I'd say you'd have a tough time comparing a lot of kites. Most of kites these days are going to give you a similar range when it comes to bows/sle's. Some may be gruntier, but they lose on top end so ultimately its the same range.

Wipika Airblast 11.8

Easy one,

11m Ozone Instinct Edge II.

It's not a kite for everyone, you need to know what you are doing, but it's wind range is ridiculous so won't even quote it here.

Good winds,

I agree with Tobes, just about every brand will get a mention here so take your pick.
But it will be about 9m & bridled.

Ozone EdgeII or SportII in 9m or 11M, but the biggest factor in enjoying more wind range is having 2 boards.
Today was a perfect example. Wind onshore, approx 12-14 knots.
Kite - Ozone Instinct LightII and Airush Switch 1.44x44
I was the only kiter able to ride upwind and stay away from the beach (up to 500M) and there were large Rev/Cab/FS kites there. Most other kites were smallish around 12M and they were not getting away from the beach. The 12M Dos really does not have any better bottom end than 12M bows, several people tried on it, but it never made it further from shore than 50M.

The LightII is an awesome light wind kite and matches anything from 08 in 16M, that I rode or owned last year.
The secret to my success today was matching a good kite to a really good light wind board, which that Switch is!

An Ozone EdgeII in 11M for the East Coast or 9M for the West Coast, combined with a similar sized board as the Switch for light winds and a smaller 'everyday" ride to suit your weight when you are powered on the 11M/9M would give you a useable range of near around 20 knots, for REAL!
Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Another vote for ozone edge II 11m.. at 90kgs I can hold position when it's gusting 15kts on my 132x41 board, & yet to discover the upper end of it's windrange. Works for me as a 1 kite 1 board setup

Everything we sell definately has the widest wind range....definately.

T one said...

hey Steve, what size was the light 2?
cheers

14M, its the biggest kite I own these days, it has equal bottom end to a SB2 16M and not much less that the Contra2 17M that I used to own.

Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve

Kitepower Australia said...

general_dude said...
But I don't like the idea of 5 lines - probably great for flying but doesn't that mean another line for me to untangle as I run it out!!!

Its not a true 5th line it ends at the top of the trimmer, and is not used as a safety line at all.
There are still 5 lines to run out, but all I do is walk my lines with that one between my legs and the others in my hands, one walk and my lines are done.

I still get a laugh out of people that think its harder to lay out and hook up 5 lines rather than 4.

"I still get a laugh out of people that think its harder to lay out and hook up 5 lines rather than 4."

I find my new 4 line kite much less hassle than my old 5 line kites to set up. For a start its 20%less line to tangle, then there are the issues with bowtieing when riding,relaunching issues ect ect. Less lines means less hassles full stop.

By the way I get a good usable 15-20 knot wind range out of my 12m cab switchblade, with two boards. That being said, just because I can ride it in 25+ knots, doesn't mean I would'nt rather be on an 8m in those conditions

"Wipika Airblast 11.8 "

haha... I learnt on one of those, and the depower cleat was stuffed - so the wind range was about 19-21knots! Wicked!