How strong is Aluula? Aluula vs Dacron Load Test

[Toby]

In this video I pitted some lightweight Aluula "Gold" material against some Dimension Polyant Dacron in a head to head tensile load and tear propagation test. This test shows the strength and the weight of the new Aluula material compared to the standard Dacron materials typically used on kiteboarding kites.

The Aluula Gold is designed to be a lightweight and strong composite material used for building the air-frames of kiteboarding and kitesurfing kites that are traditionally made of heavier Dacron materials.

[jumptheshark]

Watched the whole thing. Nice version of what we have already been fed.

How about updates on production, availability and information on what design aspects of the Aluula production kites are different from the standard dacron ones.

Are there going to be Aluula bladders? Or is that idea gone?

How has production been affected by the current global situation?

I get that you want to feed the interest. The key to that is new information!

[mr_daruman]

Uh, so it's still slices/puntures as easily as dacron? Sharp shells/rocks, sandy reef beaches, all kinds of palm tree spikes...
It just doesn't rip open as easily...talk about a game changer.

[Havre]

Less ripping at half the weight is decent I would say.

[bryony]

I'll had high tech ultralight dyneema fabric hiking bags and they wear out and get holes super fast.

[PullStrings]

I'll had high tech ultralight dyneema fabric hiking bags and they wear out and get holes super fast.

Oh such irony
Foilholiokiteykitekitesheehan

[droffats]

[Greenturtle]

Thanks droffats, what did you think about turning reaction time/speed etc compared to the standard dacron version you are familiar with? overall thoughts? Of course you're a dealer but we want to hear it anyway.
Big difference with aluula version or what? Noticeable but not hugely different?

I love the 14.5 flite, it is easily the most nimble reactive fast kite of that size Ive ever flown. the difference I felt flying a 14m(roca) kite that was 2 lb (.9kg) heavier ... Only one word can describe- woof
Well this aluula version is supposedly 2.5 lb (1.1kg) lighter than the already light dacron 14.5 flite I own and love... if its the same kind of difference in performance that would be truly unreal.

[longwhitecloud]

impressive material properties.

Needs all testing after realtime & accelerated UV exposure test.

also test under heat eg @40-50-60C

elongation stretch test to see plastic/elastic deformation

the tear test should be a ripping tearing motion too otherwise you are using the initial strength of the material in the results - ie do a proper tear test this one was not good engineering

also needs a flex test - breakdown due to flapping.

A sew test - far less point in having super strong material if where it is sewn together - that breaks first. ultimately you can do exploding leading edge tests - fun...

an adhesion test - if double sided tape does not stick as well to it as dacron - strength of joint reduction.

an insect attack test - this is not a joke.... some polymer materials are chewed up by insects eg ants.


I think the last thing kiteboarding needs right now is even more expensive equipment but i like the engineering.

[Hugh2]

$2,500 is a premium of at least $1000, solely due to a new canopy material??? I think I'll wait and see how it holds up!