Your thoughts on these kites please?

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[Dolphinboy]

Gus what type tricks are you talking about? The kites you listed are very different with different wind ranges too.

Out of the three you listed the Shadow is the only UL that would do more modern tricks in the stated wind range.

I haven't flown a PD but from what I understand, it's an old school SUL.. I've flown old school SULs and they are generally easier to power up and fly than modern SULs but the trick bag is smaller / different. Nothing wrong with that if it's what you want. Many old school tricks in light wind are a blast. If I'm going old school, it's SUL / UL old school.

The Zephyr will trick fine but not in the 1-4 mph range. Seems more like a STD.

Like others have mentioned, there are many other choices out there. Think about what tricks you're trying to do and your style (and budget) then research some of the UL / SUL kites available.

Good Luck

[fworley]

The Zephyr will trick fine but not in the 1-4 mph range. Seems more like a STD.

Perhaps a light.

Its tricky enough ... but its no UL thats for sure (and I was flying Kevin's at Wrightsville in the "lab grade winds").

When the wind picks up it can pull and get quick ... a handful.

-Frazer

[DonCrash]

To also answer one of your original questions, to my knowledge, people who have bought a later Zephyr, the trailing edge was not wearing as fast as the earlier batches.

Like everyone has said, its not a UL, but rather I personally consider it a Light Standard. However, Mark Reed has posted in the Prism Forums that removing the upper spreader and moving the bridle setting up against the light wind knot, or perhaps past it, can be done to help the kite in much lighter winds.

I did happen to find this vid a while back, you can see the upper spreader missing, doing a fade and a turtle in a supposed 0mph with the Zephyr, with footwork of course.

StuntKite - No Wind

[DaveH]

Off your list, but I would suggest the Exile UL. Tricks will be slow, however.  If I want to do current tricks in light wind I fly my DS standard or Exile std. With some footwark and light wind technique they'll both fly in pretty light winds.  The extra mass really helps the trickin'.  So my opinion is if you want to do the whole range of tricks you might do well to get a kite for its tricking ability which flies in light winds and spend time on technique. 
I can only speak from personal experience, but for my limited skillset trickablility and super light wind performance are two different things.

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