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sure, that is a big advantages foils have!

Maybe Armin has some stats about faulty gear issues on the Flysurfer kites?
I'm sure they are pretty low...

Currently I practice more valves off than board offs...

Man that's gotta suck!! Is it affecting only certain brands and only recently?

That really does suck and I can totally relate. That happened quite a bit to many of us in 2004 especially. There is nothing worse than every other time you show up having a friggin bladder leak and go flat. SS was VERY good about replacing them for free. Jim Shephard gave me at least 5 full sets of bladders that one season (I had 4 fuels).
But, I got so tired of replacing them that I decided to sell them off with the brand new replacement bladders in them and get something else.
I sold them locally to friends. Good customer service just couldn't over-ride all the days I missed riding 'cuz of bad bladders.
Two of the newly sold kites sprung leaks on their new owners the first day out. I was most pissed on those two days of all of the "spring a leak" days, because now my integrity was in question from my friends. They really couldn't believe a brand new bladder would leak (well, they did).
I haven't had one problem with a bladder in a couple seasons even though and I ride a lot (at least 175 days a year) and keep my kites in my truck at all times (with a topper) so they get hot.

We don't have a poll going, but from what I have seen here locally and have read on here, it sounds like the bladder issue might be restricted to just a few brands (?)
SS had bladder problems in 04, and if anyone remembers, Cabrinha got hold of some real bad ones around (what was it?) 2002.

I agree, it seems like all companies would try to ensure they get hold of good bladders.I still remember (this is not trying to be a jerk, just honest) me thinking that a "bombproof" kite isn't much good if it won't inflate.

Some people will get pissed over consistently leaky bladders and switch to other brands, regardless of how good the kite is when it actually flies. I know I did. I decided I would rather consistently be riding a decent kite than constantly fixing a "great" one and missing sessions.

well mates, i agree 100'% on this thread and it has been a topic of discussion at our kitebeaches many times.

I CAN comment that there is ONE kite brand that HAS done a few things differently so that the bladders and valves last longer..and i tell you this NOT as a pimp cause im not affiliated but just cause i was pleasantly suprised recently when i went to repair my FLexifoil Strike II 15 meter kite which ive been using non-stop in the heat/humidity of cancun mexico for the past 2 years.

The ENDS of the bladders are folded nicely and a little velcro tab to keep it in place and even a little elastic bungee doo-hicky to help you open and close the strut or LE end. The actual terminals of the bladders are DOUBLE heat welded..looks like 2 ZIP LOCK bag closures...not to mention the nice little "rim" on the valves that theyve been using for several years that keeps the valve firmly seated in the dacron hole.

and, get this, they glue the valve on the INSIDE of the bladder instead of on the outside like most brands. I dont know if its cause of this or because they use better glue system but Ive only had ONE valve leak on this kite, on the LE, in 2plus years of hard use and abuse and leaving the struts inflated in the back of my truck in raging heat and humidity.

Of course, I couldnt really envision a good way to get glue on the valve perimeter AND squeeze it back through the hole to repair it "like new" so i just glued it on the outside of hte bladder like all the normal brands and its holding up perfectly.

So yeah, they all fail and we do need some attention from the designers..but im here to tell you that the Flexi boys have definately taken steps in the right direction.

btway, just bought the ION2 8.5 for my high wind choice based on my satisfaction with the build quality. Kudos FLexi!

I just heard about bladders, where you can position the valve yourself.
These are spare bladders, who you can have in certain lengths, and they don't have a valve. It comes extra, so you can put it on the position where you need to have it.
This way you can sue them for all brands.

Does anyone have a link or further info on this???

i dont know if anyone have submitted the link below. it seems very helpfull.


http://www.ikiteboarding.com/kiteboardi ... ution.aspx

why cant the companies make them permanent valves like beach balls or inflatable toys ?they seem to hold really good ..it sucks when you have to spend the day repairing one strut then to find out another struts leaking

The 2007 Northvalves are pretty impossible to get off the bladders, I found that out trying to fix my 2-Pump issues. Putting them in boiling water does absolutely nothing to them.

So it seems they at least learned from those mistakes.