Trainer Kite Buyer's Guide

How to select the Best Trainer Kite for
Kiteboarding, Snow-kiting, Kite-landboarding,
or just for fun! : ) It's All here!
Everything you need to know and more.

Rush IV Pro kites kitemare.com

Updated: April 23rd,, 2013

We Only stock the Latest and Greatest Versions.
When ordering with us, you can be certain you'll receive the newest, latest and greatest versions of the model.
Version IV (4). Rush Pros, Scout II's (2) etc.

This Page:

Do I really need a trainer kite? Why?
What is the Best trainer kite or What are the Top 3 Trainers?
How does a trainer compare to a Full size kite?
What specifically should I practice with my trainer and How do I learn how to fly it?
Once I learn fly and then buy a full size kite will I ever use the trainer again?
Used / Pre-owned Trainers... Where can I buy one?
Where can I fly my Trainer?
Can I use a Trainer Kite in the Water?
How Much Wind do I need to fly?
How many people are needed to fly a trainer kite? Can I fly it by myself?
Control Bar or Handles, which should I use?
What Size trainer is best for me?
What is the True Size as compared to the name? 3m vs 300 vs 3.0, All the same size?
Size Categories: Small Trainer vs Traction-Trainer vs Traction Kite
How Many lines? 2-lines , 3-lines, or 4?
2-line Trainer Kites
3-line Trainer Kites
3-line Amphibious Trainers Kites
4-line Trainer Kites
Quick Pick Trainer Kite Comparison Guide
Where to Buy and how to get the lowest price?

**Note**
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but this page IS worth reading completely to take advantage of this amazing resource.

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HQ Rush III Pro Trainer Kite HQ Trainer Kite Guide 2009

This Video Shows a beginner practicing and learning the basic while flying a 3.5m .
HQ Rush-III 350 PRO, Trainer sizes range up to 3.5m, so this 350 is the largest / most powerful within what's considered the trainer kite size category.
The 350, like any kite can be low power ,docile, and easy,
or high power and a hand full !
The power varies depending on "how" you fly the kite.
The faster you fly it, the more power it generates
**** Be sure to watch both of the Rush 350 videos to see how different it flies
depending on the wind speed and the kiter ( soon to be you! ).

IF... the above video and handling a powerful trainer looks like FUN, go for it!
IF... it looks intimidating, now worries, that's why there are smaller trainers in the 2 to 3m.
You can get one that's the same design, the same 3-lines, but small with less power.
Example: Rush PRO 250 , 300

Do I really need a trainer kite? Why?

YES,
Think about it...
Would you teach a friend to drive a car with a 5-speed on steep hills in heavy traffic?"
No Way!

Wouldn't it be safer and smarter to "Learn how to drive a 5-speed in a parking lot, early on
a Sunday morning "before" venturing out into more demanding conditions?
"Heck yeah"

Do you like to save money?
From a Financially prospective, a trainer is a smart investment.
They help you to learn and progress faster, safer, and yes.. more economically!

If you log in only 10 or 20 hours of practice....
and consider that the average instructor charges $80 per hour.
My calculator shows: 10 hours x $80 = $800.
Practicing with your own Trainer Kite before, in-between, or after your lessons is
the best way I know to learn faster, safer, and more economically!
Even if you pay the same for lessons... you'll be better prepared and learn far
more during your lesson.

For our website visitors, and for our close friends, our recommendation is the same:

If you're planning it to learn Kite-Boarding, Land-Boarding,or Snow-kiting...
" You will FIRST want to gain kite skills and experience by using a Trainer Kite."

What's the Best Trainer Kite, or which are the top 3?

There is kite "named" the "Best 3m Trainer". In this case, "best" refers
to the name of the manufacturer. "Best kiteboarding". and the "3m" is only is the name.
The True size is 2.4m

As far as which trainer is the "best of the best", there is NO perfect kite for everyone.
This page is here to help you to select the right kite for your needs.

We suggest asking a better question...

Which is the best trainer kite FOR ME? Now that 's an excellent question!,
Reading over this page, learn about various models and options, and you'll then find it
easy to select the best kite for YOUR needs.

Top 3 Trainer Kites?

The current best selling trainer kites are the Scout II 3m, Rush IV Pro 300 / 350 Pro , and Hydra 350. All are 3-line models, that fly like 4-line Standard Foils.
Definitely in the top 3! But keep reading, there are some important considerations to follow.
The goal of this webpage, is to help you to select the best trainer kite for YOU.

How does a trainer kite compare to a full size kite?

Example of a Full Size (large) Kite / Best Waroo 14m
The guy in the photo is 5'5" ( 165cm ) Tall and not even
reaching the center of the kite!
Best Waroo Inflatable Kite 14m 13m Inflattable kite

3 to 3.5 square meters ( 3m, 3.5m) are the most popular size trainer kites.

11 square meters (11m) is a popular size inflatable kite used on the water.

3.5m Compared to an 11m kite... That's a HUGE difference in power!
The average FULL size kite is over 3 times larger than the average trainer kite.
As you can imagine, the consequences of making error on a small trainer is much less than the same errors on a larger more powerful kite.

Once I learn to fly a full size kite will I still want to use my trainer?

The short answer is YES!!
If you're like most people, then you have responsibilities, a job, a family, school ,etc.

Due to time constraints
You'll be using the trainer kite more often than you may think.
There will be many days when you WILL HAVE a Free 30-45 minutes to fly your trainer,
but may Not have the needed 2+ hours of free time to ride with your Full size kite in the water.

2 Hours or more is the average time needed to enjoy 1 hour of kiting on the water.
And we're NOT talking about lessons!
Only driving to the beach, changing clothes, rigging your kite , then derigging, driving home shower, change clothes, etc.
If you can't get at least 1 hour in the water, most people don't bother.

40 Minutes: Average time needed to have fun with your trainer kite while logging in valuable practice time and sharpening your kite skills.

As someone just beginning, you'll want to practice your kite skills every chance you get!
Its also really nice to have a small kite that you can share with friends.

For intermediate riders, New skills like down-loops, kite-loops, and handle passes are easier, and safer to learn with a 3m trainer kite before trying the same skill on a much larger 7-13m Kite! Its True! It always

We suggest.
Get a Trainer Kite and keep it in your car. When you pass by a wide open area and it's windy. Go FOR IT! No need to change clothes, and only 5 minutes to set up the kite.
The More you practice your kite skills the better you'll get.

Demo / Used / Pre-owned Trainers

1,000's of trainer kites that are sold each year...

Wondering WHY its so difficult to find a used one for sale?
It's because people want to keep them!

Low Cost, High Value, Sharpens Skills, Sharing the Sport with friends, HUGE FUN!

What exactly should I be practicing with my Trainer Kite?

"How do I...." and " What do I .... " are Always good questions!
So good actually, we created an entire "How-To" page to answer it.

FREE Instructional DVD or Wind-Meter

All of our Trainer kite come with a Printed Users Manual from the Manufacturer.
We also include an additional Free Bonus Gift with each kite.
Instructional DVD or Wind-meter.
Both items are nice to have. Some customers tell us they've found good instructional
content on youtube and prefer the windmeter. Others prefer a DVD.
It's You choice! : )

Buy a Trainer Kite here at Kitemare, and the price for
your Instructional DVD , or Wind-meter ( anemometer ) will be $0, FREE!

This simple tube design anemometer ( Wind-Meter )

simple to use,
durable, and
crazy accurate.

After buying and breaking several of the expensive digital models,
we found this Tube Type ( photo above ) to be the best option.

Where can I fly my Trainer?

Any open are that allows the wind to flow mostly unobstructed. The less obstacles the wind needs the pass, the "cleaner" ( smoother ) it will be. When wind is forced to go over or around tall buildings or other obstacles or Land feature that block the wind, the wind becomes
dirty, Turbulent, shifty, and gusty, which make it much more challenging for kite flying.
Neighborhood Parks, Football, baseball, and soccer fields "can" be good options.
Be sure to stay far away from dangerous power lines or Kite-eating trees.
It's true, trees really enjoy eating kites! For sure, the ideal spot would be a wide sandy beach, followed by a large grassy field. We have one customer that learned in a straw field with 2 foot high scrubs. Ideal? No. Do-able? you bet!

Can I use my Trainer Kite in the Water?

The fast, simple answer is NO.
Almost all trainer kites (1.5m to 3.5m) are designed for practicing your kite skills on land.
Any kite large enough for "kiteboarding" on the water is too much power to use as a trainer.
Almost all trainer kites are a "open ram air foil design". Once they contact the water, they
stay in the water.
The Other answer is YES, only IF you have a HYDRA Amphibious Water
Relaunchable Foil.
The Hydra is the Only water-relaunchable trainer on the market. Use the Hydra on land or use it in the water, that's why we call it amphibious! More details on the Hydra Page
Be Realistic. Although the Hydra can be used in the water, it's still only a trainer kite
and not enough power for kiteboarding. Kiteboarders typically use musch larger 9m to 12m kites. But.... you need to begin someone, and a 2.5m up to 3.5m is the place to begin.

How Much Wind do I need to fly a trainer kite?

Short Answer: 7-14 mph.
As a beginner the 7-14 wind range is a good place to start.
You "can" fly your kite is less wind, but lighter winds require more skills since you'll
need to "generate" the extra power by the way you move the kite across the sky.
Stronger winds of 15-20 are fun AFTER you gain confidence flying in lighter 7-14 winds.
In the beginning, better to choose the 7--14 mph days if possible. IF your kite has
difficulty flying, or staying in the air, its most like due to Not enough wind, or the
wind being blocked by houses and trees.

Can I fly the trainer kite on my own or do I need an assistant?

Only person is needed. Just you. That said, having another person to assist is a definite bonus and makes learning more fun, and easier. The 3-line kites do allow you to reverse re-launch your kite easily by yourself while remaining at the control bar.

Control Bar or Handles?

If you goal is simplicity, safety, fun, and have the intention of progressive to kite board sports
like: Kite-Boarding, Kite-landboarding, Snow-Kiting, Kite-Skimming, etc, than chose a kite that is pre configured and sold with a "Control Bar".

Note: Kitemare.com is a specialist in Kite Board sports and thus we mainly sell kites that are set-up with control bars. If you're shopping here, we've got you covered.

Trainer Kite Terminology:

Meter "m" Example 3m, 11m, The "m" is used to denote Square meters. But most people just
say "meter", when they are actually referring to square meters.
Trainer Kite: a kite used to help you to learn and master basic kite skills.
A category with Sizes ranging from 1.5m to 3.5m, Can be a 2, 3, or 4 line set-up. Flown using a "control Bar"

True Size or just a name?

When comparing Kites, use the "True Size" rather than the Model "name".
Many times the Name of the kite is Not the same as the size.

Examples: "Rush 300", "Scout 3m"

At first glance you would think that all three of the above trainer kites would be the same size and have about the same amount of power, right?

Careful, All three of these But by to the kites "True Sizes" the picture changes.

Rush 300: True Size is (2.8m) "300" refers to the wingspan in cm's.
Scout 3m True Size is (3.0m) No confusion here, the True size is the same as its name.

What Size Trainer for me?

Before deciding on a size,
consider these categories.

Trainer Kites:      1.5m to 3.5m     Small enough to use for learning
Traction Kites      2.5m to larger   Powerful enough to provide a strong pull (Power / Traction)
Traction-Trainer 2.5m to 3.5m    A size that Spans both Trainer and Traction Categories.

As you can see, there is plenty of overlap. The wind speed is a huge factor.
A 3.5m in 7 mph can be flown by a kid under 100 lbs.
The very same 3.5m in 15 mph winds can give a 180 lb adult a workout!

How Many lines?

2-line Trainer kites

2-line Trainers like the "Rush-III Standard Series" (200, 250, and 300) have the simplest design and also are the lowest in price.
If you're budget is tight and you just want a basic trainer, a 2-line will do the job.
Small trainers of 2m or less are almost always only 2-lines.
(Pros) Lowest Price, Simple intuitive set-up with 1 line Left, and 1 line Right, perfect for kids!
(Cons) No "reverse relaunch"

4-line Traction-Trainer kites?

HQ Scout Kite 4-line Traction and Trainer Kite 4-line Trainers like the "Original Scout 3m" were Not designed to be trainers.
There were designed as durable traction kites for land based kite sports like Kite-Landboarding, and snow kiting.

The smallest, 3m Scout, falls perfectly within both the "Traction kite" AND the "Trainer kite" categories.

Interestingly, The success of 3-line Trainers, lead to a redesign of other models.
The Original Scout 1 Kite, was completely redesigned into theScout II ( Version 2) and is Now a 3-line Kite!

The Scout still has 4 lines at the kites surface. Below the kite, the back lines, "Y" together
to become the "3rd line"
4-line kites DO have advantages for "Sheet-able" ( AKA Depowerable kites )
but for trainer Kites. 3 lines are great.

Why don't they make 4-line trainers? To keep things simpler, safer, and less expensive.
Safety is a biggie! 4-line "sheetable" kites, require you to be "Hooked-in" ( connected ) to
a "Harness" worn around your waist. It's MUCH safer for beginners to be "UN-hooked" so that they can just open their hands to imediately release the bar and the kites power.

Confused? ... No need to be.
This Scout II Video should make things much clearer. : )

3-line Traction-Trainer kites

Super easy self Reverse-relaunching, Responsiveness, Versatility.

For smaller Trainers 3-line like "Rush-III Pro Series" and "Hydra Water-Relaunchable- Trainers", and the New "Scout II"
3-line Design is now King with a perfect balance of price, performance, and ease of use..

For the majority of people buying a trainer, the 3-line makes the most sense.
(Pros) Most popular Trainers, Great price, Simple to use, Easy Self reverse relaunching.
(Cons) Not as quick to turn as a kite like the Scout with its complex cross-over bar system.

We simply love the 3-line set-up for smaller kites less than 4m. If you look closely at the green Hydra photo directly below you can see the white 3rd line "V" shaped bridal hanging down from the "trailing edge" ( back ) of the kite.

HQ Hydra 3-line Water relaunchable trainer kite

When flying a 3-line kite, the "3rd line" remains mostly slack during flight. Steering the kite is just as simple as steering a kite with 2-lines. Simply pull right , or pull left on your control bar.
The main benefits of having the additional 3rd line can easily be seen in the Videos on the both the "Rush-III Pro" and "Hydra" Pages

4-line Traction Kites 4m and Larger

If you are shopping for your very first kite to use as a "Trainer", Kite sizes of 4m, 5m or larger
are too big and fall outside of the trainer kite size category. Yes, like everything there "can" be exceptions to the rule.

Important points:

The 4-line configuration on a "Standard 4-line Foil Kite" is a different configuration than is found on a 4-line inflatable kite, or a "4-line Sheet-able" foil kite.
4-line Sheetable kites ( foils and inflatable's ) are much more expensive, require
the use of a "harness", and are Not "trainers"
4-line "Standard" Foils , 3-line trainers, and 2-lines trainers are all "standard foils"
(NON-sheetable) which is exactly what you want for your trainer / first kite.

Land-Boarding and Snow-Kiting:
If you are planning to use your trainer to begin clearing either of these sports, better to get a 3 or 4 line trainer, rather then a 2 line. Having the 3rd or 4th line will make it much easier to relaunch your kite while remaining locked into your boards bindings.

As a Kiter and Kite instructor for over 10 Years, you can be sure that our recommendations
are all about YOU in an effort to help you Learn as quickly, safely, and as economically as possible.

If at any point, if you would prefer speak with us.. it's never a bother, and there are
No dumb questions. Really.. we're here to help in any way we can!

Quick Pick Trainer Kite Comparison / Selection Guide

HQ Rush-IV Standard 2-line Trainer Kites (more info )
Model number	True Size	Brief Description	Complete Package
200	1.4m	Perfect for the Kids	$129.99
250	2.0m	Same size as the 250 pro, but w/ only 2-line	$151.99
300	2.8m	Same size as the 300 pro, but w/ only 2-line	$180.49
HQ Rush- IV PRO 3-line Trainer Kites (more info )
250	2.0m	Ideal trainer kite for lightweights, Ladies, Kids, or for windy locations	$180.49
300	2.8m	Popular size 3-line, Quick and Easy "Reverse Relaunching"	$218.49
350	3.5m	Popular, Versatile Size Kiteboarding trainer + Great entry for Landboarding / Snowkiting Largest ,most Powerful, Traction-Trainer Kite within this Category. 3-line simplicity ,Power, Low price!	$246.99
HQ Hydra Amphibious Water Re-launchable 3-line Trainer Kites (more info )
300	2.6m	"Water Re-launchable" Version of the Rush-300-pro	$265.99
350	3.5m	"Water Re-launchable" Version of the Rush-350-pro	$322.99
HQ Scout II Trainer Kites (more info )
3m	3.0m	The Ultimate Entry Level Landboarding Kite, Snow-kite, and all around Trainer Kite.	$351.49
4m	4.0m	NOT a Trainer but great for Land based kite sports	$389.49
5m	5.0m	NOT a Trainer but great for Land based kite sports	$427.49

*** Additional Savings ***

Are you the kind of person who spends hours searching websites to save a few dollars?
If yes, No need, just find a lower price than ours and if you do, email us , and we'll beat it!
Even if our price is the same as another shop, you still win big,
because no one can compete with our customer service.
testimonials

On occasion, we have barely used Demo kites.
Be sure to check our Specials Page ***

Not sure which kite to choose?

Begin by reading over this page.
Follow the links to read about the Rush, Hydra, and Scout Trainer and Traction Kites
All of our kites are "good" Kites or we wouldn't sell them.
The most important thing is to select the right kite for YOU.
After reviewing this page, and if you're not sure which kite to begin with , no worries,
write down your questions and then Contact Us and we'll be happy to assist you.

Where to Buy your Trainer?

Honestly can't think of a better place than Right Here at KITEMARE.com

Fast order processing,
Low everyday prices
FREE shipping, (within the USA)
FREE Wind-meter or an Instructional DVD
Outstanding Customer Service: - Customer Comments and Testimonials
and our Stoke Guarantee.

Best Price / Lowest Price

If you happen to find a lower legitimate price, we'll match it or beat it!

" How Much!? ... Yeah.. we can beat that! " ™

All recommendations are made from an instructors point of view, with a focus on helping YOU to learn fast, kite safe, and to find a great kite at a great price to keep you stoked.

After a a little time on this site, it will be 100% obvious that Our focus is on YOU!