Hey guys just wondering if anyone can suggest any good quality kite bags that are practical and LAST for those that travel by air ALOT?
I will be travelling ALOT and want to be able to carry one board andup to 3 kites including all gear harness/bars/lines/pumps/wetsuits etc. I need something that can protect all gear without having the board fins cutting through anything in the bag?
unscrew the board fins?
ive a naish double bag + backpack straps ~130cm thats done pretty well and seen a few trips
I've got a best golf bag. Done a couple of trips, been really good. Only thing is I didn't fool one of the Qantas chicks, $50 excess luggage. But that's only one in about 6.
Good size, holds my 142 comfortably, no probs with leaving the fins in (turn the board upside down so the fins put into the kites, they just move around the fins - i put a towel between the board and kites just to be sure tho 
)
Hey guys thanks for the prompt responses.
Jan unscrewing the board fins would be the proper way to do it but the trouble is that I travel ALOT I could be kiting at Dolls Point one afternoon and then be trying kite Yorkeys up in Cairns the next day. It's possible that that there maybe times when my kite isn't able to completely dry and have to be stowed a bit damp. Basically unscrewing the fins could just become a very repetitive and time inconvenient.
I am not too concerned with the excess luggage as I work in the airline industry and dont pay for my luggage and I know my way around. But the biggest concern is having a bag that will actually LAST and a bag that can do the job. I have had Samsonite Oyster and Samsonite Epsilon suitcases which are top of the range and even then I can go through about one of those a year form all the wear and tear.
That Best golf bag sounds alright though.
Has anyone tried any of the Naish rolling kite bags?
dakine BTS kite travel bag. black in colour, so wo't get dirty when travelling and has a top compatment that can unclip. turning it into 2 bags if needeed. heavy duty wheels. check them out at www.dakine.com i have used mine to go over east twice and i easily fit my 4 kites in (taken out of their kite bag) harness, bars,pump and my kiteboard. also wetsuits etc.
quote:
Originally posted by qfmike737
Hey guys thanks for the prompt responses.
Jan unscrewing the board fins would be the proper way to do it but the trouble is that I travel ALOT I could be kiting at Dolls Point one afternoon and then be trying kite Yorkeys up in Cairns the next day. It's possible that that there maybe times when my kite isn't able to completely dry and have to be stowed a bit damp. Basically unscrewing the fins could just become a very repetitive and time inconvenient.
That Dakine Bag looks pretty practical thanks for that.
Jan you are right about the Lazy bit but Im thinking its probably not the most practical& effecient way to go about things. In some situations I will not have to check the kite bag in and Ill be stowing the bag within the aircraft cabin. This is really convenient if you travel alot and it cuts down on time wasted hanging around airports/lost/damaged luggage etc. Unfortunately screwdrivers cannot be brought into the cabin.
I am thinking of making a custom design foam padding to stick over each end of the board to provide a cushioning barrier inside the bag. Taking them on and off would be far more easier then screwing and unscrewing the fins.
All that is needed now is a bag that can do the job.
just get a couple of bits of polystyrene and jam your fins into it. as long as the polystyrene is thicker than your fins are sweet. doesnt have to look fancy and you can get off cuts from foam wholesalers.
Im suprised that with all the crap happening lately the new 2005 bags dont all come with locks or loops to lock all the compartments!!! It's a shame really there because there are some great designs.
*if you print your own label and print 'crew' design the tag with white and blue stripes the baggage handlers think you are airline operating crew and more likely to pay a little more attention ro your luggage*
I've had my Cabrinha roller bag for 3 years & travelled a lot (5 continents and 4 states in Oz) with it. Still going strong. I have a friend with the same bag and his is still good too. My only criticism is it is not superlight but if it was it probably would have fallen apart by now. The things that make it a good bag are:
Plastic zip.
Padding all around (some bags have no padding on top)
Good rollers and roller housings.
Not too big. The airush cheesebugers are ridiculously big unless you are carrying cadavers.
Stiffening in the lower half of the bag - to stop it dragging on the ground. The board on its own won't stop this.
These are the things to look for.
If you don't want to take the fins off then you can either change to long low fins like the RFC Cobe fins or you can make fin covers out of hard foam from Clark Rubber (there is one in Mascot or Botany). Take a piece as wide as your board and cut fin slots into it.
On the subject of locking bags - I am against this. If you and your bag end up on seperate flights internationally, customs/security will search your bag before it goes on a flight (at least in some countries). Better to use brightly coloured cable ties that let you see if your bag has been tampered with if they are missing but won't damage the zips if entry is required by security.
Can you explain the crew label more clearly?
I wont be doing much international travelling nowdays when i travel domestically id never worry about locking up my bags anyway. If I am carrying anything really valuable I have it with me as carry on luggage in the cabin.
The crew tag is another label which indicates priority luggage. If it says 'CREW' on it then they think it's either operating or passengering crew going on that particular flight. They know that it's is very important to have the Captains luggage going on the flight because he could be away for 4 days or more etc. Each day away he could be operating a shuttle flight during those 4 days. Hence he would need at least 4 seperate uniforms. He cannot operate without the uniforms and the baggage handlers pay extra attention to luggage labeled with 'CREW'.
Well to be honest they can definately read but whether they decide to take notice is a different story. Unfortunate more and more management and cost cutting has meant there are many extra pressures for cost effeciency which causes 'cutting corners'.
If you know the right people you can carry the bag in the cabin and have it stowed in certain lockers on some aircraft.
