Newbie suggestions

[SteveB]

I want a stunt kite. There are a bazillion brands and types. I want
something that my grandkids can fly without risking crashing an expensive
kite, or letting loose of the handles.

I'm thinking of something 36" approximate wing span. Tops $50. Replaceable
parts. Built to last. If I get into this, I see getting a bigger better
one for Papa, but for now, I just want to buy a nice kite that will last
through all our learning curves. And not something so simple that we will
outgrow it fast, but no so complicated that it is hard to fly. And some
thing that takes a range of wind, as we have 0-60 mph winds here on the same
day on any given day.

What would be your top 5 choices, as per brand name, style, etc?

I know that the foil wing types are popular, and I'll probably get one of
those, too, just for the ease of them, the transportability, and
bulletproofedness for kids. But a stunter would be fun, too, and I think
the boys would get a kick out of "driving" it. We have a nice nylon diamond
kite now, with a long streamer tail, but after three minutes of doing very
little, the boys are ready to head to the house and watch SpongeBob.

Help appreciated.

Steve

[Thom Shanken]

Hey Steve, glad you came back, thought good 'ol rec.kites appears to be in
retirement these days.

Probably the most important question to ask you is "where do you live?" With
a $50 dollar (U.S.?) top end, the last thing you would want to do is pay it
all in shipping. You might even have a retail outlet near your location
which might give a competitive price vs. an on-line purchase. With that
said, I can give you one recommendation based on my own experience with my
daughter: The HQ-Invento "Symphony." Here is a U.S. link to the
manufacturer's page:
http://www.invento-hq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=54&Itemid=61

My daughter is almost 7 years-old and has been flying her Symphony 1.4 for
two years. I cannot tell you how many of these kites she has helped to sell
(there is a gift shop that stocks them near where we fly). I have also
bought the kite as a gift for older kids. The graphics and bridle have been
changed by HQ a couple of times but the kite still delivers a strong small
foil performance.

The kite comes with it's own fanny pack for transportation and storage, in
addition to spectra/dyneema line and straps. It also has an instructional
DVD (extremely basic content) all for well under $50US. I don't think
there's a better 'bullet proof' beginner product out there (no spars to
break either).

Keep looking up,

Thom

Post by SteveB
I want a stunt kite. There are a bazillion brands and types. I want
something that my grandkids can fly without risking crashing an expensive
kite, or letting loose of the handles.
I'm thinking of something 36" approximate wing span. Tops $50.
Replaceable parts. Built to last. If I get into this, I see getting a
bigger better one for Papa, but for now, I just want to buy a nice kite
that will last through all our learning curves. And not something so
simple that we will outgrow it fast, but no so complicated that it is hard
to fly. And some thing that takes a range of wind, as we have 0-60 mph
winds here on the same day on any given day.
What would be your top 5 choices, as per brand name, style, etc?
I know that the foil wing types are popular, and I'll probably get one of
those, too, just for the ease of them, the transportability, and
bulletproofedness for kids. But a stunter would be fun, too, and I think
the boys would get a kick out of "driving" it. We have a nice nylon
diamond kite now, with a long streamer tail, but after three minutes of
doing very little, the boys are ready to head to the house and watch
SpongeBob.
Help appreciated.
Steve

[SteveB]

I live in southern Utah.

Steve

Post by Thom Shanken
Hey Steve, glad you came back, thought good 'ol rec.kites appears to be in
retirement these days.
Probably the most important question to ask you is "where do you live?"
With a $50 dollar (U.S.?) top end, the last thing you would want to do is
pay it all in shipping. You might even have a retail outlet near your
location which might give a competitive price vs. an on-line purchase.
With that said, I can give you one recommendation based on my own
experience with my daughter: The HQ-Invento "Symphony." Here is a U.S.
http://www.invento-hq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=54&Itemid=61
My daughter is almost 7 years-old and has been flying her Symphony 1.4 for
two years. I cannot tell you how many of these kites she has helped to
sell (there is a gift shop that stocks them near where we fly). I have
also bought the kite as a gift for older kids. The graphics and bridle
have been changed by HQ a couple of times but the kite still delivers a
strong small foil performance.
The kite comes with it's own fanny pack for transportation and storage, in
addition to spectra/dyneema line and straps. It also has an instructional
DVD (extremely basic content) all for well under $50US. I don't think
there's a better 'bullet proof' beginner product out there (no spars to
break either).
Keep looking up,
Thom

Post by SteveB
I want a stunt kite. There are a bazillion brands and types. I want
something that my grandkids can fly without risking crashing an expensive
kite, or letting loose of the handles.
I'm thinking of something 36" approximate wing span. Tops $50.
Replaceable parts. Built to last. If I get into this, I see getting a
bigger better one for Papa, but for now, I just want to buy a nice kite
that will last through all our learning curves. And not something so
simple that we will outgrow it fast, but no so complicated that it is
hard to fly. And some thing that takes a range of wind, as we have 0-60
mph winds here on the same day on any given day.
What would be your top 5 choices, as per brand name, style, etc?
I know that the foil wing types are popular, and I'll probably get one of
those, too, just for the ease of them, the transportability, and
bulletproofedness for kids. But a stunter would be fun, too, and I think
the boys would get a kick out of "driving" it. We have a nice nylon
diamond kite now, with a long streamer tail, but after three minutes of
doing very little, the boys are ready to head to the house and watch
SpongeBob.
Help appreciated.
Steve

[Ian Newham]

Post by SteveB
I'm thinking of something 36" approximate wing span. Tops $50. Replaceable
parts. Built to last. If I get into this, I see getting a bigger better

The Beetle by Flying Wings has kept my kids happy and resisted their
attempts to smash it. I just looked on google and found one for $45.

It has a hard plastic nose so copes well with being flown into the
ground and ours is genuinely well made.

Post by SteveB
outgrow it fast, but no so complicated that it is hard to fly. And some
thing that takes a range of wind, as we have 0-60 mph winds here on the same

The Beetle will bend rather than break at the top of its wind
range but its not going to cope with 60mph! in fact any framed kite
with the exception of high end vented kites will struggle above say
25mph. Into the 30s even a small foil will get fast and a bit of a
handful for a child

Ian