Gear Bags

[Gman0520]

Can anyone recommend a decent gear bag? The one I have is basically a large snorkle gear bag. I need something that I can pretty much get everything into. Prefer one with wheels and handle.

My gear:

Dive Rite Transpac II
Scubapro Twin Jets

and the usual extras, computer, mask, snorkel, save a dive kit, etc.

Thanks.

[Soggy]

I'm interested also...especially something suitable for travel.

[King Kong Matt]

I was following this thread...the Pelicans look cool. I don't know if you could make it work for travelling, though.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19766&highlight=pelican

[MechDiver]

You want something that doesn't scream "I'm scuba gear, steal me". I have a very large Scubapro bag that holds everything, has wheels and a handle, backpack straps, you name it. Once its loaded you can't move the sucker, but its nice. I also took a magic marker and went over all the logo stuff in black.

The pelicans are very nice but very heavy. I have seen some of the airlines changing their baggage weights from 70# to 50# with a high surcharge for exceeding that limit. That would probably be my first consideration with getting a new bag. Also, make sure the wheels are far apart as it will just tip over if they aren't. If you forget the dive part, and think "luggage" just go to a luggage store and look around. That's probably your best bet.

Phil

[King Kong Matt]

MechDiver once bubbled...
The pelicans are very nice but very heavy.


They look that way. Pretty cool though just to have one in the back of your SUV.

[MechDiver]

King Kong Matt once bubbled...


Pretty cool though just to have one in the back of your SUV.

Especially if you have a red blinking light that says ARMED :boom: :boom: :boom:

"Fraid mine is tupperware and minivan. The trunk on the Eldorado is too small :D

Phil

[Diver Lori]

other thread on gear bags.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t19766/s.html

[ERP]

After a lot of experimenting I now use a rubermaid tub, if I'm carrying my gear locally, keeps it all together, and stops salt water dripping all over the back of my truck when I'm going home.

The one time I've travelled with my gear I put it into a hard samsonite suitcase, it all fitted fine and was well protected. And I doubt anyone would have guessed "Dive Gear" looking at the outside.

[jbm]

You may soon have to pay a surcharge if it is too heavy. At present, most airlines have a 70 lb max weight before a surcharge kicks in. No problem staying under that with a Pelican 1650 and a full set of gear. But........more airlines are contemplating ( and some are now applying) a maximum weight of 50 lbs with a surcharge kicking in after that weight. No more Pelican 1650 with a full set of gear without a surcharge!

rgds: jbm

[luvdiving]

Advantages? They are available at almost any Army/Navy surplus store. They hold tons of gear, are durable and cheap. You also can avoid having everybody knowing that you have loads of expensive dive gear inside, like thieves and airlines. It also folds into nothing when they gear is out.

Disadvantages? No wheels and they won't protect like a hard case will. You also can't take something out of the bottom without taking everything out that is on top first.:boom:

[lanshark]

Today I just picked up a standard hard shell case with Wheels and retractable handle. This way when I am travelling with my gear. it looks like a regular suitcase. The case is essentially a hard plastic shell with has a mesh divider between the two halfs. I picked it up for about 80 Canadian (50 Us). The Manufacturer is Atlantic and it comes with a 10 year warranty. It looks similar to the Sampsonite hard case but at 1/3 the cost and just as sturdy.

Cheers,

Lanshark

[Nalu]

Has anyone tried out the Deep See Travelok bags? I was looking into the 750 http://www.deepseeinc.com/bagstravelok750.htm but it is hard for me to visualize what exactly would fit in it. I am really looking for something to lug from the car to the boat and to not take up too much room on the boat.....whatcha think?

[Newhampster]

you want to lug gear from your car to the site or from your hotel room to the dive boat or ...

try something like this

Mesh backpack (http://www.diversdirect.com/scripts/ecatalogisapi.dll/Item?Item=3604&Template=9990000001000999&Group=55)

I pack one inside my hardside dive bag (for air travel).

[Goeduck]

I recently bought a bag at Mervyns made by RBH Sports.

It will hold just about everything I have, except for BC. Seems to be extremely well made, has wheels, a pull-out handle and just barely fits in the overhead on airplanes. Nothing says "Dive Gear in Here". It also has a large number of zipper-open compartments and little hold-em mesh bags on the inside to hold smaller stuff. The back side will unzip and there are two shoulder straps to turn the whole thing into a backpack. There is also a small back-pack that zips to the front that will also hold a lot of stuff and can be removed from the larger bag.

My wife and I just spent three days in Atlanta and we packed everything but the still camera in there. It really holds a lot.

[Rice]

I recentley picked up an army parachute bag at an army surplus store. it's a great size and sturdily built out of cotton duck.

UNFORTUNATLEY
Cotton canvas sucks on a stick on a dive boat which I discovered on my first trip with that bag. I'm looking for a nylon version of this same bag right now.

If anyone out there knows where to fin one please reply or PM me.
THX
Rice

[Waterborne]

I use a Pelican 1650 case for most of my gear. I have a slightly smaller case and I don't remember the model for multiple suits or extra gear. Pelican cases rule, they're plain black, lockable and best of all near bombproof. To be honest, after spending that much money on gear, why not make sure it's safe? I don't mind spending a little extra cash on the airlines as long as my gear gets there in the same condition that it left in.

[lizard1]

A Good/Bad Bag, High Quality but Some Big Flaws.

First, this bag was obviously designed with quality in mind. The cloth is tough with well sewn seams. Strong YKK zippers are used throughout.

Several years ago my husband bought a large Akona dive bag with lots of great features. It is huge! It has wide set wheels. It has hidden backpack straps for the macho and healthy. It had a "stealty" "overbag" with no markings of any kind to engender the curiosity of less than honest baggage handlers. It had cut outs in the bottom for the wheels so you could arrive at the airport in stealth mode.

The handles are well attached. The drag handle is under a tough zipper. The very nice regulator bag custom fits into one of the exterior pockets so you have a choice of keeping it with the main bag or carrying it yourself.

The overbag material is smooth and fairly tough. This should have helped it from being snagged as it went through the system. That was important as the main bag has lots of very square coners. In addition to the expected 4 corners, 2 exterior pockets created additional snag points.

When I say large I mean we got all of our dive gear in it, 2 sets of fins, 2 BCs, 2 boxed masks, 9"x11"x2 1/2" Tupperware equip. box for miscellaneous items, booties, dive skins, shorty wetsuits, mesh boat bags. Their was still space left over that we put some of our clothing in! (We hand carried the regs.)

All this seemed great. We had eliminated the need for the second dive bag! Travelling would be much easier.

The first problem occurred as we walked to the light rail station which would take us to the airport. After crossing a few curbs one of the wheels went out of kilter, rubbing against the inside of its housing. Obviously it then pulled unevely. We find, if we have time one can beat it back into place with the heel of the hand. That will work only until the next large obstacle is encountered.

The bag is huge. They need to create a wheel/carrier system that can handle the cargo of a huge bag. Or they need to make the bag smaller.

The second issue is at least one thing rips on every trip, including the maiden voyage. Usually they are minor rips, sometimes the outer bag, sometimes the main bag , too. The holes in the outer bag for the wheels to stick out is a major problem.
The area around the holes is poorly reinforced.

When TSA puts the bag back on it is reinstalled as quickly as possible. The holes are no longer tight to the bag, begging some snag in the system to catch it and rip it open.

Akona was very accomodating. The first time they were notified they sent a brand new overbag, no questions, no charge. This is what I expect from a high quality company when I buy an expensive item.

The new bag ended up with the same rips the next trip. Eventually, we went to an auto seat cover shop and had them sew heavy vinyl reinforcement in the area. These seemed to hold very well. They didn't rip when they got hooked on something. Unfortunately they held well enough that many bags piled up behind it creating other damage to the bag.

Conclusion: A potentially great bag, but impractical to use in its current configuration.

If I get a chance I'll attach pics later.

[lizard1]

I will try to attach pics that apply to my previous posting.

[Direct Diver]

I would suggest going with the Tusa BP-2 Roller Backpack. It has six compartments with five pull downs. Great storage for alot of different gear.

[ONESPEED]

I dive the same set up as you (transpac II and Twinjets) and use this bag by Akona.

http://www.akona.com/pdf/Page_011.pdf

It has a metal zipper so you can use a TSA lock for travel and my XL Twinjets fit no problem in the side fin pockets.

[Cacia]

I use the SP version of that bag. (overpriced, but a gift) The reason I like that style, is that I put my big D-100 in housing and strobe attached on top and wrap the leash around the handle.A bungee with hooks would be better. This way I can actually get all my gear from my car in the lot to the boat, solo. It is a bit precarious, but it saves me a second trip.

I covet the Stahl-sac version next. I really like that brand and they have a lifetime warranty. The Scubapro bag is about two tears old and already shot. I like the bags that hold two sets of gear the best. If I am solo, I can stuff lots of clothes in the extra space.

[scubamickey]

I would suggest going with the Tusa BP-2 Roller Backpack. It has six compartments with five pull downs. Great storage for alot of different gear.

I've been looking at this one for awhile. But is the fin pocket wide enough for a pair of SP Jetfins Medium?

Will a backinflate BC fit in the main compartment along with a 3mm wetsuit, booties, a light and some smaller items?

[Vayu]

I use something like this: It is cheap, replaceable, and huge. It dries quickly. Fits everything nice and snug and if you pad the regulator you will be in good condition.

http://www.childofmecha.com/Modeling/Chrome/Basin.jpg

Mine is a little bigger but you get the idea...

-V

[Torcatdog]

I believe that the right tool is needed for each application.

Car to dive site, versus airport to destination each present a different set of criteria.

Since I live in Minnesota most of my diving is via airport. Here is what I have decided best suits my needs.

Traveloc 2000 - this has rollers and serves as a good sized, quality check-on.
Vented duffel with a shoulder strap - for dive gear, easy to transport at destination.
Dry bag - clothes and check on items, batt-charger, meds, luxury items.
Duffel and Dry bag inside the Traveloc with any other check-on material.

Akona semi-hard case for reg and computer, carry on of course.
A legal sized and Comfortable backpack - Carry on with Reg-case inside.
Fanny pack with camera, travel docs, cash, pen, sunglasses.

Hope this helps!

[yakivet]

Can anyone recommend a decent gear bag? The one I have is basically a large snorkle gear bag. I need something that I can pretty much get everything into. Prefer one with wheels and handle.

My gear:

Dive Rite Transpac II
Scubapro Twin Jets

and the usual extras, computer, mask, snorkel, save a dive kit, etc.

Thanks.


Here's a thread http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=80261 on a great bag. (http://www.shoebuy.com/sb/s.jsp/st_38636/sh_C_Accessories/b_2-0.82906-56.28/bn_C_Accessories/sbstl_123117) I now own 3.