Does line length make a big difference?

Nehersy · Since 05 Oct 2014 19 Posts Walla Walla

For those of you that use one bar for different sized kites, does line length make that big of difference? I have 1 bar for my 8 10 12 meter switch nitro 2 kites. What length of lines should i use that will work for all 3 sizes? Thanks in advance for your input!

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1471 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

it's personal preference.
i always fly my small kites on 20m lines as I like quick snappy response.
my larger kites (10, 12) i switch back and forth between the 20m and 23m lines depending on the wind strength and my mood.....
longer lines if the wind is light and i want to boost..... shorter lines if it's strong gusty wind or i want to speed up the handling on the larger kites.

22 or 23m lines would be a good all around length for your quiver.

normally, the wind speed increases the higher you get off the ground.
i.e - it's more windy at 75(25m) feet than at 60 feet (20m).

Shorter kite lines will force the kite to fly in a smaller window, at lower altitude.
It will reach all points of the flying window very quickly, giving a very fast response.

Longer kite lines will do the opposite. When the kite reaches its maximum height, it will be able to catch strong winds.... the kite will appear much slower and less responsive.

Short lines (between 15 and 20 meters) are used in situations of very strong and gusty winds to allow a better control of a kite.

Long lines (25 meters) are normally used in light wind conditions or in kitesurf racing, when it’s necessary to reach the best wind possible.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2058 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Johnb · Since 02 Aug 2010 494 Posts Obsessed

I fly all my kites from 5 M to 17 M all on the same 55 cm bar with 20 m lines.

I just got used to how they fly with this bar and don't have to worry about having different bars for different kites.

I think I would like to get 21 or 22 m lines next time I get new lines but my 20 M lines seem to be ok. I think the longer lines will give me a bit more range in lower wind ranges.

When snow kite I might put 3 or 4 meter extensions if the wind is light or I am going on some steep terrain. The longer lines provide for a bigger power stroke and get the kite farther off the ground when looping up steep hills.

In my opinion unless you are in the market for another bar what you have should work fine.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 853 Posts Seattle Opinionated

line length makes a difference. However most manufacturers these days have tuned their kites to perform best with the factory bar and line length.

As far as I know, switch kites only makes one bar that comes with 20m lines and 3m extensions. in that case 20m is the ideal length they will tune all their kites to run on. The 3m extensions may help gain some low end but when you add line length there is always a compromise. I've experimented with long lines before and I found the added drag would make the kite sit deeper and the added stretch would kill my ability to pop. They did however help with a lightwind start due to the larger downward stroke. They also helped a little with hangtime in a standard pendulum jump. Ultimately I found the length the mfg picks gives the best balance in performance.

Hope that info helps!

Nehersy · Since 05 Oct 2014 19 Posts Walla Walla

Thanks for the input, can't wait to get out and give these kites a try.

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 201 Posts Stoked

I use 20m lines in the surf and 25m lines in flat water. In the surf I often want to quickly move the kite from one side of the window to the other - shorter lines help (I have seen people on 15m lines but never tried them myself). In flat water the longer lines seem to jump better and slow the kite down for tricks.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

I second bar length over line length.
I fly
5-7 meter with 18 inch 23 meter lines
9 meter with 2o inch bar 23 meter lines
and anything 11 or bigger 24 inch with 23 meter
my 11 flys like a 7 with 24 inch bar.
I love my seven .
But I only ride in salt.
No fancy stuff.

Very Happy

I have experimented with shorter and longer lines and they make a difference to but not really across kites.
Short no good for small, long no good for big .
imho.
I would fly them all with a 20 inch bar with 20 or 23 lines which ever you have or can get reasonably ( ideally more than 1 bar for max function and reliability.)
I chew up a few chicken lines a year minimum normally.
I have a set of 16 meter lines and they suck.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1523 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Sella needs to chime in on this. He uses different line lengths sometime to maximize the wind and kite sizes. !!!

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2058 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Sella · Fri Feb 06, 15 3:42 pm

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 598 Posts Addicted

Lots of good stuff here
Does line length make a difference? some
Does it make a big difference? not really, you will adjust to whatever you ride daily quickly.
Everyone has a personal preference, I like a slightly quicker response so I prefer shorter lines and a longer bar in my 6, 8 & 10, especially in the waves. As said before the kite does not really turn faster, it starts the turn a bit quicker and reaches the edge of the window faster so it feels faster. You do give up a bit of low end ease, you have to move the kite a bit more to get going in really low wind but I would rather do that and have a quicker kite. So, 6, 8, 10 are on 20 inch bar and 21 meter lines. The larger kite is on a 23 bar and 23 meter lines. Seems to me not much of a difference in less than 3 meter changes in line length. Best thing to do, of course, is play around with it and see where you end up liking it the best....there is no right answer...so there is no wrong answer....just what feels best to you for now, cause it will probably change with a style change. Like boosting needs slightly longer lines, etc.