can leave you with enough leftover cash to book a beautiful kitesurfing trip.
Before you grab your kite
Buying new kites should be a fun and exciting process not a stressful chore. By taking the time to assess your skills, figuring out your riding style, checking brand compatibility, building a smart quiver, and thoroughly testing the gear, you set yourself up for absolute success. The kitesurfing market is packed with incredible equipment and there is definitely a perfect setup out there waiting for you. Whether you go for a shiny new flat kite to boost to the moon or a slightly used wave kite to carve up the surf, the most important thing is that it gets you out on the water safely. Take your time, do your research, and trust your gut feeling when you finally get to test that dream kite.
Just remember to hide the receipts before your partner sees how much wind actually costs.
xox Berito