Flying with Gear?

[RonFrank]

Hi,

Being rather new to this (but luvin it!!) I have a quesiton about traveling with gear.

Do you attempt to carry on everything? I have a Ranger BC, and like it so far, but it is a bit bulky...

If you do NOT carry on everything what do you carry on? I was thinking maybe pack the BC, and then carry on puter, Reg, and personal gear....

If you DO carry everything on, what have you found is the best bag to accomplish this?

One of my main concerns is that I'm a bit of a camera freak, and already generally carry on gear in that area.

Any thoughts or suggestions are VERY much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[Fly N Dive]

when i go on a dive trip i bring a full kit - weights. i carry my regs and computer with me. and pack the rest in a akona rolling duffel. i have never had a problem with stuff getting stolen or broken.

 

[jbisjim]

when i go on a dive trip i bring a full kit - weights. i carry my regs and computer with me. and pack the rest in a akona rolling duffel. i have never had a problem with stuff getting stolen or broken.

I do the same. I have the akona Roller Backpack: AKB144.

 

[MyDiveLog]

I bring my computers, regs, and dive lights with me in a carry-on. If I had photo gear I'd carry it on as well. I use a simple 'pull behind' bag with an extendable handle that I bought for $100 at Costco. It's the same bag that I use for business travel, and is usually large enough to fit an extra set of clothes, meds, snacks, reading material, etc. My first trip I put the scuba gear in a backpack, but it was so darn heavy that it hurt my shoulders.

I leave the BC, fins, wetsuit, & everything else in the checked luggage. Wrap your wetsuit or some clothes around anything that might break (lights, mask, etc.). Don't bother to lock the checked bag, because they'll just cut it off.

 

[RICHinNC]

it depends on your gear. Im going to bonaire in dec and i plan to put my bpand wing in a backpack with fins and mask and carry on. Will have regs and puter in my camera back as carry on. Never had any problem.

Will be taking my pony bottle too....and the TSA customer service rep at RDU told me that even though the TSA website says i could carry the pony on....things would go smoother and he would appreciate it if i would put the pony in the checked baggage...so guess what...i will.

and i will print a copy of their rules and attach it to the pony and have a copy in my back pack even though he said no problem taking bp and wing on carry on.

TSA HQ will tell you.....no matter what the written rules....it is the last TSA agent you come in contact that has the authority to override any written rule. Hell of a way to do business huh???

rich

 

[Dive-aholic]

Same here. BCs, regs/computers, lights, photo equipment gets carried on. Too fragile and too expensive to trust out of sight. Rest of it gets checked. We used to put zip ties on the checked bags and hang around to replace the ones TSA cuts off (they have their own, but we use fluorescent ones so we can find our bags easier). We just bought TSA locks, though, and plan to test them this Friday. We heard about them on another thread here on SB. Masterlock makes combo locks that are approved by TSA. TSA has their own combo to them and can open them. They are stamped with TSA on the bottom, so they should know they have the combo (we'll stick around the first time just in case). We bought them from Home Deport for just under $7. We'll let you know how they worked when we get back.

 

[Virgil]

I keep the bits with me that I mainly reay on for keeping me alive - namely my Reg set up. It's in a padded bag and it never leaves my side. I've seen how baggage handlers treat luggage.

Only problem I've found in these days of heightened security is that the computer, which I keep in the Reg bag tends, to confuse those poor dears doing the bag scanning. I even had one call over an armed policeman to supervise whilst I opened it.

 

[Scuby Dooby]

Looks like I'm alone again. I HATE carrying a heavy bag all around the airport - if I can't fit everything for the whole trip into my check on bag (if I'm not diving then I usually can) then I'm going to pack most of it. I put everything but my computer (wrist mount with bungies so it tucks into my front pocket easily) into a cheapo roller duffle bag (dunlop) that I bought for about $10 and check it all in. If you are careful in the way you pack your gear I think you'll be fine.

Here is how I pack the bag:

- Fins on bottom to give a bit more protection on the bottom of the bag.
- Masks inside the foot pockets of the fins, glass pointing up
- BC goes next, tank bands facing down, with the bottom (waist) side facing toward the end of the bag without rollers (will be upright when bag is rolled). BC is put inside with the sides splayed out over the edges of the bag at this point.
- Inside the BC goes my regs - 1st / 2nd stages, spg all at the same point where the waist will fold over them and protect them.
- Next goes my dry bag with 1st aid kit, gloves, repair stuff, etc into the bottom side of the bag (end with rollers)
- I then place my 3mil full suit rolled loosely one side of the bag and my shortyon the other side to help cushion the sides of the bag.
- I put my flashlights in my booties and stuff them in between the dry bag and the regs.
- On the top I put enough clothes, to cushion and fill up the bag.

I then cinch it up a bit tight so it won't shift around too much and stick a zip tie on the zipper and then new fragile stickers around the bag.

I haven’t had a problem with anything going missing or being broken after somewhere around 40 flights. Dive gear is pretty sturdy stuff and I'm not so concerned that it's going to get broken by baggage handlers. It's much more likely to get broken by the guy that drops his weights on your foot on the boat or the woman at the resort who leaves her cylinder standing on end and then walks away . . . etc etc etc.

By the way, I also have a zeagle ranger and while it can be a bit of a chore to pack it makes great padding!

good luck

 

[Charlie99]

Looks like I'm alone again. I HATE carrying a heavy bag all around the airport - if I can't fit everything for the whole trip into my check on bag (if I'm not diving then I usually can) then I'm going to pack most of it.

My routine is similar. If I'm going to check a bag, then I might as well put almost everything in it.

I used to take my prescription mask and regs in carryon, but decided that they are actually safer in well packed checked luggage.

The mask is protected by first its mask box, and then wrapped inside the BC. Regs are padded with a wetsuit. Clothing makes good padding for other stuff.

My carryon includes my bathing suit, my cert card, and a credit card.

 

[DPJ]

Don't bother to lock the checked bag, because they'll just cut it off.

As noted in this thread, there are locks made that can be bought at travel stores that are "TSA approved" that they can open. I think they are worth the investment.