I need a new Gear Bag....recommendations?

[av8er23]

I have been looking at some new bags. All I have now is a mesh bag and I am kind of tired of it. I want one with wheels..being a backpack is also cool. Here is the one that I believe most fits my needs. Please give me your opinions on it. Does anyone happen to have one for sale? Any other recommendations?

http://www.divesports.com/mall/akona_bag_akb144.asp

 

[Hoosier]

Check out Triple_L. You can get the same bag at a half price. And, have you ever tried "search" function? You can have a lot of posts about this matter.

Good luck!

 

[scubatoys]

We used to carry the Akona, but recently switched to the XS Scuba Rolling Backpack bag. It is actually the guy who designed the Akona bags, jumped ship, moved across the street from Akona and is making his own bags now. Of course the first thing he did was look at problems the akona had.. and fixed them.

For example, the wheels and handles, if broken... and a wheel can blow out - on the Akona the wheels and handles are riveted into place. XS scuba uses stainless bolts, so if you blow out a handle or wheel, you can ship back just the assembly that broke, and not the whole bag. Also made the reg bag bigger and rounder - hoses go round when you roll them up - not square, and the mesh sport bottle holder gets torn up a lot in luggage carrousels at airports, so on the XS scuba, there is a zippered pocket it goes into when traveling to keep it from getting snagged.

So while the Akona is a very nice bag... with the new improvements in the XS scuba, I'd lean toward that one... Officially a few bucks more, but with your 10% scubaboard discount - it works out to about the same.

 

[RICHinNC]

I am not clear on the purpose of the bag. Is the purpose just to get gear from say the hotel to the dock or whereever you are diving? Or, is the purpose to pack the gear and have it checked in on an airplane for a trip??

I know here in NC if you cant fold it up and put it under a practically non existant boat seat.....everyone including the boat cpt will not be happy with you.

And, if you are looking for something to put on an airplane I would recommend a different approach. With TSA paranoia and airlines seeming to spot and charge more for dive gear now a days, before I got my bp and wing (which fits in a regulation carry on bag) I used a Seaquest PQD. I went to Lowes or Home Depot and got the smallest plastic container it would fit in, a couple of luggage straps to keep the top from poping off as the luggage apes threw it around, and put the whole thing in a non-descript duffle bag like suitcase. No dive company logos or anything like that to say....dive gear...steal me!!!

It worked great. Just depends on what your objective is.
rich

 

[av8er23]

It would be for transporting anywhere. In airplane, (i am a pilot), on cruise boats, to the beach or spring ect. I am looking at the XS and it looks nice. I was not aware that we recieved a 10% discount as scubaboard members. I was really looking to stay around 100 bucks.

 

[av8er23]

Check out Triple_L. You can get the same bag at a half price. And, have you ever tried "search" function? You can have a lot of posts about this matter.

Good luck!

Thanks for that recommendation. this one looks identical to the anoka
http://www.scubal.com/content/index.php?proid=1001&catid=187&procatid=102

I think this one is very reasonabley priced.
http://www.scubal.com/content/index.php?proid=1003&catid=187&procatid=

Do you own one or have any experience with the quality of these bags? Do you happen to know how long they have been making bags?

 

[Hoosier]

Check out these threads,

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=57489&highlight=laguna+triple

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=56304&highlight=laguna+triple

This is my review about their Titan bag.

2. Titan Bag,

Pros:
Price
Size. You can put your all gear except your tank.
Big fin compartment.

Cons:
Bulky design, It is just a block design. Don’t expect any round on the bag.
Too many and large company logos. It shouts out the company name.
The side carrying handles should be located in other side. Otherwise, the contents of two zipper side bags will be easily collapsed.

Overall, it is a great bag in that price if you don’t mind the design at all.

Thanks for that recommendation. this one looks identical to the anoka
http://www.scubal.com/content/index.php?proid=1001&catid=187&procatid=102

I think this one is very reasonabley priced.
http://www.scubal.com/content/index.php?proid=1003&catid=187&procatid=

Do you own one or have any experience with the quality of these bags? Do you happen to know how long they have been making bags?

 

[av8er23]

ok, I have decided to go with a backpack without wheels. Here is the two models that I am seriously looking at. My one concern is the expedition does not have fin pockets on the side. I think that is a very nice feature but maybe I am wrong. The expedition is a little larger and actually looks better but it also has less pockets. Please give me your opinions if you have previously owned any bags similar to these. I think It would be nice to have separate pockets for everything but maybe it would not matter. All I have experience with is my crappy mesh bag that I just toss my stuff into and it does not protect anything.

https://www.scubal.com/content/inde...id=102&Mysid=1888f93139b9323710967ed4050f8742

https://www.scubal.com/content/inde...id=102&Mysid=1888f93139b9323710967ed4050f8742

 

[Hoosier]

If you are looking for only backpack style, I recommend Titan. You want to have many pockets anytime soon. And, fin is not a heavy stuff, but bulky stuff because of its shape. So, fin pocket is a great feature. Titan doesn't come with the detachable regulator bag, but it doesn't matter to me because I want to carry the regulator seperately. The major cons of this bag is a block looking shape.

But, who cares. It is a cheap and you are on vacation.

We used to carry the Akona, but recently switched to the XS Scuba Rolling Backpack bag. It is actually the guy who designed the Akona bags, jumped ship, moved across the street from Akona and is making his own bags now. Of course the first thing he did was look at problems the akona had.. and fixed them. .

Larry.. Now I can see why you recommended XS Scuba bag when I got an Akona weight bag from you. You didn't tell me that story

 

[av8er23]

My order came in today. I ended up getting the titan and the malibu. they are both great bags. I think i am going to use the titan as my primary bag most of the time. I was very satisfied with the qualtity. That was a great recommendation. They are soooo much cheaper than the name brands like akona. I would recommend these bags. I do not think you will be dissappointed. I love this forum.....many helpful people.