The Parafoil Kite

Engine For Many Extreme Sports

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 Prices change, and a new kite comes onto the market from time to time, so this info is obviously out of date now.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 Out of date or not, it tells you a thing or 2 about foil kites.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.

The e-book Making The MBK Parafoil Kite shows you how to construct a simple 4-cell single-line parafoil. Check it out if that's more your style :-)

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Griffiths

Parafoil Kite Table

Serious about going cross-country under parafoil kite power? Look towards the bottom end of the list.

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

Step-by-step DIY
Printable

Step-by-step DIY
Printable

Hope you got something out of all this parafoil kite info!

Just for a bit of fun, it's possible for anyone to whip up their own parafoil kite from plastic sheet and packing tape...

Try making my single-line parafoil one day :-)  It has a very respectable wind range, although that's shifted towards the light end of the spectrum. 

FREE E-Book!

I'm referring to Simplest Dowel Kites, my popular kite-making download. It's a printable PDF file. Make a diamond, delta or sled. Each kite is capable of flying hundreds of feet up for hours on end.

Could you do me just a small favor though?

Please sign up for my free monthly publication, "Tethered Flying". No other emails will be sent, and your details are safe with me. You need to be at least 16 years old. There's...

• A huge "photo of the month" (via a link)
• 3 "tips of the month" (one each for beginners, parents and the more experienced)
• A "flight report of the month" (selected from my own flying logs)

Need winders, reels, flying line?

We earn a small commission if you click the following link and buy something. The item does not cost you any more, since we are an "affiliate" of Amazon.

Click here to buy anything you need. Just use the Search box in there if you need different weights or lengths of line, for example.

P.S. Keep an eye out for books by kite author Glenn Davison, a prominent kite person in the USA.

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