need more details. Which part of aus are you going to kite in? How much do you weigh?

Personally i do not like the 5 line but i have had little experience with it.

I currently use the hybrid type, compared to a full C its a lot less aggressive. If you accidentally loop a C kite it has a lot more power than a hybrid because of the pulleys.

I also suggest you get lesson before you buy a kite, you will know what is better for you that way and you will be less likely to get hurt!

Actually the Vapor is not a "c" kite. It is a hybrid. Unfortunately this may have skewed some of the answers you have so far as they seem to be generic comments on "c" kites...and some plainly wrong.

Accordingly I will give you my thoughts based on my actual experiences of the vapor.

Contrary to the responses you have had so far have suggested:

1) The Vapor is a hybrid, not a C kite
2) The Vapor has a long bar throw and good depower
3) The Vapor has good wind range
4) The vapor is one of the best/easiest relaunching kites I have ever flown

Is a Vapor I (07) good for a beginner? Well, I have seen plenty of learners do fine on vapors. The only characteristic that you will have to watch for is that they are quick. Both through the window and in turning, although the 12 is not as quick as the smaller sizes. They also sit a fair way forward in the window.

Accordingly you will perhaps find it a little harder than say a beginner bow/delta at first until you learn to reduce random inputs into the bar, but you will also have a kite that will take you well into intermediate progression and beyond. Apart from the speed, vapors are stable, have good depower, relauch and are easy to fly. All this is good for a beginner. Also the vapor has a "low wind" adjustment for the 5th line which actually alters the canopy shape and makes it more bowish. Later Vapors have multiple adjustments on bar pressure and turning speed which make it even easier, but the Vap1's didn't have this.

As for 5th lines, I have owned both 4 line bridle kites and 5th line kites. I have had less hassles by far on a 5 line kite than 4 liners with bridles. Most people quote tangles etc as why they don't like 5 lines, but I had way more issues with tangles and snags with bridles than I ever have had with a 5th line. They make it so easy to self land and you know you can get instant flagging to the 5th by hitting the QR.

Paradox said...

Destine, You are correct in that C kites generate more power in a turn, but it is because of the shape of the canopy and they way the turn, not because of pulleys. C kites "forward turn" which means they keep flying forward in a turn and no part of the kite stops generating lift. they also tend to turn fast and agressively, generating a constant smooth pull.

Bow's "pivot turn" around thier center and the inside part of the kite tends to slow right down or even stop flying forward, thus reducing the lift and power.

Hi Paradox

Thanks for the reminder about the Vapour, I should know that I still have some VapourIII's in stock.

I just want to comment on something that you've said. Bow kites can be bridled to turn pivotal or sweep or anything in between, Crossbow and Switchblade are good examples because they turn completely differently to each other, CB being the sweep turner and SB being quite pivotal.

Bow kites, hmmm thats a can of worms too, because there are many kites on the market that are more bow than the name they use to try to avoid the patent.

High AR and more than 5 struts tends to make a kite more of a sweep turner, regardless of bridling. Kites with 5 /6 struts or less/no centre strut can be made to be very pivotal and will spin turn.

Modern wide tipped C kites can be very spin turning and do not have as much power in the turn as C kites of old, as the wide tips also allow a bit of AOA change (depower).

Kitepower Australia said...

Hi Paradox

Thanks for the reminder about the Vapour, I should know that I still have some VapourIII's in stock.

I just want to comment on something that you've said. Bow kites can be bridled to turn pivotal or sweep or anything in between, Crossbow and Switchblade are good examples because they turn completely differently to each other, CB being the sweep turner and SB being quite pivotal.

Bow kites, hmmm thats a can of worms too, because there are many kites on the market that are more bow than the name they use to try to avoid the patent.

High AR and more than 5 struts tends to make a kite more of a sweep turner, regardless of bridling. Kites with 5 /6 struts or less/no centre strut can be made to be very pivotal and will spin turn.

Modern wide tipped C kites can be very spin turning and do not have as much power in the turn as C kites of old, as the wide tips also allow a bit of AOA change (depower).

Yes I was definately oversimplifing the comments. Bow and C comparisons have lost thier original meaning to actual kites these days, there is so much hybridisation going on. Although there are still some true C's being made. Perhaps forget the reference to Bow and C and just remember the difference between pivitol and forward turning.