My pre season reminder, a knife is the cheapest bit of kiting gear your likely to purchase,but the most important and from what I witness the least purchased, also check serviceability if you have one, the seasons on the horizon, get into your local and grab one
I usually carry 2 due to my high ratio of accidents and near misses
Stash them down the arms of your suit. Easy acces for either hand with one in each sleeve. Lose a few but they are cheap
These knives are good for cutting kite lines as well as the'll go through webbing if cut at an angle. And there's not much chance of you cutting yourself in all the excitement of the situation. They comes standard on some life vests for the purpose of cutting lanyards if you get caught underwater in an overturned boat.
Also a good idea to keep your hook knife covered in wax as it will help stop oxidization and keep it sharp. Bit of shock chord to keep it from getting lost if you are being tumbled around the white wash.
Mine saved my life last week in mauritius
got a tangle around my ankle while doing a self rescue with the other end caught on the coral
i didn't realise until the next set came through and pinned me to the seabed
if i didn't have my knife i would have drowned
my mates with me all bought knives the next day!!!!
so do your self a favour GET ONE!!!
Best knife review?Must have attached bottle opener,be user friendly and good resale
Looking at upgrading my current knife
I carry a knife so when upwind kiters ditch their kite on me I can slash all their
lines
Got some 4mm Shock cord and tied line cutter onto harness this week. Would be nothing worse than dropping the ****er when you really need it. Thanks for tip cauncy and others.
I am surprised with all this bar innovations there isn't a cigar cutter on the bar for every line :D
my Dakine harness came with a knife that fits into the spreader bar padding and is retained by velcro
On my Dakine seat harness, I just turned the spreader bar padding upside down, so that the knife pouch is facing UPWARDS. I then bought a 6 inch diving knife with a line cutter on the blade, and while still in its sheaf, fits perfectly into the pouch. The handle is now visible to me and within very easy reach, and when pulled out, the sheaf stays in the pouch. The knife is also attached by a length of elastic cord and bundles into the pouch as well.
Yep, you should have a knife or line cutter easy to grab. I've never wrapped myself yet but twice now I have had idiot hotshots try to see how close they could get to my kite and wrapped me as I got out of the water and started to walk up the beach at my home break, Brighton/Scarborough, WA. I know it's a busy place fellas but you downwinders passing by don't need to take chances with unsuspecting fellow kiters, local or not. 2nd time it happened it was a Russian who was new to the sport and couldn't speak much English. After 5 minutes I grew tired of trying to explain what he should have done, since he wasn't listening anyway. Next time the perps lines are toast and he will be chasing his loose kite downwind, instead of me being dragged down the beach with him and suffering line cuts and damaged lines.
I have since attached a dive knife centrally to my harness reachable by both hands and also have a line cutter on harness. Redundancy is smart and the knife could come in handy if I have another encounter with a shark in the water. Last time defenceless felt helpless. Be prepared and capable to save yourself.
