careful, my opinion is biased! (I work at sos)

I'd say just about all kite brands have a good mid aspect ratio kite for a first time flier. They've been making these kites for a few seasons as well, so they all fly and behave nicely. All kites use similar materials as well (not like the mylar days).

Apart from the kite I'd pay particular attention to the bar, chickloop, safety system and winding handles. You don't need to fly the kite to know if these parts are lame or are going to work well.

I'd (personal opinion here) get a gaastra force 12m.

i way 90 kgs also and have just brought fuel 13m ,very smooth good saftey system and the one pump idea rock!
ps i'm not bias i dont work in a shop or promote any gear

I have recently been through the same routine mate, looking at all the shops trying to get as much infoermation as possible so as not to end up buying some crappy kite.
I ended up buying a Naish Boxer, a bit pricey but a cracking kite for your first one.
BEWARE! I got mine with only 22mtr lines and it didn't come with the extenders as standard so you may want to ask the shop about that if you decide to go that way.
Like everyone else says though, there are some really good medium aspec kites out there and a lot of it is personal choice. Why don't you do a few lessons with some guys or go to the beach and talk to a few riders that are out there doing it?

correct me if i'm wrong - but isn't it $600 kite only ? add $300 for bar and lines ? something like that . better check out his site really

Im hearing all sorts of things about these china kites, can someone please tell me the web address.
Thanks

You have to be kidding.


Anyone that knows anything about cars won't be buying a Lada 4 wheel drive. Why not ? They are HALF the price of a toyota..so cheap. They are CHEAPO! Just because something is cheap doesnt mean it is good value.

These same people think that all kites are the same and cheaper is better. Almost anyone with a lot of experience in kitesurfing will tell you that you get what you pay for. How many experts do you see on cheapo kites. If you are really short of money then i would seriously suggest buying a good second hand kite, you can get a good one pretty cheap as the people that can upgrade to the latest and greatest. Kites are getting so much better each year.

I have my fav kite. I also like a few other brands. All the good ones cost more than $1650 for a 12m. The really good ones cost more than $1900 but worth it. I am not going to buy the cheapest parachute and I am not going to be stingy when i buy equip for my fav pastime. I want to unpack it and know its the best and I have no excuses for my poor performance.

Have a look at the cheapo kites on and in the water. Have a look what the good guys are using. ( unsponsered ones of course. You get what you pay for.

I have heard the "come from same factory" argument before for a range of kites..

Firstly, unless someone shows me a photo of an unbranded kite coming out of a Naish factory, I think this is just a story by the sellers of unbranded kites. Certainly the same guys are not stitching it, nor are they choosing the material, or the design. The sail-cloth is different, and in my opinion unsuitable on the current unbranded kite here, the stitching is WAY different and poor ( take one to any sailmaker and ask!) and the design is very basic and sometimes doesn't seem to work without modifications.

Pull one of the top kites out of the bag. Something like a Naish X3, a new North, an FOne, a Slingshot, an Airush ( the new one). Have a loook at the construction. Have a look at the new technology that at least a couple of these brands have brought to the market.

Then pull out an "unbranded" kite and place it beside. Get any person off the street and ask which he thinks is the better quality and they will have no problem. Besides the bag, the bar and line setup, the way it is put together. You can tell immediately without flying the thing.

Then have a look at them flying. Sometimes they go alright in that it is hard to tell from a distance. I have only seen one brand of "unbranded" actually flying ( the most popular sort in perth) and it seemed to collapse inward quite often when sheeted in. When the lines were slack down she went. Once on the water the sail-cloth seemed absorbant and heavy and she didn't come up again. Maybe this was an isolated case although a the salesperson was using it. But it wasn't inspiring.

I don't have a silver spoon in my mouth. I drive a very average car, etc. And i wasnt telling the guy to spend a lot of money - go second hand. All im saying is that you get what you pay for with kites just like anything else. I don't mind spending money to get good gear for my pastimes, i never have. Il sacrifice other stuff. But if the guy has say $600 to spend, i would suggest getting a second hand, good condition,well made kite with a good reputation.

So we have a different suggestion and different opinions.It shouldn't matter.

hey guys
just wanted to clear something up- sandgropers arent chinakites. The material's different (sandgropers use the same material that gaastra uses), the stiching's of higher quality and the designs are different. in fact sandgroper is an actual company with an abn! i've been flying their kites for about a week now and I really think they are on to something- go in to sos and try one out for yourself.

There is a technical term for the type of human behaviour which allows us to justify things.
eg see a Jaguar want it can't afford it buy a holden (like most of us) can't afford it buy a Lada? hyundai? and then tell the jag owner it is made of metal and is therefore the same thing.

Buy a pair of boardies billabong - $80 Knox/Target $20 Same thing really only made of material.

Hang out with your mates all wearing similar clothes driving similar cars ('cept the tosser with the Z3) good mates.

I reckon you buy what you can justify in your mind/life. personally I believe you should buy the right kite to last you 3 years or so. Then toss it as you will have had your money's worth from it.
With 'El cheepos" I have experienced them too (Wallend Air) couldn't give them away in the end (after a year) Basically the top brands keep developing and are more expensive but they are the best to ride with and the phsycological cost of riding cheap stuff is not worth it. All those with cheap crap will of course stand up on a soap box and justify their purchase at this point.

Think, when you go out in a cheap car people don't all see you arrive. and when you wear cheap jocks no one really sees them. But your kite can be seen for miles around and it is nice to know you've got your Sunday best out there on show.

NOTE WELL:
BUY CHEAP BUY TWICE.
This saying is rarely wrong!!!

Even though those last posts agreed with what i was saying, it should be obvious that they had a comemrical bias ( ie "buy these kites from me").

And to me whether the website is good or not means jack. Good on Brownie for having a go, i think its ok. I don't get a lot out of the http://www.pelicanwindsurfing.com.au/kitesurfing.html phtogallery either, but doesn't mean I think Gasstra kites are bad.

My point still stands however, in my opinion, with good quality second hand kites so cheap, if you are going to spend only $600 I think you would get much better value buying a decent second hand high performance kite. But if you are happy with whichever kite you get, then its money well spent.

fyi

copied from kiteforum.com

Tue Aug 26, 2003 2:40 pm Post subject: China Kite Review

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I ordered a ChinaKite as well, with my add on it.

Just to stop the hype from the beginning: it flies like sh... and the materials are not great.

When I pumped it up for the second time, already some seams ripped apart. Then on one tip the material looks a bit weired.
The valves are so long and you only can get the air out if you have a pin to punch it through - on ALL valves...

The kite looks ok and when in the air it flies quiet stable.
But when I took it out on the water I felt like a beginner, since it didn't create any power to get me going.
It is size 8.0 and it pulls like a 3-6 sqm kite.

Then I took out my Rhino2 8.0 to compare and I had great power and fun with it.

Now I even will not use it to showpeople kitesurfing in the water, only to fly it on shore, sicne it doesn't create any power.

So much to my experience with my ChinaKite.
It cost me some money, incl print and shipping,but I should have done a trip to Egypt for that money instead !

Toby

Hello Andrew, sorry there was no email address on your web site to contact you.

I have pulled one of your kites out of the bag in the shop and had a good look at it. There was no difference between the Medium Aspect kites which you sell compared to ours at Chinakite. They are made in the same factory and they use the same materials etc. They are both very good quality kites and value for money. I do not care that you are selling them in Perth, i think thats great. I am located here in Perth , however our business is located in Singapore. I do have a problem with you "bagging" ChinaKites as in doing so you are "bagging" your own product that you are trying to promote and sell. I could draw a comparison for you, jump on the net, go to any kite forum and ask the question has anyone heard of SandGroper kites, then ask has anyone heard of ChinaKites. It does not matter if the responce is good or bad but i know which one would win. One thing i have figured out is that most of the people who bagg all the cheap stuff out there are affiliated with the expensive stuff. One of the reasons these kites that you are selling are getting better is because of myself and others that are affiliated with chinakites through us and the factory who test ride them and continually provide feed back.

I dont care if anyone who has not ridden them baggs them as any advertizing is good advertising, I do care when you bagg them, because your bagging your own product.....

regards Rob @ ChinaKite

he's not my customer.....i have never sold a kite to him. "ChinaKite" has become the generic name for all the unbranded kites around, which has its good and bad points.

The problem with that "post from TOBY" is its old news, his feed back was taken on board and put into effect.

I am not saying that ChinaKite and Sandgroper kites are the best in the world, what i am saying is they are very good value for money.

I dont know what kites are the best in the world or indeed if there is a clear winner. I would love to own one of every kite there is just to be able to ride them, but i never will be able to.

Value for money is what its about, If you get that out of paying $2000 then thats great. If you get it from flying Sandgroper or ChinaKite then thats great too.

Also if my racist rantings a few weeks ago upset you, i appolgize to all that my have taken offence. however i was speeking about undesirables that break into our cars and homes to take what does not belong to them. Also to add to this please remember that there was at least 5 of us that got a little carried away with our emotions that day, but if you feel the need to single me out then go a head and please have the guts to say it to my face and not hide behind a computer screen.

respectfully BROWNEEE

quote:

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Originally posted by laurie

Can we let this thread die a natural death please.

If anybody wants to email me with feedback about this kind of conversation in the forums (to cull or not to cull), it would be welcome.... I'm in two minds .. mailto:[email protected]

Life is too short...

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Nah keep it coming it relieves the boredom of another day at the desk.

its just human nature...

hey rez, i challenge you to find any post on any forum that has me bagging any other kite brand. I shall save you the time and answer the question for you, NONE, NUDA and ZIP.

One thing i have learnt is dont bag the others unless you are realy sure of what you got. That is why you will not hear me bag em, and the fact remains that i love all brands of kites and wish i had enough money to buy them all...

If you want to have ride one of my kites them find me, come up and ask!.

One more thing i dont take any of this personally as its only a hobby, i do it for the fun of it, to give people a choice another option if you will.

I have a life and a career..kite surfing is a sport that we are, i thought, to be promoting for everyone to enjoy.........

regards BROWNEEE