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  • rainady
    rainady

    HQ Beamer 3.6M

    I purchased my first 3 kites from AirBoss World. A 1.8m Beamer, a 3.6m Beamer and a 5.0m Beamer. With little wind over the past few weeks I have only really flown the 5.0m Beamer until yesterday when the wind picked up a little (but still not a lot) and thought there would be enough wind for the smaller kite.

    Obviously the build quality, lines, handles, backpack are the same as the 5.0m Beamer. All good quality except for the handles which are too thin and a little short. The backpack on the 3.6m isn't falling apart like my 5.0m rucksack. Time will tell if the backpack is a problem, or perhaps its just a minor fault on my bag.

    I wont go into the setting up of the kite. Exactly the same as the 5.0m Beamer. Again, the kite does not come RTF although it does ay that in the advertising blurb. Nothing major though, lines to bridle and then lines to handles.

    First Flight
    Again, the 3.6m Beamer jumped into the air and over flew at the zenith (same problem with the 5.0m Beamer). Could be my inexperience or could be a feature of the Beamers. For the time being though I will put it down to not enough wind. The kite flew a lot quicker through the air than the 5.0m Beamer. This made flying the 3.6 a bit more exciting. Enough pull on the kite for me to get a little scudding in, but at the moment, I have not experienced any lift from either the 3.6 Beamer covered here or the 5.0m Beamer reviewed elsewhere.

    The look of the kite when airborne is excellent. The 3.6m has a yellow to with white bottom but has contrasting panels inside the kite that really shows up nicely when the sun is out. I know people buy a kite for its abilities, but its got to look good as well and I think HQ have done a great job.

    Conclusion.
    Another excellent kite for the money from HQ. The kite is good quality, the lines are excellent and the nice rucksack is a bonus (including the biggest zip in the world I think). I felt the kite is let down by the handles. For a few extra pounds for quality handles, HQ could offer probably the best value for money kite around. People will still go for Busters with the rake adjustment but I really do think this manufacturer has a lot to offer.

    By : Rainady

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    RTF is a bit of a bug bear and I really do think it means you've got kite, lines and handles in one package. So don't expect it to fly out of the bag! I have a 2.5 and have given as a pressie a 3.6 and have flown a 5. I've tried all in varying conditions. The 2.5 is very fast and furious in a blow but won't lift me skyward. The 3.6 in similar conditions gave scuds with wet shoes in excess of 50 - 60 feet on an empty beach. The 5 was flown on a slightly different day when I was interest in going up!!'I weigh 14stone and it did pick me up. I have to say though they are not designed for lift - but in a blow!! The backpack is a bit "hit n miss" I got a replacement bag for the 2.5 and immediately put a second line of stitching in. I would agree that pounds per fun the beamer is second to none. I have added to my kites with a Rad Pro 6m. A bit of a blimp but I have to say that it is a bit more exciting to fly than the Beamer 5. But if you think HQ handles are poor try the Rad Pro handles - they ARE poor!! Handles can always be replaced!! Try a pair of flexi's or ozone's. BTW I have flown a number of kites inc the Samurai, Rebel and Blade. So why my limited quiver of a 2.5 beamer and a Rad pro 6m. Easy it's down to pound per fun!!!! And pound for pound they win.

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    As a new comer to the sport and trying to convince the wife I went for a 3.6 Beamer again for it’:s value and a number of great reviews on the web. The kite looks good, moves well through the air and seems quite stable across the wind window. In higher winds it has managed to take my 11.5 stone in weight into the sky a few times and has provided some excellent scudding. The bag looks great with that zip but the quality is poor unlike the kite, which I have crashed a few times but seems to shake it off. The only addition I have made is a couple of kite killers which I would say are a must as I have experienced some unexpected gusts and nearly had to let go, which could have been a problem.

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    Very interesting. I have a 5.0 but need a smaller kite for higher winds and less fear -- should I go for the 1.8 or a 2.5? As regards control handles, being a newbie, HQ are the only ones I have ever used... but they do seem uncomfortable. I've slipped two lengths of transparent 5mm neoprene tubing over the top cords at the handle ends, which prevents finger chafing... and if you're not bothered about brand names and logos, I can recommend a pair of lined kid leather gardening gloves from Homebase (

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