I m buying my first Kite and I m wondering whether I shouldn't save the money and buy a cheaper second hand kite from 2011 or buy something more recent.

Do you think there's much in it between the various models?

I would say the last "2" years has been more of a tweaking year for most brands. Price wise it has never been a better time to buy second hand especially if you are just starting out, if you have the cash then buy new, but be prepared for your gear to have a few spills and repairs as you learn. Certainly in the last two years it feels like you have to give your gear away now days just check the buy and sell as proof. Being a beginner you just need something that will be forgiving and stable with good wind range and depower, which fits the bill for most kites in the last 2 years.

Like all things second hand you have to shop around what one person will see as well looked after is different to another!

Addikt is right. It used to be that the advice was stay away from anything more than a couple of years old as the safety of older kites was a non existant feature. That is no longer an issue. A 3yo kite would still be a bad choice if it's been used heavily for that long. But you can bargain hard cause there's soo much 2nd hand gear & so many new brands trying to break into the market.
Col

work on 50% depressision per year.

so $2000 new $1000 1yr, $500 2yrs.

my call a 1 year old near new kite is the best value. you get a kite thats pretty much new at half the price then you can get a good couple of years of thrashing it.

2 years old is unlikely to be in near new condition. so even tho its alot cheaper someone has used half its life up. yourl probably only get 1 year out of it.

work on your main kite wearing out every 12 months. maybe 2 years if your a weekend warrior.

12 months, only if they have a mutant plummet.

Just starting out have been out about 15 times but now want to get my own kite. Looking at either the 2011 or the 2012 North Rebel. Do you think there would be much benefit in me spending the extra $400-500 on the 2012. Would appreciate any feedback. Cheers.

I wouldn't fork out the extra coin If you're still learning the basics. This time of year you can bargain to get new condition 2011 kites for around $600-700.

as live to fly said , itll take you a couple of years to push the limits of a kite, not many of us could honestly say we couldnt get any more from the kite, so save yourself a bit of money and go for say a 2011, maybe check up on the year north had bladder dramas , apart from that and the colour they are a good kite

Thanks guys appreciate the feedback.

Select to expand quote

eppo said...
12 months, only if they have a mutant plummet.

Just to add to your confusion I had both the 2011 and 2012 rebels and the 2012 was a much nicer kite in my opinion. Some may disagree, but I found they tried to find the edge of the window more in 2012, but some didn't like that.

But as they said you wouldn't notice such a thing for a few years. ....

Consider the wear and tare on a 2011 kite though. As a rule I always only go a year old max. But I know guys still flying 2008 gear so that shoots that argument.

Go through a retailer if I was you a well known one that would look after you knowing you will buy a new kite one day. Then and only then would I go a 2011.

i recon you consider the 2011/2012 Cabrinha switchblade because they will never let you down and they are a perfect learner kite + they are indestructible. I have a 2011 one and I have had mine crushed by medium sized waves (3-5ft) waves and crashed super hard and it has never broken/ripped. They also have a great wind range. Like I weigh 62kg and i can get going on my 8m in anything from 15knots (when im really working the kite) to maxing out 32knots (mostly due to the amount of depower they have).

you can pick them up really cheap as well and they last forever.

You can save a bit of coin by hunting around shops for last seasons kites that are still NEW.
Or even online you can get a 2011 kite new

Again, if you are just learning you won't know the difference. My other brother is just starting and got him a 2011 wainman smoke new, for a good price off a retailer. I would suggest even considering buying new just an older model they are trying to get off the shop floor.

There is always a risk with second hand gear. I never ever leave my kite flapping on the beach, pump up the last thing I do when setting up and first thing when packing up. Wash all my gear ( not kite of course only once a year) and it rarely goes in the water and it rarely hits the ground or water as I've been doing it long enough.

But I do see a lot of crew leaving kites on the beach, crashing it etc. not saying that's a bad thing, up to each individual in the end, but when buying as I said there is always a risk. Buying a superseded model that's new, at least you know. I would say this though, avoid demoes if you can, on demo days they can sit on the beach all day! But that is not always the case.

Just more food for thought.

Select to expand quote

suniboy21 said...
You can save a bit of coin by hunting around shops for last seasons kites that are still NEW.
Or even online you can get a 2011 kite new

fantastic kite, high range. I'm thinking of parting with my 2011 9m.
worth checking out that the kite has been looked after and not thrashed. that said the switches seem to be bullet proof.?