what do you think about the kite brands line quality...
from what i've seen most kite brands use different line types/colours/thickness/smoothness from different line makers, maybe like dyneema/ spectra and others

So..getting into the point
lets make a poll of what do you guys think is the best kite brand lines quality

from my experiences Slingshot kite lines are the best ..top-end

I've had a set of Cabrinha lines (all 4 of them) snap on me in a single gust of wind before on a 2 session old bar... was not impressed.

Agree though, the Slingshot lines on the CSS bar just look and feel a cut above the rest of the brands... wish I could source some in the correct length to retrofit to my bar.

Ive used naish, Epic, best, gastra, Eclipse and Peterlyn kite lines

Never had one broke though I do swap the ends around when I get a bit of line wear - where it twists at the bottom.

And when the ends start looking really squashed after a long while, I get the ends shortened just enough for a fresh restitch of the cover thingy on uncompressed line

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tunsis said...

I've had a set of Cabrinha lines (all 4 of them) snap on me in a single gust of wind before on a 2 session old bar... was not impressed.

are you sure?

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tunsis said...

I've had a set of Cabrinha lines (all 4 of them) snap on me in a single gust of wind before on a 2 session old bar... was not impressed.

all 4 lines???

keep off the cakes mate ,or get a 5th line kite

The worst thing that can happen is a front line break especially under power or doing jumps/tricks, as well as a front bridle go in the same situation. Ive got 2 broken ribs years ago to show for it. The kite will power up and radically turn in the opposite direction. I do like the SS bar as it has double the line strength in the fronts. Some flimsy lines get twisted when setting up. The best way to set lines up, whether 4 or 5 line bars/lines is to use your back hand to put the lines between all your fingers and use the front hand at full extention to feed the lines through. It stops tangles,.
A tip from a kiting legend, set up twice, ie, set up and check everything, and only launch once.

If your lines have any evidence of wear, ESPECIALLY the fronts, dont expect a perfect session.

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BennyB12 said...

tunsis said...

I've had a set of Cabrinha lines (all 4 of them) snap on me in a single gust of wind before on a 2 session old bar... was not impressed.

are you sure?

All my kites are cab's never had a problem with the lines.

To break all 4 lines would take a massive force, far more than a big gust.

The only time I have seen a multiple line failure was attributed to the guy constantly rubbing his lines across the edge of his board while he was learning lying in the water and trying to get up out of the water.

At the end of every session I rinse the bar and lines in fresh water and leave to dry in the shade regardless of if they have been dunked in the salt water or not. The lines last for the time I keep the kite, usually 2 years. Just the usual stretching that I take up with the pig tail adjustment.

Oh yea, all cab kites.

best lines are on Spleene and Core bars. they still stiff and look good after a year.
Slingshot and North lines are pretty good too.
Keen to see how the North Kevlar lines will look after a year of use.

Check out the latest kiteworld mag, they have a article on lines ,

When learning last year I had my 2008 9m fuel front line snap on me, and start looping out of controll dragging me behind the breakers. I was so freaked out I pulled the fith line, ripping it off the leading edge- so pissed off.

I had 3 lines on a five line kite working in a good 20-25 knots.

The kite looped into a wave powered up had to call some random guy walking his dogs to grab my kite.

That went into the expirence box! After that day I said to myself- don't buy gear second hand that's had a bit of use. Spend the extra $$ so you dong go tits up.

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Underoath said...

When learning last year I had my 2008 9m fuel front line snap on me, and start looping out of controll dragging me behind the breakers. I was so freaked out I pulled the fith line, ripping it off the leading edge- so pissed off.

I had 3 lines on a five line kite working in a good 20-25 knots.

The kite looped into a wave powered up had to call some random guy walking his dogs to grab my kite.

That went into the expirence box! After that day I said to myself- don't buy gear second hand that's had a bit of use. Spend the extra $$ so you dong go tits up.

Thank god it was a fuel 08'. It would of got a lot more messy on other type of kites. A Bow/hybrid with a flatter canopy in strong winds is even worse, especially when your leash is connected to the back of your harness. A little tip. Is is much safer to connect your safety leash to the front of your harness, unless handle-passing. When things go tits-up and your going backwards at full power underwater, as the kite has looped, stuffed the QR to the point of functionality, try pulling it from behind.

'Eurocord' Dynema is very popular with manufactures these days. Have bars from Airush and Best with this line and have never had a breakage. For total security I ride with my 2002 Spectre lines that came with a 17.5 M wipika kite I picked up cheaply (brand new.) Very expensive at the time and I'll be surprised if any brand uses it for lines these days now Dynema is so readily available.

Ozone lines are 500kg for the fronts and 300kg for the rears, never had any issues from hundreds of kites in use.
Also available in 360kg/360kg at a lower cost.
Ozone lines are made in the factory featured in Kiteworld.

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INTHELOOP said...

best lines are on Spleene and Core bars. they still stiff and look good after a year.
Slingshot and North lines are pretty good too.
Keen to see how the North Kevlar lines will look after a year of use.

... + 1

interestinglly, after a year and a bit of flogging and not careing too much, my Core lines are still going strong and still look great, better looking than my North lines too. I lost the little bag you put the bar in so the bar always ends up being chucked in the back of the car and bounced around and has less wear marks than any other bars I've owned.

+1 for slingshot lines, 3 rd year on 2010 Fuel, never rinse just use everyday in summer and still looking good. Thick front lines add confidence especially when its pumping and big loops are flavour of the arvo;) I have seen lines break and the consequences are generally very bad. All very well to have light thinner dyneema lines but resistance to abrasion from what I have seen doesn't tend to be as good. ie a lines cross on two kites, thinner dyneema lines break, no visible damage to thicker slingy lines. I understand the wonders of dyneema; 0 stretch and stronger than spectra and not sure which the slingy lines of the last few years are made of but it seems to work best. Just my humble opinion and no affiliation with slingshot, I have bought them for my last 2 sets of kites though.

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Kiting said...

+1 for slingshot lines, 3 rd year on 2010 Fuel, never rinse just use everyday in summer and still looking good. Thick front lines add confidence especially when its pumping and big loops are flavour of the arvo;) I have seen lines break and the consequences are generally very bad. All very well to have light thinner dyneema lines but resistance to abrasion from what I have seen doesn't tend to be as good. ie a lines cross on two kites, thinner dyneema lines break, no visible damage to thicker slingy lines. I understand the wonders of dyneema; 0 stretch and stronger than spectra and not sure which the slingy lines of the last few years are made of but it seems to work best. Just my humble opinion and no affiliation with slingshot, I have bought them for my last 2 sets of kites though.

+1
I love slingshot...and best.. and liquid force..no others

I have broken a few Cab lines in the past........ mainly due to wear ( 3 seasons old ) or kite collisions.

My 06 Fuel front lines are about twice the thickness as any others.... not sure if they are any stronger but they are much much chunkier.

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hamburglar said...

tunsis said...

I've had a set of Cabrinha lines (all 4 of them) snap on me in a single gust of wind before on a 2 session old bar... was not impressed.

all 4 lines???

keep off the cakes mate ,or get a 5th line kite

78kg, all 4 lines...

9m Nomad, 30kts gusty, jumped as a lull hit, crashed, kite slackline falling out of the sky downwind of me and I decided to 'save' my kite by grabbing a rear line just as a huge gust came through. Snap.

Everybody at my local spot said they'd never seen / heard of all 4 lines breaking at once (including a former British freestyle champion). Checked the weather reports and right when it happened the wind gusted 45kts. Looking at the photo, the rear line I grabbed snapped a few inches down from the tail first I'd guess then all three others went at exactly the same spot.

Cabrinha replaced them very quickly, didnt even ask for the old ones, I still have them and might make a set of shorter lines... :)

Have north rebel, great kites but were the flying lines splice and have the fith line pass through will in time prove to be a week piont. Sand salt and general use will break something

Sorry to muddy the waters but there is no difference in dyneema and spectra

They are the same stuff made by different companies.

Spectra is made by Honeywell in the US and Dyneema is made by a Dutch company DSM. Both are made from gel-spun polyethylene. Both offer the same characteristics, and both cost about the same.

The main difference is in how they are braided and treated by the line producers.

I do love the slingys lines (think they are western filament braid) have been premium for years in my experience.

luv
istt

I've had north and core, north lines go furry and soft over time. Core lines stay waxy and are a far more durable line

i ran an old set that had been stored for about 1 to 2 years where good to cruz around but snapped under looping load, not surre which line tho...