For a good overall picture of the parafoil kite scene back in 2007, see the big information table below. Prices change, and a new kite comes onto the market from time to time, so this info is obviously out of date now.
However, have you seen anything like this table anywhere else on the Web? I don't think so! Out of date or not, it tells you a thing or 2 about foil kites.
The cheapies are at the top of the table, and are not necessarily of much use to you as a traction kite! Ok for a bit of a slip'n'giggle out on the frozen lake with someone's old pair of skis or toboggan, maybe.
Serious about going cross-country under parafoil kite power? Look towards the bottom end of the list...
Price US$
Manufacturer
Name
Type
Sizes (sqr m)
<100
Brookite
Sky Witch
2-line
0.6
Brookite
Sky Wizard
2-line
0.8
Flexifoil
Buzz
2-line
0.8
Flying Wings
Mighty Bug
2-line
0.5, 1.0, 1.5
HQ
Bongo
2-line
1.2
HQ
NPW 5
2-line
2.4, 3.4, 4.4
HQ
Symphony
2-line
1.2, 1.4, 1.8
Ozone
Imp 07
2-line
1.0
Spirit of Air
Power Foil
2-line
1.1, 1.4
Thunderbird
Speed Foil
2-line
1.0
PKD
Buster
4-line
0.7
Rhombus
Firebee
4-line
1.0, 2.0
Feed The Rat
FTR
depower.
2.0, 3.0
100-199
HQ
NPW 5
2-line
6.9
HQ
NPW 9
2-line
3.4, 5.3, 7.6, 12.0
HQ
Rush
2-line
1.3, 1.8, 2.6
HQ
Symphony
2-line
2.2, 2.7
Ozone
Imp 07
2-line
1.5, 2.0
HQ
Beamer III
4-line
2.0
New Tech
Ballistic
4-line
2.2, 3.6
Ozone
Imp Quattro
4-line
1.5
PKD
Buster
4-line
1.4, 2.0
Rhombus
Firebee
4-line
3.0, 4.0
Feed The Rat
FTR
depower.
4.0
200-299
HQ
NPW 9
2-line
15.0
Ozone
Imp Trainer
2-line
2.0, 2.5, 3.5
Gin
Zig
4-line
1.0, 2.0
HQ
Beamer III
4-line
3.0, 4.0
HQ
Beamer TSR
4-line
1.8
New Tech
Ballistic
4-line
4.9
Ozone
Imp Quattro
4-line
2.0, 2.5, 3.5
PKD
Buster
4-line
3.0, 4.0
Spirit of Air
Cyclone
4-line
2.0, 3.0, 4.0
Feed The Rat
FTR
depower.
5.5
300-399
Gin
Zig
4-line
3.0, 4.0, 5.5
Gin
Yoz II
4-line
1.8
HQ
Beamer III
4-line
5.0, 7.0
HQ
Beamer TSR
4-line
2.5, 3.6
Flexifoil
Rage
4-line
1.8, 2.5
New Tech
Ballistic
4-line
6.2
Ozone
Samurai 2
4-line
2.0, 3.0, 4.0
Ozone
Razor
4-line
2.5
PKD
Buster
4-line
5.5
400-499
Flexifoil
Rage
4-line
3.5, 4.7
Gin
Yoz II
4-line
2.6, 3.8
HQ
Beamer TSR
4-line
5.0, 7.0
Ozone
Samurai 2
4-line
5.0
Ozone
Razor
4-line
3.5
PKD
Buster
4-line
7.0
500-599
Flexifoil
Rage
4-line
6.0
Gin
Yoz II
4-line
4.8
Ozone
Razor
4-line
4.5, 5.5
PKD
Buster
4-line
9.0
600-699
Gin
Yoz II
4-line
6.2
Ozone
Razor
4-line
6.8
Gin
Yoz II UDS
depower.
1.8
Ozone
Access
depower.
6.0, 10.0
700-799
Gin
Yoz II
4-line
8.5
Ozone
Razor
4-line
8.5
Gin
Yoz II UDS
depower.
2.6, 3.8
North Husky Ltd
n/a
depower.
7.3, 11.3
800-899
Ozone
Razor
4-line
11.0
Gin
Yoz II UDS
depower.
4.8
Ozone
Frenzy
depower.
5.0
900-999
Gin
Yoz II
4-line
10.6
Ozone
Frenzy
depower.
7.5
1000-1099
Gin
Eskimo
depower.
4.0
Gin
Yoz II UDS
depower.
8.5
1100-1199
Gin
Eskimo
depower.
6.0
Ozone
Frenzy
depower.
10.0
1200-1299
Gin
Yoz II UDS
depower.
10.6
Ozone
Frenzy
depower.
12.0
1300-1399
Gin
Eskimo
depower.
8.5
Ozone
Frenzy
depower.
14.0
1400-1499
Gin
Eskimo
depower.
11.5
Try thisif you're not living in the U.S.
Did you notice some groups or categories in all that parafoil kite data? Here's what I saw...
2-line stunt kites for flying in the park, with steering ability but not much power for traction sports
bigger stunt kites, with more useful amounts of power
small 4-line traction kites that could be used to snowkite, for example
low-end de-powerable parafoil kites, tough and ideal for beginners
more expensive 4-liners, quite good to snowboard or buggy with
mid-range de-powerable foils, perfect for snowkiting
most expensive large kites, stable with smoothly controllable power over a very wide wind range
Hope you got something out of all this parafoil kite info!
Dowel Kites Book
Skewer Kites Book
