8in Dark Blue Kite Reel Winder

This is a review of the 8.7 inch Kaiciuss Kite Reel Winder with Line. Or it was intended to be. Just Info wrote such a masterful review of this kite winder that it is hard to find anything to add. But I enjoy a challenge so let's see what I can try to add about this winder.First, if you don't know why you would want to spend more for a winder than the kite attached to it, then you probably don't need this winder. If you are spending more for your kite than this winder, then you probably already know why you need this winder. If you are somewhere in between where you have figured out that there has to be something better than the wrap a light line around a flimsy plastic spool that came with your kite, then this is probably the winder and line that you are looking for. If you are able to fly your kite high enough that you dread trying to reel it back in, then you need this winder. If your kite pulls the line off your winder uncontrollably, then you need this winder. If your kite pulls your winder out of your hand, then you definitely need this winder.Second, if you are studying these reviews, then this winder will probably be all you need. If you need something more than this winder, then you probably know more about kites, winders, and rigging than I do.This is a review of the 8.7 inch diameter winder. Looking at the product listing photo of the 8 inch diameter winder side by side with the 8.7 inch winder, it looks like they share most of the same parts. But I can't be sure of that. At this time the 8 inch winder is $15 and the 8.7 inch winder is $18. The 8.7 inch winder will wind a bit faster and comes with 200 more feet of 50 pound line. I would go with the 8.7 inch winder if you are on the fence. It will be a bit heavier and harder to wind however. The 1000 feet of line on the 8 inch winder will be plenty for most people though.Neither of these winders is suitable for young children. You need to pay attention because the winder's ball bearings will allow a kite to take off if you don't maintain a grip on the winding knob or use the reel lock. Heed the warning to wear gloves for all but small kites in light winds. You can get kites up high enough with this winder to catch stronger winds that require hand protection to fly comfortably and safely.Brisk winds and happy flying!

This is a pretty nice kite reel. Even though it's mostly plastic it feels fairly sturdy in the hand. I've always wanted to try one of these and I recently got some larger kites that I intend to use this with. So far I've only tried it out on a 56" kite This is rated to work with a much larger kite according to the listing so hopefully it will work just as well with my bigger kites. This didn't come with any instructions and I didn't look up any operational videos before hand so I made an error with it almost immediately. I was letting the kite free spool out and the line ended up jumping out of the reel for a couple revolutions before I caught it. Thankfully I was wearing gloves (always a good idea when flying kites) and was able to grab the line with one hand to keep tension on it while freeing the loose loops of line. It was a rookie mistake that I shouldn't have made especially after years of using baitcasting fishing reels. From now on I'll make sure to keep tension on the winder when letting line out. A couple things I'm not quite sure about, and obviously haven't tested, is that in one spot the listing says it has 984 feet of line and in another spot it says 1,200 feet of line. Not that it makes much difference to me, I just wondered which was right. The other thing is it says the line can hold up to 50 pounds. It's 3 strand braid and the line is pretty thick, I would have assumed it would hold more than that but maybe not or maybe they're just under rating it to be on the safe side. Overall I like this kite reel. It makes it a much smoother and easier process to let out and bring in your kite. I recommend it.

The media could not be loaded.  In my younger days, I had stunt kites. I recently met a woman who flies kites for a hobby, which inspired me to get another kite. The medium-large kite I bought came with string on a cheap winder. Receiving this Kaiciuss Kite Reel Winder is a huge upgrade as you can reel in the kite much faster and with a quick swivel release, the string is very easy to connect to the kite.The reel itself feels very well-made with six metal ball bearings, a free-spinning handle, and a lock to keep the string from extending accidentally. The metal parts are shiny, like stainless steel, however, they are attracted to a magnet which pure stainless steel is not. Most of the reel is made with a tough plastic like material. It would take a lot of force to damage this reel. In the product description on Amazon, it refers to the size options being 20 inches and 22 inches, however I think this should be 20 and 22 centimeters as that corresponds to the 8 inches or 8 1/2 inches that this reel actually is in diameter. I have the 8 1/2 inch version with a large crank which winds string very fast.I tested the kite wheel out on a windy day, and was amazed at how well it performed. However, I decided to get the opinion of my friend who has a lot more experience. She showed up and her first statement was “I have four of those reels.” However, hers were slightly different probably from other brands. After flying my kite for a while, she commented how smooth the Kaiciuss Kite Reel Winder felt. I did notice that she was trying to use the stop as a brake. However, it is not designed to slow down the reel, but only to keep it from turning, specifically when activated in a slot near the crank handle. So hers may work differently.This test was performed at the beach,. Several times the kite reel was either placed on the sand or dragged through the sand by the wind. I didn't notice any problems with sand in the bearings. Possibly because of the open design allows the sand fall out easily.Another factor that I tested was how easy this reel is to use left-handed. I am right-handed, but currently have my arm in a sling. Unfortunately, this Kaiciuss Kite Reel Winder is not designed to be held in the right hand. With the proper finger positions needed, this places the string guide on the bottom of the reel which is constantly pulling against your wrist. I looked to see if any of the parts could be reversed to make this easier, but not so. However, I think that most left-handed people are ambidextrous, so this may not be an issue.I am very happy with this Kaiciuss Kite Reel Winder, and I'm sure it will last for many years.