Been looking into getting the kids a cheap 2 line kite to play around with. I see HQ makes a $20 kite but it also needs to take a beating. Anyone have any experience with these type of kites?

Hard to break a Bebop (around $40). But the Quickstep II and Calypso II are dependable.

I'm thinking more foil kite. That way the kids get the feel and maybe someday step up to my trainer..Thanks for the options.

I have a Symphony 1.8 that has almost 4 years, and I'd guess a couple of hundred hours, on it. I've taught my wife, both kids, and dozens of friends and strangers on it without a single popped cell or tear. A few more dollars but pound for pound the best money I've spent on a kite.

+1 for the symphony. prism makes the snapshot too.
I don't think kids NEED handles, sometimes those wrist slips are easier to get at first

I would go for a 4 line kite with killers. Kids learn real fast how to reverse launch and relaunch 4 line foils. With a 2 liner, they'll generally need an assist which means you'll do a lot more running. I taught my kids on a 1.5 lil devil and 1.2 sting.

+1 for B-Roc's thought... My kids did a quick transition to a 3-line (Rush-Pro) once they had the basics, and the move to 4-line (and larger) was even faster. In hindsight, a small (2m?) 4-line would have probably helped them progress faster.

I had a small 1.4? symphony, it took my sons crashes pretty well. Of course terrain it crashes into is a big factor.

I think that kite ready to fly was under $50. Nice quick kite too when the wind cranks way up, even fun for adults.:bouncy:..

What is the trainer you may have them eventually try and what ages are we talking?

I think I know of a used 1.4 Beamer that is available. That be a nice small rig to get started on.

Drop me a u2u if your interested

Can't go wrong with a symphony!! Excellent quality, inexpensive, a ton of fun to fly. I've owned a few HQ kites and never had an issue with any of them.

The kids are- daughter 10 son 12. I was looking on Ebay and found a small HQ for around $30. If any of you have some old beaters laying around for less than that price let me know..

I have a 1.4 Symphony I started with, takes a beating and flies well.

+1 on the symphony. I bought one and although I love it, it seems a bit too quick and sensitive for teaching someone on. Don't get me wrong, its great as it has zero risk of making you do a super man and I have never taught anyone on it, but I just wonder if it is too sensitive to learn on??

but for <50... lol why not.

My kids: daughter 13 and son 11. Both have been flying for four years and started on the Symphony 1.8. Neither of them had any problems with the kite being twitchy unless the wind really picked up.
Son now flies my 3m PL Hornet quite comfortably. He's only 105 pounds and has learned the value of kite killers :wee: (we try to keep it to low wind days.) Daughter is happier sitting on the sidelines

Quote:

Originally posted by B-Roc I would go for a 4 line kite with killers. Kids learn real fast how to reverse launch and relaunch 4 line foils. With a 2 liner, they'll generally need an assist which means you'll do a lot more running. I taught my kids on a 1.5 lil devil and 1.2 sting.

++1 for B-Roc. Even though you may have to plink down a little more coin, it could also second as your nukin wind kite.

For 10 and 12 year olds, skip the 2 liner and get them on 4 line kites. I taught my boys to fly my symphony at like 6-7 years old and we had it for years. Only a chain link fence crash by a cousin had me getting the tape out. By 11-12 both boys were landboarding and/or running in the buggy, so they are more capable than you think.

+1+1+1 for going straight to 4 liner. My youngest only flew the 1.4 symphony once for about 1-2hrs. Next trip out he was on a 2m Buster quad line.. I have since sold the symphony because he refuses to fly it now...

http://vimeo.com/33154825

Symphony is tons of fun for the kiddos. even for you.

+1 for a 4 line. You dont have to keep relaunching for them.

Lots of fun/good options that have already been mentioned.
A while back I picked up a Flying wings Mighty Bug 1.0 used on eBay cheap!. It's a ton of fun as in really, really, fast and responsive. I see they can still be had new on eBay for about $50. I'm also a fan of the Prism Snapshot and the older discontinued Stylus.
The Mighty Bug ranges in size from .5M-1.5M. I teach friends on a Prism Stylus P3 first because it's slower. Once they get the hang of that I have them fly the Mighty Bug because it's such a hoot. Once they can control these kites I'll teach them how to fly the 4-line kites on handles. Anyway, just another option to add to the mix...and a very high quality one at that!

Picked up a Symphony Beach for now. Should get me buy for a while.. Good thing for two kids, they can relaunch one another...

belated +1 on symphony beach... you'll have loads of fun with those symphonies....

My starter was a 2.1 symphony beach, and had loads of fun with it, even in the lumpy ATL wind. They can indeed take a beating... ENJOY!