Just want to put this out there. In light of the move away from single use plastics why are we still making pumps that are easily damaged by sand and which cannot be refurfbished? The cylinder of the pump is an easily damaged plastic, sand scratched the bore or inside of the cylinder and also the area around the handle wears and leaks air to the point where they really only pump one way.

Surely there is a way to make the pumps with either a replaceable cylinder liner, or from a material that is much harder and will last a long time and also make the piston ring available as a spare part and also a fully sealed and more durable top part where the pump shaft slides through.

Surely its time to move on from such a disposable and wasteful way of inflating our kites?

WMFG pumps.
All other brands use there designs.
That's why all brand pumps have same handles. Liquid Force offer 3 types of pump up to 3 litre model.
But WMFG lasts way longer imo.
Had zero problems in 3 yrs and just been bought out so can you can buy online again.
But that's just my crap opinion yet again lol.

Pumps are the least of my concerns when it comes to plastic waste as the pumps get used.

What about all the plastic wrapping on new kites and boards?

Duotone now package their boards with just cardboard. It would be great to see my ozone kites without any plastic wrapping. That is more likely to end up in the ocean than a pump.

My only complaint about modern kite pumps is that the silicone seals wear out and you can't buy replacements.

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Alysum said..
Pumps are the least of my concerns when it comes to plastic waste as the pumps get used.

What about all the plastic wrapping on new kites and boards?

Duotone now package their boards with just cardboard. It would be great to see my ozone kites without any plastic wrapping. That is more likely to end up in the ocean than a pump.

Duotone surfboards last year were lucky to last a few decent sessions, couple of locals use them for one session,
So single use surfboards, they need to be more sustainable

When we were at school I used to have ideas thinking... Wouldn't it be great if we were all born with leads sticking out of us so we didn't have to carry about headphone leads.. Or maybe there's a short radio transmission signal for transferring sound and music..... This was in tech class..
... A few years later bluetooth was born... If we'd patented it back then I would have been 'Mr bluetooth' ..
... Life sucks sometimes... And so do some pumps... .. And what about the turtles eating all those lost extra kite nozzles and valves cabrinha duotone etc..
Spoken like a true greenie....

Best regards.. From the very close inventor and patenter of bluetooth..

If someone come up with a small 0.5L - 1L scuba cylinder with regulater at 200-300bar... 150L- 300L
Average kite is about 50L
estimated.

Use current existing kite hoses and fittings.

The regulater on it stops releasing air at 8 psi... so it's idiot proof.

Hold enough cubic feet to offer 1-3 inflations or so .
That way it could cater for various sized kites and CF needs.

It would be smaller than regular pump and fit in the same pocket on your backpack.

Re useable and you could always have a 3.0l pump in the van as back up.

Hmmmmm, my only complaint is the price. $70 seriously!

Compressor supplied and serviced by the circus clowns aka politicians.

Problem solved.

My North pump silicon seal went. I replaced it with a plastic washer from Bunnings. Leaks a little bit, but does the job.

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Greenarrowz said..
If someone come up with a small 0.5L - 1L scuba cylinder with regulater at 200-300bar... 150L- 300L
Average kite is about 50L
estimated.

Use current existing kite hoses and fittings.

The regulater on it stops releasing air at 8 psi... so it's idiot proof.

Hold enough cubic feet to offer 1-3 inflations or so .
That way it could cater for various sized kites and CF needs.

It would be smaller than regular pump and fit in the same pocket on your backpack.

Re useable and you could always have a 3.0l pump in the van as back up.

Been tried IIRC, wasn't successful. Even compressors are a bit Meh in my opinion, still need to finish with a pump very and takes longer.

I ended up with a electric pump. Island pump or whatever they sticker them up as. It's over 5 year's old and only needed a battery @ 32 buck's from jaycar. It's paid for itself now as most hand pumps are lucky too last a season before the valves don't work or the shaft seal goes.. And I don't ever get a sore back now from those nasty things!

I don't know what pumps are you guys using but I've got really old Cabrinha pump that is at least 4 years old and I have no problems with it whatsoever. I don't even care to cover it from the sand after finished pumping... I only needed to replace the hose after it started leaking everywhere.

You're either exaggerating the problem or I was really lucky with my pump...

We live in a throwaway plastic society but as we pay excess prices for kitegear so we tend to make things last longer and take care of them

Well taken care of pumps should last a fair amount of time but who can be bothered cleaning them out, regreasing etc then replacing the pipe (and the rubbers wear out anyway)

Having got sick of pumps failing on me my electric pump now has lasted several years (over 300 sessions) without issue so probably saved me 3-4 pumps over the years so has easily paid for itself.

Still have an ordinary pump for smaller kites and/or when there is a long walk (or cannot carry inflated kite) to beach

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Fly on da wall said..
I ended up with a electric pump. Island pump or whatever they sticker them up as. It's over 5 year's old and only needed a battery @ 32 buck's from jaycar. It's paid for itself now as most hand pumps are lucky too last a season before the valves don't work or the shaft seal goes.. And I don't ever get a sore back now from those nasty things!

+1 And as your pump is doing its work, you can go get suited up

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cauncy said..

Alysum said..
Pumps are the least of my concerns when it comes to plastic waste as the pumps get used.

What about all the plastic wrapping on new kites and boards?

Duotone now package their boards with just cardboard. It would be great to see my ozone kites without any plastic wrapping. That is more likely to end up in the ocean than a pump.

Duotone surfboards last year were lucky to last a few decent sessions, couple of locals use them for one session,
So single use surfboards, they need to be more sustainable

No issues with my Duotone Whip CSC....

I've got a green North pump few years old, main piston seal is getting well and truly passed its use by date. Does anyone know if you can buy these as a replaceable part, looks easy enough to change out if you could get your hands on one.

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Alysum said..

cauncy said..

Alysum said..
Pumps are the least of my concerns when it comes to plastic waste as the pumps get used.

What about all the plastic wrapping on new kites and boards?

Duotone now package their boards with just cardboard. It would be great to see my ozone kites without any plastic wrapping. That is more likely to end up in the ocean than a pump.

Duotone surfboards last year were lucky to last a few decent sessions, couple of locals use them for one session,
So single use surfboards, they need to be more sustainable

No issues with my Duotone Whip CSC....

Gotta agree, my 2018 pro whip csc has taken a battering and only showing slight heel dents. Far more resilient than any of my surfboards, PU or Epoxy.

Nope mine either....

Geeze, I have an Ozone pump that's going on 4 years now and it still fine. I have had to clean it out and respray with silicone twice in that time. We have the finest sand in the world here, it is almost impossible to avoid getting in the pump at some stage, but an hour on the workbench and the pump is good to go again. Let's focus on plastic water bottles instead. THOSE should be banned.

I agree, there are areas of life where we waste tons of plastic but I don't think kitesurfing is one of them. 1 pump for all your kites, even if you change it every couple of years, isn't really an issue and reducing it won't save the planet. It's not like kitesurfing pumps are floating among other garbage in the ocean

Can someone draw up a map of australian kite beaches where pumps are used so we can name and shame them ? And avoid going there . Also, there should be a national No Pump Day so all kiters can take a stand against pumps which is an environmental dilemma . We should all turn up at the beach that day and not pump up and keep hydrated by drinking out of our plastic water bottle.

First world problem that isn't a problem.

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salvatore13 said..
I don't know what pumps are you guys using but I've got really old Cabrinha pump that is at least 4 years old and I have no problems with it whatsoever. I don't even care to cover it from the sand after finished pumping... I only needed to replace the hose after it started leaking everywhere.

You're either exaggerating the problem or I was really lucky with my pump...

Totally agree. A pump easily lasts me 4 to five seasons. Then I just pull it apart and put the plastic tube in the recycle bin. there was a similar discussion about kite bags not lasting. FFS look after your gear.

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2stubborn2quit said..

salvatore13 said..
I don't know what pumps are you guys using but I've got really old Cabrinha pump that is at least 4 years old and I have no problems with it whatsoever. I don't even care to cover it from the sand after finished pumping... I only needed to replace the hose after it started leaking everywhere.

You're either exaggerating the problem or I was really lucky with my pump...

Totally agree. A pump easily lasts me 4 to five seasons. Then I just pull it apart and put the plastic tube in the recycle bin. there was a similar discussion about kite bags not lasting. FFS look after your gear.

Clearly, you're not a superhero who kites everyday and pumps up dozens of kites every session.

/sarcasm

I pump my ute spare up to 45 psi, inflates an 11 and 9 with a bit left.

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Surfer62 said..
I pump my ute spare up to 45 psi, inflates an 11 and 9 with a bit left.

Yes!!! You're the winner. It may have been coal that made the power to run the compressor at the servo to pump up the spare. But I don't give a, you're still the winner in my eyes.

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oldbones said..

Surfer62 said..
I pump my ute spare up to 45 psi, inflates an 11 and 9 with a bit left.

Yes!!! You're the winner. It may have been coal that made the power to run the compressor at the servo to pump up the spare. But I don't give a, you're still the winner in my eyes.

Actually pump the tyre up with a small compressor powered from my solar powered second battery in the rear, I like to be carbon neutral

what about all the precious compressed air when you release the valve?

The only use I have found is wait for a peleton of cyclists to go past then.... PPPsssssssssssssssssTTT!

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Peahi said..
what about all the precious compressed air when you release the valve?

The only use I have found is wait for a peleton of cyclists to go past then.... PPPsssssssssssssssssTTT!

LOL yeah, we should use the released air to pump balloons and sell them to 8 years old!

I cried last year when I finally had to throw out my ~ approx. 15 yo Wikipa kite pump. To me this is not like "single use plastic" or flaring TJ worth of gas in middle east oil projects...