The Airush Guide to Keeping Your Kite Gear in Top Shape
If you've spent any real time on the water, you know your gear is a serious investment. A well looked after kite can ride alongside you season after season - one that's been neglected can let you down sooner than you'd think. We want to share the key tips to help you get the most out of your equipment.
Know Your Material: Not All Fabrics Are Created Equal
At Airush we work with two main material families, and each one has its own personality.
H2 (Ultra PE): Our premium Team Series performance kites. The H2 Team Series range is built with a Tri-Axial Ultra PE leading edge technology - one of the most technically advanced materials on the market: incredibly lightweight, rigid, and with tear resistance that's in a class of its own. But it does have its quirks. This fabric doesn't forgive aggressive folding or forced creases, so when you pack it down, take your time and follow the kite's natural fold lines. In the water it's practically bulletproof against impacts and hard crashes, but its weak spot is abrasive surfaces - rocks, reef, or the edge of a jetty. That kind of friction can damage the material in ways that aren't always visible to the naked eye. If you're riding in rocky spots, be extra careful when launching and landing.
Dacron: Our Originals kites - The all-conditions workhorse. The Originals range is built with a Dacron leading edge, a fabric that's earned its reputation through sheer session count. It handles day-to-day abrasion and wear far better, and generally holds up longer under normal riding conditions. The one thing to watch: once it gets a cut, a tear can spread more easily than it would on H2. That makes regular visual checks important - catch a small nick early and fix it before it becomes a real problem.
The Habits That Make the Difference
Beyond the material itself, a few simple routines can add years to your kite's life.
Don't leave it inflated on the beach any longer than necessary: Sun, heat, and constant tension on the fabric and seams all take their toll. Once you're out of the water, deflate it and pack it away. Every extra minute baking under the sun is accumulated wear.
Don't drag it: Obvious, maybe, but easy to forget in the rush of a session. Dragging your kite across sand grinds abrasion into the fabric and bladders, and that's especially damaging on H2 material.
Don't pack it away wet: Salt is a slow, silent enemy. Store your kite damp and the salt crystals work their way into the fabric, attack the seams, and degrade the bladders over time. A quick rinse with fresh water and letting it dry properly before packing it away makes an enormous difference in the long run.
Bar and Line Maintenance
The kite gets all the attention, but your control system and lines are just as critical, and much easier to overlook.
Lines wear unevenly: Over time, lines stretch, but not always at the same rate. Even a small difference in length between them affects how the kite flies and can make it harder to control. Every few sessions, lay them out on land and check they're still matched up.
Feel for micro-damage and wear points: Run the lines through your fingers from top to bottom. A stiff section, a thickened spot, or fraying are all signs that line is compromised. Don't wait for it to snap in the water.
Check connections and knots closely: The points where lines connect to the bar and to the kite's bridles are high-tension, high-wear zones. Inspect them carefully and replace anything showing signs of fatigue. Check the Airush bar specs and replacement parts to make sure you're always using compatible components.
Rinse and store your bar properly: Same rule as the kite - salt is the enemy. Rinse your lines with fresh water after every session, dry them thoroughly, and store them without knots or unnecessary tension. Rolling them carefully onto the bar prevents tangles and keeps them in good shape for longer.
How to Check Your Kite Before Every Session
Five minutes before hitting the water can save you a serious headache. Make it a ritual.
Main bladder and struts: Inflate the kite and watch whether it holds pressure. A bladder that slowly loses air could be a loose valve or a small puncture - far better to catch it on the beach than out on the water. Check that all struts are firm and fully inflated too.
Seams and canopy: Do a full visual sweep of the kite's surface. Pay close attention to the highest-stress areas: bridle attachment points, the leading edge, and strut ends. On H2 kites, any area showing abrasion marks needs immediate attention.
Valves: Make sure every valve closes properly after inflation. A valve that hasn't sealed can drain a strut mid-session.
Bridles and connections: Check that bridles are in good condition - no cuts, no excessive wear, and that all line connections are clean and free of accidental knots.
Basic Field Repairs
You can't always wait until you get home. Keeping a small emergency kit in your bag can save a session, or a whole weekend.
The bare minimum you should always carry:
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Self-repair bladder patches (brand-specific, material-compatible)
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Spinnaker or ripstop tape for field canopy repairs
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A spare set of lines in the same diameter as yours
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A spare valve
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Small scissors and a lighter (for sealing line ends)
Repairing a canopy tear: Clean and dry the area thoroughly before applying the patch. Cut it with rounded edges, square corners lift first. Press firmly for several minutes and allow full cure time before re-inflating. On H2 material, always use patches specifically compatible with Ultra PE fabric to ensure a lasting repair.
A bladder puncture: Fully deflate, find the leak (soapy water is your best friend), dry the area, and apply the patch according to the manufacturer's instructions. Don't trust a field repair for high-intensity sessions - treat it as a temporary fix until you can do a proper job. If you have questions about repairs or warranty coverage, check the Airush warranty information page.
Off-Season Storage
If the gear is going into storage for weeks or months, it's worth doing it right.
Deep clean before storing: Full fresh-water rinse of the kite, bar, and lines. Let everything dry completely in the shade, never in direct sun, before packing away. Residual moisture trapped inside a bag is the perfect environment for mould and material breakdown.
Temperature and humidity: Avoid storing gear anywhere with sharp temperature swings or high humidity: sweltering garages in summer, damp storage rooms, or the boot of your car. A cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight is ideal.
Pack it loose: Fold the kite without forcing creases in the same places every time. On Team Series kites with H2 material, this is especially important - repeated folds in the same spot can weaken the fabric over time. Lines should be stored without tangles or tension.
Pre-season check: Before your first session of the year, go over everything carefully; canopy, seams, bladders, valves, lines, and bar. Check the Airush product guides if you need technical reference for your specific model.
Looking After Your Gear Isn't Complicated
It just takes consistency. Know your material, build a pre-session check routine, carry the basics for a field fix, and store everything properly between sessions - those habits are the difference between gear that lasts years and gear that gives you grief ahead of schedule.
Explore the full Airush kite range or find your nearest official dealer for personalised advice.
The water's waiting. Take care of your gear and make the most of every session.