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In the early days of kiteboarding the airlines weren’t sure what to do when told the baggage contained kiteboarding equipment.  An easy way around the confusion developed with the “GOLF BAG”.  It would say golf bag on the outside, but the bag was sized and designed for kiteboarding equipment.  When checking the bag one would simply say “It’s a golf bag”, because after all that is not a lie.  What you didn’t describe was the contents of the bag.  

Many airlines now allow kiteboarding equipment so it is no longer necessary to disguise your baggage.  However, the airlines are more friendly, in my opinion, to golfers.  It may be advised to dress nice at the airport and call the bag a GOLF BAG.   I actually have a friend that brings a putter in the bag in the event that he has to open it.  He will tell the person at check in that he has golf clubs and beach toys.  

Whatever you decide to do, you will still benefit from these tricks to packing all your gear.  

In my experience, when packing kiteboarding equipment for air travel  the limitations on packing are weight limitations, not space limitations. Therefore, the over arching rule would be to carry-on the heavy stuff, and make sure your gear is dry and free of sand and debris.  

That being said, I have always been able to travel with 4 kites a bar, a board, a pump with only checking one bag.  Keep in mind, I do usually travel to tropical kite destinations and only pack a handful of clothing items which mostly are bikinis!  Were I vacationing to a colder area, I may have trouble pulling this off.  

# The heavy items in the packing list to carryon
* bar and lines
* foot straps (from the board)
* harness
* board
* Neoprene- wetsuits, booties, gloves, hood

With the exception of the board all of these items should fit easily into a carry on bag.  Some companies are making “split boards” (boards that split in half) so they can fit in a carryon bag.  If you find one that you like riding, then having this would eliminate the need for using an oversized golf bag in the first place.  You could just use a large checked bag to pack all your kites into. 

# Packing the kites. 
I like to roll my kites tightly and wrap them up in a protective fabric to prevent any puncturing or tears while in the bag.  To save on the extra weight I usually use my rash guards, sun proof shirts, and sarongs for this.  Then I secure the tightly packed kite with a lightweight string around it. 


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# The pump.  
Do not make the mistake of packing extra items inside the pump body.  It has a silicone based lubricant inside to keep the gasket sexy and working for you.  You don’t want to disrupt this delicate balance.  

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# The board 
Be sure to remove the foot straps and pack them into your carryon.  Also, remove the fins and handle and store separately.  This will make your bag more streamlined when packing.  I have heard stories of fins not making it through security because of how sharp they are, so be careful with this if you plan to carry them on. 


Enjoy your travels!!