Is there such and thing as good and cheap or cheap and good for kite boarding gear?
The quality control of the top four or five kite companies is a little bit higher than the cheaper bargain branded kite brands.You also get a better customer support and warranty as well.
So yes you can get a new bargain brand kite boarding kite that is 30-40% off and it's new but some brands have better quality control and better warranty as well.
Also some of the bargain brands are the same every year, selling say the 2014 model in 2015.
Suggestions to save money on the top kite brands:
At the time when the next year's kite model comes out, all of last year's kites will be marked down.
There is only a short time here that the inventory will be available, then they will sell out, leaving only the smaller sizes left.Some dealers may have the last year kites available.
Example when the 2015 kite comes out or before, the 2014 and 2013 will be on sale.
So timing is everything, and when the new kites come out both the dealer and the retailer will be marking down the last year model.
So yes you can get a top brand name kite for about the same amount as one of the knock off's that they sell.
I am deliberately leaving the names of the brands out, because everyone has their own idea of what is a great kite, great control bar and great wave kite great wakestyle kite and so on.
I could never win here recommending that "one brand I like" or "one brand does this."
Just wanted to give some options on how to save money on a new kite here;
Next option :Used kites
Some of the last year's models will be in excellent condition and still have many sessions left on them.
I would try to avoid a school kite though as it would have been crashed allot.
Some school kites may have little or no use due to the kite being too big or small for the wind in the area.
At the end of the year or the season they will usually sell these to get the next year's model.
Demo Kites
Dealers have some demo gear that is discounted and may have only been used a few months or weeks or even only flown a few times.
They give kite demos or demonstrations to show of all of the new gear, then they have to sell it at a discount since the gear is not new anymore. Discounts can range from 20-30% up to 50% off of a new kite.
Team rider kites
Team riders sell kites for allot less than what you would pay new (about 50%) but the ones that they use the most may have allot of sessions on them.
In other words if the team rider lives in a 7-9 m kite size area, most of the other sizes would probably be like new, and some team riders get two quivers a year and upgrade quite a bit.
If you want a used slingshot kite there are specific sites that have quite a bit of used gear.
But caution advised as with any used gear buyer beware.
Disadvantages of buying used gear:
No warranty you are on your own may leak air may need repair
Buying gear without knowledge and that is not safe to learn on (old C kites)
Team riders are trying new tricks and may have many crashes on the gear
Kites take an abuse and after so many crashes may be prone to blowing up or coming apart
Possible damage to the kite (repairs stretched canopy trailing edge or bladder damage)
Kite behaves incorrectly (turns to one side)
Guideline to buying used gear
Generally stay within three years old at the most, with exceptions.
These kites if not used much and taken care of may be in serviceable condition.
Once a kite has gotten over a year or two old you may have some air leakage problems but not always.
If your handy and don't mind making some bladder repairs
or kite in an area that a collapsed bladder is not going to leave you stranded in a bad situation then go at it, there are deals to be found.
Inspect the gear if possible
Buying locally you can check out the kite, pump it up and sometimes even fly it if you are an experienced kite pilot.. This is not a "demo" so if you know what kite you are looking at do not expect them to let you "try it before you buy it"
Do not buy old C kites to learn on
They will be possibly dangerous especially if you live somewhere that has gusty or changing wind conditions and it will take you longer to learn how to kite board with them.
There are many of these on craigslist and eBay avoid them at all costs unless you know what you are buying!
Purchasing a kite
Try to use a credit card or if using pay pal use with credit card as payment to buy online
That way if there is a problem possibly you can file a claim through the credit card company if Pay Pal
will not honor the claim.
How many sessions on the gear?
Usually you can tell from the bridle and the canopy condition how much use the kite has had but not always. People always ask to see pictures of the pigtail connections thinking that this will show if the kite has been used allot but if the bridle was changed the use would not necessarily show up here. The pig tails would look...new because it is a new bridle.
The canopy may have sun fade or stretching from many crashes on a used kite, generally you don't know what the kite has been through and buying gear unseen has it's disadvantages of course.
I had an idea to gauge how many sessions that a kite has but so far the idea has not been very practical but who knows maybe one day a demand would arise.
We like to keep kites simple light and strong.
Kite and SUP gear
Shop Location:
Wetfeet Hawaii
540 Ward avenue
Honolulu HI 96734 808 255 6255
www.wetfeethawaii.com
Online sales:
www.offdalip.com customer service@offdalip.com
Lessons
www.kitemiser.com
808-428-1865
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