Yep it is a bit tricky :-(
If you lay out a BWS Noise over pretty much any other kite you will see that it is bigger than most of the same branded size.
Not 2M bigger though more like + or - around 1 Metre.
Flying characteristics do mean that on average most people would rate them to the equivalent of somewhere between 1 & 2 M.
The 6M covers my older 8M Rally almost perfectly. The 8M wouldnt cover my older 10M Rally anywhere near as closely.
If you are looking at a BWS you are probably well advised to go 1 size smaller than the kite you are replacing or you are likely to have kite which does cover a lower wind range than you are requiring.
From a huge no. of demo's (and I always ask) the concensus would be:
5M is pretty much equivalent of any other 5M
6M probably covers up to the range of others labelled 7M to 8M
8M pretty much a 9M +/- a bit
10M covers 11M +/- a bit
12M covers 13M +/- a bit
The difference you may notice depends on what you are used to. Not too many kites fit an exact mould of what size 'X' should do. And most kite cos. label kites according to how the kite community are likely to rate them rather than the actual M2 of fabric involved.
Try laying a 9M of one style of any brand over another style of 9M from the same kite co. There will often be a big difference in M2 but if they got it right both should deliver the same wind range to riders of equal weight & skill.
Take advice from those you trust & demo demo demo.
So you are saying that everyones kites aren't the size they say on them, they are actually the sizes that kite companies think customers will think they are ???? So have BWS screwed up the size they think the customer will think they are, or the actual sizes of the kites, because I am very confused.......???????
Each kite brand and type has its own design characteristics. Hence they deliver different performance for the same projected area. Ask those that ride them their weight, board, style and experience and the what size gives what wind range. It's not such a big deal. Don't be confused just ask those that ride them. The sizes are more of a relative distinction between the same kite brand and type. Comparing across different brands and types is well its useless and somewhat stupid, well a naive question at that.
For example I ride an 11m rebel and a 9m Vegas. If I had two rebels I would only go the eight as the Vegas has more c shape in it, the rebel more bow hence rides flatter and offers more of its projected area. A c4 would also be 9m. And yet the c4 has more top end than the same size Vegas due to its bridal design and wing shape. So try and get over sizes and ask those that ride them. It's a pointless exercise and a pointless variable to base your kite decision on.
Id go with dachopper advice.
Sometimes have to ignore the top & bottom end of kite cos rated wind charts but comparing the centre points should put you in the ball park.
@Paul 1 - a bit harsh there dude. What eppo said is a pretty valuable bit of an explaination (imo)
I cant see anything wrong with kite cos labelling kites according to wind range for an average kiter. If they could do that accurately it would be a great reference scale for buyers to be guided by. Problem is though that it becomes an arbitary decision based on the impression of those who do the labelling so you are bound to get differing interpretations.
Remember we are still in our infancy in this sport. Im sure over time all the grey areas will become defined areas. Like the concensus among kite cos to go with 'same length' & 'kook proof lines'. And more recently with the 'push away' QR at the head of the chicken loop. These were far more important issues than having an 'exact' indication of kite performance by no.
All in the fullness of time !!!
The idea behind the BWS sizing was initially a naive marketing ploy ...
a vain attempt to deceive kiters into believing that BWS kites were magically more powerful than others ...(metre-for-metre).
Of course this tactic was never going to fool anyone for a second ...
cause the 2 sq metre differential was so great and so freakin obvious.
lol.
If BWS had been less greedy and more sneaky,
if they had opted for say 1 sq metre 'correction' instead ...
they may have pulled the wool over the eyes of some gullible folks.
Considering how cheap the BWS kites are, I'm not sure they are being <that> greedy...
Seems to me that consistency in kite sizing has always been a bit of an issue across the industry and perhaps it's time to change to manufacturer's recommended windranges for a "standard" kiter that weighs say, 75kg, rather than a surface area that means squat when the projected area is really what counts...
