Drysuit and travelling - check-in or carry-on?

[BlueTrin]

Out of curiosity, when flying, do you guys check-in your drysuit in your luggage or do you use a carry-on?

I was thinking that in a hard shell luggage the drysuit won’t be worse than in a very packed over the head compartment.

The only thing I am worried about is the zip, in particular at the shoulder as pressing on the drysuit will put pressure: I put clothes inside to prevent it bending too much.

What’s your experience?

 

[Fishdip]

Hard case check bag.

 

[divingx]

I just carefully fold it and put it in a regular check in luggage. Been doing this for years and never had any issue.

 

[formernuke]

Checked or mailed the times I've traveled with mine.

 

[Lorenzoid]

The only dive gear items I carry on are my primary and backup lights and computer. I put the drysuit in a checked bag. I don't have a hard-sided bag; my main bag is a rolling duffel with a hard bottom but soft top. I put the BP/harness on the bottom, then some softer stuff, then the drysuit, and finally undergarments on top of that for protection. My regs, reel/spools and other miscelleneous dive gear go in a second checked bag, padded with clothes.

 

[rjack321]

Checked bag. My carry-on is always heavy as eff with CCRs and regs

 

[BlueTrin]

I was looking at ways to fold it, found that most people fold with the zip on the inside: I do the opposite and roll with both zips closed and on the outside. I thought this would prevent it from folding as the outside travels a longer distance.

In particular in this video, he folds across the zip which I find a bit strange (this is at 2:10). I guess in the end, it probably does not matter too much?

 

[beldridg]

I check it in a separate, waterproof duffel bag from all my other dive gear.

I put the drysuit, spares, undergarments, etc. all in that bag. The benefit is that when I get to my destination, I can use that bag on the boat to hold my drysuit, etc. instead of the large rolling duffel I use for all my other dive gear.

Here is a picture before my trip to Vis, Croatia:

Note that this is NOT the most efficient from a maximizing weight per bag perspective (as you can see, it weighs just under 10kg or 21.4 lbs) but it helps me stay organized.

- brett

 

[inquis]

I carry-on my drysuit simply because it would be difficult to rent if lost/delayed. Normal roller bag. Regs, computers, batteries in the "personal" carry-on, because they are heavy and expensive.

 

[formernuke]

I carry-on my drysuit simply because it would be difficult to rent if lost/delayed. Normal roller bag. Regs, computers, batteries in the "personal" carry-on, because they are heavy and expensive.

I had to choose which would be worse if luggage was lost the rebreather or the drysuit. I opted to carry on the rebreather. The other time I just to much stuff and shipped the drysuit.