I need to replace a strut bladder and have seen these tuff bladders, just wondering does the diameter make any difference they only come in different lengths with no diameter option. Also the existing bladder is not straight it has a angle change in it would this matter?

I know a couple of people who tried them. They wasted money as they're very thin and not the correct shape so ended up getting the right bladder as well as going through the process of trying them and buying a valve to put on it.. Cheaper to get the right bladder or repair the original.

Doonut. I have a freakin s#!t load of bladders I have removed from kites as they died on me over the years before dumping the worthless carcass. Varied sizes from kn huge to itsy bitsy tiny. If yer stuck I'll gladly hunt one out of the bunch for ya. Post a template of the bladder you need if ya live far away and I reckon I'll get you as close a match as you'll ever need. No charge either dude .

^^^ what a lovely chap

Flick me your address
might not fit your kite
but the missus will thank you

Sounds like I need to get an original replacement then, I was a bit suss that one size would fit all.

It's a bladder, if your valve lines up with excess either side it'll inflate into your strut,
the strut will retain the bladder , I used to tie knots in my bladder on struts and Le wing tips to eliminate leaks, the bladder would just fill the void, Le bladders certainly need to be more exact due to valve placements

Yeah, fix my kite.com.au have all the valves and bladders I would need, just noticed that the original has a deliberate shape to it and the strut is a smaller diameter also. Surly the local shop could get spare bladders?

You're right.
And please stop calling me Shirley!

Tuff bladders are only what I use for when replacing any strut or LE. They are slightly thicker than original bladders, and I believe they are the exact same bladder on practically all kites from 2010 onwards. Older kites used very thin bladders. So a Tuff bladder is ok, but get the right size or slightly over. Excess bladder can be folded into the end of the strut.

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NorthernKitesAUS said..
Tuff bladders are only what I use for when replacing any strut or LE. They are slightly thicker than original bladders, and I believe they are the exact same bladder on practically all kites from 2010 onwards. Older kites used very thin bladders. So a Tuff bladder is ok, but get the right size or slightly over. Excess bladder can be folded into the end of the strut.

bladder thickness ranges from brand to brand. Higher end brands tend to use thinner lightweight bladders as they reduce the overall weight of the kite and preform better. a bindy will put a hole in a thick bladder or a light bladder regardless so a thinner bladder isnt much of an issue unless you handle it like a monkey on install.

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doonut said..
Yeah, fix my kite.com.au have all the valves and bladders I would need, just noticed that the original has a deliberate shape to it and the strut is a smaller diameter also. Surly the local shop could get spare bladders?

the deliberate shape wont matter. I large bladder will fit inside a thin strut but not the other way around. Bladders do stretch alot but may not stretch to some requirements.

Tried 2 types,both were NOT worth the extra money and didnt seem any different.

I can make any size and shape bladder you want here in WA but unless it's completely missing there's no need to replace them as I've never seen one that can't be repaired by plastic welding

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Fly on da wall said..
I know a couple of people who tried them. They wasted money as they're very thin and not the correct shape so ended up getting the right bladder as well as going through the process of trying them and buying a valve to put on it.. Cheaper to get the right bladder or repair the original.

The correct shape?? Bladders don't need to be any shape. All they need to do is expand into the void.
They are thinner because they are a different material than your factory bladder. They are also considerably lighter than the factory bladder. It's usually cheaper and easier to get an original but this usually isn't an option on an older kite.