Has anyone come up with a solution for this:

They're barely a year old and cost a fortune. The last ones lasted seven years before I had to replace them. The board has been magic regardless of the flogging it's copped but these replacements, whilst pretty functional, are disintegrating at a rate of knots.

I'm thinking that perhaps a saddlery may be able to stitch a more endurable material over the padding.

Ideas?

With wings, might add an extra meter or too on the WOO

Looks like the crumbling neoprene may continue to shed bits inside of whatever you cover it with. However, I did some footstraps with a smooth ripstop material (old kite canopy cloth would suit) glued on to the neoprene with All Clear sealant, plus hand-stitched around the edges. Still going strong years later, but they weren't as bad as this.

Thanks. I was thinking along those lines but stitching is not in my skill set. However I know someone's sandwich maker who could do it

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japie said..
Thanks. I was thinking along those lines but stitching is not in my skill set. However I know someone's sandwich maker who could do it

Good luck with the sandwich maker... maybe a case of finding the appropriate bribe? Just a little sealant on that neoprene should help in positioning the ripstop, stretching it into position to avoid any wrinkles, but don't put it right to the edges where you need to stitch it or it'll gum up the needle. Trim the edges just a little bit past where it'll be stitched to the original trim, turn the surplus edge under and stitch the fold onto the trim. Should outlast the original surface, easily.

I'd be tempted to go back to shop and see if they can come up with solution? Seems not fit for purpose if they are that rooted after 1 year. Also, for the sake of saving the rest of us the same problem, what brand and model are they?

I have Dakine Vario straps. The edges have shredded like yours, but the board has over 600 hours on it. The straps still work fine.

I think the Vario and Core Contour are basically the same straps. You buy them in sets of 2 or 3 at about $30 per strap with the anti-twist fitting.

If you have an old wetsuit peal top layer of cloth from neoprene then glue it with stormsure/aquasure glue. Use baking paper (put it over and spread cloth evenly with your fingers) to ensure that surface is flat with no wrinkles and lastly wrap it all preferably with stretchy band of some kind for better bonding. Leave it at for about 12 hours. Unwrap band ant gently peal off paper trim exras of cloth and give it another 12 hours before use. Enjoy after :)

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japie said..
Has anyone come up with a solution for this:

They're barely a year old and cost a fortune. The last ones lasted seven years before I had to replace them. The board has been magic regardless of the flogging it's copped but these replacements, whilst pretty functional, are disintegrating at a rate of knots.

I'm thinking that perhaps a saddlery may be able to stitch a more endurable material over the padding.

Ideas?

What is your definition of a fortune? If you really need to repair as opposed to replace your idea of restitching via a saddlery or perhaps a upholstery/body trimmer with better material will likely be most durable. I cant imagine that that would be cheaper than replacing them however. I had Shinn straps which failed after less than a couple of seasons. In replaced them with some straps I got from Switch Kites which were $200. They are super comfortable and have lasted 4 seasons with zero sign of wear. Their V4 version look the goods.

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Chris_M said..
I'd be tempted to go back to shop and see if they can come up with solution? Seems not fit for purpose if they are that rooted after 1 year. Also, for the sake of saving the rest of us the same problem, what brand and model are they?

Crazyfly

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snalberski said..

japie said..
Has anyone come up with a solution for this:

They're barely a year old and cost a fortune. The last ones lasted seven years before I had to replace them. The board has been magic regardless of the flogging it's copped but these replacements, whilst pretty functional, are disintegrating at a rate of knots.

I'm thinking that perhaps a saddlery may be able to stitch a more endurable material over the padding.

Ideas?

What is your definition of a fortune? If you really need to repair as opposed to replace your idea of restitching via a saddlery or perhaps a upholstery/body trimmer with better material will likely be most durable. I cant imagine that that would be cheaper than replacing them however. I had Shinn straps which failed after less than a couple of seasons. In replaced them with some straps I got from Switch Kites which were $200. They are super comfortable and have lasted 4 seasons with zero sign of wear. Their V4 version look the goods.

$200 from memory

Hey japie yesterday a local showed me his solution to the same problem you have.... he simply cut the shin/arm sections from an old wetsuit and slid them over the worn out strap. He reckons they are now the most comfortable straps he has ever had.