Zenith 7 delta kite from Prism

[@kevinforsyth3681]

I have a zenith 7 and I love it as a regular two line flyer on occasion I get out my zenith it’s a joy to see it dancing in the breeze on a west coast beach

[@JimNicholls]

It's a well-made kite, and I rather wish that there was a larger version of it.

[@kevinforsyth3681]

Hell yes bring on a zenith 20 I would be the first in line for that

[@MarkAGroh]

I see this kite flown often at the field I fly in...good flier and the owner places it high in the sky. I like my two smaller versions.I love that B&W flo-tail.

[@JimNicholls]

I think it's actually better in higher wind, Mark (I flew it in low/medium breeze). But it's over-priced, really, and the bungy-cords are just a gimmick. It looks good, though - it's just that there are probably better kites for the money. The flowtail is great but not made any more, which is sad as I would have liked to have a couple more.

[@mrlionel1965]

Between the 2, I would choose the flowtail, but that’s all personal preference of course. It looks and flies better. You can’t go wrong with those big flopping tails.

[@JimNicholls]

I certainly prefer the flowtail, Ken!

[@_Piers_]

I have a Zenith 5, it's a good and pretty stable flier. It does have a couple of annoyances - In spite of the packaging saying it's suitable for a long tail, there's nothing to attach one to (other than the elastic holding in the main spar) It's made out of especially noisy fabric.

[@JimNicholls]

That lack of a tail attachment is criminal in a kite that doesn't fly well without a tail. The tail I used exerts very little pull, but I'd hesitate to use a tube tail as the elastic probably wouldn't hold it. Prism are quite hopeless, in my opinion.

[@hamdanmohmmad201]

Pook365 i have this kite to its very good if you want to bring it down fast go under the kite and put the string back

[@ianjeavons4053]

I also initially thought there was no where to attach other than the elastic, but there is a small black tab/loop at the end of the kite itself where tube tails can be attached. Sorry about replying so late to the initial reply, but only just bought the zenith and was interested to see peoples thoughts.

[@johnusher1921]

I have to agree absolutely with everything you say! I have the Zenith 5, which Prism supplied as an FOC replacement for a Mantis. The Mantis was advertised as stable but was , IMO, utterly erratic and unflyable regardless of adjustment (lots of comments on the forums on that - and also on their Isotope's flight characteristics). To add to your comments, the tails use popper studs, not loops, so it is harder to swap them out (and no spine tail loop - so you need to bodge) and, like the Mantis (and I suspect others in their range) it uses a very stiff printed fabric which does not feel good to me, nor seem to move easily. I've also seen large versions of their Bora Paraform fly well, but the small ones fly very erratically - it may be similar for the Zenith 5 and 7. I hope they don't make a Zenith 2... I wonder if their experience on manoeuvrable kites gives them a different view on what is stable? Their build quality is high, and customer service - from US to the UK - was good and responsive, but their current range single line kites - and their packaging - seem more marketing style than substance to me, and I won't be buying any more. Excellent Review! Perhaps you could branch out into reviewing the manufacturers and their ranges with Star Ratings, and nor just individual kites? The J D Power reviews of the kite world?

[@JimNicholls]

John, I do have a lot of reviews on my website - I used to review every kite I flew, but have got a lot lazier in recent times. Maybe I should go back and catch up on ones I missed. I have always felt that Prism have no idea of what stability is in a single-line kite. They make boasts about their kites flying "rock-solid" and suchlike, but they never live up to the promise. The Isotope is a good example. After I first reviewed it, Prism sent out new bridles to "correct" the problem. They didn't work. I eventually discovered that changing where one leg of the bridle attached to the kite was the answer, but I doubt if Prism ever caught on to it. And not putting tail tabs on kites that won't fly without a tail is monstrous. I'll be 79 next month, and at my age I've given up any hope of seeing kite manufacturers get their act together. The only manufacturer that has some idea of promotion is Into The Wind, who produce an excellent printed catalogue every year (actually now reduced to every two or three years as they don't have any new designs to incorporate.) They also have a KZbin channel with videos of all their own kites. (Those videos were all made by me, incidentally.) But then they've just spent three years or more and heaps of money having a new website built which is in many respects inferior to the perfectly good one they had before! Unfortunately, the kite business seems to be dying, and so companies are reluctant to put money into developing new products or into promotion. Hey, maybe that's why it's dying! In recent times I've bought more and more of my kites from China, where new ideas are still being developed. If you choose carefully, their products are also well made and good value. Incidentally, apart from the videos I made for Into The Wind, where all the kites were supplied (except some I already had) I have never received a kite from a manufacturer for review and have had to buy my own. The general manager of one prominent American company used to ring me for advice (!) but never so much as offered me a discount on any of their kites. My videos have, however, sold hundreds of kites for them to my certain knowledge. Short-sightedness seems to be endemic in the kite-manufacturing business. (I'm sure you know that American companies don't actually make any kites anyway - they get them all made in China!)

[@johnusher1921]

@@JimNicholls Jim, I have had one 'Major US Brand' - i.e. the nominal 'manufacturer' (not ITW or Prism) admit that kites I reported problems with - all listed as 'current models' on their website - had been produced in batches and in stock for c.10 years!. Another shows stock online variously as 2017 and 2014 on different parts of their website, but their UK distributor don't know of much as actually available either way. Conversely, kite models (US or European brands) may show on retailers websites, but not on the suppliers, so are discontinued old stock (but not often stated or discounted)... so 'Buyer Beware'. Yes, I know they are all made in China unless bespoke to order locally. I have a few Chinese brand kites with very mixed results. That's why I wondered whether you has scope to apply 'ratings' to both individual kites *and* suppliers (e.g, customer service), etc.. Even if a 'Brand' allows reviews on their website, I don't see much customer feedback- which is a pity. Many thanks

[@JimNicholls]

You are right, John. One company in particular has old stock in its warehouse that has been there for many years. Other than on my website, I don't really want to get into posting reviews elsewhere. I'm very suspicious of reviews on any topic posted on social media, or company websites for instance, as you can't trust what people post these days, and I'd rather keep out of it myself.

[@_Piers_]

After getting the Zenith, I threaded elastic through the spars of 4 or 5 other kites. It's not too hard to do with most designs and I've found it quite useful. I often fly until dusk and it's one less thing for me to have to rummage through the grass for :)

[@JimNicholls]

As I said in the video, I think the bungy cord is more of a gimmick than anything. I keep my kite assembled except for the cross-spar (spreader). The bungy cord in that means that maybe I'm less likely to lose a spar (but if I lose one piece then I've lost the other, too!) But the knot on the end makes inserting the spar more tricky, and I can imagine that if someone were not to be careful about it they could launch the kite with the spar not fully in, and maybe have it come apart in the air. If you always disassemble your kites after flying, I can see it might be useful to have the cords. Losing a spar is very annoying, and I've done that several times.

[@heleezy]

Hello jim, I have seen that black and white flowtail in many of your videos. Where did you get this, it is such a beautiful kite.

[@JimNicholls]

I bought it from Germany. It was made by Colours In Motion, but they no longer make it, which is sad because I wanted to get two more.

[@Kimberlite66]

Oh i LOVE that flow tail. Could you suggest where i might buy one? I just searched ebay but nothing. 😩

[@JimNicholls]

That particular design is no longer available - I bought mine from Metropolis Drachen in Germany and it was the last one. There are plenty of other flowtail designs still around - you could try Picture Pretty Kites' website, where there are several and all at 10% discount.

[@kenmilne2379]

Jim, whats the best way to attach a windsock to house or in my case, the flat!? And if u were to make one yr self, what would u use...? Professor!!😁😁

[@JimNicholls]

I don't make anything much, Ken, I leave it to others who are smarter than I am. But I guess ripstop nylon would be the fabric of choice. Not sure of the best way to hang it on your place, though - it depends a lot on the circumstances but you'd need some kind of swivel on top of the pole you were using to let the sock change direction with the wind. Suitable poles are available, I'm sure, but I can't suggest a source, sorry.

[@kenmilne2379]

@@JimNicholls Thnk u Jim, i was thinking along same lines! I know what u mean about the pros doing doing it! Plus they make a nicer job!! I'm makin because it keeps me outa mischief ! Ha ha! Latest ones an experiment wth glued together TV dinner trays, " small" and diamond bamboo frame with cover around edge ! I'll keep u posted! and Julie of The Kite shop.

[@JimNicholls]

Julie's much more of a maker than I am, of course, Ken.

[@mushaboom8695]

Which flowtail are you flying in this video- it’s gorgeous! Thanks for the informational video!

[@JimNicholls]

The flowtail was made by Colours In Motion, but I think that colour scheme is no longer made, unfortunately.

[@mushaboom8695]

@@JimNicholls that’s a shame, but thank you for replying!

[@kevmachinexx]

awesome video. me and the gf are just getting into kite flying. we both got a $4 walmart kite and they work good thou they already fell apart. can you recommend a good kite between 20-50 usd that would be awesome! :) we dont do stunts just relaxing easy flying. i like to go high thou i added extra string on my old one.

[@JimNicholls]

It's hard to recommend a specific kite, but a delta or delta conyne would probably suit you well as they are easy to assemble and great for high flying. There are a few good ones around the $40 mark - take a look at Picture Pretty Kites' website and search by price in the "single line kites" section and you'll find several that might suit.

[@kevmachinexx]

@@JimNicholls thanks for the info :)

[@derricksrandomviews]

Amazon has this kite at about (59.00) 25 percent off retail, but even at that price, I was not ready to bite. The Isotope is well made but a terrible flyer and something told me that the Zenith 7 was not going to be much better, especially dealing with the naughty wind we have here in Galax. Your video confirms that so my decision to order a 2m Trilobite instead seems to have been the right one. The Trilobite is actually a bit more fun in a swirly wind. The Flowtail is a great looking kite. That and the HQ 600xl would make good sky companions I bet.

[@JimNicholls]

The Isotope is curable, Derrick. I fixed mine by moving the top bridle down about 4.5 inches, so that it is now connected to the kite just below the yellow box section. I had to make something to hold it on the spine, but you'd probably get away with moving it a little less and doing it through the bottom of the box section. A better tail helps, too - Prism were just recycling an old tail rather than make one specifically for that kite.

[@derricksrandomviews]

@@JimNicholls I will remember that. I don't own one but a friend of mine does. It will be nice to fix it, thanks.

[@daviewavie112]

How many kites do you own? You must have an amazing collection.

[@JimNicholls]

The only possible answer to your question, David, is "Far too many!" I have never counted, and wouldn't dare do so.

[@hugotuulelohed1822]

Nice

[@JimNicholls]

Thanks, Hugo!

[@afsarpashapasha912]

Nice kaits sir I want to delta kait Ho mach sir in Bangalore India

[@JimNicholls]

As I told you before, I don't sell kites. Look on AliExpress, they have everything there and will send to India.

[@ratoneJR]

Deltas seem to always unstable. Flowtail's are deltas stable cousins.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Deltas are meant to be flown high. Usually the higher they go the better they perform.

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, JR, and they look better, too. I like deltas, but I like flowtails more.

[@JimNicholls]

Mark Winston: That depends on the wind - sometimes it's better higher up, and sometimes worse. We can't fly very high at the beach here, usually, for safety reasons (nearby road and power lines).

[@kishascape]

No they always seem very stable. You just a bad pilot.