Kite quiver advice

jcmcl18 · Since 22 Apr 2012 7 Posts Kook

I moved up to Portland recently and I'm looking to get some local advice for a good quiver setup for the gorge/coast. I have a 8/10/12 quiver and I'm looking to open up some range by swapping out a kite, so I was wondering might be my best option... a 7/10/12 or an 6/8/12 quiver. Im right around 155lbs and am currently riding a 134x41 TT but would like to get a directional in the future...Any advice? Maybe a two kite quiver with a TT and directional? Thanks!

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

I am 155lb and ride a directional that is efficient with a 7m with 90% of the time and a 10m 10% of the time in Hood River. These two crossbows cover winds speeds from 40 mph, to too light to relaunch the kite.
In lighter winds I need to work the kite to get up to speed and I can’t point as high as I would on an 11m or 12m.
The advantage of the 10m is that I don’t need to switch kites as the wind goes from 10mph to 25 mph
The jump from 7 to 10 works fine. If I am under powered on the 7 the 10 is perfect, if the 10 is too much the 7 is good.

If I were on the cost some of the time I might try a 7m and an 11m.

jeremy · Since 18 Aug 2006 276 Posts Manzo & HR Obsessed

I'm 200lbs and also like the 2 kite 7m / 10m setup (I'm on a surfboard). There are times when I need my 6 or 12, but 7 / 10 covers about 80% of the days at the coast.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

jeremy · Since 18 Aug 2006 276 Posts Manzo & HR Obsessed

I'd say just add a 6m and go for a 4 kite quiver, a little 6 is tiny and takes up very little space.

I ride mostly at Manzanita. I have a 6 kite quiver (6,7,8,9,10,12), really like having some built in backup to cover having a kite out of commission. Going north, you usually need to bump up a kite size, as winds are lighter. If I had to give up a few kites, I'd pick the 8 first, then the 9.

Another Manzanita kiter (150lbs) has a 7m/10m quiver (but wants to add a 5m) Another 200lb kiter has a 7/11/14 kite quiver.

The 6,9,12 is VERY functional for a 3 kite quiver (I had that for a few summers), then I switched over to a 6,8,10,12 quiver (also had a 14m I used rarely). When I bought my 6 and 7 (to replace my old 6), I thought I'd figure which one I preferred and sell the other one, but I discovered there was a place for both kites. I really like my 6m, it handles strong/gusty/holey wind very well, I think because it's so light, it can just float thru the lulls.

caps · Since 23 Dec 2010 347 Posts Obsessed

By trying to cover gorge and coast, you want it all...as you should. I'm 170# and cover it all with 6/8/10 (gorge coverage) and a 14 for mellow, coastal days. I use both tt and surfboard. The 14 saves me a ton on the coast from getting skunked. I usually travel for kiting and don't have the luxury of cherry-picking the best days. But if you only want 3 kites, I'd go 6/8/12 to cover it all with both tt and surfboard. Life is too short to sit on the beach and watch.