Packing Equipment for Travel

[jodomonk]

I will be flying from Seattle to New Zealand in January and have never flown with my gear before. I am looking for any and all packing tips to prevent any damage. I have already recieved a couple of suggestions, such as stuffing my semidry with socks where it creases. I am looking for more tips of this nature, especially how to best protect my regs. I am NOT taking tanks, BC, or weights of any sort. Thanks!

 

[SteveC]

I put my fins on bottom, next the bc, then reg in it’s own bag, and put it inside the bc. Then wet suit on top. This protects the reg as much as possible.

 

[Teamcasa]

Can or do you plan to carry on your regs? If not, I wrap them in a t-shirt or two. Pack them in the middle to avoid crushing.

 

[jodomonk]

Can or do you plan to carry on your regs? If not, I wrap them in a t-shirt or two. Pack them in the middle to avoid crushing.

Is there any way to get them to treat your checked bag with a little more care aside from the "Fragile" stickers that airline employees seem to be forbidden to pay attention to.

 

[Teamcasa]

Is there any way to get them to treat your checked bag with a little more care aside from the "Fragile" stickers that airline employees seem to be forbidden to pay attention to.

Oh man, if there is any way DON’T put fragile stickers on. The baggage handlers translate that to destroy!

Seriously, regs are pretty durable but you can also roll them up and put them inside cardboard box in your bag. It will add a little crush protection.

If weight limit and budget permits, look into a hard Pelican type case.

 

[Doc]

Seriously, regs are pretty durable

Bingo!

but you can also roll them up and put them inside cardboard box in your bag.

A little cardboard, some tape... :14:

If weight limit and budget permits, look into a hard Pelican type case.

But please don't be one of those idjits that uses a Pelican as a carry-on. Nothin' says dumb more than that. Put it in a duffel bag and check it through. They are made for checking, not carrying aboard. :no

 

[Arizona]

I check all my gear, except for my regs. Carrying them onboard has worked out well. IMO buying a cheap rolling type duffle from Walmart would be the way to go for your other gear. If it gets banged up it won't cost you that much to replace. You could replace it every few years if need be.

AZ

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I'm not allowed to take reg's as carry on with Skyservice.
I put them in a hard sided reg bag, then put them inside my BC wrapped in my wetsuit.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I have last years akona travel bags (IE progression and the matching carryon) I have never traveled with gear but am planning ahead with this system.

I am allowed 2 bags 50lbs each for checked luggage for free and if between 50 and 70lbs there is a $20 charge.

Carry on is only limited by size not weight for Northwest which is what I will be using in march.

I will be traveling with 7mm 2 piece wet suit, 9lb stainless plate, 2 wings (32lb and 45lb), 4 first stage regs and 4 seconds and 2 computers and 2 analog pressure gauges, fins, and all the usual stuff plus a fair size tools kit.

The heavy stuff including tools and plate and regs will all be carry on for me and with northwest any tools under 7" total are legal as carry on. and all the light stuff and bulky items will get checked.

Since I will be in cancun for 16 days I will be taking full advantage of the luggage restrictions as I will be taking cave training and reef diving.

I am also allowed a carry on camera/computer bag with northwest if I still need more space.

as a precaution I picked up a bunch of TSA approved locks on ebay and when the TSA are concerned packing methods is important. You want things neat and orderly so it is easier to search and repack, always pack in layers and whenever possible dont make things fit in such a way that some idiot cant put everything back real fast. and having bags with lots of pockets makes more work for the checkers and thus more time and thus a greater chance of baggage being "lost"

If you need to travel with anything questionable check and double check the rules and take anything fragile onboard.

Avoid Pelican cases for stuff whenever possible because much of the time the case will way more than you are allowed all by its self so expect to pay way more.

I include a detailed list on top of the bags contents especially for expensive things and I will take pics before I leave so if something disappears I can get it covered.

Hope that helps. T

 

[annasea]

I'm not allowed to take reg's as carry on with Skyservice.
I put them in a hard sided reg bag, then put them inside my BC wrapped in my wetsuit.

Really?? What is the reason? (I'm a loyal Air Canada/Star Alliance flyer but I've never heard of this before so I'm curious.)