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Background: I never built a functioning kite (I had a few attempts, as a child), I never successfully raised a kite (no stable wind with enough force when a ready-made kite was available).

Current situation: I had an idea to finally build a working kite, BUT also to be able to raise it as high as possible - maybe several kilometers?

Question: what kind of rope is thin enough and also strong enough to make my plan successful?

I guess that for low heights, strength is not an issue, but for my plan, the situation is different. On the internet I found information more about the kite itself, and about how to tie the knots, rather than the better materials to be used.

Of course, I have in mind also the volume and the weight of the said rope, since I will have to transport it somehow.

Other related questions here and here.

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    I would look at fishing line. It is light in weight, available in different strengths and in huge spools, particularly for big game fishing, which requires serious line lengths. The hardware for game fishing might also address your related question on managing the line. Posting this as a comment because I'm not a kite flyer or fisherman, and have no hands-on experience.
    – fixer1234
    Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 23:08
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    I'd like to issue a warning that if your kite will be a big and flying as high as it sounds, you absolutely need to anchor it to the ground. There are some commercial display kites that are required to be anchored to a car of a minimum weight (like an SUV). Please keep your own safety in mind.
    – Elmy ♦
    Commented Sep 24, 2020 at 6:18
  • @fixer1234: for a first draft, I will try fishing line. Most likely, ordinary fishing line, not the one suitable for whale fishing (ignoring that whales are not fish). Maybe even the fishing reeling "system".
    – virolino
    Commented Sep 24, 2020 at 6:46
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    You do realise that the world record for altitude gained by a single kite is under 5km? And it was set on a wide-open, nicely flat 50km^2 ranch where there was no chance of losing control and hitting someone with a kite moving at 100km/h? This seems a bit of a big ask for a self-confessed novice.
    – Gwyn
    Commented Jan 6, 2021 at 15:04
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    @rebusB Most places a line of more than 50m is actually illegal, certainly anywhere where you're likely to encounter "intelligent fliers" as mentioned in one of the related questions....
    – Gwyn
    Commented Jan 6, 2021 at 18:45

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Kite string is a product. It is designed to be strong and light to enable kites to fly under optimum conditions. For ordinary kites, ordinary kite string is sufficient.

High performance kites (large lift capability, stunt/performing kites) require higher breaking strength while retaining light weight.

Spectra line is constructed of high density polyethylene and is quite light and strong. I have used 1 mm thick x 2 mm wide Spectra line which had a breaking strength of 700 pounds. Another feature of this type of line is that it has very low stretch.

In the case of multi-line stunt kites, it's critical to have the lines remain at a specific length in flight. Spectra does this well.

Spectra is a brand name and the product can be found under other names.

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    Before I asked the questions, and before I read your answers, I did not even know how / what to search on the net regarding the subject of kites. I made a short search on Amazon, and I did not find the monster string you described. What length does is it have? I am curious. I will keep searching. I am not in the US, btw.
    – virolino
    Commented Sep 24, 2020 at 6:24

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