HQ ultra handles(pre production sample)

HQ ultra handles.

First off let me apologise to jerry for the length of time it's taken to write this review. I was lucky enough to be able to blag a prototype set of these handles from Jerry just before 6fields.Its been interesting to read johnkitemans initial review of these handles, and whilst I'll re iterate many of the points he's already made, I'll try to give a different perspective to what I'm sure, in my opinion, is going to be a fantastic finished product.

So some history first. I've had quite a bit of metal implanted in my right wrist which makes kiting at times rather difficult. I tend to find gripping ozone handles for any length of time for example very difficult (causes a similar problem to RSI) and find that the flexi ones tend to make the lines between my fingers chaff (which I suspect is the same with everyone) and the joints ache. Having mentioned some of these things to Jerry during a chat room conversation one night he offered to let me try a set of pre release handles from HQ which he felt may be able to help with this discomfort.

One set of very fancy looking handles duly arrived. Initial impressions were mixed, I must say. Out of the bag, the obvious first things that hit you is the weird shape and the fact that they're made of plastic, which probably wouldn't be as strong as say a pair of flexi handles (more on this later). Other initial impressions were that the kite killers where flimsy and non-elasticated (some of which john has already pointed out) .Back to the weird shape, which as my four year old mentioned 'looks like a Shepard's crook'. As anyone who has seen the pictures will be able to vouch, the bottom half of the handle is nothing unusual being similar to everyone else's handles, it's the top where the clever bit happens. Indeed some clever design has resulted in the top of the handles being shaped similar to a Shepard's crook, with the result being that the top leader is in the same position as normal with respect to your hand position, but in front of your hand(i.e. not between your top fingers but an inch in front). Bottom lines attach to the handles by the usual type of line, but again with a slight twist being in the form of a pair of beads. These beads allow the brake lines to slide back and forth through the handle depending on whether brake or kite killer is applied. This is in fact a really neat design as it prevented many of the kite killer tangles I usually have.

Now for the first of my critism's. Whilst i'm sure that the kite killer lines are fine in effect they look 'wrong' being of a gauge similar to the main lines. Even the wife commented on 'how thin they look compared to the others' (flexifoil). I've since spoken to jerry and he's pretty certain that this is subject to change.

Speaking of clever design its worth mentioning that the handles don't appear to be round in profile, but in fact oval, with the wider part across the palm of you hand. This is apparently to help cater for all sizes of hand.

So what are they like in practice? Well to start with, weird! After so long having the lines through the fingers, flying without feels a little strange. It's then that you notice the other feature of these handles, the subtle change in the way that you hold them. The top of the Shepard's crook as it where forms a very convenient place to park your thumbs, almost like a top trigger on a joystick. After the first 5 mins they just start to feel so comfortable and somehow right, that you're left wondering why you didn't think of it yourself. So much so that I flew for considerably longer than normal. My main aim was to find something that wouldn't stress the wrists out and after a session with these handles I felt nothing at all, none of the usual aches and pains that other handles and sometimes the bar cause.

Going back to them being made of plastic, some people may be mistaken into thinking that they will not be a strong as previous types of handles. By utilising again some clever design HQ have managed to cast into the handles some fantastic strength and at no time did they bend or flex even when my 15 stone bulk was being pulled skywards!

My only criticism is again the kite killers. There is simply no give in them and whilst the line does move through the handle once you let go it's simply not enough. I had occasion to use them quite a few times and whilst I had no tangles and twists, as john has already pointed out, boy do they hurt at full pelt!

I took the opportunity to let people at 6fields try them out, using a bego 600 lent out by Trucknut and everyone who gave them a go feels they are very natural to use after the first minute or so, very comfortable without any of the usual stresses (i.e. chaffed fingers) and could be a very definite winner.

Conclusion

So what do I think? Well first impressions count and its there where I think it's safe to say that HQ will need to have listened to feedback and hopefully bumped up the kite killers. Other than that I agree with john that these handles may be the biggest jump forward in kiting terms for years. Hats off to HQ for putting the time and effort into redeveloping an item that we take for granted and making a genuine leap forward with it!

Where and when can I have a couple of sets please!

By : SUICIDAL