I was looking at the X3 kite bag this morning to see what its all about and it looks to me like it's just the space saver bag you see on tv for clothes and beddings. I'm gonna order one of the space bags and try it out on my kites.

Here's the X3 product:

http://www.modernfuelproducts.com/product/compression-bags/x...

You can get the same thing at Amazon under the "Space Bag" name for a lot cheaper:

http://www.amazon.com/Space-Bag-BR-95903-Organizer-contains/...

Indeed, "what you pay for" here is a nozzle to mate your standard kite pump to the vaccum-bag.

Smart person who brought the product to market. Tiny revision on current item. No r&d cost.

I was wondering what type of adaptor you get with the regular "space bags"? The kite pump is a standard pump. I was gonna order the Space Bag and see what adaptors they have and if the kite pump would work. If not, I have a car vacuum that should work fine with the space bags.

Hmmmm.... maybe it's just me. I was always told to soft roll kites and minimize creases. The assertion being that where creases exist there is more wear on the sail coating and the canopy.

Seems like creases are what the space bag is all about.

If the kites aren't pristing when they go in the bag, you have sand or debris abrading against the canopy under pressure.

:puzzled: Not sure the space savings outweigh the drawbacks.... :puzzled:

ATB,
Sam

For traveling on an airline, though, this might be an ideal solution.

-joedy

When I shipped my 22m Guerilla, I used a contractor grade trash bag and some gorilla tape... less than a dollar...

Just holt it tight around the vacuum nozzle and spin like a mutha as you remove it.

As Sam said about the creases is correct. The subject came up about the size of the stuff bags for the Combats and so I asked about it as the bag for the 15.4m is big enough for me to get into and close the top. The answer is as Sam said. The idea of the space bag is OK for a bit but the question comes up as to how long before you create damage.
I got out a few kites I got for a trade in, and I found one that was in a different stuff bag and it was a very tight fit for the kite. The kite now has lines were the sizing has lost its grip on the fabric at the crease. It still flys and it is a trade in, so it will still fly and end up on someones quiver.

As for the clothing space bags, my wife got some for traveling in the RV. The are meant to be used with the home vacuum. No extra adapters for other ways of sucking the air out. Still trying to figure a way to haul the shop vac so I can use the space bags on the return trip with out tacking the shop vac. So if I leave the shop vac at home, I wont need the space bag in the first place. The instructions on the clothing space bags put in the warning area that prolonged use may damage some clothing. We got ours at Target and K-mart. Some are still unopened, I can send them to you for the cost of shipping. If I put them in a space bag and suck the air out they will take up less room and shipping will be even less.

I have used the vacuum bags but find that weight is usually a close limiting factor and so I do not use a vacuum. I just squeeze the air out of the bag until the kite is smaller but not super tight as to create crease damage (at least I hope).