Training kite FLYSURFER Fox - review

Some time ago, I bought a new product from FLYSURFER for my kit collection, namely the Fox training kite. Here is a short review for anyone interested in this kite.

Some might think why even write a review for a toy like a 1.5m training kite, but the answer is simple. There are not many training kites that flies really well and choosing a good one from the wide range is quite a lottery...

Why did I buy a training kite?

I decided to buy a training kite because sometimes someone approaches me on the spot saying, that he likes the sport I do and it is nice for such occasions to have a safe kite on hand that anyone can take without any lengthy prior instruction. I will also use the kite during the first lessons of the kiting courses. At test events, it is an ideal way to keep the kids entertained while the parents are consulting on the selection of their equipment, and last but not least, my kids are starting to reach the age where they can play with the kite as well (so I hope they will want to :)

Why FLYSURFER Fox?

I have many years of experience with training kites from kite courses where I work as an instructor. I know good and bad training kites from different brands, but there was always something I didn't like about each one. When the kite flew well in light wind, it had stability issues in a strong gusty wind. When it flew well in strong wind, it didn't fly well in light one, and so on. I have been flying FLYSURFER kites with the satisfaction for a long time and when they came with a training kite that flew beautifully in the videos (yes, an experienced kiter can read a lot about a kte from the video) and in a size that would also be suitable for smaller children, I gave it a try. Was it a hit or did I miss it?

First look at the Flysurfer Fox training kite

The small compact package hides a 3-line 1.5m2 large kite with a compact bar and a safety hand leash.

Already at first glance, you can see the high-quality workmanship and elaborate details. Everything is somehow minimalistic, but at the same time neat, light and compact. High-quality color-differentiated (2x petrol and 1x orange) dyneema lines are 15 m long.

The controll bar is also color differentiated, light, comfortable to hold and has a length of 45 cm. At the end, there are shaped plastic ends on which the lines are wound. Here, I'm quite missing the securing rubber bands that can be put over the packed lines, so I simply added a piece of rubber band there :-) I believe that FLYSURFER will also supplement this little deficiency, or maybe they already have, because I already wrote to them about it some time ago.

The wrist leash with velcro loop, classically attached to the center line leading to the trailing edge.

The canopy itself surprises with a precision processing comparable to expensive foil kites from Flysurfer. Compared to other manufacturers who often save a lot on training kites and skimp on quality. The wing tips are also color-coded for easy orientation of less experienced users. In the construction of the canopy, we also find gadgets such as strings to support shape and stability, or bridles connected via short links, which we also know from Flysurfer depower foil kites.

Overall, the kite looks like it has been taken care of, and that it has undergone comprehensive development and testing like large kites, so it should fly well...

How FLYSURFER Fox flies

But the most important thing is how the kite flies. Here too, the kite surprised me, because it behaves probably the best of the training kites I have ever held in my hands. It is completely predictable, it responds very precisely to commands in both light and strong winds, and for its small size it generates a fairly decent power, but not so much that children can't handle it in normal and weaker winds. Moreover, the kite flies beautifully even in light winds, which is great for smaller kids, who can fly it absolutely safely by their own.

A constant flight speed across the entire wind window is characteristic. The Kite grabs its cruise speed and holds it regardless of whether it is at the edge of the window or flying through the power zone. This is also related to a very constant and smooth pull across the entire window. The turns ale tight without significant deceleration and the kite responds very precisely to commands. All of this makes control very intuitive, instills a sense of security, certainty, dispels fear and speeds up progress.

Restarts and landings by pulling the center line go beautifully. The kite backs up nicely taut and doesn't crumple too much, so it doesn't tangle and turns willingly when turning on the bar.

Overall, I really like the flight characteristics and I can't think of anything that could be improved there.

Safety

The safety of the kite is ensured by a hand leash attached to the center line, so that when I let go of the bar, the kite oversheets and backs up to the ground. This is very convenient, because the kite does not get tangled and sits nicely on the ground, where it waits for a restart. In strong wind, however, it backs up quite under power. Personally, I prefer more safety in strong winds at the cost of the fact that the kite could sometimes get a little tangled when the bar is released...

When a new kite arrives, a pigtail (short line with knots) is tied to the trailing edge bridle lines, which is supposed to be used to extend the safety line when it shortens over time. Even on the shortest knot, however, I found that the safety line is loose and when the bar is released in a strong wind, the kite backs up quite under power. I put the pigtail away, made a knot at the end of the central line and tied the 2 bridle lines from the trailing edge to the knot with a classic larks head knot. After all, this is how it is, or at least it used to be handled on the Peaks before. In this way, the length of the lines is absolutely perfect for my taste and the kite flies wit very little tension on the center line and when the bar is released, i looses al the power and completely flags out. I will add the pigtail back there later, when the center line gets shorter a bit over time.

Overall impresion

Apart from those 2 small flaws, that can be solved very easily, the FLYSURFER Fox kite is brilliant and I don't really know what I could improve on it. Perhaps a larger size with a less chubby profile would be useful for those, who would like more performance from the kite, for example for riding on a longboard, inline or ice skates.

Soon, the best testers, who are kids on kite courses, will get on the kite. But I'm sure it will stand up to first place :-)

Ciao, Leguan