2 October 2026 · 4 min read
Choosing your first kite (without overthinking it)
Most people buy a kite that is too small, too heavy or too clever. Here is how we steer friends towards something that actually flies.
Every summer someone tells us they 'can't fly kites'. Nine times out of ten the kite was the problem: a heavy plastic diamond, a short line and a tail made of something that weighs more than the sail. Flying is easy when the kite wants to fly.
Start with a delta
If you only buy one kite, buy a delta. The wide, swept sail lifts in very light wind and tolerates gusts by flexing rather than diving. Our Tern 1.8 goes up in 4 mph, which is the kind of breeze you can barely feel on your face.
Bigger is usually easier
It sounds backwards, but a larger single-line kite is often easier than a small one. More sail area for the same frame weight means a lower minimum wind and a gentler, more stable flight. Small kites need more wind and react to every bump.
Sleds for pockets and children
A sled has no cross-spar, so there is nothing to snap. It won't fly in quite as little wind as a delta, but it lives in a coat pocket and survives being sat on. For under-sevens we usually suggest a Pocket Diamond or a Dunlin.
When to go dual-line
Sport kites are a different hobby: you steer with two lines, and the fun is in loops, dives and landings. They are wonderful, but learn to read the wind with a single-line kite first and you will crash a lot less.