I'll need a bigger kite for the winter months here in Brisbane as I only have a 12m Envy at the moment.
I'm thinking about either a 2015 Best TS 15m or 2016 LF solo v2 17.5m.
I'm 82kg and ride a TT but will have a go at my strapless surfboard soon.
Any suggestions/personal experiences/reviews are much appreciated.
Thanks!
Havent ridden the Solo but the TS pulls like a truck, might not be the best one for strapless surfboard.
Not that Brisbane is that great in winter to be honest, not worth an extra Kite. Maybe a dedicated light wind board?
Depends on what kind of riding you want to do, the Best may be a bit more versatile if you want to unhook at all and will have a better top end wind range. 17.5 is ok if you just want to get out and ride really light wind.
Select to expand quotekiteflo said..
I'm thinking about either a 2015 Best TS 15m or 2016 LF solo v2 17.5m.
I tried the TS 15 and 17m light wind kites the other week and felt the 17m was a nice kite, but then I tried the 15 and it was a real joy to use and didn't seem to lose too much in power to the 17. Maybe the 17m is better suited to heavier guys (I'm mid 70's), but I rate the TS 15m for light wind days. If I was sponsored by Best, I'd definitely be requesting a 15m TS.
Neither
Zephyr from 2013 very refined kite
Best wind range , 13 to 20 nts is sweet, above gets heavy at the bar and upwind ability drops,
Very long floaty jumps with respectable height,
Regret selling mine tbh, very quick in power delivery and bar input, better freeride than a big edge
What about the Slingshot Turbine, there is a 15 and 17 bomb proof construction, and bottom end. Tough to go past a Zephyr though. Nash Fly another good LW beast. Demo demo demo the only way to know.
Owning a light wind kite in WA is like buying an ice maker in Northern Russia. Doesn't really make sense, but I am sure there are some there.
I have the Solo 15.5.
From 7 to 10 you will only be able to mow the lawn. From 10 knots you can start having fun. It is not fun for surfing because it is so sloooooooow. I will never sell the solo because it always get me in the water when is below 10 to relax and mow the lawn.. cheers
My edge 13 v8 has better bottom end than the zephyr and definatly out boosts it in my experience, but each to there own! I do know that the v8 is a super kite, and very pleased with its top and bottom end.
I think if you want to get out in super light wind cutting grass, I would get the 17.5 solo.
If you wanted to have fun in light wind I would get the ts 15!
Ps. The TS is awsome for unhooked. In fact, it's blowing 12knots right now. Might take it out now for a sneaky sesh!
My 2Cents
LF Solo wins all over over the TS V3 2014, current model 12 and down the TS are ok, but the older big ones are heavy and slow with poor upwind
Zephyr V4 17 or find a V3 2015/14
Edge 15 or 17, V8 is the best if not in your budget get a 2014/13 model
Core XR3 17 LW or even better the XR4
I'm on the water here in light winds, 17 Zephyr V4 now, but I really liked last years too. Large lightwind TT like my new Axis Patrol 1.48 x 48 or Firewire Vanguard, 10+ and I'm having fun. This time of year on the East Coast is when you need a lightwind kite/board combo
Hey Flo, yep lucky to have owned a few light wind kites.TS 17 pulls well,boosts well.
Zephyr 13-14 model easy great kite boosts.Bit heavy bar when wind gets up.Like most.
Ocean Rodeo Flite 17m similar to the Zephyr nice kite well made.
But my favourite is the 2016 Solo 17.5m
Single centre strut,lightweight,nice light medium bar,bar is simple light comfy.
Big TT or board 8-15kts.It recovers so well if it stalls in real light wind.
Four mates demoed it one arvo nothing else would fly but we all had positive words for this Solo and all had a **** load of fun.
But really there's some excellent light wind kites on the market.
I have the 15.5m Solo (2015), it pulls like a truck (and I'm a 98kg). Was thinking of getting the Solo 17.5 - but saw there is only about 1kt difference in wind range, so might not bother. With the 56cm setting on the Response bar, its not too bad turning. It really is a park and forget kite for me - and as I am only at the moww the lawn stage, perfect. I am starting to combining it with the 5.5 Nugget - a great session saver! Have not tried the TS, so cant comment.
Select to expand quoteLeighMajor said...
Hey Flo, yep lucky to have owned a few light wind kites.TS 17 pulls well,boosts well.
Zephyr 13-14 model easy great kite boosts.Bit heavy bar when wind gets up.Like most.
Ocean Rodeo Flite 17m similar to the Zephyr nice kite well made.
But my favourite is the 2016 Solo 17.5m
Single centre strut,lightweight,nice light medium bar,bar is simple light comfy.
Big TT or board 8-15kts.It recovers so well if it stalls in real light wind.
Four mates demoed it one arvo nothing else would fly but we all had positive words for this Solo and all had a **** load of fun.
But really there's some excellent light wind kites on the market.
But what's your high end for that kite,
Solo or zero struts don't like upper ranges, something worth looking at in a lightwind kite
Select to expand quotem00chy said...
Owning a light wind kite in WA is like buying an ice maker in Northern Russia. Doesn't really make sense, but I am sure there are some there.
Not so, I live in the wind capital of wa,
If you had a chrono or zephyr you'd score a lot more than not
Miss my big tracks down the coast in a 14knt westerly, on my zephyr
Select to expand quoteGreggor said..
Havent ridden the Solo but the TS pulls like a truck, might not be the best one for strapless surfboard.
Not that Brisbane is that great in winter to be honest, not worth an extra Kite. Maybe a dedicated light wind board?
Got a 2015 TS 15m and I ride strapless surfboards in WA 
.
The ts as a bigger kite is still easy to unhook on so its not too much for when you are on a surfboard.
89 kgs, 6'2 or 5'6 vader shape and Im upwind in 10-11 knots, on a twinny 13-14 and Im having fun..
I find the kite very easy to fly. I had to purposely put it in the water once to try the relaunch.
Hey Caucy,well haven't really bothered with top end.I and we 4 mates up to 17-18kts still comfy 2-3 " of depower still ok.Can flutter on trailing edge whilst trimming through gusts still very handle able.I reckon the Solo is better through the lower end of wind 6-8 kts area just seems to stay up there.Maui Cloud kites 17m C-2 would have to be the best kite for the lowest end of the wind apart from going to a foil kite.BigTony would be able to shed more light on the Cloud kite C-2 17m.But then if you drop a foil in low wind it's usually a big swim.Top end wind for light wind kite for me defeats the purpose of using it.Would rather have selected a smaller kite or if you have time change down.Still would like to demo the new Zephry.What do you reckon Steve.? Hahaha
Select to expand quoteLeighMajor said..
Hey Caucy,well haven't really bothered with top end.I and we 4 mates up to 17-18kts still comfy 2-3 " of depower still ok.Can flutter on trailing edge whilst trimming through gusts still very handle able.I reckon the Solo is better through the lower end of wind 6-8 kts area just seems to stay up there.Maui Cloud kites 17m C-2 would have to be the best kite for the lowest end of the wind apart from going to a foil kite.BigTony would be able to shed more light on the Cloud kite C-2 17m.But then if you drop a foil in low wind it's usually a big swim.Top end wind for light wind kite for me defeats the purpose of using it.Would rather have selected a smaller kite or if you have time change down.Still would like to demo the new Zephry.What do you reckon Steve.? Hahaha
I have owned the 17 and 19 edges, dyno 17, blade fat lady, griffin trx 17 and the Cloud C2 17 is better than any of them for light wind riding.
But for the 82kg dude, the 13.5m Cloud would be all you need.
The 17 Cloud has the same grunt as a 19m edge..
Had the Zephyr V3 for about 2 yrs and now added a V4. Not a super light wind kite having 5 struts, but it's real advantage is the range it will happily cover as the wind builds. I'm 75kgs and can stay out till it hits 23 knots, whereas most other light wind kites would be way overpowered by then. Turns well for a big kite, very stable and predictable and will boost pretty well too.
