The main kite families
Every card below shows the kite's outline, the wind it handles on the Beaufort scale and the kind of flier it suits. The colored strip at the bottom of each card runs from force 0 on the left to force 7 on the right: red is the sweet spot, yellow is workable, grey means leave it on the ground.
Diamond
The classic two-stick kite. Usually needs a tail to stay steady.
- Wind
- Flies in force 2 to 5, best in 3 to 4
- Lines
- Single line
- Good for
- Beginner
Delta
A wide triangle with a keel underneath. Climbs well in light wind.
- Wind
- Flies in force 1 to 4, best in 2 to 3
- Lines
- Single line
- Good for
- Beginner
Sled
A soft sail with two upright sticks and no cross spar. Easy to make and pack.
- Wind
- Flies in force 2 to 5, best in 3 to 4
- Lines
- Single line
- Good for
- Beginner
Box
Two open cells on a frame. Steady and strong in brisk wind.
- Wind
- Flies in force 3 to 6, best in 4 to 5
- Lines
- Single line
- Good for
- Some experience
Parafoil
No sticks at all. Wind fills fabric cells, so it packs into a pocket.
- Wind
- Flies in force 2 to 6, best in 3 to 5
- Lines
- Single or dual line
- Good for
- Beginner to experienced
Rokkaku
A tall six-sided kite from Japan with bowed cross spars. Flies steady without a tail.
- Wind
- Flies in force 2 to 5, best in 3 to 4
- Lines
- Single line
- Good for
- Some experience
Dual-line stunt
A wide delta steered with two lines. Loops, dives and figure eights.
- Wind
- Flies in force 2 to 5, best in 3 to 4
- Lines
- Two lines
- Good for
- Learn the basics first
Framed kites and soft kites
Most kites have a frame of thin rods, called spars, made of wood, bamboo, fiberglass or carbon fiber. The frame holds the sail in shape, so a framed kite flies the moment wind reaches it. The trade-off is that spars can snap in a hard crash and take up space in the car.
Soft kites, such as parafoils, have no rigid frame. Air flows into open cells along the front edge and inflates the kite into a wing. They are almost impossible to break and fold small. They need steady wind to stay inflated, and a sudden lull can make them fold and drop.
Sleds sit in between. Two upright sticks hold the sail open from top to bottom, but there is no cross spar, so the wind shapes the kite into a curved, sled-like form.
Tails and stability
A flat kite, such as a classic diamond, tends to spin or swoop from side to side. A tail adds drag at the bottom and keeps the nose pointing up. Deltas, rokkakus and box kites get their stability from their shape, a keel or bowed spars, and usually fly without one. Many people add tails anyway, because they look good against the sky.
Single-line or dual-line?
A single-line kite goes where the wind takes it. You control height by letting line out or pulling it in, and the kite does the rest. It is the relaxing choice, and the right one for a first kite.
A dual-line kite, often called a stunt or sport kite, has a line to each wingtip. Pulling one line or the other steers it through loops, dives and turns. It takes more space, because the kite sweeps across the whole sky downwind of you, and more attention, because it never stops moving.
Choosing a first kite
| If you usually have | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Light, gentle wind inland | Delta | Large sail for its weight, climbs on a light breeze |
| Steady moderate wind, beach or hilltop | Sled or parafoil | Handles stronger wind and forgives mistakes |
| Children flying | Small sled or small delta | Light pull, quick to set up, light line |
| A wish to steer | Small dual-line kite | Responds to every pull; a short line keeps it manageable |
| Limited space in a bag | Parafoil or sled | Folds flat, no long spars |
Size and pull
Bigger kites pull harder. A small kite of about 3 feet across is plenty for a first flight. Large kites, including big parafoils and power kites used for traction, can lift a flier off their feet in a gust and cause serious injuries. Learn on something small, and move up only once you can launch, fly and land without trouble. The line and gear guide explains how line strength should match the kite.
Can I fly a stunt kite as my very first kite?
You can, but you will crash it often at first. A small dual-line kite on short lines in a moderate breeze is the gentlest way to learn. Make sure you have plenty of empty space downwind, with nobody walking through.