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Best sandbag weights when pumping kite

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Created by billekrub > 9 months ago, 7 Nov 2020
billekrub
122 posts
7 Nov 2020 7:43AM
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Have seen some folding reusable and sturdy sandbags on the beach that drape over the leading edge, but have not yet found a good source. There are some used by photographers but look a bit small.

Anyone know a good source?

IanR
NSW, 1237 posts
7 Nov 2020 11:26AM
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Try looking up shot bag that's what the film and theatre industry call them
These guys have a large range and you should find something that suits your needs
www.theatricalsupplies.com.au/shot-bags-sand-bags.html

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
8 Nov 2020 11:50AM
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Ozone gave you them with your kite

warwickl
NSW, 2173 posts
9 Nov 2020 5:18PM
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Guys here use 2 big sox tied together filled with sand.
One sock on the ground other over the leading edge. Simple cheap, tip; sew up holes in your soxs before use.

dkeating
VIC, 253 posts
9 Nov 2020 10:00PM
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Probably only needed in grass or dirt areas, why would you bother carrying one around when you can fill and empty any simple bag at the beach.

weebitbreezy
617 posts
9 Nov 2020 8:12PM
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Instead of draping them over the kite, attach a carabiner to your sandbag/weight of choice and clip to the pump attachment. Much less wear on the canopy this way.

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
10 Nov 2020 1:31PM
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Ask someone to hold it for you?

Chris_M
2128 posts
10 Nov 2020 3:40PM
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I must be missing something here? Why use a sandbag when you can just attach your pump leash to the LE of the kite?

zlatko
38 posts
10 Nov 2020 5:10PM
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Select to expand quote
Chris_M said..
I must be missing something here? Why use a sandbag when you can just attach your pump leash to the LE of the kite?


Discussion is about securing the kite while it is just parked on the beach, e.g. while rolling&connecting your lines or just resting between sessions.

Chris_M
2128 posts
10 Nov 2020 5:37PM
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Ah yeap ok, but why?

None of my kites have ever really taken off, and if they move around a little bit I just lay my board over the LE and seems to work every time.

At grassy launch spots I guess they slide around a bit more I suppose?

As for the sandbags why not just put some sand in a bag and use that

Chris_M
2128 posts
10 Nov 2020 5:57PM
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Select to expand quote
zlatko said..

Chris_M said..
I must be missing something here? Why use a sandbag when you can just attach your pump leash to the LE of the kite?



Discussion is about securing the kite while it is just parked on the beach, e.g. while rolling&connecting your lines or just resting between sessions.


Hold the phone




zlatko
38 posts
10 Nov 2020 6:32PM
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Select to expand quote
Chris_M said..


zlatko said..



Chris_M said..
I must be missing something here? Why use a sandbag when you can just attach your pump leash to the LE of the kite?





Discussion is about securing the kite while it is just parked on the beach, e.g. while rolling&connecting your lines or just resting between sessions.




Hold the phone





You are correct! :) It makes no sense at all, so that is why everybody started discussing sandbags to secure your kite already pumped while rigging it on the beach.
On your other note - that you haven't had a kite fly off the beach. Two remarks from me:
- it could always happen for the first time :)
- there are kites with a LE shape that makes them impossible to stay securely parked without quite a weight, e.g. Slingshot SST.

CH3MTR4IL5
WA, 745 posts
10 Nov 2020 9:06PM
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Select to expand quote
Chris_M said..
As for the sandbags why not just put some sand in a bag



raggedflyer
WA, 64 posts
15 Nov 2020 10:14PM
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Kmart round black neoprene soft weights, 3kg or 5kg, easy to handle, durable and only cost about $10-12

Deefer
VIC, 117 posts
16 Nov 2020 9:14AM
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Select to expand quote
zlatko said..

Chris_M said..



zlatko said..




Chris_M said..
I must be missing something here? Why use a sandbag when you can just attach your pump leash to the LE of the kite?






Discussion is about securing the kite while it is just parked on the beach, e.g. while rolling&connecting your lines or just resting between sessions.





Hold the phone





You are correct! :) It makes no sense at all, so that is why everybody started discussing sandbags to secure your kite already pumped while rigging it on the beach.
On your other note - that you haven't had a kite fly off the beach. Two remarks from me:
- it could always happen for the first time :)
- there are kites with a LE shape that makes them impossible to stay securely parked without quite a weight, e.g. Slingshot SST.


Second the SST,
6M SST strong winds No chance of staying put without ****loads of sand or weights

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
16 Nov 2020 1:05PM
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oh I thought this was for launching off Grass... Why the hell do you need sand bags on a beach? Use the damn sand fellas.

Stu101
131 posts
18 Nov 2020 6:37AM
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Sand knackers your kite, alright if your sponsored and get them for free I guess! It is what puts the lovely pin holes in the material. Same as putting a sand bag on it. As someone says above much better to attach a sand bag to the pump attachment point, your canopy will last longer. I have also seen many people use the board to hold it and seen a few flip on high winds or slip and the sharp fin go straight through the canopy's. Your kite and money though!

Gorgo
VIC, 4911 posts
18 Nov 2020 12:07PM
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If my kite is left sitting for any time I slip a board through a bridle line. As long as the leading edge is kept down then the kite cannot blow away. I've been doing this for nearly 20 years in all kind of conditions and have not had a kite blow away yet.

My main site backs onto a busy road. It would be a disaster if a kite blew onto the road. That's more important than any risk ofmy board getting dragged.

The only exception to this is one site has shrubs around the packing area. In strong winds you get rotor turbulence off the shrubs. Literally the wind swirls like a wave over the shrub and blows back in the opposite direction. You can see the kite trying to pitch forward into the shrubs.

It's a little counter-intuitive but it's better to put the kite out in the clear wind away from the shrubs. Either that or deflate the kite.

billekrub
122 posts
18 Nov 2020 12:26PM
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Select to expand quote
IanR said..
Try looking up shot bag that's what the film and theatre industry call them
These guys have a large range and you should find something that suits your needs
www.theatricalsupplies.com.au/shot-bags-sand-bags.html


Thanks, will check shot bags out. Knowing the right word. And the sock sack idea. We lost two kites to gusts this season at S Carlos, with weights on them, right off the cliff, but the weights were a bit behind the leading edge, so the gusts lifted the edges and the kites tossed the hefty sandbags, IYCBI.

In Las Brisas, the high wind blows the dry sand off the kite, and then you have to reach for it.

In a lagoon of Les Iles, the kiteboard suffices as weight, no sand, and there are some shot bags in frequent use.

Yes, not needed while pumping, thanks for the helpful correction.

The surf boards are so lightweight. If some innocent drives by to windward, then swirling air will blow away the board as well.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
18 Nov 2020 9:19PM
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Live in W.A. plenty of wind here hence why we get the wind tourists. Never had sand blow off the kite? Not putting enough on there. As far as pinholes, maybe you are right maybe you are not. From what I've heard a lot of the pin holes occur when packing the kite in the bag with sand still on it.

Who knows but like gorgo twenty years in and just using plain old sand works.
but hey fellas knock yourself out with ya socks and bags and whatever. If it works in your head that's all that matters.

Chris_M
2128 posts
19 Nov 2020 2:07AM
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All the best. Sounds like a brutal set-up spot.
I find that sometimes putting stuff on the kite actually makes it more likely to bounce around and want to take off.
Hope the sand bags work for ya



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"Best sandbag weights when pumping kite" started by billekrub