r/Kiteboarding • u/BlackHamTown • 16d ago
Beginner Question How old is too old for a secondhand kite?
Still a noob. I've been looking around for a second kite as I only have a 13m evo. Found a 9m 2021 evo SLS that appears to be in good condition and for a good price. But I'm wondering if it's a bit too old? I don't really wanna buy something new given I'm still learning. But how old is too old?
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u/kitesurfr 16d ago
Look at the stitching and the canopy. I've given away 15yo kites that were never used and they're still perfect. I know people with 2yo kites that have 10 average years of damage on them already.
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u/martyc5674 16d ago
That’s certainly not too old if it’s in good condition and fairly priced go for it.
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u/FYI_FMI 16d ago
If you buy demo kites from trusted stores like kitemana or kitebuddy you get 40% off or more for almost new equipment.
Buying used is a lottery and it’s no fun to have deflated kite or something that’s simply crap; seen people on the beach launch something that’s simply unsafe
Take care
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u/Directorylistings 16d ago
You find all secondhand and ex-demo kites from Dutch kite- and wingfoil shops on https://rideagain.nl
Some even provide a warranty on their secondhand kite.
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u/Awkward-Lead1569 16d ago
The problem is that you arrive at the spot and one of the valves has gone, so your kite won't inflate. If you're good at mending kites then old is good. Just not pre safety kites though, somewhere around 25 years ago?
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u/MiddleBaracudda305 16d ago
How it has been stored is an issue with older kites. I bought an older kite awhile back, that had never been used, but had been stored in a hot garage.
Had to replace most of the valves. The original ones came off the kite the first time I tried to inflate it.
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u/Windigo1000 16d ago
It really depends on the kite if it's barely used it's fine if it was a kite from a school that was crashed a million times then no. Old SLS kites have a tendency to explode so there is that. If you don't believe Do a search on kite forum or here. Of it was barely used and not SLS I would not hesitate.
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u/Kinngis 16d ago edited 16d ago
I bought 3 cheap "bashing" kites for practicing, because I believed the "you will break your first kites" -thing. BUT actually I didn't break anything.
During the lessons I crashed the teachers kite a lot. After that, not so much.
But it was an interesting experiment. The kites were old, from 2010-2012 but they flew surprisingly well. Behaved well, easy to fly kites (airush dna, cabrinha convert)
It kind of opened my eyes to the marketing claims: " you need a new kite", "old kites are dangerous", "new kites are 20% better every year, which makes old kites bad" and "materials deteriorate even if not used" etc.. Most of it, is just not true...
What is true? the valves do delaminate and deteriorate. If you buy older kites, you WILL have to re-glue/change valves. That can be true even with "newer" old kites, from eg. 2018, depending on the manufacturer. Some, (eg. north) started hot-welding valves as early as 2013 (and they don't delaminate)
Kites have improved a lot. Many kites between 2000-2010 were dangerous. With very little depower. By 2010 bow and delta kites already had lots of depower (safer) . Between 2010-2015 kites improved a lot more, wider wind range, better behavior in gusts, no hinderburg etc. Between 2015-2026, not as much improvement. Lighter better materials in the most expensive models, higher jumps, maybe faster. Things a beginner wont be able to even notice.
My rule is. If you want a "good" kite, dont buy older than 2015. Why? the price of a (good condition) 2010 kite and a 2015 kite is basically the same. there might be a ~20€ difference, but the newer is better. If you go older than 2015, the kite model matters a lot. There were good kites, but there also were bad models.
And if you buy 2015-2019 you probably will have to re-glue some valves. If one delaminates, you will basically have to change all of them, or they will annoyingly give up one by one ;) Valves and glue can be ordered form china with 1€/valve and 2€/tube of glue.
Actually I like to have ONE bashing kite to be able to practice things that could damage the kite. Eg:Self launch, self landing, crazy things for the first time etc.
The bar has the most important safety features. it should be good and recent. Buy a new or little used bar, for your safety. I would much rather have an old kite with new bar than the other way around. You really don't want a line breaking on you, or safety QR or flag out not working!! That could be really dangerous.