Bladder Blanks - Airtime Orange or Tuff Bladder?

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

I need to replace my leading edge bladder on my 14m kite. Any opinions on Tuff Bladder or Airtime Orange? Another bladder altogether?

It's a 2008, so OEM's aren't available.

Thanks!

Locke · Since 16 May 2012 19 Posts The State of Jefferson

1) airtime is local so if you have a problem, you can find a human who is going to be *motiviated* to help you solve it

2) "stretch" does not help you too much. The way a kite bladder works is that the fabric of the kite provides mechanical support - it is an outer layer that is not airtight, but is physically really strong. Inside the fabric is the bladder - it's job is to hold air. The volume of kite's bladders don't change appreciably under *any* kind of use. The bladder's job is to snug up against the fabric and hold air. To the extent that the outside fabric twists and turns while you fly, the bladder needs to flex - but if it's oversize - which it most definitely should be - it will slide and flex just fine.

3) "stretch" (Tuff brand's claim) by itself is not going to solve many problems for a kite bladder. Old school bladders were pretty bendy and they blew out with sad frequency. Airtime appears to have adopted a "tough but slidy" model with the orange stuff, which does appear to work pretty well.

4) If your kite is that old odds are no-one has your bladder anyway and you are in "blank + sticky valve" (e.g. figure out where the valves go and stick them on at installation) territory. See previous comment on customer service: "umm, I put this valve over here, but it should be on, like, the other side of the bladder?"

Good Luck!

Nak · Sat Jun 16, 12 10:47 pm

2008 and OEM isn't available???? That's not right.

I haven't tried the tuff bladders, but I have tried the Airtime Orange.

Pro's over OEM: Definitely lighter. On a 14m kite it will probably make a difference. My 12m RPM flys better with the orange bladder. Won't burst even if the LE itself splits.

Cons: A little more difficult to install. Needs a different patch material than your struts. You have to install the valves yourself. I prefer the ball valve on OEM over the flap valve on Airtime valves.

Deapblu · Since 23 Jun 2008 27 Posts Portland

If you don't like either of those options I had a leading edge bladder repaired by this guy in Florida... Send him an email with your kite info and he may have or be able to make you a new bladder.

http://www.kitebladder.com/

He was able to replace the outer 1/4 of my LE at a fraction of the cost and I have had no problems.

Jonpnw · Sun Jun 17, 12 7:51 am

I had very bad luck with the orange air time bladder. It was crinkly disaster, got a leak just from installing it. Got an OEM for an 08 from them and works great.

Nak · Sun Jun 17, 12 8:36 am

Check with KiteRx (Dangler). He may be able to repair your bladder.

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

Nak, are you saying that OEM is available for 2008, or that it should be available, and it's a shame it's not?

It's a LF Havoc fwiw.

Nak · Sun Jun 17, 12 9:55 am **Re: Nak - OEM**