The first three power kites I bought, used and recently from the PKF forum, are white and blue. And as I look at many of the photos and videos featuring power kites I see a lot of white nylon and often in combo with blue. I can no longer ponder this observation in isolation.

So whats with all the white....is it like the sails used on sailboats, both cheaper and stronger than any other colour of fabric? And why a lot of blue in combo with the white or is that just a feature more commonly found in the trainer and beginner power kites that I am currently focusing on. Maybe when you pay the bigger bucks you get into the wider range of colours and, if that's the case, why is that?

OK, maybe colour shouldn't matter because really its how the kite flies that is really important. But as a beginnger I still look up at my kite a lot and it wouldn't be unpleasant to be seeing something other than a white underbelly of nylon floating above me. As well, when you look across the field at other power kiters, buggying for example, it is attractive to see a range of colours filling the sky, a range that includes more than blue kite backsides.

And yes, it is another windless day allowing time for a gurl's mind to wander to such obtuse questions as this while the kites, whether blue or white, wait patiently in their bags for a chance to fill with air and fly.

correct me if im wrong but white fabric is lighter then coloured fabric.

Quote:

Originally posted by carltb correct me if im wrong but white fabric is lighter then coloured fabric.

You know, I read that somewhere once too. Not sure its really true. My Outlaws are red and green. My S3 is white, black and gold.

I never really gave the color of the kites much consideration. My first kite was a dark blue color, and the rest have been all over the spectrum. I do have to agree though, driving up the road and seeing a plethora of colors flying in the sky is very cool...

Colour of fabric does have an effect on how the material reacts to UV light. White reflects most of the light hitting it. Blue will reflect more UV than green. Red and black will fade the fastest from exposure to UV as they absorb the most light from the blue end (and beyond) of the spectrum.
How this affects the properties of your kite material will depend a great deal on what specific material your kite is made of. Good kite material is protected from UV damage by coatings that will inhibit the absorption of UV energy. Cheap kites are made from materials with less to no protection. This is why good kite manufacturers use paraglider or sail cloth and not just any ripstop.
S

Airin how is that little devil by the way.

I prefer a foil that does not stand out, so you won't see me coming. :singing: Blue and white is OK by me.

Scudley, thanks for that explanation, just the sort of thing I was hoping to learn.

trancein1, yup, the LD is well, yes, very blue and white! It goes along well with the buster and beamer which are also, wait.... can you guess.....well.... blue and white!

pink kites are the best ... hehehe.

kitebuggy mama's cores are coming in Chikara Purple.

I talked with kite makers in the past, and white uses the less dye. for example Skytex can weigh only 27g

Skytex Porcher 40g
Skytex Ultra 27g
Torray 44g
Icarex polyester 31g
Mirai 48g (only comes in 12 colours)
Chikara 42g (25 colours)
Teijin T9600 ?
Mylar 75g

Nylon ripstop fabric:

degrades in ultraviolet light. Its dyes degrade too.
Fluorescents degrade the fastest, white is almost as bad.
The darker the color, the greater the resistance to UV.
Stretches considerably when wet.

Polyester ripstop fabric:

Lasts much longer in UV. Bright colors fade less.
Stable when wet.
Colors tend to 'offset', or bleed when in storage.

Excellent info Ripsession, thanks a lot!


yeah...pink...purple...oh, now you're singing my song!

People who live in places other than Van have this thing that lights up your kite from above so other people can see their kites colours shining through the white bottom.

You can't see it because your blue and white kite is under a Dark Grey sky :duh: In about 5 months your kites will look different . The sun will come out and show all the Mud you will have picked up over the winter :flaming:

I saw your chosen ( lime and purple ) colours for your NPW . That should suit your colourful style !!

I might guess that white material could also be cheaper ?