Cotton string / line: Cotton line is used mostly for inexpensive kites like those you can buy at the toy story or at places like Walgreens. Cotton string will cut most lines (except Kwela) due to the fact that it is a natural fiber and has no oil based byproduct within its fibers. This makes it a "high friction" line and is the predominate reason it cuts other lines so easily.
Spectra line: Spectra is the perfect linefor Sport and Power kite flying due to it’s very high strength,and very low stretch qualities. Spectra will be cut by all other lines (including Spectra/Dacron blends, also called "Sportline.")
Dacron line: Dacron is commonly used for used for single line kites. It will cut Spectra line (but not Cotton or Kelvar).
Kelvar line will cut all other lines (for this reason, this line is very seldom used in kite flying,except under special applications).
Fighter kite Line (waxed line or glass coated): Common "Fighter Kite Line" is specifically designed for cutting lines of other Fighter kites. In fighter kite competitions of this nature, the last fighter kite that remains in the sky is the winner. Fighter kite (cutting line) should not be used for any other type of kite flying because it will cut most other lines – except Kelvar.
IMPORTANT:
You must always keep in mind that it’s not just the kite its self that can pose a danger. Kite lines themselves are the #1 cause of serious injury to both the people that are actually doing the kite flying AND to spectators as well.
Today’s Sport kites can fly at very high speeds when flown in higher winds (which they often are.)
The point to remember is that if you are flying your sport kite at 60+ mph – so are the ends of the lines closest to the kite!
Now, picture a cheese slicer moving at the speed of your kite and running across your fingers or someone’s neck! We’re talking hospitalization here, so please be very careful how and where you fly your kite.
Always pay attention to your surroundings and those around you too. And be sure to read our page on KiteFlying safety tips too.
