What Size Bars and Lines to Get for Kitesurfing?

So, you’ve got yourself a shiny new kite (or you’re eyeing one) - congrats! But wait, the shop asks: ‘What size kite bar and lines do you need with that?’ You pause… ‘Erm, the normal size?’ 

Don’t worry, mate you’re not the first to be baffled by bar sizes and line lengths in kitesurfing. It’s a question we hear a lot: what size bars and lines should I get for kitesurfing? The right setup can make a big difference in how your kite performs and how easy it is to control. 

Let’s break it down in simple terms so you can choose with confidence.

Bar Width: Small vs. Large Bars

Kite bars come in different widths (length across the bar end to end), typically to match different kite sizes. Common bar sizes you’ll see are around 45-55 cm (small/medium) and 55-65 cm (medium/large), though each brand might label them differently (e.g., 52cm vs 60cm, or ‘45cm/52cm adjustable’ bars). 

What does bar width do? Think of the bar like the steering wheel for your kite. A wider bar gives you more leverage, which turns the kite faster (because you can pull more kite line with the same movement). A narrower bar turns the kite slower (less leverage). 

So, small kites (say 5m, 7m, 9m kites) are often paired with smaller bars to tame their responsiveness - without it, a twitch of your hand could send a small kite looping wildly. 

Conversely, larger kites (12m, 14m, etc.) are usually flown with wider bars to help muscle that bigger canopy through the wind window - the extra leverage helps you turn the big boy with reasonable speed. 

For example, if you’re riding a 7m kite in strong winds, you might use a 45cm bar to keep it from turning too sharply. But if you have a 14m kite in lighter winds, a 55 or 60cm bar will help you turn it quicker when you need to. 

Many kitesurfers opt for a middle-of-the-road bar (around 52cm) that can effectively fly most of their kite quiver. Brands often design bars to work for a range, like 45-52cm adjustable bars that cover, say, 7m up to 14m kites by changing a setting or knot. 

If you only have one bar for all your kites, that’s normal, just choose a size that fits the core of your quiver. (For a typical 9m + 12m kite combo, a ~52cm bar is standard.) 

Bottom line: Smaller bar = slower, gentler steering; Larger bar = faster, more responsive steering. Beginners often feel comfortable with the bar that comes with their kite package (most beginner packages include an appropriately sized bar for the kite). 

If you’re mixing and matching, check the kite manufacturer’s recommendation. They usually specify the ideal bar size for each kite model & size. Here at Northern Watersports, we list recommended bar sizes on our kite product pages, or just ask us and we’ll point you right. 

Cheeky tip: Some modern bars are adjustable, e.g., an Airush Ride Bar V2 can switch between 50cm and 60cm width. That’s like having two bars in one, handy if you have a broad quiver (quiver = collection of kites). The CORE Sensor bars adjust as well. So if you’re torn, an adjustable bar might solve the dilemma.

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Line Length: Why It Matters

The lines (those 20+ metre spaghetti strands connecting your bar to the kite) also come in different lengths. Standard kite lines are usually around 22m to 24m long (often 24m including a couple metres of leader line). However, you can have short lines (as low as 12m-18m for training or speciality use) and long lines (up to 27m or even 30m for light wind). 

Longer lines = more power, slower turning: Think of it like a car’s gear - longer lines let the kite sit further from you, effectively in stronger wind (higher up, the wind is usually a bit stronger and steadier). The kite also generates a larger pull arc, meaning more power potential. That’s why light wind kites (like a big 17m) often are flown on 24m+ lines to milk as much power as possible from the breeze. The trade-off is the kite will respond slower to your inputs (because the signal has to travel up a longer string and the kite has more distance to cover in the sky to turn). 

Shorter lines = less power, faster turning: If you shorten the lines, the kite sits closer in. It sweeps a smaller section of sky, generating a bit less power, but it can pivot and turn much quicker. Advanced riders in high winds will sometimes intentionally use shorter lines (e.g., 20m or even 15m) to tame a kite’s power and make it very reactive for things like wave riding or megaloops. Short lines are also great for practising kite control on land or for teaching, a trainer kite on 5m lines is super docile. 

Do beginner kitesurfers need a trainer kite?

For most riders, you don’t need to fuss with line lengths beyond what comes standard. Beginners should stick to the stock lines (typically ~24m), which give a nice balance of power and responsive turning. With experience, you might experiment: for instance, some intermediate kiters remove the 2m line extensions on a 24m bar to make it 22m for a slightly snappier feel on smaller kites, or add 2m extensions to get 26m for more grunt in low wind. But these tweaks are optional and situational. 

One thing to note: ensure your line lengths match if using different bars. If one bar’s lines are uneven or stretched, that can mess with kite handling. Always equalise your lines (all the same length when bar and lines are tensioned and bar pulled in). Manufacturers handle this for you out of the factory, so it’s typically not an issue until lines wear/stretch over time.

Matching Bars and Lines to Your Kite

Alright, so how to decide what to get? Here are some common scenarios:

‘I have one kite (say a 12m) and need a bar for it.’

Go with the manufacturer’s recommended bar size (often ~52cm for a 12m). The standard lines that come with that bar (22-24m) will be correct. This will cover you if you later get, say, a 9m kite too, you can usually use the same bar for 9m and 12m without drama.

‘I’m buying a quiver (like 9m and 12m kites) and want one bar.’

Again, a medium bar (~50-55cm) is ideal. Both kites will fly fine. If the 9m feels a tad slow, you can always shorten your steering lines a knot or two on the kite to speed it up, or if the 12m feels a hair quick, you’ll adjust naturally. It’s a good compromise. Many brands actually only produce one bar size to simplify things (Ozone’s standard bar is ~55cm and they use it on most kite sizes, for example).

‘I’ve got a big light wind kite (15m+) and a small high wind kite (7m).’

Here you might consider two bars if possible: a large bar for the big kite to maximise turning and a small bar for the tiny kite to keep control in nuking winds. If one bar must do, lean toward the mid-large size (e.g., 55cm). You can always choke up (grab closer to one side of the bar) when flying the small kite to effectively shorten your input, a little trick to simulate a smaller bar.

‘What about the lines? 20m? 24m?’

For 99% of riders, stick with the default (which is usually 24m total line length). If you’re curious: that length has been found over time to be a sweet spot where kites fly efficiently and have good power. It’s what most kite designers optimise the kite’s performance for. The exception: if you’re dedicated to foiling or expert manoeuvres, you might then play with short lines or long lines as needed. But if you don’t know why you’d change the length, then don’t, use the default.

One more consideration: bar throw and depower length. This is more or less consistent across brand bar sizes, but the distance you can push the bar away to depower the kite (the throw) should be comfortable for your arm length. Most bars are fine for average-sized riders. If you’re particularly short with short arms, an excessively long throw could be annoying (you can’t quite reach full depower easily). If you’re tall with gorilla arms, no issues usually. It’s rarely a problem, but something to be aware of. Some bars allow you to adjust the stopper or throw length too.

Style and Preferences

As you progress, you may develop a feel for what you prefer:

Freestyle/Air (Big Jumps)? You might like the precision of standard or slightly longer lines for huge jumps and a medium-to-large bar to really send the kite.

Wave riding? Wave kitesurfers sometimes go with a slightly smaller bar or shorter lines for very quick kite response (so the kite can drift and you can sine it rapidly to stay in the wave pocket).

Hydrofoiling in light wind? Often riders use longer lines (27m+) to get more power from a small kite in marginal winds. Conversely, in strong wind foiling, super short lines (12-15m) can make a 5m kite more manageable and driftier.

School/training? Short lines and medium bar are used to keep things mellow and within a small window.

These are niche cases. The average Joe Kiter doing freeride and a bit of everything will be well-served by the middle-ground bar/line setup.

Don’t Mix and Mismatch Blindly

A quick caution: compatibility. Most 4-line bars can fly most 4-line kites these days (universal compatibility is pretty good across brands), however you should check if there are any oddities. 

For instance, some older North kites had a different line length setup or Y split height that might not play perfectly with another brand’s bar without adjustment. 

Always ensure the line lengths and the line order (which lines go to front vs back) match what your kite expects. If you’re buying a bar from the same brand as your kite, you’re golden – no worries. If you’re mixing brands, ask us or do a quick search to confirm it’s a known good match. 

Our Kite Bars & Lines section has a variety of bars to choose from. Drop us a line and we’ll happily play matchmaker for your kite and bar. :)

So, What Should You Get? Quick Recommendations

If you’re buying a complete beginner kite package, it likely comes with the perfect bar and lines included - easy peasy. If not, tell us what kite you have and we’ll suggest the right bar.

As a rule of thumb:

• 5m–9m kites: 45cm–50cm bar, 22m lines (standard lines still fine, or remove small extensions).

• 10m–15m kites: 52cm–55cm bar, 24m lines (typical default).

• 15m+ mega kites: 55cm–60cm bar, 24m-27m lines (to help those big sails turn and pump power).

Many riders just use a 52cm bar with 24m lines for everything 7m through 14m and it works out. That’s the convenience of modern kites, they’re quite adaptable.

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If buying a bar separately, also consider features: safety line length (does it accommodate your kite’s flag-out system?), swivel quality (to untwist lines), adjustable bar ends, floats, etc. But that’s another story, rest assured any bar we carry at Northern Watersports is safe and compatible with modern kites’ safety systems.

The Northern Watersports Take

We know, it can feel like a lot of tech talk. 

Our goal is to make it simple for you. If you’re unsure, reach out to us with what kite(s) you have and we’ll give you straight advice on the best bar and line setup. We fly this gear ourselves and have tried every combo under the sun. We won’t upsell you on something unnecessary, often the most cost-effective solution is just right. 

Check out our selection of bars and lines in the shop, you’ll see options from brands like Core, Airush, Cabrinha, Ozone etc. Each has slightly different ergonomics and features, but size-wise you can find what you need. 

In summary

If in doubt, go medium. 

Medium bar, standard lines, you can’t go far wrong. Fine-tune from there once you have more experience or specific goals. And when you’re ready to purchase, we’re here to help ensure you pick the perfect setup. 

After all, we use this gear too and there’s nothing we love more than gearing up a fellow kiter for success. 🤙 Need personal advice or want a deal on a bar+kite combo? Give us a bell at 0151 662 0318 or WhatsApp us for a chat. We’ll make sure you get exactly what you need.