Hi,
I'm looking at buying a new kite. I've busted a few bits and pieces on the bar and lines I've been using (Blade trigger and Core GT) so my main criteria is toughness of Gear.
What brand(s) do you think are the toughest?
North builds the toughest kites.
You cant rip the new D2 canopy cloth material from impact on the water.
The 2011 Norths are the only kites that havent ripped in our school use and we havent one single customer that ripped a 2011 North Kite yet and 2012 they are going to be even stronger.
Cool. Thanks for the tip.
What about bar and line set up? Are they strong too? I've had a chicken loop bust on me and a few other kite-mares mainly due to bar and line failure. I'm keen to avoid repeat performances.
North's reportedly have valve issues, not sure if this has been sorted out since this post.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/How-many-North-kite-valves-have-you-fixed/
I would have to say Slingshot. A guy kiting at a lake put an old Rev2 in a tree and my brother in law and son ripped it down for him cause he couldnt get it out. They tore branches off the tree hanging off a rope around the bridal and all it had when it came down was a hole small enough to patch in the canopy to keep using it for the week end.
By hanging back a bit and letting others buy the first shipment of new release kites you get a chance to see if design/materials/manufacturing issues surface. A bit of research through the seabreeze forums on the models on your shortlist will reveal any major deficiencies, as iRideWainman has pointed out.
Apart from kites with obvious design/materials/manufacturing issues, the toughest kites - once they've had a few months' use - are the ones that are well cared for. All kite materials deteriorate when blasted excessively by UV, sand and salt.
Another thing that some manufacturers boast is their use of Teijin's technoforce ripstop material. Ozone go to a lot of effort and badge their kites with this; whereas other manufacturers just make mention to it in their technical notes.
Apparently these manufacturers use it:
Teijin Technoforce T9600: Naish, Liquid Force, Fone, North, Ozone, Slingshot
Ref: www.teijinfiber.com/english/products/specifics/techno-force.html
Note: LF only use it on their Hi-Fi comp/Nirvana kites.
DJDOJO wrote: "as iRideWainman has pointed out.
Apart from kites with obvious design/materials/manufacturing issues, the toughest kites - once they've had a few months' use - are the ones that are well cared for. All kite materials deteriorate when blasted excessively by UV, sand and salt."
Thanks, That's good advice.
I like the look of the F-one Bandit IV. Any thoughts?
I'm heavy on my kites and often kite in 20-25knot winds.
I'm 100kg and can be considered beginner level still. I'm just starting to go up-wind consistently and I land the odd jump but more often than not I crash into the water and rely on the kite to get me back on my feet as quickly as possible which means the kite is often relied upon to rip me outa the water putting an enormous amount of strain on the chicken loop and lines. Is this normal or should I be working on developing a gentler style?
It's always a bit clunky when you're learning but the more poise and finesse you can cultivate in your riding, the more fun it will be, the better it will look, the less likely you are to get injured, and the easier it will be on your gear too.
Gday hangman...
The F-One B4 is a very well built kite and has lasted out our summer and winter very well compared to the B3 ...stitching on the LE was a problem with the B3.
My girly x4 SA Freestyle champ and i have given our 9m and 11m a complete thrashing and they are still going strong.The bar is so simple and complete with nothing to go wrong. The B4 is well ahead of any Delta C on the market.
^^I'm assuming you asked that they knew how to launch a kite, right? If not, all they should be doing is holding the thing on its wing tip!?!?
I'm amazed by how many people think self launching and landing is safer practice than asking a competent kiteboarder to lend a hand? Whats more, that it doesn't damage you're kite!?!?
I get the feeling you probably don't ride in anything more than 25 knots nor have you held your kite up to the light whilst inflated to see how many pin holes you've got at the LE - canopy boundary where your kite's been used as a $2000 beach sweeper. 
... my 14m 2011 Rebel gets used the most in my quiver. If its light, my missus uses it, if its good I use it and if its really light wind, my son uses it. It gets used by 3 people and is just about always pumped up when we go to the beach (which is alot by the way). It is still going strong after a full year of use, but the 2010 I had was stretched and flapping like a school girls mouth 9 months in and I just about couldn't use it at the 12 month mark. It felt like a big bag o'sh!t. Not the 2011. They have definetly stepped up in long lasting and I'd say the 2012 is just as good if not better with the materials they use!! By 12 months old with the 2010 I was scared to loop it as it wouldn't even come close to complete the loop, it would go 3/4 or even only half way and I'd bang it in the drink!!!!
Anyway, their good now and I like 'em.
cheers,
Robbie
Hangman
Could be something to do with the equip you used before. Not so much the Blade but I did hear a couple of negatives on the Core's. (bars and kites)
Quite simply bar's and lines should be bullet proof, although one of the kite Co's seem to make a major stuff up every year ie Slingy's 5 use chicken line of a couple of years ago and Cabrinha replaced all early line sets from last year free of charge.
As for kites - smash em hard enough and every single one will break. No exceptions.
Strength is typically inverse to performance, it's why they throw away F1 engines after 2 uses.
Don't laugh, asked a windsurfer to launch me once. He told me he'd done it before and proceeded to throw my kite into the air once the lines were taught. This without a thumbs up/nod or me in postition. Made me run upwind pretty quick though.
your windsurfer mate sounds like he learnt our 3 second rule. 3 seconds after reaching kite throw it in the air. Keeps everyone alert and your not standing there waiting for them to sort their lines 
Self launching/landing or getting assisted comes down to risk. A perfect self launch means walking around and stopping 3-4 times to slowly pull the kite around and keep all lines as taught as possible to prevent wing-tip and bridle catch.
I only get another kitesurfer to launch and land me as I can do them 100% safely by myself and dont mind getting my canopy wet to do it.
Ettiquite is important. If a guy is about to pump up his kite, dont ask them, wait till its secured, as with unrolling lines,let them finish. Be ready, with everything checked, walk your lines halfway there while waiting.
If a kite is deflating drop everything and assist with a land, you will save someones ass.
Peace out
slingshot make tough kites.
i saw a near new 2010 north rebel in half last season in the store, dude told me it got swamped by a wave and any kite would of done the same. well i kite scarborough and put my Best Waroos under the breakers on a regular basis for 4 years before killing them both within two weeks of each other in the winter storms.
Now got 2011 Slingshot Rallys they look bomb proof
