Compression Bags for Your Kiteboarding and Wing Foiling Gear

Compression Bags for Your Kiteboarding and Wing Foiling Gear

When I first came across kite compression bags, I didn't immediately see the value in them. After several years of using them as my daily driver, I have a whole new respect for how they improve my kiteboarding and wing foiling experience.

Compression bags offer upwards of a 50% savings in your gear space, deter would-be thieves, and keep the "Accounting Department" at bay. I'll explain.

Kite and wing compression bags are typically made of lightweight nylon with a draw-cord closure and have one or two backpack straps for carrying. The real kicker is the built-in compression straps located on each side of the bag, which allows you to compress your kites down to roughly half of their normally packed size.

The kite and wing bags that your gear comes in from the manufacturer are oversized and you'll typically have a lot of wasted space inside the bag after you've packed it. I realized this when packing a three-kite quiver for a trip many years ago. I had placed each kite, sizes 17m, 12m, and 9m, in their own compression bags and gently knelt down on each one while pulling on the compression straps to see just how small I could make each kite get.

A few minutes later, I stood there looking down at my newly packed kites as they lay alongside their original manufacturer's bags. I was utterly stunned at how small I was able to pack these three kites down with compression bags. They were quite literally half their normal size. To a point where I curiously picked up the 17m factory bag and began to place two of the compressed kites into it to see if they would fit.

Both the 17m and 12m kites fit easily into the largest kite's normal bag. I had first placed them side-by-side and lengthwise without giving it much thought. After noticing some wasted space at the top of the bag, I began to wonder if a stoke of Tetris genius might make all three kites might somehow fit together. Seconds later, I was effortlessly closing the zipper on the large kite bag with all three of my kites snug inside. I gotta say, I didn't see that coming.

However it is that you transport your kites and wings to the beach, compression bags will indeed save you a ton of space when doing so.

While my initial interest was for space savings, I quickly realized that my kites and wings were much more incognito in these compression bags. Therefore, less susceptible to a beachside smash-and-grab in the parking lot. Since there's no colorful branding on the bag that would indicate what the contents are, your precious cargo will be just a little bit safer sitting there on the beach or when stored in your vehicle.

My wife is awesome and I'm a lucky man. Let's start with that before making the downward spiral into full-blown deception. Here's the thing—we have a loving and trusting relationship, along with individual accounts for our own "fun money". One would think that since we have our own accounts for splurging on things like kiteboarding gear, there would be no hassle regarding the acquisition of said gear, right?

Bottom line: no matter how many different kites or wings I go through, the bag always stays the same.

Yes, I can feel you judging me, but just know that my wife will no doubt be reading this article and we'll have a laugh about it over dinner tonight. Or at least, I hope so.

Good winds to you, my friends!

Aaron

Highlights and Takeaways:

  • Space savings
  • Theft deterrence
  • Below radar

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Breakfast Club Day is March 24. "Could you describe the ruckus, Sir?"

22nd Feb 2022 Aaron Johnson

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