So, let’s say you’ve just signed up to Salty Lemon and received your shiny new kite, board and equipment. But, small problem, your miles away from the ocean and need to fly somewhere to use this lovely new gear you have. Salty Lemon is here to help – here is everything you need to know about travelling with Salty Lemon gear!
First and foremost, make sure everything is packed away safely. If your gear is still neatly packed from when the courier handed it over to you, then no worries – you can move on. If your excitement overcame you and you HAD to open and try on everything, and we don’t blame you, then be sure to follow our guide on packing everything away correctly.
Picking your dream location
Next, you’ll want to get to an area with a beach. There’s a good chance you already have somewhere in mind, in which case, go for it! If you’re needing some suggestions, here are some of our favourites!
There’s a good chance you’ll need to drive and fly before you can surf, and you may have some questions about how best to do that. Driving, thankfully, is the easy part. There isn’t much that you need to worry about when loading and unloading your gear into the car – except for making sure the doors or boot/trunk don’t snag your bag and potentially damage your gear.
Taking to the skies
Flying, on the other hand, can be tricky for surfers who are unaware of some of the tricks of the trade. Airline rules are built around tourists who typically only pack clothes and some smaller items – meaning larger items are penalised through fees for being overweight or large. So, let’s look at some ways to prepare for this and possibly even bypass this completely!
Google is your friend
Firstly, make sure you research the airline you’re using thoroughly. Not every airline’s policy is the same, and you may find one carrier offers more favourable check-ins than another. It’s common for airlines to allow you to check-in baggage that weighs from 23 to 32 kilograms (50 to 70 pounds), so this helps you balance out how you pack your bags to make sure nothing goes over that. It’s good to know where the airliners stand as a starting point, so be sure to visit their websites, read the fine print and give them a call if anything seems unclear.
Remember clean underwear
Next, plan your bags accordingly. Weigh up the convenience of having bags with wheels over how much they weigh and the extra stuff you can pack in. Think about what bag will come with you to the beach, where you’d store your wetsuit after getting out of the ocean, and what items will go in which bag to balance the weight. You might want to make a list of everything that needs to come with you so that you don’t forget to pack it and make sure you have space in the bag for it. Having a hand scale is also useful to make sure each of your bags fit in with your airline’s regulations, so you won’t get fined or asked to unpack your bag at the airport.
Fore!
Another thing to consider is packing your kites and as much of your tall gear into a golf bag over a branded kite bag. Go with us on this one! You see, checking your bag in is as much about psychology as it is about following airline rules. For whatever reason, airlines tend to pander towards golfers, as they’re seen as the wealthy upper class, and there are often different rules that apply specifically towards golf bags. So, you can definitely roll a kite tight enough to slide into a golf bag – just make sure you have the kind that zips closed! We don’t make the rules, we just make them work for us!
Travelling made easy
Finally, as a Salty Lemon subscriber, you also get the peace of mind that Salty Insurance has your back, no matter what. We cover your major equipment, like your kite and board, against incidents like theft and damage in transit. You’ll receive full documentation about how Salty Insurance works, but know that it is a safety blanket for you to confidently travel anywhere in the world with your gear. Should you ever be unsure, our support team loves to help you out – drop them an email at [email protected] and we will go out of our way to help you no matter what your situation is!
