Ideas Travel Bags

[Scotttyd]

I know everybody has different methods of packing their gear. I was just curious for some ideas before I spend even more money of travel bags. What type of bags do people use for travel. I have seen the roller duffel bags for sale for >$100. This seems kind of pricey for a soft sided bag when my luggage bag costs less than that and has more support (even if it is not a hard side).
I was planning on purchasing a regulator bag and carry it on (even put it inside my regular carry on to max the total amount of items to carry on, ie. camera, etc.)

Anyone want to share their travel secrets?

 

[Ann Marie]

I use my Akona bag that I usually take on boats. Depending on what I'm doing I have different boxes/bags for my gear. I have friends that take their pelican boxes, but are often very close to the max weight for the airlines. I like the Akona Roller Backpack and have used the backpack straps when I've had to carry the bag across sand or where the wheels aren't useful.

When I travel I usually have in my carry-on the following: my camera, laptop, mask, regulator setup, a bathing suit, shorts and t-shirt and underwear. I figure that if my luggage is lost; I can still dive and survive for a few days. I can purchase the incidentals without any trouble. I use the clothes to buffer all the other stuff.

 

[SterlingDiver]

I know everybody has different methods of packing their gear. I was just curious for some ideas before I spend even more money of travel bags. What type of bags do people use for travel. I have seen the roller duffel bags for sale for >$100. This seems kind of pricey for a soft sided bag when my luggage bag costs less than that and has more support (even if it is not a hard side).
I was planning on purchasing a regulator bag and carry it on (even put it inside my regular carry on to max the total amount of items to carry on, ie. camera, etc.)

Anyone want to share their travel secrets?

.....has some advantages. I have to kit out seven divers in my family. I finally found a couple of websites like ebags.com and bought rolling duffle bags for around $40 a piece. They work great and no one ever understands that each one may have a couple thousand dollars of dive gear inside.

A good, larger reg. bag with pockets is a great addition. Carry it on and use it like a purse or backpack, very practical and keeps your regs. safe. Leisure Pro. is a good resource for these.

Good Diving and traveling.

 

[Buoyant1]

I use a standard rolling suitcase for my suit, bc, fins, extra mask and other indidental gear..I have regulator bag (which I usually stuff a paperback and my cd player in since my other bag ususlly needs gate checked) and I carry in a small rolling case my computer, log, main mask, camera and my toiletries. (and other crap) I was considering stuffing the reg bag into my Akona "camera" bag and using that as a second carry on (i.e. personal item) but I've not really researched what I could get away with...

When "flying" to the Keys, I started shipping my gear to a UPS store (there's one next to Divers Direct and BlueWater Divers in Key largo) and shipping it home...for anywhere else, no clue gotta lug it!

 

[Jrock1062]

I have the Akona 176 and reg bag that is a carry on. In that i can carry on to the airplane my reg, fins, BC, mask, bathing suit and computer. Everything else i check I figure if i am going to lose stuff it might as well be the cheap stuff, I carry whats worth the most with me.:14:

 

[Scotttyd]

This is what I was thinking.

I will probably not fly a lot to go diving. Maybe 1-2 times a year.

1. Buy a regulator bag that will hold two sets of regs.

Stahlsac Roatan Regulator Bag, Dive Bags, Stahlsac, Stahlsac Roatan Regulator Bag

Anyone know if this would be classified as a "personal bag" for the airlines, and then I could use my carry-on for my camera,strobe, computer and other incidentals?

Also, does anyone know if you can really fit two sets of regs in any of the other smaller reg bags?

2. Use my regular luggage for the rest of my gear. I have a problem with advertising that I have scuba gear in my bag, to easy for someone at the crowded airports to pick it off.

3. Get a inexpensive duffel to use when I drive to my diving, and can fold in my regular luggage to carry when I am traveling.

 

[Scotttyd]

I have the Akona 176 and reg bag that is a carry on. In that i can carry on to the airplane my reg, fins, BC, mask, bathing suit and computer. Everything else i check I figure if i am going to lose stuff it might as well be the cheap stuff, I carry whats worth the most with me.:14:

does the akona 176 hold your fins? It looks like it would be a tight fit for XL fins. My only issue with that is for two divers, we have to use up both our carry-ons. I personally would like to be more efficient, although I love the fact you can put your laptop in that bag

 

[SterlingDiver]

This is what I was thinking.

I will probably not fly a lot to go diving. Maybe 1-2 times a year.

1. Buy a regulator bag that will hold two sets of regs.

Stahlsac Roatan Regulator Bag, Dive Bags, Stahlsac, Stahlsac Roatan Regulator Bag

Anyone know if this would be classified as a "personal bag" for the airlines, and then I could use my carry-on for my camera,strobe, computer and other incidentals?

Also, does anyone know if you can really fit two sets of regs in any of the other smaller reg bags?

2. Use my regular luggage for the rest of my gear. I have a problem with advertising that I have scuba gear in my bag, to easy for someone at the crowded airports to pick it off.

3. Get a inexpensive duffel to use when I drive to my diving, and can fold in my regular luggage to carry when I am traveling.

...........the reg bag you show looks like the one I use now. You can load it up with your personal stuff and carry it on with no problems. BlueReef has a two pocket reg bag that is smaller than the one shown that you could easily get two regs. in. I had that bag also and in some ways the smaller size was handier. It seems like it was in the $30 range online.

If you are not already using a mesh bag they are very handing on the boat or if you are just snorkling, etc. and they stowe in your other luggage when you travel.

Good Luck

 

[NancyLynn]

Anyone know if this would be classified as a "personal bag" for the airlines, and then I could use my carry-on for my camera,strobe, computer and other incidentals?

I fly quite a lot, and no one has ever questioned what I carry on, as long as it is only two items. (And only TSA has questioned the number. I didn't get #3 stuffed inside #2 before they saw it, but once they saw it fit inside the second bag they didn't care.)

I routinely travel with a suit bag and my briefcase which measures 12.5 x 15.5 x 7. Depending on size of the jet, you may get asked to gate check one of the bags.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I own just about every possible akona bag, they make great products, and I rarely travel but I will be traveling to Cozumel and Cancun for 16 days in march and plan to fully utilize my baggage rights.

I have the akona AKB176 for carry on gear including my doubles and singles regs, computer, bottom timer, mask, 9lb stainless back plate, Ipod, Bose quite comfort headphones, and other expensive gear.

I plan to use the akona AKB156 for all my larger stuff and on this trip I will have my singles wing, doubles wing, fins, spare mask, tool kit, 7mm 2 piece wetsuit, gloves, hood, boots, etc.

Then I plan to utilize the akona AKB226 if I need more space for clothing, shoes, sandals, toiletries, etc. Unless I dont need that much room than I may downsize to a smaller bag.

Northwest airlines allows 2 checked bags 50lbs each and 1 carry on 50lbs and one "personals bag" of purse size or laptop size (gray area).

Once I would have traveled with a pony too but the airlines have made that impossible. T