If you are new to kitesurfing, you will need to buy your own equipment. Indeed, when you are learning, they lend you the equipment, but once you can fly on your own, it is different.
The average price of essential kitesurfing equipment
Before we look at why it’s better to buy your kitesurfing equipment second hand, let’s take a look at the cost of new equipment. To start, the basic equipment needed (harness, board, kite, bar, neoprene suit, helmet, life jacket, booties) is expensive. On average, it costs 2000 euros. This is a significant amount of money, especially if you want to take some “useful accessories” such as gloves, anemometer, towel poncho or the repair box that is always necessary, the bill will quickly increase. And let’s not forget that you might want to film your exploits and therefore need an onboard camera.
In short, you will need to have money in your bank account to equip yourself. To reduce the costs in an interesting way, you can then turn to second-hand equipment.
Save money by reusing equipment
The second hand market is very fashionable at the moment. It is true that it offers the possibility of reusing a board that would otherwise have ended up in the bin (or almost)! It is therefore an eco-responsible gesture. But it is also a responsible gesture for your finances.
Indeed, prices can be significantly reduced. What’s more, this equipment is not particularly outdated or obsolete. Many riders like to change regularly to try out new sensations and sell their boards in very good condition and not old at all.
So you can find “almost last generation” boards (one or two seasons) on the second hand market. You can benefit from innovations by buying second-hand equipment.
You can find everything on the second-hand market!
As we have just seen, the second hand market offers great opportunities. You can buy the equipment of an expert kiter who wants to find new sensations and who has taken care of his equipment, or the equipment of a beginner who finally doesn’t appreciate this sport and wants to make money by selling everything he bought a short time ago. It is also possible to find old equipment, which will then be an excellent compromise to start without fear of damaging it.
But before taking out your wallet, you need to know how to choose your second-hand equipment!
A proper inspection to avoid mistakes
Buying second-hand kiteboarding equipment is not something you can improvise. Even if it is good for the planet and our budget, you should not buy just anything.
It’s better to opt for a brand name equipment, more solid and durable. So you can adopt a DUOTONE or ION board with your eyes closed. Or almost.
Because other criteria are also important. So, check the equipment sold with the board (storage bag, pump…) and of course check the sail carefully. Ask for the date of purchase, the number of rides (an approximation will be sufficient!). If the sail has been repaired, you should know this and also check the repairs.
It is therefore best to see the sail (and all the equipment) to get a good idea. This is why it is recommended to buy your kite equipment second-hand from specialist shops or kite schools, which have many models. You might even find the board you started with!
That’s all well and good, but how much can you save if you buy second-hand equipment? For a complete beginner’s kit, we told you that new equipment costs an average of 2000 euros. For second-hand equipment, you will only pay 1000 euros. Interesting, then.
Another advantage?
Spending less naturally allows you to change your equipment more often. You can discover new sensations with second-hand equipment and change it as soon as you get tired of it.
This is another advantage of the second-hand market. You can also find exceptional boards that you don’t (or no longer) see elsewhere.
And when you have completely used up your board, don’t hesitate to consult the website of the French Free Flight Federation which has set up a system for recycling equipment.