New cheap Ray kite meets expensive distant cousin

[@SingaporeCityWalks]

Cheap ray flies as well as the dear ray. This option is good for beginners. The prices are a world apart. Thanks for the sharing Jim.

[@JimNicholls]

Definitely the cheap one is hugely better value, and I'm sure most people would be very happy with it. The other one is a very specialised item, not designed for the average kite-flier, who could buy a whole collection of kites for that money.

[@ronstewart9792]

The new Ray looks great Jim. Thanks for the compairson. Ron

[@JimNicholls]

You are very welcome, Ron. I couldn't resist this one at the price.

[@kiteflyingdownunder....car6272]

What an interesting comparison. A great option for someone starting out flying.

[@JimNicholls]

Why for someone starting out, Carl? I think it's good for anyone, including an old flier like me. How many people can afford the over-priced AF Manta or similar types, or would even want to spend that money if they could? Cheap kites are often good kites, and a whole lot of fun.

[@ukewarrior]

Keep em comin Jim ! I also have the 'cheap' ray. It can be had in the USA off of amazon for under $40. you are correct, it is a LOT of kite for the money and it came with a really good stuff sack.

[@JimNicholls]

I was going to show the bag in the video, with the comment that it was clearly designed to appeal to buyers in the USA! I left it out as the video was a bit long.

[@wordreet]

The wriggling ray looks the most fun, but I can see the benefit of the extra details in the expensive ray. 👍

[@JimNicholls]

But are they worth 20 times the price? That's a difficult question, but I'm sure for most people the answer would be No. It's like comparing a very cheap car to a Rolls Royce. Both will get you from A to B, but they are very different items, and for most of us only the cheaper one would be attainable..

[@youbetyourwrasse]

@@JimNicholls I suspect the pricey Ray could by flown regularly and last for generations? You are paying for Design and Workmanship. Redundancies to prevent failures. I love my $40 MIC Tadpole, but it's already showing wear in the tail and there are seams coming undone. A $1000 Tadpole I suspect would be the Cornerstone of the Family. Such a Ray would be on the Family Crest holding a Lightning Bolt.

[@wordreet]

@@JimNicholls Well, not for me. But then I only fly kites about once in 12 months.

[@JimNicholls]

@wordreet That would make for some very expensive flying! The expensive one is designed for people who are really into kite-flying and prepared to spend a lot of money on something a bit special. I think it's well over-priced and I wouldn't advise buying it at anywhere near the list price.

[@haywire17]

As soon as I saw these, I scooped up one (on Amazon). I just received and reviewed mine about a week ago. I got the light blue one with the orange underbelly. I LITERALLY said in my review of it "A lot of Kite for the Money". Unlike your collection, my "collection" consists of just 4 kites, but I still love to fly... - and this one is now my largest, and "most impressive in the sky". I hope to one day add a large patriotic (American) Sled kite, but for now, I'm really enjoying the ones I have. My other kites are a Prism "Flip Kite", a 1990's "Parafoil 7.5 ? " from "Go Fly a Kite", and a small delta "Devil Ray" kite my daughter bought me mfg. by "Mint's Colorful Life" (also China, I believe).

[@youbetyourwrasse]

Sounds like a lot of fun my friend. :D

[@JimNicholls]

Certainly it's a great-value item. You have a nice little collection, and enough to enjoy a lot of fun flying your kites.

[@BobaaTeaMilk]

Wow i love the expensive one!

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, but do you love the price?

[@youbetyourwrasse]

@@JimNicholls The price is fine, but he should do spins or flips or looops or somersaults for the price of all that training. Or make baby kites. Do the dishes. Something. :D

[@BobaaTeaMilk]

@@JimNicholls Yes kinda but its soooo expensive🗿

[@craigh3381]

Thank you for sharing Jim...and the information.

[@JimNicholls]

You are very welcome, Craig.

[@pfkites8967]

The cheap ray is a good kite. It's interesting who has always new ideas for kites. Nice sharing good reviews.

[@JimNicholls]

Thank you. I mentioned in the description that it was your video of this kite that got me interested and made me decide to buy one. It's certainly great value, and I'm happy that I bought it.

[@vikramsinghkite4358]

Cheap Ray Beautiful New Kite Flying Sir ❤

[@youbetyourwrasse]

isn't he kyoot?

[@JimNicholls]

I'm glad you liked it, Vikram. It was very good value.

[@googleuser3553]

Oh Mr. Cheap, you bad boy!

[@JimNicholls]

Actually he behaved very well, Sheryl, and I should have given him a little more room for that long, long tail.

[@EvanPang-w4i]

Nice!

[@JimNicholls]

It's certainly a good kite for the money, Evan.

[@balonflexia4084]

The cheap manta kite looks like the other elephant kite (is the same kite designer?) Also the movement is similar.

[@JimNicholls]

I also think it's very much like the elephant. I don't know who designed them, but maybe it's the same designer for both.

[@Ahmuse11]

Jim, what to do think about shortening the tail by 5-10ft? Do you think it would be less wild? I want to get this kite for use at a local kite festival but I worry about the wild tail with other kites around. Thanks!

[@JimNicholls]

The tail does appear to be excessively long, but maybe the designer found that it needed to be that length to provide enough drag. On the other ray, the bucket tail provides a lot more drag for its length than a tube tail would, so it doesn't need to be as long. I'm no expert on such things, so I have no opinion on whether shortening the tail might help, and I think only an experiment could really give the answer. One thought that does occur to me is whether a shorter tail plus a drogue (to provide more drag) might be a solution, but again I'm no expert so cannot say if it's a good idea or not.

[@AdventureUp918]

I have that stingray! But mine is a different color

[@AdventureUp918]

The cheap one

[@JimNicholls]

I was undecided about which colour to buy, but I think both are good. I hope you're having fun with yours.

[@AdventureUp918]

We named him whiplash cause his tail goes crazy

[@JimNicholls]

A very apt name!

[@jhthrane69]

Would the cheap ray be able to lift some laundry?

[@JimNicholls]

That depends entirely on what the line laundry is and the strength of the wind. In a good breeze it would certainly be capable of lifting some items, but it's not a very steady flier and I wouldn't recommend it as a lifter.

[@jhthrane69]

@@JimNicholls thanks i understand 👌👍

[@RobertDunbar-cb7em]

Iam getting my first kites please recommend One for me

[@JimNicholls]

That's a very hard thing to do, Robert. It depends on many factors, including your age, where you are, what the wind conditions are likely to be where you intend to fly, and more. The best I can say is to buy from a reputable kite store if you can (we have none where I live), and ask their advice. Buy something that's well made and it will last you a long time, buy cheap rubbish and it might not last one flight. The simplest kites are best to start with, something like a delta (good in steady light to medium winds) or a parafoil (which will handle higher winds and is virtually unbreakable). If you look on my playlist kzbin.infoplaylists you will find videos that can help with your flying, and there are many videos on my channel showing kites that are good to have.

[@TheKRU251]

I like the cheap one Jim ( @ under 32ukp @ present inc VAT and delivery). The fact it 'swims' about seems appropriate 😊. Think you've just cost me 32 quid !!!!!! 😉

[@JimNicholls]

I don't think you'll regret it. I wasn't sure it would be worth getting, but I was pleasantly surprised. Although it swims about a bit (appropriate, I guess), it stays up well and looks good. Quality of construction seems good for the price, but we can't expect miracles.