An amazing new coating also allows Shanti to work with some new high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers. “High-modulus” is a comparative term which simply relates to a fibre’s strength-to-weight ratio. So a “high-modulus” fiber is stronger and lighter than a fiber with a lower modulus rating. Skybond has the highest modulus rating of any kite line Shanti has tested. For example: a 100 lb/test Skybond line is thinner than 90 lb/test Spectra, but it’s 10% stronger, and it costs about the same. That’s a good deal. This new, neon-yellow coating uses a polymer-alloy which bonds to the fibers and protects them from damage, yet remains slippery.
Lines sets:
- precision measured
- come sleeved
- come on a quality card winder
About Shanti
Since 1974, Shanti has led the world in the development of kite lines, spools and winders. In 1979, Shanti introduced a revolutionary new line called “Skybond” which had an outer Dacron braid with a Kevlar core. We stopped making Skybond in 1985, when we invented Speed line, the world’s first Spectra kite line. Speed line has not only been copied by nearly every kite company in the world, it’s also been widely used in the fishing industry.
The Scoop on Coated lines:
To make Spectra suitable for fishing, companies began coating the line to make it easier to handle but this ironically increased its friction which was bad for kiteflying. In the last ten years, kiteflyers have grown accustomed to flying coated line and some prefer its “feel.” During this time, the quality of coatings has improved significantly and in 2009, Shanti began working with engineers to produce a coating that was specifically designed for kiteflying, not fishing. This new, neon-yellow coating uses a polymer-alloy which bonds to the fibers and protects them from damage, yet remains slippery.