Summer is coming...and at least here in Florida, that typically means light winds. Bigger kites and bigger boards if you want to ride. Or, stay on a smaller kite with the right size big board. There are lots of different Light Wind boards out there, and a lot of people ask which one is best. Of course, there is no clear answer to that, but here is my take. There are typically 2 styles of light wind boards: the longer style(Really long, and normal width) or the newer short/wide style(Shorter but really wide). And of course a good old Surf Board is another type, so I guess that makes 3 types. Here is a break down of some of the ones we are carrying right now:

Longer Style:
Litewave 169 and 179
Underground 152
Liquid Force Lithium 155
Naish Haze 153
Slingshot SX 151

Shorter/Wider Style:
Slingshot Glide(kind of fits in both...longer, but super wide)
Caution Hustla 135 and 145
Litewave Steatlh 137
RRD Light Air Custom
Crazy Fly Light Wind Board

Basically, they all work pretty good. It is just a preference thing. If you like to play in the waves a lot or enjoy a good upwind pointer type board, you may want to go with the longer style type of boards. If you want to throw a lot of low altitude flips and twists, you may like the shorter wider style. All a preference thing.

Based off of my experiences and weight(170lbs):
For the SUPER light winds(8-13mph), you really can't match the Slingshot Glide or one of the Litewave boards(169 or 179).

For moderate light winds(11mph-16mph or higher): most of the other ones listed above kick into gear. Some you can stay on in over 20mph winds, others you probably need to get off of if it is blowing 20mph....

We intend to have just about everyone of these available for demo at the shop. So, if you want to try one out before you buy something, stop by the shop and we will hook you up. Also, we will plan a demo board day as early as this Saturday or Sunday at Matanzas Inlet...so stay tuned....

Dude, I got to pimp da Glide. That board planes in .0000025 mph.

Whenever I show up to the session over here and it's light, every kiter slogging it out yells "Yo, E Bone, let me hold that Glide while you rig." I hand it over and laugh as my bros are stunned by how they are tearing upwind. I could charge for rides on the Glide and get away with it.

I think the Glide is a must-have board for beginners, too, because you can go on it while underpowered, making it easier to learn. I was watching this guy struggle to get up and ride a few weeks ago at the Skyway. He was on a regular board. I had him depower his kite and ride the Glide. He got up and rode for the first time that day. He was stoked. Now he's tearing all over the place on his regular board.

The Glide, as you note, seems to do better in flatter water. I took it out in surf once...ONCE. I was LITT, too, and that didn't help. It can handle smaller chop okay, but once the surf is over waist high, or if it is really bumpy, it isn't as fun. By then, however, you should have enough wind for your regular board.

The other boards look cool. Maybe I'll come over there soon and show you guys how to decorate 'em with some hardcore unicorn stickers.

Good information on all the light wind boards. I've only used a few but if light wind kiting is your main reason for buying one of these boards then I would put my money on the Glide. I have a 6'2" surfboard and the glide will beat it in light winds. The flat boards have zero drag and the first time you use one it will blow you away on how fast they are in light conditions. You can still do all the tricks you normally do on the glide, it just doesn't get the bite of your regular boards, but it does make it interesting on the landing.

Didn't have one in the shop to take a picture of at the beach, so I forgot to add this one to the list of good light wind boards. The Aggression Barn Door. Picture below. Falls into the Shorter/super wide category. Very light, good flex, can hold it in really high winds too... not quite the Glide or Litewave 179 for super light stuff, but a lot more fun for moderate light to medium winds...

Another light wind board is Underground FLX 52 ( 152x 44) i heard that it is outperformance to Glide !

I use a 130cm Liquid Force WLF and it goes right upwind in the light stuff. Short and wide also enable it to hold when it picks up as well as handle diverse conditions. Great board when the winds drop.

This pas sat at hugenot, the only guys having fun were on glides/bar doors. My WLF 140 did NOT work at all. i switched to my finless flat plywood board and it worked but only in the down wind mode. then when the wind died down where it did not work, i tried grandpa's glide. it was the greatest thing since sliced bread! who wants a used WLF140?

You can't beat the Glide in the super light stuff!!!! I have ridden the past three afternoons when the winds were stupidily(is that a word?) light...yesterday I rode for 3 hours on the Glide and my 16m RRD Type HIR kite. The winds were around 7-12mph, averaging around 10mph. Wind graph attached below. I was a Matanzas with an outgoing current..so that adds a little boost to help you out. But, without the Glide, I couldn't have gone and had fun. A 16m C shape kite is the biggest I fly now...no need for anything bigger for me. Anyway, the Glide rocks in this light stuff.... if the winds come more than 15mph or so, then I don't like the Glide...I like one of the other light wind boards a lot better....

whats your weight? THX

I weigh around 170lbs.