Ozone Strut Valves breaking after 1 year in tropical climate

[flybykite]

Couldn't find a thread specifically aimed at this topic but I've come to realize that this is an issue for many of us who live in tropical 30+ degree humid weather.
Ozone strut connection valves get brittle after about 1 year and crack while you're pumping up in the same place every time. This happened twice in a row to my 1 year old 7m Edge recently. This kite has been flown about 8 times and is just over a year old and outside the warranty. Now I feel like I have a kite I can't rely on unless I replace all the valves at a large cost. (The guy who fixed my kite showed me 2 more Ozone's currently in his shop with the exact problem and same age and told me it was a known issue)
I'm sure its not just an Ozone issue, I've read about other brands with similar issues but Really?
You'd think for the huge amount of money we pay, they'd have this crucial materials flaw worked out.

I'll write to Ozone about this also but (rolls eyes) I can't imagine they're not aware of this?

[downunder]

Yep, even tho have 3 Ozones, which are fragile as, decided to go with a foil R1. Now, what kind of design is NOT to have a stainless steel or even plastic zip on a foil? That expensive foil? Maybe a new R1 has it, but this one is a piece of rust. Not happy.

This tiny details make all the difference.

[mr_daruman]

I doubt many brands tests their kites in hot humid conditions...Which I wish they would..and realize how bad tubes/valves/glue resist.
For rentals Top Brand Inflatable SUPs dont last a year even in the shade so we switched back to hard & soft boards.
Id rather my kite be "tropical climate proof" than your standard "bullet proof".

[souloo]

Just have the same problem . Kite barely over one year . And all valves on 5 struts given up . Rly angry about it .

[souloo]

[FLandOBX]

Where are you guys storing your kites when not in use?

[souloo]

Nice and dry in a cupboard in house . With bag open so air can flow ...

[mattenzuchtig]

I bet you'd better had written to Ozone first, before putting it on the WWW, so at least they could react, if not reacting you still could put it on the www...I fear now you have put yourself in a challenging situation ...( politics in a lot of companies)

[Kamikuza]

For 5 years, I stored my gear in my car, all year round. None of those kites have this problem -- or any others.

#neverozone

[BillyGoatGruff]

Clear defect in my opinion. The goods need to meet the intended use under the sale of goods act, and this clearly fails. Contact Ozone and give them a chance to rectify this.