thorndog wrote:I think this is a great question. The little stumpy pumps that are most common totally suck! They're short and stumpy with anemic volume and have you needlessly bending over to pump. If you're not travelling, why not go for something with some more muscle and better design?
For a sport that loves how much innovation there's been with kites over a short period of time, you'd think people wouldn't be hating on a bit of pump innovation. I'm surprised these flamers aren't trying to tell everyone they should be trying to blow up their kites with their own lips! The proof is in the pumping on the first video above. That pump smokes the little stumpy ones out there and no bending over for your soap! I wonder if it has a metal shaft though for us winter kiters. Volo is cool but way pricey.
But all you flamers out there are free to keep using your stump-pumps that haven't changed since the 90s! Just don't ask to borrow an innovative pump next time you see it - cuz we already know you hate 'em!
cheers
how's this for pump innovation?
A hybrid/electric hand pump
It does look interesting. Making pump spare parts, particularly the seals, available would be fantastic. I'd like to see an up-stroke by-pass valve on the manual pump too so it can be switched into 1-way down-stroke if desired.
Just a reminder though. At the transition from the low-pressure kite-just-taking-shape stage to the hard pumping stage of building pressure, it's worth a pause to look over the bladder pockets. 99% of the time there's no problems, but once in while there may be a bladder twist that will show up as an area of caved-in bladder pocket fabric that doesn't have the bladder pushing out on it.
Now is the time to fix it, usually with the bladder marginally inflated a slight twist can be massaged out. If you don't correct it, you risk a bladder bulge or blow-out , or possibly a twist in the shape of your kite that affects its flying.
Miss that indicator because you went right to the high-pressure stage and you may be wondering why your kite is flying oddly, or worse, be looking at a bladder repair instead of a kiting session.
1- provides stability so it won't fall over when not using it
2- to scrape some loose sand before filling sandbag
3- something to put your feet on when pumping
