Pro and cons for either folding or rolling your kites after use.Have a few new kites and am wondering what method would be better for your kite.Have used mainly rolling from both ends for a long while now.

Rolling is good... combined with a Best kite type long bag even better.
No further folding required.

A lot of creasing on struts are caused by folding your kite to fit into the back pack bag.

I roll my kites strapless

I did a write up for KA about a year ago, where I expressed my opinion, that you should try and minimalise folds. As well as avoiding prolonged salt water on canopy and sand, as they are both abrasives. My 2 cents any way. The worst kites that come into my shop always show signs of salt water being left on the canopy and scrunchers! DONT BE A SCRUNCHER! some people, love to just smash a kite into a bag as though iys a compact sleeping bag. it isnt!

Fold at first strut then roll to centre.
if no first strut then thereabouts.
rolling from tip tends to pull bladder from tip and leave a void which can pop.
mind you I worked that out about 2002 and never had a problem since so never went back to check if still necessary.

Deflate with struts still inflated , fold in half and roll from end struts to centre, then store in a cotton kite bag.(absorbs any moisture )
Some of my kites are still good after 10 years of this rolling style procedure.

Overall I think there's not a lot of difference between rolling and folding. If you loosely roll the kite then fold it to put it in the bag, then those loose rolls get squashed flat and you end up with folds anyway.

I think very tight rolling is a mistake because you will have to stress the fabric to fold it so it goes in the bag.

The best would be to loosely roll the kites and store them in long sausage bags. You might as well go windsurfing if you're going to do that.

I have three 7 year old kites. Two are ragged out from simple use with hundreds of hours each. One is in pristine condition. None of them show any signs of damage from rolling, folding, storing in the bag.

I do always dry my kites before putting them away and have a rack hanging from the garage for gear drying. I would much rather take a clean wet kite than a sandy one.

How do I fold or roll my kite bag to stop this happening???

I've normally loosely rolled at beach. Then if still sandy either pumped up again hosed of and lapped over a 50mm plastic pipe,pulled up with pulleys and ropes either end.Thats if there's **** loads of sand on them.
Otherwise if wet just hang up over night.
Then loosely roll up and into bag.
Just had a opinion recently regards folding being better than rolling.
I am not convinced!!:)

Yeah, I think these days the kites will be killed by UV and just plain bagged out long before the way you pack them becomes an issue.

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jeff2 said..
Deflate with struts still inflated , fold in half and roll from end struts to centre, then store in a cotton kite bag.(absorbs any moisture )
Some of my kites are still good after 10 years of this rolling style procedure.

I dare you to take those kites in those kiddy pyjama sacks to your local and not get a rock thrown at you.

Yes definitely agree salt ,sand
folding or rolling up wet will damage your kites.
Stuffing or scrunching your kite into a bag like a sleeping bag will kill it even faster.
Kites are worth big bucks,& it definitely pays to look after them especially if you want a decent resale price.
And Ralin sorry mate that kite bag is cactus.??

Rolling is the way to go i have a kite that has been folded in the same spot many times (strut) and it has torn from the repetitive folding

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LeighMajor said..
Yes definitely agree salt ,sand
folding or rolling up wet will damage your kites.
Stuffing or scrunching your kite into a bag like a sleeping bag will kill it even faster.
Kites are worth big bucks,& it definitely pays to look after them especially if you want a decent resale price.
And Ralin sorry mate that kite bag is cactus.??

That's what happens when you take up foiling.
the now big and cumbersome kites get left in back of ute and the UV turns the bag to dust.

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RAL INN said..

LeighMajor said..
Yes definitely agree salt ,sand
folding or rolling up wet will damage your kites.
Stuffing or scrunching your kite into a bag like a sleeping bag will kill it even faster.
Kites are worth big bucks,& it definitely pays to look after them especially if you want a decent resale price.
And Ralin sorry mate that kite bag is cactus.??

That's what happens when you take up foiling.
the now big and cumbersome kites get left in back of ute and the UV turns the bag to dust.

... I bet the zips still work,,,, I know this because it isn't a north bag!!

I guess even rolled up kites end up folded once in the bag, to keep the rolled shape you would probably need it wrap/ roll it around a hard tube or pipe.

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Puetz said..

RAL INN said..

LeighMajor said..
Yes definitely agree salt ,sand
folding or rolling up wet will damage your kites.
Stuffing or scrunching your kite into a bag like a sleeping bag will kill it even faster.
Kites are worth big bucks,& it definitely pays to look after them especially if you want a decent resale price.
And Ralin sorry mate that kite bag is cactus.??

That's what happens when you take up foiling.
the now big and cumbersome kites get left in back of ute and the UV turns the bag to dust.

... I bet the zips still work,,,, I know this because it isn't a north bag!!

Just had to check and yes the zipper is fine, even the Velcro.

I'm a loose folder. Aim for a different fold each time. 2012 Kites to my amazement still going strong!

Yep if your going to fold aiming for a different fold position would reduce the canopy material having a memory of being folded in the same position each time.
Will try that mate.
Suppose a compromise between folding or rolling.
My wife reckons there's still housework to be done.arrrh!

Yep. I was using the best bags for ages with loose roll. You will keep them crisp for much longer!

Do not fold your kites!!!!

I like my kites like I like my toilet paper..... 3 ply, embossed, scented

Go the extra mile to Quadtex