Had a discussion on weekend re kite quivers, some have all one brand/maker while some have a mixed quiver, pros and cons ?
My current quiver is 5 kites, 4 brands, 4 sizes (7-17m), 2009-2011.
An analogy raised was - If you had a girlfriend/partner quiver, would they all be from one family or a bit of variety ?
If you're happy with your gear it doesn't matter what the mix of brands is.
It makes sense to ensure there is some compatibility so you can swap at least the bar and pump around. The only thing worse than breaking or forgetting something and not having a spare would be having a spare that you can't use.
As for girlfriends, sisters? mother-daughter? brother-sister?
I vote same brand. 9 and 13 combo, Suits me I've never thought of getting a bigger one as I'll find something else more thrilling if it's not 13+ knots. I have only a handful of time gone, **** that's too windy for me.
Back On topic, same brand my vote but know that some people like to ride different styles for wind speeds. May require different kite shape kite, but the same brands for the reasons mentioned by everyone else would be ideal
Talk to puertz on this matter I like his justification for mixed quivers. But they have to make sense.
If possible, I like to stick to the one brand. Not from an interchangable gear point of view, but more how the kite flys. I like how my bandits fly, so why fly something different? Even though I mainly fly bandits, the bar off a B2 can't be flown with a B3, though I know this is unusual and personally think F-One stuffed up a bit there. I have an 8, 10 and 12 in bandits and my wife has a 9 Ozone Edge. I've just picked up a 5m Naish charger to teach the kids on, but don't expect to get out on it myself.
... from what I can work out, designers take a fair bit of time to get the kites flying exactly how they want it too and then to keep the pedigree or feel right through the sizes with tweaks to suit the biggest/smallest kites ie you don't want a 7m too fast or 17m too slow. So if you get a quiver of one brand, they all will feel/fly the same no matter what size it is. Added to that, you can use one bar across your whole quiver and get exactly performances as the designer intended. I surpose that if your not happy with the over all package feel of the kite then changing kites will be necessary for different sizes.
It takes me ages to get the complete 'feel' of a kite, to learn all the nuances where it becomes one with you and I figure if you chop and change you don't learn those nuances. Mind you, by the time I think I've got it all figured out the kites usually worn out!
For me personally, I share my quiver with my family. I use the biggest with the missus on the medium size and son on the smallest and as wind picks up we shift along (and the little one said, roll over,,,,, roll over). Only problem is the son is getting big now and is using same sizes as the missus so the quiver has to get bigger ($$$$$).
Anyway... cheers for now,
Robbie
I have always had a mixed bag quiver. I like different things from different size kites - light wind kite needs to pull like a train and unhook well, medium kite needs to unhook awesome as well as loop, high wind kite needs to have more range but still unhook OK at it's bottom end and loop with maybe a bit less pull than the medium.
I know there are some brands or even models that would probably pass all of the above but I also like flying different kites for a bit of variety. I can jury rig any of my kites with another bar if I have an issue (all run 5th line, active or not).
I think there is someone to be said for the design of the kite suiting certain sizes. Most kites designs have a sweet spot or wind range to be more precise where the flying characteristics match the wind and conditions you are in. For instance I'd go a delta shape in the lighter wind range but not in higher winds. They don't like being in their top third. Some hybrids have countered that. It the DNA still holds reasonable true.
3m 2006 Air Rush Trainer
4m 1995, 4 line 3 strut Gastra
6m 2010 Switchblade
8m 2011 New Alibi
9m 2010 Fuel (ripped into a 5m and a 4m)
9m 2011 Fuel
11m 2011 New Alibi
Im from Perth, if you need a bigger kite than an 11m, dont bother.
Sooooooo Saffer... whats this about lines breaking?? wouldnt be the North 5th line would it? he he he
so... is this how it works? one kid is worth how much kite gear?