Has anyone tried to inflate your kite with a vehicle air compressor? If so was it effective and how expensive are they? Any help would be appreciated.

Been there, done that . It works but it is cumbersome. A bit of trouble as you have to connect everything, get a gun or adaptor to fit the kite valve and it takes about the same time it takes to fill by hand pump, or a little longer.

So by the time you connect everything and then put everything away everyone else is on the water, it defeats the purpose.

Of course you can mount a 50 liter tank on the back of the truck / trailer and fill it on the way to the beach, etc.

Do you really want to be bothered? ehehn just buy one of Island Pumps.. That's what I did.. contact James at Alliance Gear

http://www.alliancegear.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=9_32&products_id=134

thorn said...

Thanks that is all I needed to know. The island pump sounds like the way to go.

... best invention ever, you'll wonder why you didn't do it earlier btw.

it may sound lazy but there are some good reasons why to use these pumps:

*hand pumps can cause back pain with some people.

*kites fly best when pumped to the correct pressure, with the electric pump it fills to the pressure you set so you know its the same each time (auto shut off). ever flown a kite and though man my kite sucks today? its usually because your rushing and have under inflated it.

*if you anchor your kite down you can run your lines and have a quick stretch while the pump does the work!

*if you need to pump 2-3 kites a session due to wind changes and you look after your partners rig you are not worn out.

*you get around 12 kite inflates per charge.

hate them or love them i know most guys beg for a go of my pump after they see how easy it pumps my ride!

Deflate just your LE, less pumping next time:)

Don't know about the other brands but my old Cab bag has zip extension to pack a kite like that...

^^^ and back in those day's every one used these



When the wind came in everyone franticly pumping looked like one of those gay nudist beaches you have in Sydney.

bragman s got a ARB air comp mounted under neath the bonet missile switch on thwe dash,with a hose plumgbed dowmn to the rear of the tray back, with a quick connect fiytting pumps up hiluxd tyres from15lb to 25lb in 1,5mins,comeswith a coily hose that reaches to all wheels , bought some extra fittings and hooked a standard pump coily hose with p gauge and bobs your uncle gaot self inflating kites ,lay out on beach with safety of course,insert hose missikle switch on, roll your lines out and by the time you get back shes done.no worries wiyh over preasure hose all ways blows off around 10lb. maybe get some piccies , total cost under 500,12mt kite imnflates in about the same time as amanual pump, but without the back srtain and heart attack

Radman said...

bragman s got a ARB air comp mounted under neath the bonet missile switch on thwe dash,with a hose plumgbed dowmn to the rear of the tray back, with a quick connect fiytting pumps up hiluxd tyres from15lb to 25lb in 1,5mins,comeswith a coily hose that reaches to all wheels , bought some extra fittings and hooked a standard pump coily hose with p gauge and bobs your uncle gaot self inflating kites ,lay out on beach with safety of course,insert hose missikle switch on, roll your lines out and by the time you get back shes done.no worries wiyh over preasure hose all ways blows off around 10lb. maybe get some piccies , total cost under 500,12mt kite imnflates in about the same time as amanual pump, but without the back srtain and heart attack

x2... only mines mounted under the seat

harden the f@#k up. unless you've got a back injury, in which case you probably shouldn't be kiting, the 2 or 3 minutes it takes to pump up your kite is a good way to get the blood flowing.

freeballs said...

harden the f@#k up. unless you've got a back injury, in which case you probably shouldn't be kiting, the 2 or 3 minutes it takes to pump up your kite is a good way to get the blood flowing.

I'm out there to enjoy myself, not do boot camp.
The easier it is the better I like it.

The Island battery operated pump, works for me, (literally).
Costs about $200 to $250, pumps my 11 M up about 8 to 10 times (or my newly acquired shallow friends kites) before it needs a recharge and there is a lead supplied to use off your car battery if need be.
It has a metal compressor, not a plastic one that claps out after 10 uses.

It's pretty interesting to to note the number of new acquaintances that strike up a discussion when they see you setting up with an electric pump. And then want to try it on there kite, just to see how it works.

It has auto shut off at your desired pressure.
When I have used a hand pump, I never seem to get it to the right pressure. When I use the electric pump my kite is still fairly hard at the end of a session.

Also if I decide to change kites in the middle of a days kiting, I can have a break while the electric pump does all the hard work.

(I hoping the next model will roll out the kite and connect the lines after making you a skinny double soy latte decaff with a twist of free range lime to enjoy while it's happening.)

The hand pump is probably quicker at pumping up the kite, but the extra minute or so allows you to get the rest of your gear sorted while the pump is doing the work.

Is anyone actually using a tires compressor on servo? :))

No, seriously, if we get a compressor installed on popular spots who would use a hand pump?

i have an island pump and it's awesome. I justified the purchase bedause I use it a lot camping pumping up air beds regulary blew up cheaper pumps

also it is great when you get to the local and you only have 3/4 of an hour or so of seabreeze and you normally couldnt be arsed rigging up. put the pump on the kite. get everything else ready and by then the kite is good to go.