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 Prices change, and a new kite comes onto the market from time to time, so this info is obviously out of date now.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 Out of date or not, it tells you a thing or 2 about foil kites.
This Prism Snapshot 1.2 Speed Foil
on Amazon in 2014 is a small but quality parafoil that has plenty of good reviews.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.
Parafoil Kite Table
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 |
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!
What's New!
-
How To Make A Rokkaku Kite
May 23, 18 06:00 AM
This previously published page (1 of 3 linked together) takes you step by step through making a small Rok from just bamboo skewers, plastic, tape and a few drops of wood glue...
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Wind Speeds
Light air
1-5 km/h
1-3 mph
1-3 knots
Beaufort 1
Light breeze
6–11 km/h
4–7 mph
4–6 knots
Beaufort 2
Gentle breeze
12–19 km/h
8–12 mph
7–10 knots
Beaufort 3
Moderate breeze
20–28 km/h
13–18 mph
11–16 knots
Beaufort 4
Fresh breeze
29–38 km/h
19–24 mph
17–21 knots
Beaufort 5
Strong breeze
39–49 km/h
25–31 mph
22–27 knots
Beaufort 6
High Wind
50-61 km/h
32-38 mph
28-33 knots
Beaufort 7
Comments
Plenty of fun kite info, photos and videos - there's definitely too much here for only one visit! Feel free to leave your impressions of this site or just this page, below...