What you need to know to buy a kite？

Figuring out the best kite for someone is always the hardest decision to make, especially if this is their first kite. Kites come in hundreds of different styles, shapes and sizes. With single, dual and quad configurations alone, you have thousands of kites to choose from； not an easy task even for experienced flyers.

 Flying a kite is as different as the type of car you drive. Some people like Chevrolet, some people like Ford. At the end of the day, both will take you from point A to point B, so it all depends on your style. What you have to decide is what you are going to do with it. If you're hauling a lot of dirt and bricks, you obviously don't want to buy a Mustang. The same goes for kite flying, you don't want to buy a single-line kite if you're going to try kitesurfing. If you want to learn the art of aerobatic kite flying, you won't want to buy a power kite.

 One very important factor in deciding which kite to buy is wind. If you are in a high wind area you will generally want to look at a smaller sized kite or a ventilated version of a larger kite (if available); low wind areas usually require a larger size kite or an ultralight kite. If you are looking to get into power kites, keep in mind your size and body weight. Some of those kites can be difficult to hold onto if you are a smaller person. Beginners should look for a kite that is stable and easy to learn. Some higher performance kites can twitch, require more skill to fly, and can be frustrating for new pilots. Not to mention the cost of a high-performance kite.

 So which kite should I buy?

 

The following six points will seek to answer that question.

 1. Quality

No matter where you buy a kite from - whether it's an independent seller, a brick-and-mortar store, or ordering online, there are two things you should check: the seller's own reviews, and the kite that's for sale.

While the 2 kites may look similar to each other, the materials and build quality they use may vary. Some materials are more durable than others, while others fly better.

If you're looking to buy your first kite, here's our advice on what to look out for:

 The kite sail is made of ripstop nylon. Nylon is usually the material of choice because it is less absorbent than silk, cotton or paper, which can cause tears when wet.

If buying a kite with spars, look for carbon fiber or fiberglass spars. These may cost more, but are generally more durable than bamboo or wooden beams. Bamboo and wooden beams can also swell with water, which may mean they won't fit in a kite's pocket. The spars of jenkosen kites are made of carbon fiber.

Winders are generally better at keeping your line tangled and knot free than spools.

It would be a plus if the set comes with storage bags, sleeves or cases for kites and accessories!

Keep in mind that sellers looking to make a quick buck may often sell lower quality kites and accessories at cheaper prices for bulk sales. By checking the reviews of the seller and the kite you're buying, you can make sure you won't be disappointed. Kite performance is also a measure of kite quality. Does the review say the kite flies well and is balanced in the air? Is a kite easy to fly, especially if a beginner takes it? How durable is the kite, especially in high wind conditions?

 

2. Easy access to replacement parts

 Indeed, kites are quite cheap these days. However, if you are considering buying a more expensive kite, you should check the easy availability of replacement parts. Brick-and-mortar stores and independent sellers are often outfitted or owned by people who are passionate about kites, and it's often easy to buy replacement parts from them. Buying kites online can mean it can be difficult to buy replacement parts.

Why is this important? Serious kite lovers want their clients to enjoy and be successful in kite flying, so they will often try to help you, or give you kite flying tips.

Kite retailers are passionate and enthusiastic about flying kites and want others to like it too, and they usually have good relationships with kite makers. They can often be the point of contact for warranty claims, or to learn about new and exciting products, or to be able to quickly help if there is a defect or your kite needs troubleshooting. If you damage a very specific part of the kite, usually they are also able to give you a replacement part quickly or tell you if it is not possible to replace or repair it at all. If the kite you bought from JEKOSEN is damaged the first time you fly it, we will pay you for a new one. We hope to give you the best experience. For various reasons, although our problem rate is only 1 in 10,000, jekosen will sell more than 10w kites every year, and there are still more than 10 kites with problems.

Another important thing to consider is ease of flying. Novelty kites are large and colorful, but may not be easy to fly, especially if the kite is bigger than you! A larger kite has a larger surface area, which means the kite will pull harder. This can be difficult for you to control, especially if you are a beginner.

There are other kites such as power/tow kites and stunt kites. These kites are more suitable for those who have more kite flying experience than beginners. You will need to choose a kite that suits your experience level.

 

3. Kite Type

 As mentioned above, there are different types of kites with varying requirements for experience and skills. Below is a list of kite types, in order from easiest to hardest to fly.

 single line kite

Single-line kites are the easiest to fly. Basically, any kite you buy will perform well, whether it's a box, cylinder, wing, octopus, delta, butterfly or the classic triangular design used by  Charlie Brown. Generally, the more complex the kite, the more skill required to fly, but even the most complex single-line kites require very little effort. The hardest to decide is usually the type and color. Today's kites are advanced and professionally designed for outstanding flight. Usually all you need to do is stand with your back to the wind, hold the kite up, and when the wind catches the kite, let it go.

 Running through the park isn't necessary (unless you're a kid, then it's fun!) A tail can be added for decoration, but it's usually not required. Single-line kites aren’t just for kids either, some of the most advanced and exotic kites are single-line. Single-line kites range in size from a 12-inch wingspan diamond to a 7-foot ghost kite to a massive 19-foot delta kite. One of the most famous single line kites is the incredible monster "Octopus" designed by the world famous Peter Lynn, for your first single line aerobatic kite we recommend the JEKOSEN triangle kite as they are very easy to learn to fly. A comprehensive instructional video is included with the kite that will show you how to set it up and fly it. As with any kite, you need to be careful not to push it too hard into the ground, or it could be damaged and need repair.

• stunt kite

Stunt kites require more skill to master than single line kites. Stunt kites are fast and responsive. Therefore, we recommend that beginners start with the most durable kite possible. I would recommend the brands Beetle or Addicted to anyone looking to learn to fly a two-line stunt kite.

We always recommend that you learn to fly a cheap kite first, then when you're ready to buy a more expensive high-performance kite, you'll be familiar with the performance, handling and speed of a stunt kite and have the best understanding of what you want your next kite. You might want a kite with more power and a bigger size, or you might rush towards a super light, high-performance rocket. If you are really into stunts, maybe you will gravitate towards ballet style kites that float and dance at your every command. Your first kite will always be by your side and allow your friends to learn to fly as well. Teaching a friend to fly your cheap kite is better than your fancy high-priced kite.

If you're looking for the ultimate in stunt kite control, we recommend starting with a single-line kite. You have to learn to fly a single-line kite first, and then learn a four-line kite. Many people think that you should learn two-line kite before learning four-line kite. We found this to be far from the truth. The handle of a four-line kite is completely different from that of a two-line kite. You can learn the single-line kite first to get the feeling of the kite. If you already know how to fly a two-line kite and are considering buying a four-line kite, then you may have to forget what you know about two-line kites and learn how to fly a four-line kite from scratch. A four-line kite has two lines on each side, two at the top and two at the bottom, you no longer guide by pulling the handles left and right, you can now reverse. If you think this is too much for you, please don't!

When learning to fly a kite, try to pick a day that has the perfect wind for the kite you want to learn, the wind is too light and you won't be able to keep your kite in the air, it can become very frustrating if the wind is too strong and you may damage your kite or may lose control of your kite. Generally, lighter winds are preferred by beginners and it is easier to learn to fly. If you are flying a kite and the wind is too strong, you could be seriously injured.

 

Powered or towed kite

Power kites, as the name suggests, generate a lot of energy! These kites are some of the largest and most powerful kites you can buy. Some powered kites can reach dimensions over 15 feet long or over 6 feet tall. If you want to take part in the extreme sport of powered kite flying, we recommend starting small, preferably with an instructor or other experienced powered kite flyer. If you master the art of flying a four-line aerobatic kite, a four-line power kite will be a breeze. For the most part, a four-line power kite flies the same way as a four-line aerobatic kite, except that the power is greatly increased. The same is true for dual-line power kites and dual-line stunt kites. The flying skills you learn can be easily applied to the other.

Power kites are very large in size and strength, use caution and common sense when flying. Due to the enormous power these kites generate, we always recommend starting with a small or "coach" kite. Electric Kite flyers usually have several kites in their kite collection and can usually show you the first kite they bought and the last kite they bought. The reason is that they will still fly every kite they have. On windy days, the little coach kite is the only kite they can lift in the air and still keep their feet on the ground. Lighter wind days are when larger kites are pulled out.

We recommend starting with a 2.1 sqm Ozone Imp or a 3.0 sqm Ozone Imp. These two kites can take a lot of abuse, and they produce a very impressive pull for their size. In winds above 10-15 MPH, the 3.0m Imp is an excellent choice for an off-road vehicle engine. On days with less wind, the 2.1 and 3.0 are the perfect kite learning, allowing you to see how a powered kite pulls. Once again, electric kites generate electricity! Don't launch a giant powered kite in high winds...you'll be seriously injured!

Power kite learning takes about the same amount of time as aerobatic kite flying and can be learned in a few hours with the right instructor. The more stunt kites and power kites you fly, the better you will become at flying them. Learning to bike, climb, surf, snowboard, etc... Of course it takes longer to learn, but once you get the hang of kiteing, you can learn other things easier and faster.

Before you buy any kite, make sure it's what you want. If you are not sure, just ask! We'd rather help you find a kite that does what you want than sell you a kite that you later find out it's not what you want...even if it means you can buy a kite for less money. My best advice is to fly before buying. Many stores will have demo kites for demonstrations, ask your local store if they have demo kites and when they will be showing their kites.

 

4. Kite Size

 Oversized kites, such as novelty kites or large delta kites, can be very fun and challenging to fly. However, they also take up a lot of storage space due to the large number of sails and kite strings. For safety reasons, larger kites require more space both on the ground and in the air. Setting up a kite to launch quickly can also be challenging, and you don't want to spend half the kite flying time trying to launch a kite!

Large kites also generate more lift and are easy to pull hard, which can cause injury if the wind blows suddenly. These kites also usually need some kind of anchor so you don't have to hold onto it all the time.

If you're a beginner, stick to a kite no bigger than you, so you can handle it easily and put it down quickly in an emergency. Once you feel confident handling that size, you can easily upgrade to the next size!

 

Kite Tail - Do You Need it?

 Kite tails can be added for decoration, but are usually not required. The kite tail helps keep the kite stable in the air, but with a brand new kite, you probably don't need a tail. Kite tails are often striking, and seasoned flyers display line art, especially during festivals, in lieu of kite tails.

If you purchased a kite online, a tail may be included in the package. We recommend that you read this article to understand why a kite needs a tail to determine if a tail should be added to the kite. Typically, brand new kites do not require a tail. We also recommend that you keep the ribbon or material in your kite flying kit in case you need to make a tail to help balance the kite.

 

5. Spools/handles and winders

 The tool used to hold the kite string should be one of your main considerations. That's because it's what you'll be holding on to most of the time you spend flying kites.

If you are buying for children ages 5 to 12, we recommend using a spool or handle with the kite string wrapped around the center spool. These spools or handles are usually easy to hold and kids can easily unwind and reel in the kite line.

For teens and seniors, we recommend using a cord winder. The winder holds the kite line in a circular housing (the green part in the picture above), the kite line is retracted through the winder mechanism (the yellow knob in the picture above), the winder is in the middle of the winder, this is where you grab it. The cord winder is not recommended for young children as they may not know how to use it, or may not be able to use it flexibly, or their fingers may accidentally get caught in the cord winder. We love the winder because it's compact and keeps the kite line neatly in place, preventing tangles and knots.

 

6. Price range

 Kites generally start at $17. When purchased online, the package often includes kite string on the spool or handle. More expensive kites starting at $25 may include a kite tail, which may or may not be removable. It is recommended that you start with a cheap kite within your budget so you can get a feel for it.

If you're buying a kite for your child, it's advisable to start with an inexpensive kite, especially for kids who may lose interest in flying kites or accidentally break it after a few flights.

Before buying any kites make sure it's what you want, if you don't know what you want, we recommend you join online forums and ask around, as many people often own multiple kites over the years and can give you advice and advice on which kite you should get. If you trust us, we will also recommend the best Fit your jekosen kite.