Postby jumptheshark » Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:41 pm
If you don't have stairs to contend with, wheels makes sense. A wagon like above or I've seen people adapt a dolly or a Golf hand cart with a strap or two. A onewheel to make three trips more fun!
Definitely agree that its hilarious to see how much gear people, not necessarily you OP, but kiters in general cart to the launch!
To the OP, I empathize, I don't really have a long walk or anything, but I would love to be able to carry all my kit to and from the car from its spot at home in one go. I have my stuff down to a minimum. It all fits in the back of a VW without the seats down, but I still can't carry it all. Have it down to a med size rubber tub with handles that takes harness, wetsuit, shoes, helmet, vest, and any other clothing type stuff. I use one of the better backpack style kite bags in my collection with all my current kites/bars in it and my foil/board which is either super cumbersome assembled, or three piece and just as cumbersome but packable when taken apart. I opt to dismantle it barring a killer forecast of sustained wind. I only have a short trip to hand transport, but its pretty much always two trips and I bet that could be improved. Gotta figure a way to strap my three pieces of board/foil to the backpack..... yeah, but then its impossible to get through doors etc without clanging your shit off of stuff. Yeah, I empathize. At this point, its two trips, every time!
To the topic itself....
There are definitely duelling philosophies, and neither one is gonna be the best option every time out. I eat it sometimes on the walking, but its generally very lightly loaded. I leave nothing on the beach, and walk to the launch with only what is going on the water. Leaves me open to exits beyond the launch which can be really handy. Leaves nothing on the beach unattended which can be really handy, but can see you doing an extra trip, or two for rigging up or down or water or what have you. I eat that pretty happily in the name of a bit of exercise as its generally unencumbered and a quick trip. This approach is mostly cultivated out of necessity as I often ride alone and can't rely on numbers for any degree of theft protection.
The other side are the people who bring it all. Sunscreen, water, snacks, wife, another kite, every board in their quiver, its all there. One big pack mule migration and you install yourself at the launch. Great for most as there is a social scene and they are petty much never the only kiter there. Great if you have family along for slave labor. Great if you have hours for your session and are essentially spending the day. At the beach and there are always four or five fortresses of pumped kite encampments. Some never leave the sand, some never clear the break, but it's all there at the ready for 15-30 knots, even it its only blowing 13! I guess I respect the sense of commitment, but am glad to keep it light.
Kiting has a pretty nerdy side too, so we are almost all gear hounds. Sometimes it looks like people have just as much fun waiting for wind while standing around a bunch of boards in the sand than out working their tail off to hold ground riding. In fact there are often nothing but big grins on land, but only stern faces on the water itself. We are funny!
I can't help but think there is one single piece of gear responsible for the development of the more common pack mule approach. The piece you need but can't take on the water! The pump. Kind of commits you to a base camp.
Last edited by
jumptheshark on Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.