Travel smarter with your kite
There’s something magical about watching your board bag come out of the airport chute in one piece. No snapped boards, no "random" inspections, no duct-taped surprises. Just the start of a kitesurf trip done right. Whether you’re flying across the world or road-tripping to that windy coast your kite buddies swear by, smart travel means less stress and more water time.
Beat the airlines at their game
Airlines are sneaky. They smile at check-in while planning how to charge you 200 euros for your beloved kite quiver. But you’ve got tricks up your (short) sleeve.
Choose the right airline: Turkish Airlines, Qatar, and a few others treat sports gear as regular luggage.
Travel mid-week: Flights are cheaper, lines are shorter, and staff are less grumpy.
Wipe your cookies: Seriously, flight prices change based on your search history.
Use Google Flights or Scott’s Cheap Flights: Alerts can save you hundreds.
Want to know how to slim your gear before you even book? Our blog post Travel light with kite gear has the full breakdown.
Cut the weight, not the fun
Luggage weight limits don’t care that your bar and foil mast are essential life tools. They just want your bag to weigh less than 23 kilos. Here’s how you win the packing Tetris:
Get the right bag: Wheels alone can weigh 3 kg and add the heavy-duty fabric. And nothing is worse than having a board bag where not everything you want to pack fits.
Do the weighting before: Don’t guess and find out at the airport. Start packing your bag beforehand and make sure it is under the weight limit.
Make sacrifices: Yes, we hope that our whole quiver fits in our bag and is under the weight limit. It is not gonna happen.
Cabin is king: Cram your harness, bars, and tools in your carry-on and put that helmet on your head.
Compress and conquer: Compression sacks make wetsuits tiny, but not lighter.
Titanium screws: Lighter and rust-proof. It can be the difference between the 23 or the 23.3 kilo. We do everything to avoid paying extra.
Use packing cubes: Keeps your fins from stabbing your harness. And leave your kite bags at home, it will save some grams.
Quiver smart, not heavy
Let’s be honest. You probably don’t need five kites and two boards for your week in Fuerteventura.
A solid travel quiver is:
Two kites with overlapping wind ranges.
One board that handles 80 percent of conditions.
Think 8m and 11m for average wind zones, or 9m and 13m for tropical trade winds. And if you’re really tight on space, a split board or a foil-compatible twin tip can save serious room. Just be ready for some assembly-line action on the beach.
When gear breaks mid-trip
You made it to Brazil and suddenly your bladder’s leaking like your last situationship. Time to go full MacGyver. A few things nice to have are an extra set of fins, some spare screws, an extra bar because lines can snap, spare valves, and just go for a kite repair kit. Definitely on remote destinations a kite or board repair can be impossible, so it is up to you. Grab that YouTube tutorial and go for it. If you are not handy yourself and there is a repair shop nearby, drop by and let them fix it.
Rent or buy local instead
Sometimes, lugging your gear halfway across the world just isn’t worth it. Especially when rental deals are cheaper than your baggage fees.
Hotspots like El Gouna, Cumbuco, or Mui Ne offer rental packages around €250 a week, including boat rescue and sometimes fresh gear. Want to try the 2025 kites before committing? Demo away. Just always ask for bar condition photos before you pay.
Fall in love with a local board? Many countries offer duty-free sport luggage returns. Just say you brought it from home and smile.
One tip: Pack your own harness and wetsuit. Nothing is worse than a rental harness that leaves big rashes.
Pick your spot with purpose
Where you go matters. But when you go matters more. Every kiter has that beautiful list of places you want to go to. It would be horrible to go all hyped up to Brazil to find yourself in the rainy season without the good wind. Seasons are important!
Start with:
Where do you want to go.
When do you want to go.
Do the research on the internet.
And go for the shoulder seasons: Less crowd, cheaper and same wind.
Chasing summer during winter? Try Cape Town, Western Oz, or northeast Brazil. Want warm water without the €2000 price tag? Spots like Sicily or Dakhla in spring are gold.
Don’t forget travel insurance
Yes, your kite trip needs insurance. No, your standard policy probably doesn’t cover kiteboarding. Apparently, insurance companies are scared of extreme sports. But it is useful for damaged gear and also if accidents happen while kitesurfing.
Look for:
Explicit kiteboarding coverage.
Helmet clauses (yes, they sometimes matter).
Medical caps and gear value coverage.
Companies like SafetyWing or World Nomads are kite-friendly, but always read the fine print. Keep digital receipts of your gear. Otherwise, convincing your insurer that your €500 bar existed will be as painful as catching a fin to the shin.
Before you close that zipper
Kite travel can be a glorious blur of wind, salt, packing cubes, and airport lies about your "golf equipment." Choose smart flights, trim the fat from your quiver, and prep your repair kit like a slightly obsessive scout. Match your spot to your season, rent when it makes sense, and always back your trip with real insurance.
If your board bag smells like neoprene and regret, congrats, you're doing it right.
xox Berito