Kite Tails

Ribbon tails are long, thin strips of material that stream out behind your kite in flight. They are lightweight, which makes them easier to lift in lighter winds than other tail types. These tails have a fluttery, playful motion in flight, but are a bit less visually impactful than tube tails.

Tube tails are self-inflating fabric tubes, much like a large windsock. Wind rushes into the intake opening at the front of the tail, puffing it up and giving it a wide, full appearance from any angle. While tube tails are heavier than ribbon tails of the same length, they actually create less drag thanks to their rounded aerodynamic shape. Tube tails are less fluttery than ribbon tails, and the longer 75' length is ideal for tracing spins and twirls when attached to a sport kite.

Both styles of tail will add drag to your kite and will increase the amount of wind you need in order to fly. In light winds it may be easier to fly without a tail, while in stronger winds you'll be able to fly with longer, heavier tails more easily.

In most cases, yes! All of our dual-line kites and most of our single-line kites are made to work with add-on tails, and they often have a purpose made attachment point to make adding a tail quick and easy. Check your kite's manual for specifics on how to attach a tail.

There are a few specialty single-line kites that don't have quite enough lifting power to keep a tail in the air. Because of this, the EO Atom, EO-6, and Flip Kite are best flown without tails.

For dual-line kites, a tail will slow your kite down a bit and make it easier to control in stronger winds.

For single-line kites, an add-on tail will add extra drag and help keep your kite pointed into the wind. This can be especially helpful if you are flying in fluky, turbulent wind where a little extra stability will help keep your kite flying steady.

For both dual and single-line kites, bigger tails will have a more pronouced effect on how your kite flies, and you will need a little more wind to lift them compared to smaller tails.

When it comes to tails on sport kites, bigger is better! Longer tails are much more fun to fly with as the added length will let you trace lots of loops and swirls in the air as you fly. We recommend going with the largest tail your kite can lift for the most entertaining flying experience.

Full-sized kites like the Quantum, Hypnotist, Synapse 170/200, Tantrum, or Mentor do a great job of lifting 75' tube tails in moderate winds. Smaller kites like the Nexus, Jazz, and Synapse 140 have an easier time lifting 20' tube tails or ribbon tails in most flying conditions. Smaller kites can lift large tails in stronger winds, but you'll want to upgrade to stronger flying lines to account for the extra pull first.

Single-line kites vary in the amount of lifting power they have, so it's important to choose a suitable tail. Strong lifters like our Zenith 5 or 7 deltas work great with just about any tail - from our lightweight ribbon tails all the way up to our biggest tube tails when the wind is up. Kites with less pull like our Vertex diamond will have an easier time lifting a 20' tube tail or a ribbon tail in most wind conditions.

When in doubt, you can also check your kite's product page to see what kind of tails we are recommending to go with it.