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A Guides Unlimited production
Background:
When HQ brought out the beamer, it was something of a revelation. This was one of the first kites that was really pitched to the true beginner – it was cheap to buy, reasonable quality, and it was low-lift and as such, much safer than alternatives on the market at the time. It was also easy to fly. All this added up the make the beamer an extremely successful kite. Here’s what I thought of mine.
First flights:
I had wanted to get into power kiting for some years when I went to the Rougham kite festival in 2004, with my heart set on buying a kite. After asking around, trying out a few and seeing what I could afford, I went for a 2.5m HQ beamer. There wasn’t much wind that day, but from the flying time I got in I could feel that it was going to be a good, no surprises kite to learn on. I flew it happily for the next few weeks (amid a mass of tangles). I faceplanted a few times but I quickly picked up the basics, and was on the whole very happy with the kite.
General flying characteristics:
This is a pleasant kite to fly. It moves fairly fast through the window and can be easily controlled and tightly turned with the brakes. It has very little lift, making it suitable for a beginner, and is fairly (though not so much as the later models) resistant to luffing. It is not the most stable kite ever made – if it overflies it will generally luff and re-inflate sharply (something that can take a beginner by surprise), but I tend to fly in very gusty inland conditions - the kite behaves better at the beach. It handles well near the ground, though it is not a kite that behaves well in gusty conditions. It doesn’t have as much power for its size as most kites, but again it is a beginners kite.
Turning speed and maneuverability:
Good. As would be expected of a small kite, it turns and moves quickly, but it can also be controlled fairly well using the brakes – though it can spin out under heavy braking and do something unexpected.
Lift and jumping:
This is, for its size, the least lifty kite I’ve ever flown. The highest I’ve ever been with this kite was 4ft in a 45-50mph gust. This makes it very good for learning to fly on.
Light wind performance:
Not particularly good. This kite needs a bit of wind to get off the ground. It’ll fly in 5-10mph if the wind is constant, but it really needs more wind than that to start being fun.
On a board:
This kite needs 25-30mph of wind for me to use it on a board, and I’m not exactly heavy (75kg or so). However once there is enough wind, it is a fairly good kite on a board. It won’t give you any nasty surprises, but it’s not that exciting either.
Upwind ability:
This is reasonable, though not up the standard of more expensive kites. You will need a considerable amount of wind if you want to get upwind on a board, though you don’t need so much if you’re going to be buggying.
In a buggy:
This is the kite I learned to buggy with, and while you won’t be breaking any speed records flying it, it’s fun to potter about with, and it’s extremely low lift makes it good for buggying, particularly when you’re learning.
Construction:
I haven’t had any problems with the construction on this kite, and it’s taken a considerable beating the 3 years or so I’ve been flying it. You can hammer it into the ground as much as you like, and it’ll just bounce back without damage and keep on flying.
Accessories:
I’m still flying this kite with the original lines and handles, though I don’t use the original kite killers, and I’ve since lost the sand stake it came with. I’ve never liked the HQ handles – they’re much too hard on your hands. They’re basically aluminium tubes covered with some sort of grippy black stuff – be prepared for blisters on your hands. The lines aren’t marvelous quality, but more than good enough for the uses this kite will be put to. The wooden line winder they come with is also nice and economically friendly. The original kite killers were dire – weak, badly designed, and uncomfortable to wear and use. If you buy this kite secondhand with the original accessories, buy some decent killers too.
The bag looks good in black with plenty of pockets and pouches and with the HQ logo and the kite details stamped on it in white - but the construction is poor, and the bag is apt to tear at the seams after being used for a while.
The instruction manual is good – it shows clearly how to set up and fly the kite, as well as providing tips and general flying information and guidelines.
Appearance:
Not visually stunning. The 2.5m has a white underside and a red upper side, which doesn’t really make it very interesting to look while flying. (It can also look pink when in the air – not necessarily a bad thing, I just don’t like pink). You could fiddle round putting your own graphics on it, but most people won’t really want to.
Conclusion:
When this came out, it was possibly the best beginner kite out there. The beamer is now in its third series, and has plenty of competition from the likes of the Ozone cult and Flexifoil rage. In all this, the beamer I has been rather forgotten, but it’s still a nice kite to fly, and a great, forgiving kite to learn and teach others on. They can be bought very cheaply second hand, and one would make a good introduction into the sport for just about any beginner who doesn’t want to spend too much, as well as a good high wind buggy or board kite. In short, don’t dismiss it just because it isn’t the latest model!
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