GEAR: WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WIND FOR LOWKITE?

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Lowkite

28 august 2026 0

There is no universal answer, but a few guidelines can help make things clearer.

Riding comfortably with a lowkite in very light wind requires suitable equipment, just as it does in wing foiling. With the right gear, light wind can actually become a lot of fun, without requiring a major physical and technical effort every time you take off.

But from how many knots can you realistically ride a lowkite?

On the water every day, Patrice Guénolé, GONG boss and shaper, naturally spends a large part of the year riding in particularly light conditions. He therefore has plenty of experience on the subject. Asked on social media, he shared a few useful reference points and tips about the limits:

“12/15 knots when you’re starting out.

10/12 knots at expert level.

In both cases, you can get through lulls at 8/10 knots, but not less.

Taking off in 8 knots: forget it.

12 knots is realistic with a gust 50/100 m wide. Below that, it gets tricky.

You can optimize things slightly with a carbon board, but only marginally.

The Neutra Light will be the easiest to keep flying in 8 knots.

Use a large bar because your take-off issue will be multiplied by the number of maneuvers you miss. Prioritize maneuverability. It’s incredibly frustrating to take off, ride 200 m, then mess up your jibe.

Prioritize tacks and handle-pass jibes.

Never kill the flight of your lowkite by shaking it around like laundry on a line. Use smooth, wide movements, perfectly timed with your foil pumping.”

Foilers: Louis, Thomas, Loic and Patrice on Plus V3 lowkites.

What equipment should you choose for light wind?

Riding comfortably in light wind requires suitable equipment:

A long, efficient mid-length style board, such as the Cruzader, with around +20 litres of positive volume. The versatile Sner and Xiggy from the SUP foiling EPS Pro range are also excellent options. For an inflatable, choose a HIPE Cruzader or a HIPE Like for greater accessibility.
A front wing of at least XL for an average-sized, experienced rider. The goal is not necessarily to choose the model with the most lift at take-off, but rather a front wing with excellent glide to get through the lulls. The Veloce family is ideal for this, especially the Veloce Light Wind. The Sirus, meanwhile, makes the earliest take-offs easier.
For the lowkite, an average-sized rider should choose at least 5 m² in light wind. The Plus V3 is the easiest to pump, while the Neutra Light benefits from its low weight to stay airborne more easily when the wind drops.

One of the major advantages of lowkite is how little space it takes up once packed into its carry bag. It is therefore easy to bring a second kite as a backup in case the wind drops. The bag supplied with the Neutra and Neutra Light is also designed to double as a stash bag.