How Much Does Kitesurfing Gear Cost

These are retailer-listed starting prices from Adventure Sports USA and Greenhat Kiteboarding. Final prices depend on size and configuration.

Kitesurfing equipment price is driven mainly by the kite and bar, and by whether you buy a package or separate items. Taking lessons first lets you spread the spend and buy only what you will use.

For what each item does and how to choose it, see our guide to kitesurfing gear for beginners. This page deals only with cost, in the order you will meet it.

Phase 1: Lessons before you buy

Kitesurfing lessons are the first line in a sensible budget. They test your commitment before you spend on kit, and they show you which kite and board size you will actually ride.

Schools publish their own rates, so lesson prices vary. KiteLab is one example. It offers group beginner lessons, private beginner lessons and advanced lessons, and sells and repairs kit on the same site. Group lessons and private lessons are separate products, so ask for both quotes.

1. Request current group and private beginner prices from two or three schools.
2. Ask whether the lesson price includes the kite, bar, harness and wetsuit, because that decides how much of your own kit you need later.
3. Ask whether a follow-on course or a lesson pack is available before you commit to a block.
4. Delay buying a kite and bar until your instructor says you are ready to practise alone.

Phase 2: Buying the kite, bar and pump

An inflatable kite is the single biggest item, and the control bar is a separate cost unless it comes in a package. Price them as one unit from the start.

Inflatable kite

Retail listings show a wide spread. Windance lists the Slingshot UFO V4 from $899.00, the F-One Bandit 18 from $1,349.00 and the Slingshot Code NXT V2 from $2,690.00. Adventure Sports USA lists the Cabrinha Drifter Apex from $1,146.75, with savings of up to 25% shown on sale items. The lowest-priced listing is usually the sensible beginner choice. The top of the range buys performance you cannot yet use.

Control bar

The Cabrinha Unify control system is listed at $799.00. That is close to the price of the lowest-priced kite above, which is why a kite-and-bar package often works out better than buying each piece alone. If you buy a kite on its own, check whether the bar is included.

Kite pump

A pump is a small item that is easy to forget. Some packages include one. Greenhat lists the Core XR8 kite and bar package, which includes an electric pump, from $2,319.56. Its North package includes a kite pump and is listed from $2,700.00 against a regular price of $3,525.99. Check the contents list before you buy a pump separately.

Phase 3: Board, harness, wetsuit and safety

These items are cheaper than the kite but still add up. Buy them once your lessons have shown what suits you.

Twin-tip board

At Adventure Sports USA the Cabrinha Spectrum twin-tip is listed at $629.00 and the Ace Apex at $929.00. A beginner gains little from the higher-priced board. Choose the cheaper one unless a school recommends otherwise.

Harness and wetsuit

South African prices from KiteLab give a clear idea of how the smaller items compare with kites and boards.

These ranges come from the KiteLab equipment page. Convert them to your own currency before comparing them with the dollar prices above.

Helmet and impact protection

Add a kitesurfing helmet and an impact vest to the budget. Our guide to the kitesurfing helmet covers the choice. Protective gear is not a place to hunt for the lowest price.

Budget tiers: new, used and lessons-first

Three routes suit different riders, and the right one depends on how sure you are about the sport.

• New package: best if you are committed and want everything matched. The Greenhat Value Package, with kite, board, bar and bindings, is listed from $2,529.20 against a regular price of $3,256.00. The Premium Package is listed from $3,898.40 against $4,947.00. Add a harness and wetsuit, which these bundles do not list.
• Used kit: best if you can inspect gear in person or through a trusted shop. The new prices above give you a ceiling to compare any used listing against. The size of the saving depends on each item’s age and condition, so check lines, bladders and canopy before paying.
• Lessons-first: best if you are unsure. You pay for tuition and rented kit, then buy once you know your wind range and riding style.

Phase 4: Running costs after the first season

The first purchase is not the last. Lines, bladders and repairs recur, and kite pricing pages rarely mention them.

Repair is the cost most beginners meet first. KiteLab runs an on-site repair facility and says it offers good prices and quick turnarounds, though it publishes no prices. Kiteboarding.com points riders to fixmykite.com, which it says has been repairing kites for over 12 years, and it also lists no repair prices. Ask for a quote before you send a kite in, since the cost depends on the damage.

Replacement parts are usually ordered online, so shipping matters. Kiteboarding.com members get free shipping on orders over $50, and membership carries a guarantee that if you do not save $80 in 12 months, the cost of membership is returned. Check the membership fee against your expected parts orders before joining.

Careful handling reduces damage. Our guide on how to pack a kite covers pumping, packing and storage.

Troubleshooting a budget that is running over

• Total is above plan: drop the board upgrade first, then choose a kite-and-bar package at the lower end before cutting protective gear.
• Package duplicates kit you own: buy the kite and bar bundle alone, as the F-One Breeze V3 package is listed from $1,025.00 against a regular price of $1,413.45.
• Unsure about a used purchase: hold off until an instructor or shop can inspect it. A cheap kite with a failed bladder or worn lines can cost more to fix than the saving.
• Quotes vary widely between schools: compare what each includes, not just the headline lesson price.

Frequently asked questions