Stronger Valves, Longer Life – Dr.Tuba’s New Bladder Warranty
We are raising the bar again. All Dr.Tuba bladders now come with industry-leading warranty conditions, reflecting our commitment to premium quality and reliable service. Our goal remains simple: to deliver products that last longer and perform better in every session.
Many original valves from kite brands no longer meet our durability or weldability standards. Some are even discontinued or unsupported. Because of this, we are upgrading several valve types to stronger, longer-lasting replacement kite valves and wing valves that ensure excellent weld strength and long-term performance. We only use valves and bladder materials whose film and weld performance meet standards such as ISO 16365-3:2014 for thermoplastic polyurethanes.
We have seen countless cases of valves failing or breaking, often due to aging materials or weak factory welds. Our customers regularly ask us to replace such valves with something more durable. In most cases, valve changes are straightforward and require no structural modification. This includes most In/Out and one-pump valves. However, some replacements, such as changing a Duotone Airport valve to a SUP-style valve, require sewing reinforcement and new Velcro placement to secure the setup properly. Please note that such modifications might void the original brand warranty, so keep this in mind before proceeding.
Updated and / or Replaced Valves
- AIRUSH FBI 2015 → Unipump valves
- BEST Twist Lock 1 → BEST Twist Lock 2 (simple cap tie alteration on some models)
- BEST blue or grey nipple → Unipump valves
- BEST EZ V1 → Unipump valves
- BLADE MAD2 → Unipump valves
- BLADE MAD3 (black) → clear TPU version of the same valve
- CORE red one-pump → gold one-pump valves
- OZONE old nipple → Slingshot-style nipple valve
- OZONE V1 one-pump → Unipump valves
- CABRINHA (≤2019 black one-pump) → Unipump valves
- CABRINHA Airlock V1/V2 → universal Mini Boston valve
- CABRINHA (2020–2022 black one-pump) → 2021 brown one-pump
- CRAZY FLY black/blue one-pump → green one-pump, then Unipump when stock ends
- NORTH white nipple one-pump (pre-2018) → Unipump valves
- RRD V1 one-pump → Unipump valves
- All other obsolete valves → nearest compatible replacement
We guarantee the performance and proper fitment of all replacement valves. Valve upgrades are now part of our extended warranty process and will be applied automatically during production. All small parts where needed are included with the Unipump valves.
Information on Brainchild Valves
Original Brainchild valves are currently unavailable due to excessive cost. Reliable alternatives are already in place:
- BWS Boston-type valve replaces the original IO. It needs a different pump adapter, which is included with most standard pump hoses. The cap attachment point must be removed during installation.
- One-pump valves are replaced with Duotone Max Flow valves.
While not identical, these replacements provide consistent, worry-free performance. This change affects some Harlem and F-One kites produced by Brainchild’s factory. We plan to reintroduce original valves once pricing becomes reasonable.
Replacement Valves Examples
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Unipump ValvesReplace aging valves with a longer lasting solution. We match compatible parts, test pressure overnight, and include small parts where needed. For instance, we use our UNIPUMP valves instead old black ones on all Cabrinha kites prior 2020 models. |
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BWS In/Out Valve on DuotoneSo called "BWS" valve is an oversized Boston type of valve which is pumped with a standard nozzle adaptor found on most kite/wing pumps. The beauty of this valve is that it doesn't need any alterations on your product. This valve fits on many other kites or wings and it's basically the same as our big boston valve which is used on Ozone, Crazy Fly, RRD, etc. etc kites and wings. It can replace valves found on Duotone (Airport 2), Brainchild In/out and many others which has hole for valve in diameter of around 42mm+. |
Summary
Dr.Tuba bladders now come with an extended warranty and improved valve lineup. Older or discontinued valve types are being replaced with stronger, more durable versions for long-term reliability and easier maintenance. These changes ensure better welds, fewer failures, and guaranteed compatibility with our upgraded bladders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does changing my valve void the brand warranty?
A: Not if no sewing or reinforcement is needed. Dr.Tuba valves meet or exceed brand quality standards.
Q: What is your bladder warranty?
A: Learn more about our 5-year inflatable bladder warranty at https://drtuba.eu/content/industry-leading-warranty.
Q: Where to quickly search for bladders?
A: You can quickly find your bladder by following this link: https://drtuba.eu/bladders-quick-search.
Q: In case one valve fails on bladder, do I need to change whole bladder?
A: No, generally it's not needed to change whole bladder, you can buy replacement valve on adhesive valve base at https://drtuba.eu/adhesive-valves. If the bladder was previously already repaired or you're changing them on old gear then from our experience it's better to exchange whole bladder and replace it with new one.
Q: Do Unipump replacements fit older bladders without extra work?
A: In most cases yes. We add all needed parts to fit them with your current setup.
Q: Which valves are mounted on bladder, where I can check that they are correct?
A: We're the only service brand who list valve details on product details page. In this way you can check if the bladder will have a correct valves pre-welded on the bladder you want to order. In case there's a mix-match to the setup you have then feel free to contact us prior buy: https://drtuba.eu/support/contact-us.
Q: Will a valve swap affect my brand warranty?
A: If no sewing or reinforcement is required, the brand warranty typically stays intact. If structural work is needed, warranty can be affected. Ask us before we proceed.
Q: Do you pressure-test upgraded bladders before shipping?
A: Yes. Every bladder is inflated and held overnight as part of our quality control (QC) test and all bladders are dated.
Q: What if my kite uses a discontinued valve that is not listed?
A: We install the closest compatible replacement and guarantee fit and function. Contact support with the model and serial number.
Q: Are pump adapters included when switching to Boston or Mini Boston valves?
A: No, but normally standard adapter(s) is included with most pump hoses. If you need one, tell us and we will add it, we have some types always on stock.
Q: How long does a valve upgrade take?
A: Standard production time is 2–3 working days*. Priority service is available if you need faster shipping. * production time may vary based on season or order size and it's always displayed on your user Dasboard and on product details page.
Sources: ISO standard 16365-3:2014