If you were designing a new dive bag...
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Curt Bowen
Contributor
All of the members on my expeditions bring hard cases with latches. (I require this) This enables all the boxes to be straped to the tops of vans, trucks etc... Keeps all items from being smashed or broken because of someone dropping something heavy on them. The boxes are somewhat water proff so if it rains its OK. And you can use them as a chair or a bed if you line up 3 of them, which i have done a few times.
The boxes we use are simple $19.95 rubbermaid type boxes from Wallmart or Home depot. They have two latches and molded in handles and a large hing on the back. They last about 3-4 expeditions, then you buy another box.
The boxes we use are simple $19.95 rubbermaid type boxes from Wallmart or Home depot. They have two latches and molded in handles and a large hing on the back. They last about 3-4 expeditions, then you buy another box.
I gree with all this comments" I would like to see a bag which protects our gear.
1. Rollers & Straps
2. Pad Lock
3.Quality!!!! Quality!!!! ansd more Quality
4. A bag that does not stand out..
5. Zipper Heavy duty..
6. Stands without damaging our gear.
7. Water proof inside protect padding.
8. Low cost Replace of broken parts. Insurance
This is not much to ask for". Or Is it? Take care
1. Rollers & Straps
2. Pad Lock
3.Quality!!!! Quality!!!! ansd more Quality
4. A bag that does not stand out..
5. Zipper Heavy duty..
6. Stands without damaging our gear.
7. Water proof inside protect padding.
8. Low cost Replace of broken parts. Insurance
This is not much to ask for". Or Is it? Take care
Kestrell
Guest
How about a water-proof compartment for a wet, wet suit and some sort of locking cable that you can run through your BC and some mechanism to clamp your reg to, inside the bag for those times when there aren't gear lockers to put your gear into. Not purfect, but better than nothing when you are afraid to leave your room in between dives because you gear might walk away.
mack50md
Contributor
I agree with what everybody said about their needs for the types of travel they do. All valid good points. So, I am going to just address air travel and life support gear.
A lot of threads on here address regulator bags and air travel. This issue always centers around the debate of putting your reg and instruments in your check-in or carry-on. The concern with check-in is having your life support gear handled by TSA and airline baggage handlers. I for one, am in the camp with carry-on folks.
To me, the biggest check-in travel bag design challenge would be to come up with a safe and "hardened" compartment for your reg(s) and, computer(s)/console(s) in the bag. Most designs have compartments mounted external or have separate zip-on reg bags. If you do find a good working design, it will still be a hard sell to convince a lot of divers to trust packing their life support gear in a check-in size bag.
A lot of threads on here address regulator bags and air travel. This issue always centers around the debate of putting your reg and instruments in your check-in or carry-on. The concern with check-in is having your life support gear handled by TSA and airline baggage handlers. I for one, am in the camp with carry-on folks.
To me, the biggest check-in travel bag design challenge would be to come up with a safe and "hardened" compartment for your reg(s) and, computer(s)/console(s) in the bag. Most designs have compartments mounted external or have separate zip-on reg bags. If you do find a good working design, it will still be a hard sell to convince a lot of divers to trust packing their life support gear in a check-in size bag.
lairdb
Contributor
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I wrote a fairly long note not too long ago about roller duffle features and designs; it can be found here.
Having made several trips since I wrote that note, I'll comment on my own message a bit.
Travel tip, depending on the boat/circumstances: I tried a new approach this last trip, that worked fairly well. In the past, I have taken my roller duffle on the boat; it will go mostly-flat to go under a long bench and isn't usually a problem or inconvenience to anyone. This time, when I arrived, I unpacked and repacked so that all the small-stuff was in a small mesh duffle, which went back in the rollerduffle, and then packed the fully-set up BP/W on top, closed the rollerduffle, then strapped the camera on top of the bag using the compression straps. This let me navigate the hotel and gave me one package to handle into the car, but when I got to the boat dock, I left the rollerduffle in the trunk and "backpacked" the BP and carried the mesh and camera in each hand. This worked quite well.
(I keep having this odd thought of a... drycan, or gear-tank, let's call it, that is the same diameter as a tank. You would pack all the misc gear inside it, and then just strap it in place of the tank for all short transporting. Haven't fully thought this out, but if it was fairly rigid (which it would want to be for the strapping-on) it might fulfill the role of protecting checked semi-fragile items (small camera housing, reg, if you're a reg-checker, etc.) either as a small checked (or carry-on) item on it's own, or inside a checked big-soft-bag.) On boat, since it doesn't collapse, it would need to be stowed, but it could actually be stowed in a tank-rack, presuming an available spot.)
Having made several trips since I wrote that note, I'll comment on my own message a bit.
- Ziplocs still rule for organizing inside, though I still find having the miscellaneous rubbish (extra batteries, chapstick, etc.) in a small tupper works better when you arrive.
- Weight, weight, weight. The extendable rigid handle, which I regard as absolutely required, adds weight, and I'm not sure it can be gotten below 4# or so and still be durable. A ten pound bag therefore leaves room for 35# of gear, which I find means I have to pack a second bag, which either gets my lights, or my camera tray and flash.
- I'm still not convinced that standing on it's own is absolutely necessary, but it is nice.
- Ditto on backpack straps.
- However, if you do backpack straps, pay attention to where the water will go. I have several "mesh backpacks" that happily water my back or butt (including some that claim not to.)
- Critical design point: if you do not have a rigid end-panel at the wheelie-end, you must design the fabric cut such that if the bag is only partially full while rolled, the loose folds of fabric don't flop over and drag on the ground. The ideal design for this end of the bag would accomplish these three things simultaneously:
- it would be rigid (helping keep the bag's shape and prevent flop) about 3/4 of the way up the vertical dimension.
- it would help the bag stand on end when desired
- it would be able to fold down toward the bag, if you wanted it as flat as possible to shove under a bench or in a hold. I would give up standing-up to keep folding-flat, though I realize that may not be the popular opinion.
Travel tip, depending on the boat/circumstances: I tried a new approach this last trip, that worked fairly well. In the past, I have taken my roller duffle on the boat; it will go mostly-flat to go under a long bench and isn't usually a problem or inconvenience to anyone. This time, when I arrived, I unpacked and repacked so that all the small-stuff was in a small mesh duffle, which went back in the rollerduffle, and then packed the fully-set up BP/W on top, closed the rollerduffle, then strapped the camera on top of the bag using the compression straps. This let me navigate the hotel and gave me one package to handle into the car, but when I got to the boat dock, I left the rollerduffle in the trunk and "backpacked" the BP and carried the mesh and camera in each hand. This worked quite well.
(I keep having this odd thought of a... drycan, or gear-tank, let's call it, that is the same diameter as a tank. You would pack all the misc gear inside it, and then just strap it in place of the tank for all short transporting. Haven't fully thought this out, but if it was fairly rigid (which it would want to be for the strapping-on) it might fulfill the role of protecting checked semi-fragile items (small camera housing, reg, if you're a reg-checker, etc.) either as a small checked (or carry-on) item on it's own, or inside a checked big-soft-bag.) On boat, since it doesn't collapse, it would need to be stowed, but it could actually be stowed in a tank-rack, presuming an available spot.)
alemaozinho
Contributor
big enough for all the gear,very tough seams,an even tougher zipper,may be a few extra compartments and in my case i would like to have it watertight so the saltwater doesnt drip into the trunk and eats away the metal.I use a duffel bag from new zealand (about 7 years old now) its very large and made of tough cordura nylon and smooth pvc or else on the inside and bought it there for 29.95 kiwi dollar and its indestrucable and i would like to renew it only if i can find a better one as mine.Most bags i,ve seen are flimsy and not at all heavy duty like many other items in our world today.I would like to see someone cares for quality and name instead profit.PeaceScottZeagle:
Curt Bowen:
I'd like a big bag, 50% very heavy denier, the other 50% would be an HDPE tub.
I would like the tub to have a waterproof dry flap covering it, compartmentalizing wet and dry, and a threaded drain plug.
I would like the dry section to have several compartments too, especially one for the reg set and one that's accessible outside and in for misc. stuff. One for a dry change of clothing and a towel too.
I would really appreciate wheels too, they come in handy on my expeditions if I can't get a good parking spot.
hecker-the-wrecker
Guest
I wound up with the largest piece of roller luggage ever made. After arguing with my preagnant wife for an hour (and losing) over this bag, we used it once and she said, "It's just too &%^$ big." Then it slept in the basement for 4 years until my instructor suggested we buy, "wheeled soft sided luggage", bingo!! This thing is so big I carry all my primarys, AND back-ups!! The only thing I wish it had, is some sort of detachable storage for my weights.(I carry them in a second bag) othewise it's great!!
WHEELS: Why doesn't someone make the bag so that the wheels are:
1) Sturdy, large (say, 6"), with smooth ball bearings? All of them (including the StalSac) have too much resistance when pulling.
2) Replaceable ... even upgradeable? I've had two bags now where the wheels broke long before anything else. One was just because the "roller blade" wheels just wore out quickly. The second was a vicitim of the Catalina Express (the smaller boat insists on dumping your gear below deck and, if it lands on the wheel, that's all she wrote!).
If you're like me, too cheap to pay for the taxi service or the $10 rolling bin rental, the walk from the Catalina Express to Casino Point REALLY highlights the weaknesses of these bags.
HANDLE: Darn few of the bags have handles that are sturdy enough or long enough if you are tall (I'm 6'3"....not that tall). Why don't they have a bag set up like a platform with 4 wheels (not 2), and a flexible "pull along" cord option? That would transfer all the weight off your shoulder, unlike most bags.
TANK TRANSFER: All bags now pretty much make it difficult or impossible to carry your tank as part of the bag, either because the wheels aren't strong enough, or because it hurts your shoulder too much when pulling. If my "pull along" cart idea were implemented, it'd be a simple thing to allow the bag to accomodate the tank. Right now, when I dive Casino Point I have to take two pull-alongs: my bag and a separate "luggage cart" modified to handle my tank. It's a pain!
DRY/WET COMPARTMENTS: This has been covered elsewhere in this thread, but I wanted to add it to my wish list as well.
LESS REALISTIC, BUT WHAT THE HECK: How about a built-in ventilation/draininge/ drying system? After a trip the equipment is always somewhere between "musty" and "sopping wet" and pretty stinky when it gets home. It would be great if the bag helped with this (can't imagine how). Perhaps a tie-in with odor eaters or a baking soda brand? Maybe you could have replaceable "drying / stink remover" bags with a small ventilation fan?
I'm always available for Marketing Consultion for a fee ....
1) Sturdy, large (say, 6"), with smooth ball bearings? All of them (including the StalSac) have too much resistance when pulling.
2) Replaceable ... even upgradeable? I've had two bags now where the wheels broke long before anything else. One was just because the "roller blade" wheels just wore out quickly. The second was a vicitim of the Catalina Express (the smaller boat insists on dumping your gear below deck and, if it lands on the wheel, that's all she wrote!).
If you're like me, too cheap to pay for the taxi service or the $10 rolling bin rental, the walk from the Catalina Express to Casino Point REALLY highlights the weaknesses of these bags.
HANDLE: Darn few of the bags have handles that are sturdy enough or long enough if you are tall (I'm 6'3"....not that tall). Why don't they have a bag set up like a platform with 4 wheels (not 2), and a flexible "pull along" cord option? That would transfer all the weight off your shoulder, unlike most bags.
TANK TRANSFER: All bags now pretty much make it difficult or impossible to carry your tank as part of the bag, either because the wheels aren't strong enough, or because it hurts your shoulder too much when pulling. If my "pull along" cart idea were implemented, it'd be a simple thing to allow the bag to accomodate the tank. Right now, when I dive Casino Point I have to take two pull-alongs: my bag and a separate "luggage cart" modified to handle my tank. It's a pain!
DRY/WET COMPARTMENTS: This has been covered elsewhere in this thread, but I wanted to add it to my wish list as well.
LESS REALISTIC, BUT WHAT THE HECK: How about a built-in ventilation/draininge/ drying system? After a trip the equipment is always somewhere between "musty" and "sopping wet" and pretty stinky when it gets home. It would be great if the bag helped with this (can't imagine how). Perhaps a tie-in with odor eaters or a baking soda brand? Maybe you could have replaceable "drying / stink remover" bags with a small ventilation fan?
I'm always available for Marketing Consultion for a fee ....
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