. . . . .
or SLE (choices get a bit more complicated around the SLE but don’t worry now, more on that later).
. . . . .
SLE stands for Super Leading Edge, a thicker, stiffer, 1/2 inch spar. The SLE kite, or rather range of kites that were sold with the thicker leading edge. The SLE rods have now largely fallen out of favour and when I last checked the SLE kites were being sold with a choice of either ¼ or 1/2 inch leading edges.
If you go the SLE route make sure you know which you are being offered before you buy.
I have already said that the thicker rods have now largely fallen out of favour, but that is no reason to totally rule them out, at least with out considering the pros and cons.
Pros – Stronger, Stiffer & Heavier. For Stronger read, virtually indestructible, not a bad characteristic for the kite of a novice who may be a bit susceptible to the odd crash. I did hear of somebody who has broken one but it may be just an urban myth. Stiffer will help in stronger wind, and Heavier will provide more inertia.
Cons – Stiffer & Heavier. For Stiffer read “much stiffer” there is virtually no flex in an SLE, no think about why you were thinking of a kite with venting, a little bit of flex gives you “Smooth”. Heavier, raises the bar at the bottom of the wind range.
On balance, I think the SLE takes it in the first two or three weeks but beyond that, well let’s just say I forget the last time I put a ½ inch leading edge in one of my kites.
I wish you luck with whatever choice you make, with Revs there’s no such thing as the wrong choice, just varying degrees of right.
One last nugget, see if you can meet up with an experienced Rev flier for your first outing. Dollars spent on gas save hours of frustration.
