Kite Reviews and Buying Guide:

Kites originated in China almost 3000 years ago and were made from bamboo and silk fabric. Today, we see many kites at parks and near the beach or ocean used as recreational toys. You need wind to fly a kite properly and open space. Windy days provide the best conditions for kite flying and wide open football fields or sandy beaches make great grounds for flying your kite. Stay away from trees and buildings since kites are not always that easy to control in a stiff wind and may run into branches or power lines. Kids love learning to fly a kite and parents and adults should make it a point to at least go out once a year and fly a kite with your child. Kites are typically made with sticks (spars) and paper or fabric. A tail helps guide the kite and stay aloft. A basic kite has a diamond like shape but there are dozens of kite shapes to choose from - geometric designs, three-dimensional kites (box kites), inflatable designs, etc. Fiberglass or carbon fiber is often used to manufacture the spars on kites to keep them both light and strong. If you have never been to a kite festival, check one out sometime because they are beautiful to watch.

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Which type of kite is best? It all depends on what you want the kite to. Will you use it for general kite flying or do you want a stunt kite that does tricks and tight maneuvers? There are bow kites, box kites, fighter kites, flat kites, foil kites, sport kites, dragon kites and many more. Some kites require much more technical know how in order to fly them which may take the fun out of it for you or your child. Start with a basic kite at your local kite shop or store and see if it's something you like to do. As you become more experience with flying a kite, move up to a stunt kite which allows you to do tricks in the air and learn how the slightest hand movements can turn your kite into an "air show". Stunt kites are fun to watch if the operator knows what they are doing. Perhaps the funnest part of kite flying is just getting the kite into the air. I'm sure you remember the first time you tried to fly a kite and you tried running with the kite to get it to fly. Then, immediately it would come crashing back down to earth. Kite flying is a great activity to get involved with your kids since it requires a little teamwork. Even better is downloading online instructions on how to build a kite or buying a kite kit and making your own kite from scratch. Many kite building plans are simple to do with basic materials and not much time required to get a kite built that should at least fly. Another great thing about kites is that they are fairly inexpensive to buy and the modern ones are much more durable than the kites we bought back in the 70's or 80's. I currently own 3 kites and love flying them with both my daughter and son when the conditions are right. Some tips on flying kites are listed down below along with different kites you can buy (prices, website addresses, etc).

Best Beginner Kite:

In order to find the best kite for beginners, we went to our favorite online kite shop at Intothewind.com. They carry doznes of kites in all categories, but we really like how they have organized their inventory with a nice list of beginner kites. The Classic Hata Kite ($19) is the perfect kite for novices with a traditional shape and long tail. They recommend the kite for kids 5 and over (adults can use it too). The 26" Hata is easy to launch and flys effortlessly. The kite is made of wood and fiberglass spars with ripstop nylon. The 12 foot tail is attached with velcro and you can remove the tail and transform the Hata into a fighter kite. Comes with 300' of 20 lb line and will fly in 4 to 35 MPH winds. If the Classic Hata is too boring to look at up in the sky, consider the Paradise Bird ($19) that is 5 1/2 feet long and flys in 6 to 18 MPH winds. RECOMMENDED - We suggest that you browse the best selling beginner kites here.

Best Stunt Kite:

First off, stunt kites are often referred to as sport kites. They are available in 2 or 4 lines to increase the ability to do tricks. The quad line kites are the hardest to learn with, so we recommend starting off with a beginner stunt kite like the Calypso. It will fly in 6-24 mph wind and comes ready to fly with twine loaded on a stunt handle. At only $20 you can't go wrong as a first timer learning to fly stunt kites. The Calypso is considered a light pulling kite and it's made of ripstop nylon and fiberglass spars. I've had the chance to fly something very similar to a Calypso and it took only a few times for me to figure out the way to control it and do tricks. If your skills are better than average with stunt kites, move on to the Techno ($99) from New Tech Kites. Aerial acrobatics is what the Techno was built for and you will have your hands full at first. Comes with lines, winder, and stunt straps, flys in 5 to 25 mph winds, and will perform some incredible slack line tricks. When you become proficient with dual line stunt kites, you may want to look at the Benson Airbow ($345) quad line stunt kite. It has a 3-D shape, is precise, and described as a "beginner friendly quad". The line is not included on this model. Available at Intothewind.com. Top rated stunt kites here.

Box Kite:

I prefer box kites myself since their shapes and designs are so amazing to watch fly. Since the designs are more complicated on box kites than traditional kites you will be spending more money (often around $50). The 31" Explorer Box ($22.50) is available on Intothewind.com and looks like a real winner. This cellular kite has triangle panels adorned with colorful patterns of green, red, orange, blue, and yellow. You attach your line to a corner and let the kite go. It will fly in 7 to 20 mph winds and it's made with ripstop nylon and fiberglass spars. Comes ready to fly with 150' of 30-lb line. Not all box kites are actually box shaped. The Circle Box Kite ($79) is a spectacular kite on the ground or in the air. It is made of polyester nylon and has graphite spars. Comes with a 43" case and two 9" drogue tails. It can fly in 6 to 18 mph winds and includes 330' of 100-lb line on a hoop spool. There is some assembly required to get this kite ready to go.

Building a Kite:

If you are willing to take on the project of building your own kite, there is on better site than www.kitebuilder.com. The site is loaded with tech sheets and plans on how to make a kite. There is a photo gallery of kites as well as a forum with user feedback and help on making a kite. Pick up your necessary kite supplies right on the site and be inspired by what others have done. We found the discussions within the forums to be eductional for all levels of kite enthusiasts.

Kite Flying Tips:

The first step in successful kite flying is picking the right spot. Go with treeless, open areas so that you can make some mistakes and not have to pay for it with a smashed kite in a tree limb. Become familiar with your specific kite (dragon, box, stunt) before ever launching it. Read the instructions and if you assembled it, double check the procedure. As for launching the kite, stand with your back to the wind and hold the kite up so it can catch the wind currents. If winds are lighter, have someone else hold your kite downwind from you (about 100 feet). Have them release the kite and then you can slowly draw in the line to get the kite up higher where there are hopefully stronger winds. Line tension is the key to maintaining a steady kite in the air. When the wind dies down, start reeling in your line to get some tension on the line. The one problem that can occur is getting your line tangled with another kiteline. Try walking towards the other kite flyer so that your line will move down his line so that you can detangle them. Have fun at all costs.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

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