What to Look for When Purchasing Used Gear in 2023

This is Jake from MACkiteboarding, and today we're going to do a topic I discuss every couple years because, as technology progresses, I think it makes sense to revisit it, and that is whether purchasing used gear is a good way to get into the sport of kiteboarding. We probably need to have a discussion on winging as well since that is evolving and changing so much, but here we're focusing on kiteboarding, and the answer to that is yes... and no. It really depends on where the gear is coming from, how well it was maintained, and your level of tolerance in dealing with some issues that might come up. Let's go through the pros and cons of each and figure out which answer is right for you.

My Experience With Used Gear

I like to talk a lot from personal experience, and when I first got into the sport it was via used gear. I bought it from somebody down in Florida, so that gear made a pretty long trip from there to here. But as a broke high-schooler entering college, those tuition bills left me no money for a new kiteboarding setup and I knew I really wanted to get into it, so going used was my only option.

While I think that makes sense, I wouldn't say it was the easiest experience ever. The equipment did work and I did learn a lot on flight control, though I was on an old C-kite. This was back in the day when C-kites were far more prevalent in the market. Depower throws were so much smaller; you went from full power to less power, but never to no power unless that kite crashed or you flung it to the edge of the window.

One of my kites leaked, so I learned how to repair that. I went flying through the air when it clamshelled one time and then re-fired, and that is something you want to be careful with when getting used gear. It was somebody else's and, while they can be the most honest seller, they might miss that little pinhole because they don't go out and session all the time. Maybe they kept it in a really warm environment and some of the glue delaminated.

Things to Watch For With Used Gear

The Kite:

So you get the gear, you're super stoked, but you're also not that knowledgeable. You rig up the kite and something is amiss. I've had lines break on me from used bars. Sometimes that is absolutely catastrophic, and other times it's more of an annoyance and you can go switch it out fairly quickly. I've had leaks and I've had tears, and how those are repaired makes a big difference on how well that kite's going to perform. Those are all factors that you should probably try to familiarize yourself with if you are going the used route. If you're not super knowledgeable on it, at least find somebody who is. We have a couple resources, and there are a lot of other great ones out there that talk about what you should check out on the kite.

Make sure the pigtails still have some good life on them; what those pigtails look like is generally a fairly good indication of the amount of use, as well as what the canopy feels like. Is it still kind of crispy and crinkly, or is it soft, like something that you could put over yourself and take a nap with on the beach? Comfortable canopy material is not necessarily something that's long for this life. It's seen a lot of use, and that comes from UV exposure beating on these canopies. They're treated, but that still breaks it down. Salt water will also age a canopy. That brine causes chemical reactions that break it down. Wear also comes from the canopy flapping in the wind. Anytime that material is moved like that, it causes fatigue and that canopy is going to bag out. So there's a lot that can go wrong with kites.

With that said, kites aren't terribly expensive to repair. You can rip a kite tip to tail right down the middle and it might cost you three to four hundred dollars if you need to replace the bladder and get that professionally stitched. If it has pinholes, you can generally put some kind of ripstop on both sides, and that kite's going to fly just like it would have prior to that damage. So that's the good news, but you want to be aware that you might run into issues like that.

The Bar:

On the kite bar, really look at those lines. Look at the depower line and the trim line. Those are lines that tend to see some more wear, and if those break you're going to know it pretty quickly. Your session will be coming to an end.

The Board, Straps and Harness:

There's not so much to look out for on the board with how these are made. You can always look for visible signs of damage, but if it was caught quickly and repaired, it's a non-issue. Straps do fatigue and wear, but again, that's not a huge issue. Harnesses tend to get a little loose, and you can look for rips and tears, but those are generally safe items to get and it doesn't really matter if they're used.

How Old Is the Gear?

Another thing to consider when going with used is the age of the actual equipment, and that's one of the reasons that I like to update this information as we get further away from the era of more primitive kites. Two-line kites are way behind us. C-kites, with their really small depower throws and simple, direct bridling are mostly dead. A kite generally only has so much lifespan in it. Sometimes in the Midwest you can find kites that are ancient and still in really good condition because we only get to use them four to six months out of the year. We don't get sessions all the time, so that canopy just doesn't get as much wear and tear as it would coming from a hot, windy, salty, environment, so you do want to be a little bit cognizant of that.

I would say anything newer than around 2014 is probably going to be okay. You can do a Google search and research it, or you can always call us. We're happy to help get you into the sport safely because we want you to become a successful part of the kiteboarding community, and if you get the wrong gear right off the bat, that's not going to be helpful. I understand what it's like to come from the used side of the market. It's a really affordable way to get into the sport and it reduces waste, so that's awesome and we totally support that. So make sure the gear is relatively current and make sure it's been properly maintained.

Which Kite Should You Get?

When it comes to getting on the right kite, as a new rider, I think that's not super important, to be honest. You can get on a surf kite as a new rider and, while that might not be as ideal as a freeride or all-around kite, you're still going to be able to learn. Also, you are going to beat up that first kite more than any other kite until you get really good, when you'll probably beat it up more. You're going to be figuring out how to fly it, how to loop it, you're going to be crashing into the sand, into the water, but hopefully not into people. (If you're crashing into people, you're doing it all wrong and should take a lesson; we have another discussion on how to responsibly get into the sport.) Because you're going to beat up on it a lot, there is something to be said about starting with your first kit being used.

What If Used Gear Isn't For Me?

With that said, that doesn't mean that your first kit shouldn't be new. The nice thing about having a new kit is you know that kite is going to fly exactly how it should, and if it doesn't, it's generally going to be a warranty issue that's going to be resolved right off the bat. So you're going to get gear that's going to perform well.

If you do your due diligence and get into this sport rather cautiously, you're probably also going to take care of your gear a little bit more. I would just send my used stuff because I didn't have that much invested. If I had ponied up $1500 for a package, I would have been a little bit more discerning and, honestly, I probably would have been a little bit safer when learning the sport. It wouldn't have been as high adrenaline. Of course, I can only say that because I made it through all of those events without much bodily harm. I've seen people with equipment that they shouldn't necessarily be on, putting themselves in environments they shouldn't be in, and they're tumbling down the beach and getting pulled into poles. Those probably will not be future kiters, and you certainly don't want that to be you. So with new gear, you're going to spend a little bit more, but you know what you're getting, it's going to have a warranty, it probably will hold its value a little bit more, and there are often some really great sale prices to help with the cost.

Another nice thing when you go with new is that you're generally getting cutting edge technology, so it's going to perform well and it's going to have all those modern bells and whistles that make this sport so accessible these days. It went from an extreme sport back in the day with Lou Wainman flying through the air to where it is now, where almost anybody can do it.

Conclusion

In summary, there's not a right or wrong answer. It just depends on who you are and what your budget is. I think we do have some excellent packages where we try to make gear as accessible for you as possible, but that said, if you find the right person who's selling their equipment, it's an awesome way to get into the sport. Just know what you're getting yourself into. Look over your gear, call us up if you have any questions, consult the internet, and make sure you approach it as safely as possible and understand the things that might go wrong. If they do, people have your back. Airtime and Fix My Kite are both great resources for repair out there, and you have us. As always, thanks for checking us out. This has been Jake with MACkite.

Subscription Links:

YouTube  |   Instagram

Contact Us Below:

800.622.4655  |   Kiteboarder@MACkite.com  |   LIVE Chat Messenger