{"id":17187,"date":"2018-08-02T13:42:36","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T13:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radikitetarifa.com\/blog\/kitesurfing-gear-what-should-i-wear\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:09:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:09:12","slug":"kitesurfing-gear-what-should-i-wear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radikitetarifa.com\/en\/blog\/kitesurfing-gear-what-should-i-wear\/","title":{"rendered":"Kitesurfing Gear: What should I wear?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once we have decided to invest in our kite equipment, some questions arise. What should it consist of?<\/p>\n

The basic kitesurfing equipment consists of a kite, board, and harness. Optionally, we can use a wetsuit, and it is always recommended to use a helmet and a life jacket or impact vest. Let’s take a closer look at each element and the different types.<\/p>\n

Kites<\/h2>\n

When it comes to choosing a kitesurfing kite, we have three main types:<\/p>\n

\"kite<\/p>\n

*Hybrid\/Delta Kites<\/h3>\n

These kites are the most common and ideal for freeride and surf-style kitesurfing or for beginners. Their versatility, easy handling, relaunching capabilities, and excellent depower make them perfect for newcomers to the sport.<\/p>\n

They stand out for their great stability, wind range, and drifting ability, which makes them perfect for wave riding. The current trend in kite design by manufacturers is towards a 3-strut kite, making them lighter, faster, and with greater turning ability compared to similar models from previous years.<\/p>\n

\"kite<\/p>\n

*C-Type Kites<\/h3>\n

This type of kitesurfing kite stands out for its slack, or the ability to depower. These kites are recommended for those who want to perform unhooked freestyle or wakestyle maneuvers in the air. They are usually very specific and technical kites, although some manufacturers are moving towards phasing them out and designing something in between a “C” kite and a hybrid kite.<\/p>\n

\"kite<\/p>\n

*Foil Kites<\/h3>\n

Foil kites are a type of paraglider that are not inflatable. They are composed of two layers connected by cells that are inflated by the wind itself. They are very powerful and are ideal for light winds, racing, hydrofoil, or snow kiting. Foil kites are less common, especially in water sports, as they are used for less “popular” styles.<\/p>\n

Bar<\/h2>\n

\"barra\"<\/p>\n

Let’s talk about the bar, an extremely important component that sometimes we don’t give the value it deserves. It is our steering wheel, and it is responsible for transmitting our commands to the kite and how it will respond. Additionally, all the active safety systems are located here, as well as the kite’s trimming or adjustment system.<\/p>\n

Each manufacturer has its own design, but in general, they all tend to be quite similar.<\/p>\n

\"tipos<\/p>\n

*Types of Chicken Loop Bars<\/h3>\n

The first thing we should pay attention to is the quick-release system of the chicken loop. It should be sturdy, reliable, and easy to handle and assemble. This aspect is well-developed by the leading brands, and in recent models, it usually functions well. Choosing one or another will depend on small details such as the safety line system, the size of the chicken loop, the quality of the materials, etc. Although typically any bar can work with any kite (with some exceptions), we recommend using a kite-bar set from the same manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Different line lengths are available on the market, ranging from 19 meters to 24 meters. The length of the lines will depend on your preferences and style of riding, although it is common to use between 19 and 22 meters for freestyle and between 22 and 24 meters for freeride and surfkiting. Longer lines provide more power but reduce the kite’s speed, while shorter lines sacrifice some power but make the kite more responsive to commands.<\/p>\n

\"barra<\/p>\n

*4-Line Bar vs 5-Line Bar:<\/h3>\n

We can choose between 4-line and 5-line bars, but the most commonly used and recommended ones are the 4-line bars. 5-line bars are typically exclusive to “C” type kites because the shape of these kites benefits from the stability and relaunching facilitated by the 5th line.<\/p>\n

Kiteboarding Boards<\/h2>\n

The boards are a separate world but closely related to the type of kite we want to use.<\/p>\n

\"twintip\"<\/p>\n

*Twintip<\/h3>\n