I have a 7m Evo and a 9m Fuse. Im 80kg and I'm wondering what would be the next logical size kite for my quiver. 12m would seem to be the most popular choice but I have sensed some negativety about that sizes true usefullness... supposedly flys slow without any enormous light wind benefits. It had once been suggested to me to bypass that kind of size and jump to the really larger sizes... 16m plus. Im not really wanting a kite for ultra light wind, just for the 14 - 18 knts zone. I had thought maybe a 14m Fuse but dont really know whether that would too far from the 9m..or not far enough.
Any thoughts would be appreciated

5m for sure

Hi Snalberski
For my 2c worth.

If you are in Perh :-
I have used my 12 more than any other kite this summer, there has been a lot of 18-20 kt days in Perth this season, and I find the 9 does not come into its own till it gets above 22kts. So I think you are right when you say there would be too much of a gap between your 9.
I used to have a 14/10 combo and found there was too much of a gap. Now I use a 12/9 and I can get going in the same winds, but this may also have something to do with kite type.
Of course it depends what sort of riding you are doing, but for wakestyle the 12 is my favourite size. If you are into wavering it can be a bit slow.
With kites above 12 it seems that for every size up you go you can gain 1 kt on the bottom of the range but loose about 2 off the top end.
The Fuse has very good bottom end so you may find if you get a 12 Fuse it has the same power as other 14's and will turn better and feel lighter.

If you are in Gero:-
Get a 5m

snalberski said...
[br]I have a 7m Evo and a 9m Fuse. Im 80kg and I'm wondering what would be the next logical size kite for my quiver. 12m would seem to be the most popular choice but I have sensed some negativety about that sizes true usefullness... supposedly flys slow without any enormous light wind benefits. It had once been suggested to me to bypass that kind of size and jump to the really larger sizes... 16m plus. Im not really wanting a kite for ultra light wind, just for the 14 - 18 knts zone. I had thought maybe a 14m Fuse but dont really know whether that would too far from the 9m..or not far enough.
Any thoughts would be appreciated

Im the same weight as you and had a 8 and 10 and my decision was to go for the big size jump. There are a few big kites out there that get you going early but will still go up-range well enough to have overlap with your 9 and some of them turn remarkably well for their size. As mentioned by Cauncy the Zephyr is one. For me the better option was a Griffin TRX 17 which turns amazingly well, gets me up in 8 knots and can go to over 20 at a push. I would be changing down to the 10 if consistently over 15. I think it's important to consider the wind gust/lull range in this decision. To me even a 15 knot forecast day can have lulls of 8 knots at times and it really makes a big difference to have a big kite up there that can keep you going and not fall out of the sky.

At 80kgs and (Im assuming) reasonably new to the sport you will probably need a 14M to be enjoying yourself down to 14kts.
With experienced skills the bottom end on any kite will be extended so a faster moving 12M may be the GO but a 14 or bigger will be more likely to get you out in 14kts.
Most kiters go through a stage of chasing real lightwind ie -10 > 15. If you are thinking you may follow this pattern then yep look at real lightwind kites ie 15+M.