Often the flying lines are not provided with a kite so that you can choose the length and type you want. Also one set of lines can be used with more than one kite to keep the cost down.

The main characteristics of a flying line are:

• strength : you will need a stronger line for a bigger kite or with a stronger wind.
• stretch : the lower the stretch of the line the more precisely you can control your kite.
• diameter : thick lines increase wind resistance (drag), which reduces control over the kite and hampers light wind flying.
• durability : some lines will fray or wear faster than others. Some are sensitive to sunlight.

Of course price may be the determining factor. As always, you get what you pay for and good line doesn't come cheaply. The ideal line would have no stretch to enhance responsiveness, be as thin as possible to reduce wind resistance, hard wearing and inexpensive.
We stock two types of line: polyester and dyneema / spectra.

Polyester lines are the less expensive kind. They will stretch more and won't last as long as Dyneema. This type of line is supplied with most inexpensive sport kites.

Dyneema is the European equivalent of the American Spectra. The key characteristics of these lines are that they are smooth, lightweight, thin and slippery. The disadvantage of these types of lines is the low melting point which means that they will get burnt or cut if you cross another type of line whilst flying. A protective sleeve is placed over the line at knots to maintain the breaking strain and prevent failure. We recommend dyneema or spectra lines for the best performance.
There are other high tech lines available like Kevlar. Whilst very thin, it also has a low resistance to sunlight and is very abrasive. Due to these limitations and the high price we do not stock Kevlar line.

Stunt kites generally need between 50 and 150 feet of line. For delta kites 100 feet is a good start as this provides a large area of sky to fly in. A shorter line will make the kite seem faster and more responsive but may be a bit difficult for the novice. Foils work better on a longer line, enabling their speed and power to be optimized.
Bear in mind that the longer the line, the more stretch you will get. Longer lines also take more time to wind up and will require a larger flying area. For easy line winding we recommend the use of figure eight winders whenever possible.

- Tradewind Kites - 23 Harris Arcade, Reading, RG1 1DN. Tel. 0118 956 8848 Fax. 0118 959 8755
You can e-mail us here sales@tradewind-kites.demon.co.uk