I don't have one to sell but I have owned many of the golf style bags and find most of them worthless. I did own a crazyfly golf bag that was decent
but still far from the kind of quality you normally get on outdoor-style bags for travel. I also have a friend who has a small naish golf bag from a
few years ago and it was great but barely fit two kites and one board of about 136cm and no more. Anyway, I'm not sure what my advice is (and I have
not seen the one you are talking about) except that paying $99 for any travel bag is going to get you something that lasts one trip before straps and
things start to come off. All the bags I used (probably 5) blew out after one trip; zippers, seams, etc. Unfortunately, the good quality bags are
generally (in my experience) not the golf style (except that one Naish bag i mentioned) and are at least $199 and maybe more. Dakine makes some good
non-golf-style travel bags but they are not cheap.
How many boards are you traveling with? And what size?
Are you planning to stow kites with the boards?
Unfortunately, I have great faith that what happens behind the conveyor belts is a little but too much akin to:
A couple of years ago, I was travelling and they were short staffed. Moving baggage from one place to another in the baggage claim area, they weren't
even botheriing to carrying them. They were lofting them in the air and and letting them land in a huddled pile at the new location. Needless to say
the onlooking passengers were aghast. Apologies to anyone that might work in the industry if this was an isolated and never to recur incident, but it
happened once, so in all likelihood....
Probably the most important question is: what's your budget? How much can you go to keep your gear safe?
ATB,
Sam
"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12 - Jesus, does anyone?" - The Body by Stephen King
And if you're confused by the "golf" kite bags, it's because golf clubs still fly for free(or discounted bag rate) on many airlines when compared to
just a normal piece of over-sized luggage.
Tide? What's a tide? Man, it's 1000 miles to any ocean.
In regard to golf bags, that scam is soon coming to a close since most airlines now officially know what kiters are doing. Most airlines now have a
real "kiteboard" category right next to surf boards and they charge the same. Which I think is redonkulous because kiteboards for the most part are so
small and light. Golf bags never worked to location where kiting is big like Hawaii. Some airlines even stipulate how much golf equipment must be in a
bag to make it an official golf bag. One said one pair golf shoes, 2 clubs, 10 balls. So I went to goodwill and for $10 i got all that stuff. Even so,
I think we wont see kite golf bags made much in the future since the airlines are getting savvy. The answer? Kiters can get jobs to pay for the extra
fees (I know I need one!), they can rent a board on location and only fly with kites (I did this in Hawaii recently and it was just $78 for 10 days
for my pick up boards), or those breakdown boards need to get a whole lot better. Or, we could just take up golf like normal people and the bags are
legitimately free...
I see some of the MFGs even offer the "Golf" bags in plaid color. Thought that would be different. Maybe easier to convince someone when checking it
in. I could even sport the matching hat and look like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack.
Originally posted by DesertWindKiteboarding
In regard to golf bags, that scam is soon coming to a close since most airlines now officially know what kiters are doing. Most airlines now have a
real "kiteboard" category right next to surf boards and they charge the same. Which I think is redonkulous because kiteboards for the most part are so
small and light.
Strictly speaking it wasn't a "scam." They set up restrictions and we tried to work within them. The fact that they extended courtesies to one
market segment while snubbing others, well.... take it as you will.... I still think it is wrong in 42 different languages.
The fact that the rules are established at the airline carrier level with a fair level of variance and arbitrariness says a lot.
Find out the details of whoever you are flying with.
When he was president of the AKA, David Gomberg actually pressed the issue due to the amount of travel he and his wife did (over 100K miles in a
calendar year... each).
He posted in his blog about it:
"In Wildwood, we spoke to a fellow kiter who was challenged at the airport when he tried to check kites in a standard golf case. The airlines are
charging extra for anything and everything now. Golf and ski cases are allowed. But one airline said they actually had to contain clubs or skis.
That’s discrimination at best and extortion at worst. "
This (PDF document) is response he got back when he pressed the issue with United.
Assuming you can get things sorted with the airlines and you are still looking for cases, take a look at the cases by SKB
Although I think your board might be a smidge too long for their golf cases, one of the others might work. Be warned, they are expensive, but fairly
bombproof and some are mil-spec.
Your other option would be SporTube Series 3. Cheaper, and still pretty robust. Spring for a TSA approved cable lock. On a hard case, standard TSA locks will get sheared off on the conveyor belt.
ATB,
Sam
"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12 - Jesus, does anyone?" - The Body by Stephen King
I guess after thinking about this, the bottom line would be I want a strong case for my gear. If I have to pay extra so be it. I'm not up for all
the cloak and dagger stuff in regards to "sneaking" kite gear in as golf clubs. I want to travel a lot in the next couple of years and visit some
cool places but I want to ride my own gear if possible.
I'll check out some of the cases you mentioned indigo.
I bought a North bag in Thailand ... does up to 2x 160cm board and probably 3 regular packed LEIs, maybe 5 if you wrapped 'em up tight ... also picked
up a smaller Naish "Golf" bag but really, I doubt how much use I'll get out of them
My method is, pack kites in the suitcase and clothes in carry-on and tell the airline the board is a wakeboard - travels free so far :o Now I can actually ride, I'd probably just rent a board at location ... I'd
prefer my own though!
Travelling locally, I don't bother with bags at all and just take kites in the regular bags and chuck the boards in the car. We don't have such a
problem with theft over here though ... and if I really worried, I'd use a day-bag ...
Indigo,
That United PDF letter is very interesting. I work with PASA as an organizer and perhaps we could approach some of the airlines as well. Maybe they
have been lacking proper kite organizations taking an interest in this issue and nothing more. I think it is a big issue especially now that many
charge $100 for kiteboards (I just flew United to Kite Expo in Hood and this was the case). Too much! Thanks for that info Indigo!
After packing all your gear in a kite "golf" bag, head to goodwill and buy a crappy old golf club for $5. Throw that in with your gear. If they
check, you're legit. There's a club in there. If they still try to charge you, you can take out your anger with a golf club! Doubt it would work,
but one guy around here used to do that to make himself feel better about lying about it. As far as I know, they didn't look, but if they asked, he
could reach in a pull out a club.
![[*]](images/perspective/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
so far :o Now I can actually ride, I'd probably just rent a board at location ... I'd
prefer my own though!
