This was a big thing back in 2002 where kites were becoming higher and higher in aspect ratio.

What is aspect ratio? Its basically a kite's Length Vs Width, i.e. a kite with a wide canopy will have a lower aspect ratio compared to a kite with a thin canopy.

Back with C kites, this generally gave you the following attributes:

Higher Aspect:
- Less drag
- kite sits closer to the edge of the window
- More hight in jumps
- Better response to edging
- Faster
- Poor relaunch
- More top end power
- Less stable as kite can overfly the window
- Prefered for advanced riders

Lower Aspect:
- Kite sits further back in the window
- More drag
- Less speed
- Better relaunch
- More distance than height in jumps
- More bottom end
- More stable kite and good to just park and ride
- Better suited for beginners

Now that we have Bows, Hybrids, Deltas, Ultra Flat and C kites on the market, the question has to be asked: is the High Aspect Vs Low Aspect arguement still valid?

I'd assume it still is to some degree, but with clever kite designs we are now seeing lower aspect kites with high aspect kite attributes.

Take the Bandit for example. I'd call this kite a very low aspect kite but it has all the attributes of a high aspect kite with good relaunch. WTF?

So sum things up, can you expect certain attributes out of modern hybrid/bow kites based on their aspect ratio?

Yep. No wind and none forecasted for another week

Hi peeps,

I'd like to offer my sincere apologies if I may have upset anyone with my previous post, it was meant to offer insight into the questions raised by Walshd. I re-edited it to remove any references to the kites I mentioned in the post and it wasmeant to come across a bit tongue in cheek but upon having a second read of it later, it smacked of ar%#holeism so I deleted it entirely.

It is not my intention to cause offense or abuse any priveleges on this forum, but to help out one and all if I can by mostly posting helpful and I think, interesting threads and answers albeit occassionally mentioning products I may happen to sell

It's all fun and games and I appreciate both forum members and admins keeping me in check from time to time when I need a slapping. It's just forum life. Kind of like the sands that run through an hourglass, these are the days of our lives.

Have fun and be happy!

Good winds,

When i think of high aspect ratio i think of the many occasions i tried to water relaunch my wipika wip.

Nowdays most kites are so booooooooring its unreal.

* no bar pressure(good for weak kiters and lazy people)
* kite does everything, including relaunch, pump itself up and pack itself away in its bag - if most reviewers are to be believed
* kite boarding should be renamed kite-sailing
* add other sarcastic comments until the wind returns...