How often to people REALLY pop their LE tube? Is it as big of a threat as people make it out to be? I primarily kite on land... would a few kite vs. ground encounters (not nose first, terminal velocity impacts 9/10 times) wear down or even pop even the most durable kites? I've never flown a tube kite for land use. The LF Envy and Wainman Hawaii Boss look bombproof, but given the amount of hype about popped tubes and the fact that they're inflatos, I'm skeptical about whether or not they'd be practical. I don't crash kites a lot... but I'm no pro, and I do make mistakes. Anybody have any personal experiences they could share with me? Thanks.

Cheers,
Seanny

Pop? I've seen 2, both Best kites. Leak? Many. Most have involved contact with the ground. All tubes will leak, sooner or later.

I'm in the process of buying an ARC or two for this purpose, but I do kind of like inflatos... thanks for the info, Kami. I'm not big on sitting around fixing my kites, or paying someone else to fix it for me. Durable kites score big with me...

Cheers,
Seanny

Pah, I'd just hand them over to Mr Miyachi and say "Fix them. Then give me the bill."
LEIs have their pro's too ...

You should sent Mr. Miyachi to Texas. There isn't a person for about 50 miles who would know how to fix a power kite. I know it depends on the kite, but some people make it seem like you have to treat an LEI like an egg shell. While I do always do my best to take care of my kites, I don't think this is exactly true. How much of a beating would a more rugged LEI have to take before you risk damage or popping it...?

Cheers,
Seanny

Depends. I dropped one into a bush and put a hole in it. I've seen people slam them into trees with no issues. I've seen people baby their kite and been unable to find leaks. This is why I'll never pay RRP for a water kite :D used or super-good deals are the way to go!

Used is the way to go! I get all my stuff pre-owned. Except for a kite I got for my birthday...

I should finish spending my money and recover from bankruptcy before I even THINK of buying an LEI. But eh. I can't help it, you know? :D

Cheers,
Seanny

biggest problem with tubes hands down ...valve adhesion failure!

if you are rough with a tube it will eventually rupture, tear, or pop a bladder.

could be 2 sessions could be 200. but a good estimate is 300 hours when fresh, ANYTIME on used.

...didn't we talk about this last week already?

LEIs sound like a pain. The ones I've ridden weren't mine. I'm happy with just borrowing them. Maybe if I had more free time to keep them in check. Will have ARC money next Tuesday... thanks for the info guys. And no, I don't really recall having this conversation. Was I involved in it? :o

Cheers,
Seanny

Quote:

Originally posted by PHREERIDER biggest problem with tubes hands down ...valve adhesion failure! if you are rough with a tube it will eventually rupture, tear, or pop a bladder. could 2 sessions could be two 200. but a good estimate is 300 hours when fresh, ANYTIME on used. ...didn't we talk about this last week already?

Recent enough that I knew what you were going to say this time. You aren't losing it Phree!

EDIT: it was buried in the Sullivans Island thread.
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10062&p...

ive lost count how many times ive slammed my lf 12m havoc into the ground landboarding. Ive only ever had a valve leak once.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=15557

mentally crossed referenced.

rattled alot tubes into the ground without a problem as well.

never really "crashed" and "popped" one, always the valve thing. i have seen a NE rage session eat one in the waves. completely opened the LE and rip canopy. but hey you play 30knts SOMETHING is GONNA break.

for me... the tubes failed from things i could not control( maybe heat and storage factor) , and ARCS fail (crash with catastrophic rupture) on input error.

back to why i thought we had been on the topic ....input WILL destroy a tube as well.

human element consistency. expect no less

Thanks, Phree. A good face plant with any kite could be the one that does it. I don't bring down my kites like that very often, but you still have to take it into account. I didn't even think about storage affecting valves, etc. Different people will have different experiences with them... I'd probably be the one to land it just right on my third session and have a rupture or a leak somewhere. I think I'll avoid them for now. Sorry for posting a repetitive thread.

Cheers,
Seanny

In tropics heat and cats and thorns and sand . And then you put a new bladder in and dont seat it properly can pop just filling.Thats what drove me to PL's and now FS.

agree pilot input error can/will tear any kite up..........I slammed my Synergy at Folly 2 summers ago and blew two cell walls and the adjoining LE seam. Valve adhesion/leaks are prime candidates for LEI leaks but easily fixed..................If youre on a lake or riding alot of flat water, a Speed 2 cant be beat. Waves LEI/FS Pulse.....................unhooked freestyle---LEIs................gusty bumpy conditions......PL, LEI, Pulse with the nod going to the PL

Easiest way to pop a tube is to not take care when packing the kite up. Can cause problems such as the aforementioned valve-leaks, or a crease in the bladder, causing a weak-point.

Even though us foil-fans may exaggerate the predilection of LEI's to pop, when I popped my 12m fuel and ended my *season* (One kite quiver at the time, I was new and poor), I threw in the towels on LEI's for many years. I'm just now coming back to them.

I live way inland in Texas. In the hill country; like 40 miles NW of Austin. There are plenty of lakes to ride within an hour of here, but definitely not an ocean. An LEI would be more useful when I have more money and more free time. I'm 17 years old and I have neither one of those. "1 kite quivers" are the way to go. And I wouldn't want my kite quiver to pop. :x Although I am very careful with all kites, it just seems like an LEI is a bit too fragile for my current circumstances. I still love the way they ride though.

My parents hate the kiting thing. They just don't get it. Especially my dad. He thinks all kites are the same and doesn't understand why I need more than one, and tells me I'm wasting my money. :flaming: 'T's annoying.

Cheers,
Seanny

erratic - what's your advice for packing up then?

1 kite quivers are a myth

Valve adhesion issues on LEI's(and patching them) sold me on Arcs.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza erratic - what's your advice for packing up then? 1 kite quivers are a myth

Pack carefully. Don't crush any valves in a hurry to get back to the car. Do your best to get air out of bladders before rolling kite up. Leaving spars inflated because the kite is wet? Don't slack on getting the kite dried out and getting the spars deflated. Even a kite will mold if the conditions are right.


1 kite quivers are a myth but honestly I've had kiteATB days on nothing but the FSRookie2 6m for the past 4 months!

Problem with my 16m Xbow is the bastard small backpack ... needs to be well deflated and folded carefully and that's got me worried ...!

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza Problem with my 16m Xbow is the bastard small backpack ... needs to be well deflated and folded carefully and that's got me worried ...!

Get a bigger bag?

continue your nice folding on the beach.....................once complete set the folded kite inside your harness, close it up and go. Im assuming you use a waist harness? If you use a seat harnes same procedure using bungee or a strap...............get her home, clean, factory fold, into the bag

Forgive my newbness but what does LEI stand for?

Leading
Edge
Inflatable

there are a few of us on here who own and fly them......can be frusturating when the out of nowhere leak occurs or rupture/pop. LEIs come in different shapes and pump systems. Most these dayz arew one pump single inflation points. There are a few that pump each strut seperatley then the leading edge. Bow/SLE/C and Delta are the different categories and each have there own specific use/strong points. Again. its all up to riders discretion. They are easy to fly especially after breaking in on 4 line foils, relaunch is almost guarenteed, and the depower/safety systems are amazing. Depower and turning speed/power in turns were prime factors in my changing over. If youre looking for raw power and low end a Flysurfer Speed 2 is impossible to beat.

I like using a mesh bag big enough to pack the kite very loosely so air can circulate.. a tight small pack over and over wears and streches the fibers. I keep them in the mesh bags.. do not use the kite bags. I try not to dry in the sun and I tuck them in bed every night while I read them their night time story. a happy kite makes for what? Happy kiting!

L

no one could argue that you take very good care of your gear.............Im not bag user either.................. inside the harness is my normal routine.....get em home, leaf blower to remove sand, back in the harness...........................the U Turn orange stick valves and bladders are the way to go once you start to have leaking problems............lighter than the OEM parts but much more durable/dependable

Thanks for the informative explanation Tridude....I got it now. Very interesting kite.

Ohhhhhhh, I like the mesh bag idea :o

I often sit in a bubble bath with rose pedals on the water surface sipping expensive wine with my kites. Happy happy kites. :D

Cheers,
Seanny