Hi Shawn
Probably like you, I wanted a kite for lighter wind days to maximise time on the water. Not knowing much about the sport I took the advice of hangtime kiteshop in Fleetwood & ended up with a 14m Blade Vertigo
http://www.bladekites.com/vertigo.php, as i’ve never used anything else I can’t tell you how it compares to others but I learnt on it & it works for me. Others who’ve tried it on the beach say it’s got good depower & on occasions I’ve managed to self-launch ok. What’s more it was comparatively good value.
Despite what some kiters have said to me, I won’t be giving up the windsurfing for kiting but it does add another dimension to ‘playtime’ & is a blast on those more marginally windy days
Cheers. Rich.