Recommendations on large capacity diving equipment bag?

[CarcharodonCarcharias]

I use a large The North Face Base Camp duffel bag that fits my BCD, wetsuit, fins, mask, boots, clothing and a mares mesh backpack (for the boat). I put my regulator, camera bag, dive log binder and more clothes in a 20" samsonite spinner to carry on the plane.

My north face bag is nearing 20 years old and still has another 20 years left in it. It's been through countless airport baggage handlers and airplane cargo holds, and it is still in good shape. Easily the worth the money I spent on it.

They don't make things like they used to anymore.

 

[KevinNM]

They don't make things like they used to anymore.

I've heard the newer models are still pretty good. Not quite as tough due to EPA regs or something, but still pretty good. And the North Face lifetime warranty is really that.

 

[CarcharodonCarcharias]

I've heard the newer models are still pretty good. Not quite as tough due to EPA regs or something, but still pretty good. And the North Face lifetime warranty is really that.

Nothing against North Face, but I just feel that things in general are not well made nowadays. But NF is still one of the more reputable outdoor gears manufacturers out there.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Another vote for Stahlsac.Wheeled I have their Smuggler bag. When I picked it up from my LDS I thought everything isn't going to fit in here but it held a lot more than it looked like it was going to.

 

[Diving Dubai]

For airline travel, I have a Mares Cruise backpack pro. It takes all my gear, and I don't pack light (the last trip as well as a 3mm and skin, I took my Dry Suit and tropical undergarments)

On the Plus all my gear has survived undamaged (refs go in padded bags inside the bag)

On the minus, the outer doesn't stand up to the rigours of airlines and has tears. Also if your wheeling it on anything more than a smooth surface, it becomes unwealdy. I need a replacement and it won't be a Mares. I also always take a mesh bag to decant my kit into at my destination or before I go on the LOB

Fir day boats I have a XS Scuba net bag. Huge and works well, I've had to repair the zippers with cable ties for end stops, but that's fine. My mesh bag gets used every week, so far I have over 2 years hard use. I'd buy another

 

[Diving Dubai]

I'm also following this thread for ideas on a new luggage set

I travel with my dive bag (as above), a backpack for my electronics as acarry on, and a Northface hold-all for cloths ( normal trips are over 2 weeks)

This set up is unwieldy so looking for a system where I can attach my clothes bag the my dive bag to wheel around, and the roller should be stable on rough surfaces. A good pack pack that's water resistant would be good too.

 

[Centrals]

I do not like to advertise to the rest of the world that I am a diver. Therefore any dedicated dive bag is OUT. I use soft bag and lined it with old and cheap camping foam mattress. And there is no pad lock as well.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I once shipped all my gear in a mesh bag to Thailand with no issues. One disadvantage of the Mares Curise Bag is that lots of people have them so you need to mark them accordingly

While I don't padlock my bags, I put cable ties on the Zips (with a pair of snips in one pocket) So thit if they need to be inspected they can be. If people want to break in a ballpoint pen will do.

 

[Neilwood]

I once shipped all my gear in a mesh bag to Thailand with no issues. One disadvantage of the Mares Curise Bag is that lots of people have them so you need to mark them accordingly

While I don't padlock my bags, I put cable ties on the Zips (with a pair of snips in one pocket) So thit if they need to be inspected they can be. If people want to break in a ballpoint pen will do.

Unfortunate but true. No point going too OTT with securing your bag when the weak point always will be the zip.

 

[KevinNM]

If you are shipping something sensitive it's best to have it in your carry on. Failing that, a padlocked larger pelican box works, but they are heavy and not cheap. If you use something like that you should have your name and cell number on the box by the lock and wait for some time (like 5 minutes) at the baggage check after it goes back to see if someone wants you to open it for inspection (unless you give it to the inspection people directly - which some airports have you do).