Dive Bag vs. Dive Box...

[Tropicalwolf]

Looking for some opinions on this issue. What do you prefer, using a dive bag or using a hard-side box (like a gorilla box w/wheels) for dive gear. I am looking for opinions on actaul usage "on-site", not for storage. Also looking for opinons on what types of bags/boxes are best, most rugged, most useful, etc. Thoughts?

 

[rongoodman]

I'd rather use a milk crate, but a bag seems to take up less room on a boat.

For traveling, I use duffel bags from Wild Things, which are light and pretty much indestructible. I'd rather use my luggage allowance for my SS plate and OMS Slipstreams instead of worrying about saving a couple of pounds on "travel" dive gear which will be then packed into heavy, padded luggage.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I mostly shore dive out of my car. So my preferred container is a plastic, wheeled container that I bought at Home Depot for about $25. It stores easily in my car, keeps my wet gear and dry car separated on the ride home, and once I get home all I gotta do is fill the container up with fresh water and pull my gear out a piece at a time to hang up.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[vladimir]

I assume you're talking about dives that don't involve air travel; the airlines frown upon milk crates as luggage. If you decide to go to the tropics, Tropicalwolf, you'll need a bag. I go with a regular suitcase, a light one, for the flight, and a mesh bag after that.

 

[PatW]

I use a bag for boat dives. I carry my BC with attached computer and regulators. In the dive bag goes my other gear: boots, wet suit, fins, mask, snorkel and associated stuff. Sometimes space is a bit limited on a boat and it is nice to have a bag because it can conform to the space available. A rigid box would be less efficient that way. Also getting on and off a boat might be a bit limiting. A box would require you to move it with both hands, or so it seems to me.

Now, I can see the advantages of a wheeled rigid box for some applications. If you mainly shore dive, a box might be convenient.

 

[Dockmaster]

I mostly shore dive out of my car. So my preferred container is a plastic, wheeled container that I bought at Home Depot for about $25. It stores easily in my car, keeps my wet gear and dry car separated on the ride home, and once I get home all I gotta do is fill the container up with fresh water and pull my gear out a piece at a time to hang up.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I've been using this method for years and it works well for me. I keep my weights and a few extras in a milk crate.

For boat dives, I carry my gear in a mesh duffel bag that I bought at L.L. Bean many years ago. After the dive, the full mesh bag goes into the plastic container and then everything gets a good soaking when I get home.

 

[Stu S.]

On a dive boat, your seat is as wide as two tanks. Your dive bag, box, or other container should be able to fit into the space under your seat, 16 inches wide. That usually means a dive bag of nylon and mesh construction.

I'd use a shopping cart if I could. The big plastic Costco type. But... it won't fit under the seat.

 

[Walter]

I use a plastic box (no wheels) in my car. It keeps the car from getting wet. If I'm diving from a boat, I leave the box in the car and keep my gear in a dive bag (actually, a soft gym bag style suit case (much cheaper than dive bags). After the boat ride, the dive bag goes in the plastic box keeping the interior of the car dry. When just doing beach dives, I skip the dive bag and just use the box. There's not enough room on a boat for those plastic boxes.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

On a dive boat, your seat is as wide as two tanks. Your dive bag, box, or other container should be able to fit into the space under your seat, 16 inches wide. That usually means a dive bag of nylon and mesh construction.

I'd use a shopping cart if I could. The big plastic Costco type. But... it won't fit under the seat.

A seat 2 tanks wide, dang must be nice.

I have been on a lot of boats with 1 seat=1 tank. Once you set up your gear, the bags goes below. If you bring a big box, it gets left on the dock.

 

[Dyno Bill]

A seat 2 tanks wide, dang must be nice.

I have been on a lot of boats with 1 seat=1 tank. Once you set up your gear, the bags goes below. If you bring a big box, it gets left on the dock.

That's it, I'm not diving in Texas..... way too uncivilized