Checked scuba gear - hard vs. soft side bag

[EllyBell]

I'm getting ready to pack for a trip to the Bahamas next week. I only have a soft sided Aqualung duffle that I use for my gear on a daily basis. I could use this for my checked bag, but I also figured out that I can fit all my gear plus my duffle folded up in my large suitcase and still make the weight limits. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on if it would be better to use the hard sided luggage if I'm able to or am I just being paranoid? I've seen what happens to luggage and am just worried about my stuff being thrown around.

And I will be carrying on my reg, computer, and camera equipment.

 

[diver 85]

Hard ---with NO scuba logos on it(red flag time)......It may not look as 'cool' but it's very effective.....can fit 2 sets of full gear in a hard(large) older Samsonite....I'm not too proud, lol....@ least it's worked for me for more than 50 overseas trips...

 

[lmorin]

My wife and I have used a rolling duffle for two sets of gear that checks in at 48.5 lbs. Our med-lg heavy duty nylon semihard suitcase for our clothing plus books, snacks and misc. stuff usually checks in a 49 lbs. That has been an OK combo (plus carry-ons for more books, masks, regs/computer, camera, UWcase, lights, batteries and misc. other stuff) until recently when there has been a greater effort by airlines to clamp down on weight restrictions. I just bought another rolling duffle slightly smaller than the one used for our gear. It weighs about 6 lbs less than the suitcase, but will hold the same volume. That greatly increases the packing versatility with respect to what is put in the carry-ons or in the checked luggage.

 

[noreastDIVER84]

I just did my first airline trip with scuba gear and I did use a hard sided case. I actually put it into a pelican 1610 case. The case itself is 18 pounds which does cut into the weight limit, but I had BCD, mask, fins, two wetsuits, and a light. I weighed it at 49 pounds at home and the airline weighed it at 47, so I wasn't going to dispute that. Leaving Long Island, where the TSA idiots don't know what they are looking at they did search the hard case and they grilled me about the U/W camera and regulator in my carry on. The arm for the strobe in the camera case bothered them, and the whole regulator setup that I had rolled up nicely in my bag bothered them as well.

Leaving Florida on the other had neither the hard case or my carry on bags got searched.

But in short to answer your question go with a hard sided case, there are cheaper and lighter solutions then the Pelican case as well, and they may not draw as much attention.

 

[ptyx]

Hard cases will offer more protection and (unless Pelican) won't scream "dive gear, steal me" than a scuba branded bag.

The downside is that they can be harder to stow once arrived. Especially if you're on a boat (or in a Catalina-sized hotel room).

 

[diver 85]

Hard cases will offer more protection and (unless Pelican) won't scream "dive gear, steal me" than a scuba branded bag.

The downside is that they can be harder to stow once arrived. Especially if you're on a boat (or in a Catalina-sized hotel room).

just slide ours(wife & I travel with a hard one--for diving gear--& a larger soft roller kind for clothes) under the bed(s)---or along an empty wall.......

 

[Doc]

Urban myth #1: SCUBA gear is delicate.

Your reg sets are all but bulletproof. Carry your mask and computer, cameras, etc. The rest of it will survive in a nylon bag.

Urban myth #2 SCUBA gear is a target of baggage thieves.

It is difficult to conceal SCUBA gear or hide on one's person if you are a baggage handler. It has very very limited resale value, even though you think it's valuable, once you walk out the door of the SCUBA Shop, it's worth not much. Pawn shops will give you very little, Play-It-Again won't touch it. Baggage thefts are targeted for small valuables that easily concealed and bring good resale value: electronics, jewelry, cameras

Logo'd suitcases are pretty dumb, however.

Pelicans hand-carried on-board are a further affectation of the poseur.

 

[rongoodman]

I use the same duffels from Wild Things that I used for years to haul around climbing gear. They're bombproof, don't weigh much, and don't have any SCUBA labels on them. They're also easy for me to spot on the luggage carousel Regulator, mask, primary light, and gauges go in the carry on.