Forums > Kitesurfing Gear Reviews

Tough Kite??

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Created by Lebowski > 9 months ago, 4 Jun 2011
Lebowski
VIC, 87 posts
4 Jun 2011 4:47PM
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I am looking at buying some new kites due to destorying my little kite. I am looking for something bomb proof as I ssem to have dick fingers that **** everything they touch and any advise would be most appreciated

Chris_M
2132 posts
4 Jun 2011 4:03PM
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If your dick fingers are ****ing everything they touch, go hang out at a club full of beautiful ladies. Then you can just go round finger****ing everything in sight. Probably just as much fun as kiteboarding

djdojo
VIC, 1614 posts
4 Jun 2011 7:18PM
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Even a total pimp would be a fool to recommend their brand to somebody who is likely to trash it and make it look bad.

Why don't you just learn to look after stuff? Surely that would pay off in all sorts of ways. It's not hard to take car of your gear.

In my experience the people who destroy their stuff are always in a hurry, haven't learned basic principles of why things should be done one way or another, and actually have less fun because, in slightly esoteric jargon, they are "struggling towards the next moment," rather than mindfully appreciating the current one.

jas73
QLD, 796 posts
5 Jun 2011 1:00AM
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No kite is bomb proof. Just do as djdojo said and chill a bit.

Mister Dugong
368 posts
5 Jun 2011 5:20AM
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Sorry sensible people but breaking stuff is

Fun

Helps to push your limits

Expensive and so is responsible for frotherz turning pro to get free stuff

I offer no solution and it's not allways fun, especially with kites but in defense of dick fingers....
Finger **** on brother!!!!

luke1989
QLD, 2 posts
5 Jun 2011 9:40AM
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You guys are a bunch of idiots. I bet you can't even kite to save yourselves. All he's asking is does anyone have any advise or maybe a recommendation on a kite that will take a good thrashing. Plus if you aren't thrashing your gear you're not pushing yourself enough. ****ing pussies!!

peace

jas73
QLD, 796 posts
5 Jun 2011 9:55AM
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Ok mate so what you want is another thread were everyone pipms there own brand of kite and then argues about who is right. If you cant push yourself and progress without trashing your gear then you might want to ask yourself who it is that can kite to save there life.

luke1989 said...

You guys are a bunch of idiots. I bet you can't even kite to save yourselves. All he's asking is does anyone have any advise or maybe a recommendation on a kite that will take a good thrashing. Plus if you aren't thrashing your gear you're not pushing yourself enough. ****ing pussies!!

peace


jas73
QLD, 796 posts
5 Jun 2011 10:01AM
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Mate if your dick fingers find a kite that is bomb proof and you cant destroy it then let us all know. There all made of the same or similar materials and i havent seen one that cant be broken yet.

wotzy77 said...

Sorry sensible people but breaking stuff is

Fun

Helps to push your limits

Expensive and so is responsible for frotherz turning pro to get free stuff

I offer no solution and it's not allways fun, especially with kites but in defense of dick fingers....
Finger **** on brother!!!!


radman4
678 posts
5 Jun 2011 1:06PM
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Lebowski said...

I am looking at buying some new kites due to destorying my little kite. I am looking for something bomb proof as I ssem to have dick fingers that **** everything they touch and any advise would be most appreciated


Your too late mate ,sounds like you should of got yourself an eclipse with the if you F*** it we will fix it for free warranty,but maybe thats why they went down the crapper.
Nothing is indestructable but i see a lot of guys trashing kites that could easily be avoided with a little common sense,and a bit more skill.

djdojo
VIC, 1614 posts
5 Jun 2011 7:06PM
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Kites are made of thin woven plastic. If you drag/crash them into enough sand, shells, rocks and sticks, or leave them flogging in wind and UV all day while they get sandblasted, then your kite will look like crap and fall apart very quickly.

Some kites have better designed features and better quality materials than others and will last somewhat longer, but the difference between the best and worst constructed kite is nowhere near the difference between the best and worst carer for kites.

As for the crap about pushing limits, that has nothing to do with it. Lazily dragging your kite across the beach or leaving it in the sun for hours when you're not using it doesn't make you a better kiter.

If, on the other hand, your kite tears when you crash it into the water, it's almost certainly because it's suffered prior damage on the land. Shells between canopy and leading edge can start a pinhole very easily that then, under the stress of a crash, becomes the starting point for a rip.

I learned this the hard way and ripped a couple of my first kites front to back, not because I was pushing my limits as a kiter, but because I didn't know to regularly clear any sand/shells etc out of the front of the canopy.

Polyester is polyester, some fabrics are a bit better than others, but in a game of rock/polyester/pointy sticks, even the best polyester comes last every time.

Lebowski
VIC, 87 posts
6 Jun 2011 12:03PM
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djdojo said...

Kites are made of thin woven plastic. If you drag/crash them into enough sand, shells, rocks and sticks, or leave them flogging in wind and UV all day while they get sandblasted, then your kite will look like crap and fall apart very quickly.

Some kites have better designed features and better quality materials than others and will last somewhat longer, but the difference between the best and worst constructed kite is nowhere near the difference between the best and worst carer for kites.

As for the crap about pushing limits, that has nothing to do with it. Lazily dragging your kite across the beach or leaving it in the sun for hours when you're not using it doesn't make you a better kiter.

If, on the other hand, your kite tears when you crash it into the water, it's almost certainly because it's suffered prior damage on the land. Shells between canopy and leading edge can start a pinhole very easily that then, under the stress of a crash, becomes the starting point for a rip.

I learned this the hard way and ripped a couple of my first kites front to back, not because I was pushing my limits as a kiter, but because I didn't know to regularly clear any sand/shells etc out of the front of the canopy.

Polyester is polyester, some fabrics are a bit better than others, but in a game of rock/polyester/pointy sticks, even the best polyester comes last every time.


Hi I appreciate the way you have presumed I am a dickhead who does not look after his equipment, I do not leave my kites set up or in the sun unless they are drying from a session, they are never put away when they are wet, I don't self launch unless there is no one else about and I know how to clean sand and shells from under the leading edge, it is quite easy actually. I also don't do anything stupid near the beach so I have never crashed my kite into the sand or rocks. As I used to work in a sail making loft I also have some basic understanding of how to maintain equipment. Construction and materials can make a huge difference to how long a kite will last and perform, some companies will spend more on the materials they are made from or use different grades of cloth and thread, light weight cloth usually means less fibers and strength but is more suited to high performance with less durability, there is usually a trade off between performance and durability as there is in most things. If you have any practical advise please don't hesitate to let me know, otherwise just go away.

djdojo
VIC, 1614 posts
6 Jun 2011 12:17PM
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Steady on mate, my second post was largely directed at the heros who think that if you're not trashing your kites you're not trying. (And it was you who self-identified as having d!ck fingers. I've been playing the ball, not the man.)

So what's up with your kites? First you say you destroy everything and now you say you're super careful? If that's the case, how does your gear get trashed?

I've attempted to give practical advice. If it's not received as such so be it. Good luck in your search.

Prawnhead
NSW, 1317 posts
6 Jun 2011 1:11PM
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djdojo said...

Kites are made of thin woven plastic. If you drag/crash them into enough sand, shells, rocks and sticks, or leave them flogging in wind and UV all day while they get sandblasted, then your kite will look like crap and fall apart very quickly.



sounds like a good description of my love life djdojo......maybe we can start a weekly Dear Djdojo column ....(i am prepared to come on board for a small fee)

yeehar
101 posts
6 Jun 2011 6:53PM
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The sad thing is you wont really get a hold on how tough a kite is till you own one, and you wont want to test it as generally all crashes slowly break/stretch something, just bringing it closer to some catastrophe. If your worried about breaking I suggest you look for a cheap closeout or learn to sew (serious).

You can help prevent a kite from ripping by under inflating and leaving one pump clips open.

The more material added to a kite to make it stronger, the more it flies like siht.

Charl dv
WA, 2485 posts
7 Jun 2011 1:21AM
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ive pretty much finger f*cked every kite ive owned so far and i cant say one significantly outlasted the other but the construction on the Airush razor for 2011 was really strong even though i was sceptical after feeling how light it was in construction it's put up with more than it's fair share of abuse.
my old 2010 hifi took it in the rear all summer and winter long and i see the bloke who bought it down at the beach from time to time and its still looking solid too.
hell ive even had some proto kites that havent been well reinforced or stitched at all and dropped my 8 and 10 countless times in head half sets only to relaunch and keep going, sure my 8s a bit stretched now but for the quality of the proto construction im well impressed.

kites getting damaged is more the luck of the draw and pretty much any MAINSTREAM company will offer a kite that can withstand punishment provided you're not being a complete knob and smashing it into solid objects.

Wisha
SA, 255 posts
7 Jun 2011 8:21PM
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I'm guessing you are looking for which companies have some good ideas on protecting the kite. Has the potential to become a 'pimp fest', but if we keep it simple..

RRD - Added protective segment on wing tip, patches on canopy adjacent valves.
Core - Kevlar bumpers on leading edge, lot of dacron on wing tips.


AKSonline
WA, 925 posts
Site Sponsor
8 Jun 2011 8:56AM
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Hi guys,

The person to ask about tough kites is Neil from Hold the Line kites as he repairs most of Perth's kites. I noticed a Core kite in there one day and made mention of it that I hadn't ever seen one in there on one of my frequent visits.

Neil confirmed he saw few Core kites in his shop for repair. I have seen them absolutely abused by learners and they retain their great shape and integrity. They are one of the toughest kites I know of.

Cheers,

DM

hotballs
VIC, 114 posts
8 Jun 2011 11:22AM
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hi, .
try the ocean rodeo stuff. i tried the rise and thought its the best kite i have used, i just detest the looks!
this meaty south african dude in melbourne who absolutely rips and is heavy and slams his kites all the time uses them and never really seems to have a problem with stuff breaking.
avoid anything with 5 lines.
dont you hate wa nkers who always post bull**** in answer to a simple question?

8 Jun 2011 11:49AM
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Problem is if they're too heavy duty (won't break) they don't fly unless the wind is cranking, if there too light in build they break every time you crash them. Myself I like Slingshot, North and Fone but even those brands have dud kites sometimes, and certain years which are stronger or weaker (That's about all I can say without serious pimping).
Have fun
George

radman4
678 posts
8 Jun 2011 2:21PM
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Mate if youve got dick fingers then i dont think its gonna matter what you buy ,you'll probably F**K it in no time,as someone said earlier most of the time it comes down to common sense and taking your time to setup, iv'e seen a lot of kites that get stuffed because guys and rushing to get out there and make basic mistakes, a few months ago i sold a guy a new kit and within 1/2 an hour of pulling it out of the bag it sailed past me while i was riding and was shredded on the rocks ,the chicken loop, donky dick,and safty were all in tact he just was in such a rush nothing was secured properly,kite ended up with about 25 rips bar gashed up and lines shredded,he was gutted but just before he got on the water the joke was how long will this kite last,would have been a good bet on not long.

simonp
213 posts
8 Jun 2011 2:55PM
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radman4 said...

a few months ago i sold a guy a new kit and within 1/2 an hour of pulling it out of the bag it sailed past me while i was riding and was shredded on the rocks ....


isn't support and advice on safety one of the advantages of buying from your local friendly retailer?

radman4
678 posts
8 Jun 2011 4:19PM
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simonp said...

radman4 said...

a few months ago i sold a guy a new kit and within 1/2 an hour of pulling it out of the bag it sailed past me while i was riding and was shredded on the rocks ....


isn't support and advice on safety one of the advantages of buying from your local friendly retailer?




When the guy has been riding for 3yrs and has beed on the brand for the last 2yrs youd think it would be second nature to secure things properly,like i said too much haste to get on the water ,he's usually so quick to get in the wettie i look round to see if theres a phone booth.

yeehar
101 posts
8 Jun 2011 4:38PM
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Griffin make the toughest kites in the world unbreakable or your money back!

radman4
678 posts
8 Jun 2011 5:05PM
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yeehar said...

Griffin make the toughest kites in the world unbreakable or your money back!


I wish,they are pretty tough ,but even a guy with dickfingers could probably destroy one.

Chris_M
2132 posts
8 Jun 2011 5:30PM
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This thread seems to have gone off track. The real issue is finding a kite for Lebowski, not argueing over current sales techniques.
I've been giving the original topic lots of thought, and wondered if maybe a really grippy bar is what you are after. I mean having dickfingers will invariably lead to (at some stage or other) a smegma problem in your hands, so your bar is bound to get quite slippery from that. Maybe the problems so bad that it causes you to crash the kite repeatedly, and thats whats breaking them.

I'd probably avoid an ozone because their bar is quite smooth. The cabrinha bars look like they could provide quite good grip, even with a fair amount of smegma on the bar.

As far as canopy toughness goes, they seem reasonably similar, sometimes even a "bombproof" brand will tear on ya, and for some reason other kites seem to last forever (just randomly last, no particular brand).
Just buy the one with the pretty colours
Hope that helps

thorn
WA, 172 posts
8 Jun 2011 5:52PM
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I recommend checking out what the schools use. If they are not hardy they would use something else. Just a recomendation.

radman4
678 posts
8 Jun 2011 6:23PM
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thorn said...

I recommend checking out what the schools use. If they are not hardy they would use something else. Just a recomendation.



I use a combination of naish and griffin in my school,they get smahed,but no kite is gonna come off best with sticks rocks trees shells and the like if the user isnt carefull or just dosen't care ,build quality on most modern kites is dam good its usually the user or an unfortunate set of circumstances that destroy kites.

radman4
678 posts
8 Jun 2011 10:35PM
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It seems like the majority of manufacturers now use Tenjen or a derivative fabric on their kites these days so if the kite you trashed was an older model then it would of prob been ripstop,the new fibre is lighter but way stronger and has less stretch ,basically it adds up to a better preforming kite that should last way longer under normal wear and tear so just buy something as modern as poss and you should be sweet.

eppo
WA, 9713 posts
9 Jun 2011 9:27AM
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Maybe the question should be, what kites do seem to fall apart given general good care by an experienced kiter.

From my experience most kites are pretty well made nowadays. Especially if they are a known brand ont he market. Evolution has seen a good industry standard.

I second darren on the cores however.

Misha76
WA, 7 posts
17 Jun 2011 3:42PM
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ok since i tend to trash my kite alot in waves, reef and rocks, because i actually like to have fun trying new things in the surf, from my experience, from Gnaraloo to margs...i dont clean my kite,, i pack it up wet and leave it in the bag (oh no the grannies cry!!) I own 8m 2009 slingshot rpm, and it does the job. Spoke to another fellow kiter who owns the same make and model and he reports the same, unbelievable stamina considering the abuse it takes.

simonp
213 posts
17 Jun 2011 5:29PM
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I have to second the 2009 8m RPM. Absolutely indestructable. I dropped mine in a 3m cyclone swell and it was fine afterwards, unlike the owner who is still mentally scarred from a very scary swim in.



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"Tough Kite??" started by Lebowski