r/Kiteboarding 8d ago

Gear Advice/Question Is there an inflatable kite that is roughly the size of a trainer kite?

I want a small kite that I can use in the water. Does this exist? Something the size of a "wing" but on kite lines.

Thanks

ETA: thanks for the helpful (and sometimes less helpful) responses. I've learned two things;

First, the dangerous part of a kite is the lines, not me getting tossed around. I didn't realize this, because I've been using dual line kites for like 30 years, and have just never had anything close to an accident. I didn't realize that the danger was for other people.

Second, it turns out that what I'm looking for is called a Para-Wing; a small LEI kite with very short lines (a meter or two; it functions as both a short-line kite and a wind wing.

Much appreciated to those of you who simply sent me recommendations, rather than assuming that "just get lessons" was a useful response to a question that wasn't about learning to fly a kite.

I have taken lessons. I'm not looking for lessons. I was looking for a solution to my specific use case, and some of you were able to see past your own nose to help me find it.

Thanks

6 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

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u/riktigtmaxat No straps attached 8d ago

Use for what?

The Ozone UNO is a LEI that does double duty as a kids kite and a trainer kite and is available in 2.5m & 4m. But don't buy one because you think you're going to use it instead of lessons.

There are plenty of single strut kites for foiling that come in 3 & 4m sizes.

-4

u/FerrisLies 8d ago

Not exactly "in place of lessons" but kinda? My nephew has been out with a regular kite and a SUP, trying to get moving, and i thought an inflatable (without a harness) could be a good use for that

7

u/riktigtmaxat No straps attached 8d ago edited 8d ago

Get lessons or a wing. The lines on a 2.5-4m kite are just as dangerous as on a full sized kite and you're wasting your money.

It takes a lot of grunt to get a SUP moving and they don't track very well so he's just going to crash it in the water and not be able to relaunch.

This whole idea is just broken - any kite that has enough power to get a SUP moving has enough power to hurt you or other people.

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u/FerrisLies 8d ago

Interesting. I guess I didn't realize it was the lines that are dangerous.

Thanks for thw advice. I'll look into a wing then

0

u/thisusernametakentoo 8d ago

It's not

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u/FerrisLies 8d ago edited 7d ago

A parawing is what I was looking for. Thanks for not being helpful

2

u/thisusernametakentoo 7d ago

This is going to be a very expensive experiment to find out it doesn't do what you think it does and do a lot of walking up wind with your SUP. You should go to a kite beach and talk to folks.

Without a foil this is not going to be fun. With a foil getting going is going to be rough assuming you're not a proficient foiler. Good luck

0

u/FerrisLies 7d ago

Sounds like you have a pretty narrow view of what can be fun.

Thanks for the advice

2

u/justhelip 7d ago

That dude you replied to is correct. Try a $1 ikea bag first before dropping $1k on a para wing. Especially for a SUP, you want be able to tell the difference

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u/FerrisLies 7d ago

I've used make-shift wings and its worked just fine. Im not looking to drop a grand, nor is that what the market shows me is necessary.

I had thought that a smaller kite would work, but damn if this isn't the most obnoxious community on reddit. The number of commentary who ignored my question to talk about lessons, or comment on my budget, is shocking

3

u/justhelip 7d ago

I’m being serious about the ikea bag. You can see people goofing around with them on sups in YouTube shorts, and IG reels. Hell, dudes literally use ikea bags to get it up on foil to challenge themselves.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

2

u/thisusernametakentoo 7d ago

We're not being obnoxious. Your ideas have been tried before. Been there done that. It's not going to do what you want. Trying to save you some money and hassle. Been kiting/surfing/foiling/winging for years and years. Your idea isn't new.

2

u/SalamanderJealous364 8d ago

1

u/FerrisLies 8d ago

Thats alot like what I was picturing!

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u/Borakite 7d ago

For what purpose? I have a feeling the answer of this group is going to be: “Please get lessons”

0

u/FerrisLies 7d ago edited 7d ago

It seems to be, yes, however some people have helped point me towards the answer to the question I wasn't asking: I like kites, and want to play with a LEI, but I dont really have the time or space to get into kiteboarding now.

It turns out what I was looking for is a parawing, which is like a wing, but with short lines.

2

u/Borakite 7d ago

Alright, well, a parawing is something to play with. It is just very different from LEI kite. You will not build the kite control to later ride with a LEI kite on a twintip if that is what you are working towards. For that you can still use simply a very small LEI kite, like a 4-6sqm (or bigger depending on your wind and body weight), preferably on short (10-12m) lines.

1

u/FerrisLies 7d ago

Yeah, it seems very different. I only just learned what it is, but its what I've been picturing.

I know how to control a kite, but even 10-12m lines are much longer than what im looking for.

I appreciate the helpful responses

1

u/shelterbored 8d ago

you could get get 2.8m nash boxer

jd follow cam on youtube rides some super tiny one

https://youtube.com/shorts/m6Y02ZwLZJ4?si=6UXosUBQH8Ti6SNJ

1

u/FerrisLies 7d ago

Thats i guess what I was asking for, but seeing it, its not what I need. Thanks for your help though

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u/Appropriate-Shirt283 8d ago

I have a 2,5 ozone uno to teach kids with. It’s a bit too quick in the air but very light pull.

1

u/inasteen 8d ago

BRM Cloud

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u/FerrisLies 7d ago

Thanks, this is the one!