Does anyone know of a stockist or representative for SOMA inflatable board bags? After extensive research online I keep coming up with only one supplier "SOMA" and it would appear as though they have cornered the market? I received (something like?) an automated reply from the States thanking me for my interest and that they do have an Aussie representative, but at present they are re-tooling and product testing so please be patient etc. Does anyone know of a local stockist or representative? Or of another brand currently available?

I read somewhere there is a SUP conversion kit available.

Basically you get a jigsaw and cut your SUP in half.

Then installing the specially made inserts and snaplock fittings enabling you to ride the board as per normal.

Easily able to throw your board in a Mazda 2 or any other hairdressers type small car.

Apparently they are made from titanium and will hold most overweight 50 somethings easily.

Just an option.

Nice Nobs...tongue in cheek comment from a kite surfer in his mid 40's. Here's a previous post on the bi-sec boards.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/2-Piece-Sups/

But those inflateable covers sound great ,off to Fiji next week with a crew and last year my boards got hammered in transit.

Yeah that's the one...

I wasn't kiddin or having a stab.. I remember seeing them about a while back.

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Piros said..

Nice Nobs...tongue in cheek comment from a kite surfer in his mid 40's. Here's a previous post on the bi-sec boards.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/2-Piece-Sups/

But those inflateable covers sound great ,off to Fiji next week with a crew and last year my boards got hammered in transit.

Thanks Nobs... don't think I'll be taking to any boards with a Jigsaw!? Nice visor tho... where can I score one just like it?

Stimo's DC Joker could be a candidate for those Titanium hinges?

Pool cover bubble wrap works well in an oversized bag, but heavy n time consuming!

Yeah just look for a stockist of inflatable SUPs.

Might be a stupid question, but wouldn't the change in air pressure & temperature whilst flying negate the benefits of an inflatable cover?

The way I see it is...

When air gets colder at altitude, its volume reduces, as the slower and smaller vibrations of the particles allows then to get closer together . So this alone would result in the cover appearing to deflate, exposing a risk to damages if the board or other objects surrounding it move around in the hold of the aircraft.
BUT
At the same time, the reduced atmospheric pressure at high altitude, reduces the density of the air outside the cover. If the density inside the cover is higher than on the outside, the resulting pressure inside the cover would be higher than outside and it would want to expand, potentially to the point where the differential pressure inside the cover is so great that the cover pops?

Anyone happen to know which force is stronger? Or do they nicely balance each other out?

In theory, I like the concept of having an inflatable cover to travel with (it cold save a lot of time and effort compared to cutting up pool noodles and taping taping then the around the board to protect it) but i'mjust trying to figure out if it could actually work in planes?

And probably more importanty, are here any regulations or restrictions for the carriage of inflatable/inflated luggage items on planes?

Thanks for their input everyone!

Since posting this request for info on SOMA I've since read a few more forum articles, one guy was Bagging the Soma Bags but not for increased air pressure as Ali pointed out, but for pierced tubes in transit and having to repair them on the run

I'm about to make a start on Ali Cat's brilliant POOL NOODLE concept... if it works out I'll post some evidence.

Cheers

Gordon.

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Gosup said..

Piros said..

Nice Nobs...tongue in cheek comment from a kite surfer in his mid 40's. Here's a previous post on the bi-sec boards.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/2-Piece-Sups/

But those inflateable covers sound great ,off to Fiji next week with a crew and last year my boards got hammered in transit.

Thanks Nobs... don't think I'll be taking to any boards with a Jigsaw!? Nice visor tho... where can I score one just like it?

Stimo's DC Joker could be a candidate for those Titanium hinges?

Pool cover bubble wrap works well in an oversized bag, but heavy n time consuming!

No need for hinges







Sorry about photo angle bloody I phone any tips on that would be great