SPLIT BOARDS - Baggage fees suck

[cairokid]

HI there,
Does anyone here have experience with any of the split boards on the market?
Going on a trip and getting sad about the price of a checked kite bag...
Thanks

[ozreiuosn]

They're all pretty decent these days, just find one in your budget.

the Nobile split boards are popular with the East Bay crowd.

just make sure to consider any hardware/tools you might need to bring with you to assemble it. Some boards (like the nobile) don't need any hardware/tools

[jethrozimm]

I have a Nobile Split. Used it for travel In January. I beleive the additional cost of a split board pays off in 3 trips or so, but for me it was also about the convienience of traveling with a smaller bag.

[jowall]

I usually just rent/borrow...

Here's a split foil for those foil riders. They also have split surf & TT too:

http://xtremebigair.com/Newind-Hydrofoi ... P1812.aspx

[thelaserman]

Feel free to come demo a nobile split at boardsports.

[Red_Element_Andy]

I've been traveling with a 'Golf Bag' for ~10 trips so far (20 flights!) and have yet to been stopped. I have considered a split though for the sake of having a less awkward bag.

FYI - United now actually allows fullsize kite-board bags to be checked for $25 if they:
-Weigh less than 50 pounds (23 kg)
-Are less than 62 (158 cm) total linear inches (L + W + H).

[victor]

a split board will get your gear to fit into a more manageable bag but you still have to worry about weight.

i agree with the above post. as long as the bag is within the limits UA will take it. i've carried a 140 cm TT, 3 kites, harness and wetsuit many times without much problem on UA. bar goes in my carry-on bag along with clothes, etc.

keeping the weight down is tough. pack the kites in compression bags. sometimes scales vary. one time the bag was fine at SFO. same bag, same gear was over a couple lbs. at Kahalui for some reason. it took a little talking to get them to let it go.

if you buy your UA tickets with a UA MileagePlus Explorer card you get one checked bag free.

[Xor]

I've had pleasant experience flying Alaska Airlines, both ways only question was if there is surf board inside the big not golf bag as they explained it - they would ask to check if it is properly packed as surfboards are fragile, my twin tip + BRM Paipo wrapped in cardstock and foam pipe on edges + 2 kites, + 2 bars + boardshorts harness + even few towels were at 49 pounds.

[kitet]

I tried the Nobile split surfboard and didn't like it. I heard good things about the split twintips though.

I travel a fair amount with kite gear and have never paid extra fees if I'm just traveling with my twintip. I use an actual golf bag to carry everything. I find all the kite bags pretending to be a golf bag ridiculous. Most real golf bags do not have "GOLF" written all over it.