Do Kite Bags Suck?

[matth]

This one doesn't.

811cd6066915e79ca2f7c64f3a9ffeaa.jpg
Non metal zipper
Fits 14m (and larger kites easily)
Expandable size to take 2 large kites or gear
Place for pump
Place for bar
Accessory pocket
Backpack style straps
Carry handle
Solid build quality
Vented bottom panel

Yes..better than most, but it cost extra and the pump holder stinks..

[thewindego]

Core bags are really good. Plastic zips never broke one and nice protection to not pinch your kite when zipping. Pump and bar holder work well when backpacking. Kinda heavy at 1kg but bomb proof.

[Kitetwin-1]

IMO kite companies spend way to much providing me with a full back pack. I ride Cabrinha kites, awesome quality back packs but totally unnecessary. I put those back packs away completely unused until I sell the kites. Instead I use Dakine compression bags. They are light weight and take up less space. But hey that’s me.

[Faxie]

This one doesn't.

811cd6066915e79ca2f7c64f3a9ffeaa.jpg
Non metal zipper
Fits 14m (and larger kites easily)
Expandable size to take 2 large kites or gear
Place for pump
Place for bar
Accessory pocket
Backpack style straps
Carry handle
Solid build quality
Vented bottom panel

Yes..better than most, but it cost extra and the pump holder stinks..

There were a lot of people at the time asking for only a simple bag (like the guy above, doesn't use the backpack) and so Switch responded with the kites being shipped in a stringbag, making the backpack optional. Kept the initial price lower too, so win-win. It's a shame the backpack got more expensive over time, no way I would buy it at the current price. Used to be 40,- including taxes, now it's 66,- excluding taxes.

Pretty good bag though. Only minor complaints I have is that the pocket could be a bit bigger, and the shoulder straps shouldn't have the webbing... sand piles up behind it, so your bag is always leaving a sandtrace. Same for the webbing on the bottom, designed to let sand out, but in practice sand blows in when lying on the beach mostly. The pump velcro has never bothered me, just put the pump on it with the hose facing down, and guide the hose through the compression straps.

[Slappysan]

Another vote of confidence here in Ocean Rodeo's Sherpa bags, they are legit.

[Flyboy]

IMO kite companies spend way to much providing me with a full back pack. I ride Cabrinha kites, awesome quality back packs but totally unnecessary. I put those back packs away completely unused until I sell the kites. Instead I use Dakine compression bags. They are light weight and take up less space. But hey that’s me.

Yup - I totally agree. That's why Best nailed it with their stuff sacks ... however, they also shipped their kites with backpack style bags. As I have bought 6 or 7 Cabos over the last few years, I have 6 or 7 backpacks. I only use one. If I'm driving I pile the kites in the stuff sacks into the back of the car & bring one backpack to put bars, pump & a couple of kites in when I am walking to the launch. If I fly somewhere , same - I take the kites in the stuff sacks & one backpack to carry my gear to the beach.

The backpacks that came with some of my other kites - Liquid Force for instance - I don't use at all. They are very heavily built, hard to get the kites in & out & have no additional space for other equipment - a complete waste of the money they cost to manufacture.

[SolarSet]

Flysurfer soul.. for $2000+ would it kill them to add a strap so that I could carry the bag over the shoulder? Ended up buying a blue ikea bag with a zipper

FS is giving now bag and backpack to their kite. For 15m its not very easy to fit kite without compressing it but it is top quality.

got my 15m 2 months ago - no backpack.. can I reclaim it?
This is really a big deal to me, I usually have to walk 5-8 minutes to a launch spot with 2 boards (FB,TT) and a kite.. this only works seamless with a backpack..

Speak to your dealer i bought my soul 3 months ago and was told if backpack is not on time will send me it later but everything arrived together. Bought recently boost3 and backpack is even nicer
Also have new bar from FS and it comes in very nice cover as well

[bsmith24]

Hey guys! I created the survey so I wanted to pop in to answer any questions and encourage you guys to take it. Its really quick, average duration is 6-8 mins of your time, and done through Google Forms. I don't collect names or anything, and its totally anonymous, I've got no brand or corporate affiliation or anything, just a dude who fails way too often in his front-rolls. There's an email question at the end if you're interested in following along with it, but you can just leave it blank and submit the survey as is, totally optional.

Its so interesting to read everyone's thoughts on these bags, its really easy to get caught inside an echo chamber about what we think about something. Seeing all of these different opinions is really helpful to show how the simple answer for one problem doesn't really fix something for the next person, they might not have seen a problem in the first place. But the survey will be really helpful to help quantify where the pain points are for people, and what you would rank as more important, or what you wouldn't even notice if it changed.

I can't thank you guys enough for your enthusiasm, it's encouraging to see this thing debated!

https://forms.gle/rhVYReUMc83tpriE7

[deniska]

FS is giving now bag and backpack to their kite. For 15m its not very easy to fit kite without compressing it but it is top quality.

got my 15m 2 months ago - no backpack.. can I reclaim it?
This is really a big deal to me, I usually have to walk 5-8 minutes to a launch spot with 2 boards (FB,TT) and a kite.. this only works seamless with a backpack..

Speak to your dealer i bought my soul 3 months ago and was told if backpack is not on time will send me it later but everything arrived together. Bought recently boost3 and backpack is even nicer
Also have new bar from FS and it comes in very nice cover as well

I see that main FS site offers full featured bag for the soul but regional sites still have just the light bag:
http://flysurfer-usa.com/product/flysurfer-soul

Seems like that extra bag boosted the total price by ~$100.. maybe I'll continue using blue ikea bag with a zipper..

[Flyboy]

I see that main FS site offers full featured bag for the soul but regional sites still have just the light bag:
http://flysurfer-usa.com/product/flysurfer-soul

Seems like that extra bag boosted the total price by ~$100.. maybe I'll continue using blue ikea bag with a zipper..

I think it makes more sense for kites to be offered for sale (somewhat cheaper) without a backpack style bag. The buyer can then decide if they want to pay for a bag ... or choose one cheaper (almost certainly) from some other source that matches their needs.