Just curious if anyone has ever used a rechargeable air mattress pump to inflate an inflatable kite? I borrowed a friends to inflate mattresses while visiting and noticed how fast it worked to fill the queen sized bed. So wondering if it would work or if it would be too much pressure for the inlets. Especially in the winter which is when I want to try flying my 7m Waroo. Pump kinda looks like this:

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.airmattress...

It probably can't pump in enough psi in which case you shouldn't use it. I have a pump similar to that for an air matress and it can't deliver anywhere close to enough pressure to inflate the tube. It'd probably be faster to pump it by hand anyways, at least if you have a decent pump.

You only need between 5-8 PSI to pump an LEI to be drum taught, but I'd be more concerned about filling it too much. The double action pumps fill LEI's really fast. My 12M takes under a minute to fill and it gets the blood pumping too I wouldn't mind having an electric pump moreoever if it had a PSI shutoff, but at least on the beach, I'd be really concerned that the sand would destroy the compressor. I use a car pump for my buggy tires o nthe beach, it its only lasted 1 year... the only maintance you need for manual pump is some offasional graphite for lubrication!

I use a pump like that for my 16m TD
It is good to fill the LE to about 75% then finish
with a hand pump.

They are good for a big kite with a big leading edge, my
11m fills in no time by hand.

if you are too unfit or too lazy to pump up a 7m then you should be asking yourself whether you should be out flying in the first place!!!!!!!!!!! plus the exersice might do you abit of good!!!!

Not not unfit or lazy just don't have a pump yet so looking for a right now solution.

kite pumps are 10 a penny. cheaper then the one you want to buy.

I don't think the mattress pump will give you enough pressure to fly but I don't think it will hurt your kite either. It might save you about 30 sec. when filling your kite though

Yeah I didn't realize that the bladders take so little time to fill. I am going to be ordering a kite pump right away. I've had the kite in my closet for a month and a half wanting to fly it but have been waiting till there was snow on the ground hoping that it would make things easier on the kite if I plow it into the ground. Right now my foils seem to be a nicer quick set up and fly option. :dunno:

Thanks Guys!!!
Shaggs

Hey man

Go to Canadian Tire or Sears if theres one near you and look for a pump.
The pumps aren't as good quality wise as some of the kite specific pumps out there, but they are cheaper than the shipping will be if you have to order one.
The biggest difference will be they won't hold the pressure as well as a higher quality one. That means you have to pull the pump out and insert the stopper quickly.
The Sears one is exactly the same pump as the one that came with my Liquid Force kite( doesn't have the Liquid Force logo) and is fairly good. The Canadian Tire one is not quite as good but I have used one for a year now.

John

My pump cost me 14 bucks at walmart online and they charged two dollars for shipping.

Taking your advice there John thanks. Canadian tire has a Double Action Pump on sale on boxing day. Don't know why but I always thought that I needed a kite specific pump. I coulda been flying a lot sooner. Oh well guess I know now.

Shaggs