best travel backpack for diving

[rab1412000]

hi everyone

what do you suggest i get as a travel diving backpack where i can fit my bcd (seaquest pro qd+), regulator (aqualung legend), wetsuit, fins, mask, and boots

im looking for something that could potentially be used as a handcarry, or if its too big and have to be checked-in, a backpack that will provide adequate padding for the equipment


thanks in advance

[DevonDiver]

I am not a fan of 'dive' logo bags for travelling...they advertise that you have expensive items inside. Here are some options I have used in the past...

1. Expedition Bag... North Face do a range of very tough duffle type bags. If you pack sensibly, you can wrap the delicate items inside the wetsuit and clothes to protect them.

2. Hard Case... you can purchase a hardshell suitcase, which is protective, but weighs more. If money is not a concern, then Pelican do some large wheeled cases that are virtually bombproof.

3. Basic Rucksack...blend in like any other backpacker/traveller. A 60-80l rucksack will swallow your kit. Ex-military ones are cheap and durable.

If you can, take your regulator in your hand luggage. This allows better protection..and reduces weight in your hold luggage if excess baggage charges are a worry.

It is unlikely you would get the rest of your equipment into a hand-carry bag. Most airlines only allow approx 7kgs for handcarry...and the dimensions are unlikely to be enough for the bcd...

[rab1412000]

I am not a fan of 'dive' logo bags for travelling...they advertise that you have expensive items inside. Here are some options I have used in the past...

1. Expedition Bag... North Face do a range of very tough duffle type bags. If you pack sensibly, you can wrap the delicate items inside the wetsuit and clothes to protect them.

2. Hard Case... you can purchase a hardshell suitcase, which is protective, but weighs more. If money is not a concern, then Pelican do some large wheeled cases that are virtually bombproof.

3. Basic Rucksack...blend in like any other backpacker/traveller. A 60-80l rucksack will swallow your kit. Ex-military ones are cheap and durable.

If you can, take your regulator in your hand luggage. This allows better protection..and reduces weight in your hold luggage if excess baggage charges are a worry.

It is unlikely you would get the rest of your equipment into a hand-carry bag. Most airlines only allow approx 7kgs for handcarry...and the dimensions are unlikely to be enough for the bcd...

these are great suggestions.
ithink i can get myself a rucksack and i do have a hardcase wheeled suitcase lying around the house.

thanks

[BLR]

Measure the length of your fins before choosing a backpack.

[goldfish05]

2. Hard Case... you can purchase a hardshell suitcase, which is protective, but weighs more. If money is not a concern, then Pelican do some large wheeled cases that are virtually bombproof.

I would say go with a pelican case if you can afford them. the case will protect your gear and they are waterproof and if you go on their website they have a showing of how a pelican case was in a mrap that was ied and the items were still perfect. inside.

[Belmont]

A Pelican case is rugged but it also advertises that there is expensive equipment inside.

[niccypippy]

i have a semi-related question um i just go my regs and was going abroad on monday so was wondering would my regs be ok in my baggage (its in its on hard case as well) or bring it as carry on in its bag (which is big enough only for the regs its self)?

[rickyd]

i have a semi-related question um i just go my regs and was going abroad on monday so was wondering would my regs be ok in my baggage (its in its on hard case as well) or bring it as carry on in its bag (which is big enough only for the regs its self)?

I always carry on my regs, computer, mask(prescription), swim suit, and change of underwear ;-) as well as any prescription drugs I need. This fits fine, including a book and Bose headphones in a small backpack. Never any problems with airport security or size for carry on.

I figure if luggage is lost/delayed -- it's happened to me -- I may be inconvenienced, but will not loose any dive time. I can rent everything else I need.

[niccypippy]

rickyd-but when u have ur regs in the backpack is it a normal one and do u protect them some way?

[mblake]

Dive Caddy
[Model: divecaddy]
From their web site Dive Caddy - The Worlds Smartest Dive Bag System! (http://www.divecaddy.net) FYI if you like it search scubaboard first (a member is selling them):
Dive Caddy designed the Travel Bag to efficiently protect and compress your gear. We also utilize the gear you put in the bag & replace the typical bag stiffeners and padding. Basically, we’ve eliminated what you don’t need and traded for space you do.
The Bag System comes with the Travel Bag, Fin Caddy, Turtle Pack and Spider Bag.

This bag system will fit: Mask, Fins, Snorkel, (XL) BCD, Regulator (Pressure,Depth,Computer, Compass, Octo.), Boots, Gloves, 5mm Full WetSuit (XL) - Misc Small Dive Insundries - 2nd Dive Computer - 3 T-Shirts - 3 Pairs of Shorts -1 Swim Suit 1 Pair of Jeans - Large Beach Towel - Small Flashlight 1 XL Sweatshirt - 4 Pair Of Socks - 4 Pair of Mens Underwear - Hanging Men’s Bath Bag - Heavy Sandals - Passport - Playing Cards - Book - Tylenol - iPOD Journal - North Face Fleece Coat - Small Digital Camera

[rab1412000]

Dive Caddy
[Model: divecaddy]
From there web site Dive Caddy - The Worlds Smartest Dive Bag System! (http://www.divecaddy.net) FYI if you like it search scubaboard first (a member is selling them):
Dive Caddy designed the Travel Bag to efficiently protect and compress your gear. We also utilize the gear you put in the bag & replace the typical bag stiffeners and padding. Basically, we’ve eliminated what you don’t need and traded for space you do.
The Bag System comes with the Travel Bag, Fin Caddy, Turtle Pack and Spider Bag.

This bag system will fit: Mask, Fins, Snorkel, (XL) BCD, Regulator (Pressure,Depth,Computer, Compass, Octo.), Boots, Gloves, 5mm Full WetSuit (XL) - Misc Small Dive Insundries - 2nd Dive Computer - 3 T-Shirts - 3 Pairs of Shorts -1 Swim Suit 1 Pair of Jeans - Large Beach Towel - Small Flashlight 1 XL Sweatshirt - 4 Pair Of Socks - 4 Pair of Mens Underwear - Hanging Men’s Bath Bag - Heavy Sandals - Passport - Playing Cards - Book - Tylenol - iPOD Journal - North Face Fleece Coat - Small Digital Camera


i actually like the dive caddy except that i find it a bit too pricey
also im not sure if it will fit my seaquest pro qd+ L bcd

[NorthWoodsDiver]

i actually like the dive caddy except that i find it a bit too pricey
also im not sure if it will fit my seaquest pro qd+ L bcd

If it can fit all my stuff in this review I did I can say for sure it will fit your BCD:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/gear-bags-cases/290400-dive-caddy-review-tech-diving-picture-intensive.html

[rickyd]

rickyd-but when u have ur regs in the backpack is it a normal one and do u protect them some way?
My backpack is actually a laptop backpack, not huge, but not tiny. Regs are first stored inside a padded reg bag - came with my giant cold water wheel about dive bag.

[MatavaFiji]

I personally love the LowePro camera backpacks. I carry my basic camera in it and all my regs and computers. Has dividers and everything. But NOT cheap!

[Damselfish]

Pelicans are heavy and will eat up a good chunk of your weight allowance even as checked bags. And they're way overkill for most dive gear. (Might be nice for checking camera gear if you're forced to, but still going to chew up the weight allowance and there are lighter solutions.)

In the US it may be barely possible to get all your gear in a carryon, though I personally don't think it makes sense to try. Airlines in other countries often have smaller weight and size restrictions for carryons, in which case it isn't going to happen. If you do any travel on a small plane, it's not going to happen either.

I don't know about the DiveCaddy for non-US carriers. Not sure it's something I'd want to check. And again while you might be able to carry it on a US airline, it's going to be too big and heavy for lots of airlines in other places or small planes.

Using a reg bag as a carryon, that is only big enough to fit the reg, is a waste of a carryon allowance. Regs will do fine in any of your normal carryons since you're handling them. Reg bags don't hurt if they fit, but some will take up alot of space in your carryon. Pack carefully, use some clothes as padding as seems needed, and you don't need one.

There's no particular reason to segregate all your dive gear in one bag and your other stuff in another for travel, it makes sense to divide and conquer. Carryon items like reg/computer/mask, check bulky stuff like wetsuit, BC, fins. I believe the majority of people wind up doing something like this sooner or later, within the restrictions in their area. Like probably the regs get checked if you're allowed 7 pounds carryon or whatever.

Hard sided bags provide protection and are certainly fine to use if you have one. But if buying something new, I've found rolling duffles work better for checking dive gear. Less weight to start, more forgiving. And they're a better idea if you ever go on a liveaboard. Again, pack carefully. Your fins, wetsuit, and clothes can protect your BC and other items. I've traveled this way for dozens of dive trips and have never had anything damaged.

[mblake]

My wife and I bought and used the MEI voyageur back packs last month. They carried all our gear including my 3mm and her 5mm full suites and our long Apollo bio fins. They measure the FAA limit 22 × 14 × 9 inches and are light weight. I recommend the backpacks instead of roller because they are lighter and have more room,(without the wheel weight/mechanisms). Plus they keep my hands free for our other luggage. Last years vacation required setting up a train with all our wheeled luggage. This year we used the backpacks and moved through the airport and the plane easier.

Google MEI voyageur for many write ups and recommendations.
The MEI Voyageur Back-Pack - First choice of the seasoned world traveler (http://www.meivoyageur.com/)

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Carry on suggestion: If you carry on lots of gear, use a bag(s) in a backpack for your dive gear. Its makes going through security easy and avoids digging through tons of stuff throughout the trip.

I normally carry a small backpack with computer, headphones, 2 sets of regs, dive computers, compass, mask, lights, cameras, medications, DVD's, etc... etc... These items are high value to me and I am usually close to maxed out on check weight anyway.

At first, I just stuffed everything in as neat as possible. Every time I hit security, I had to unload everything since they cannot ID everything in a jumble on the XRAY machine. The backpack is soon a total mess, everythng tangled.

Now, I have a few thin nylon bags or packing cubes. One for regs, one for other dive gear. Both slide into the backpack along with the computer. When I hit security, I slide out the computer and the 2 other bags. They get XRAYed and 90% of the time no additional inspection. Then they slide back in, nice and neat.

[Jim Lapenta]

I've used an Oceanic AT4 pak for several years now and all my warm water gear will fit in it. Of course having a BPW that folds flat helps alot. I would not even try to travel with my Probe or any other jacket type bc now. My normal load is BPW, reg, comps, fins(Hollis F1's fastened to the outside), a couple lights, prescription mask, snorkel, and 3 mil suit. I still have room for my logbook, 2 tshirts, a pair of shorts, 2 bathing suits and my razor and toothbrush. The only thing I I don;t care for is the frame is bit heavy and the handle doesn't lock in the up position. I like the look of the voyager bag but would not buy one without actually seeing it in person.

[securoseal]

A point to note if you’re checking in luggage is that many of the travel accessories that are sold as luggage security items (locks, cable ties, security seals, etc) do not actually work to protect your luggage. You’d think for the money spent on these things it would take time to break into a bag, but it’s as simple as several seconds with a paperclip or even a pen. And people wonder why there is a problem with luggage theft.

[deepseafalcon]

one suggestion that may look a bit odd, but is pretty practical and seize/weight effective:

when trying to size & weight optimize my luggage, I soon discovered that my BP with harness is by far the most difficult item: quite large and bulky due to the stiff webbing, it's almost as much volume as all my other (warm water) dive gear combined.

==> why not use it as part of the luggage?

So I went ahead and used a simple duffle bag to hold all my luggage but the BP, and used the BP (minus crotch strap) to carry it on my back. Looks a bit, mmh, "special" and nothing for checked luggage. But quite effective as the duffel bag adds less than 2 pounds weight.

Btw,I did not use the cam bands to hold the bag. Instead, I used them to pre-compress the bag, and used 2 slightly longer bands with ratchet locks that I threaded from "the wrong side" through the cam band slots, around the edges of the plate, and then around the bag. This way the bag is held tight and doesn't "bounce".

[gunsrunner]

When my wife and i travel, we have a large duffle bag with bcds, fins, boots, suits, safety sausage, wrist slate, spares(straps, o-rings,etc) this is 20kg on the dot. Then i carry both our regs in a reg bag, comps, log books in a back pack, this is 7kg. Thats my luggage allocation but i carry a camera bag with DX1G(stills) and WP-V1(HD Video) which is allowed on most airlines as extra. Then in my wifes luggage is cloths(20kg) and stuff(7kg) plus she carries the laptop which is also allowed as extra on most airlines. Thats how we have travelled the last 6 times with no problems at all, oh and i make sure it's all insured so if something does go missing we can upgrade to the lastest gear.
:D

[Schizlor]

Anyone ever have any issues with TSA taking a backplate through security? Just wondering if budgeting extra time for that would be wise.

[CalgaryDF]

Anyone ever have any issues with TSA taking a backplate through security? Just wondering if budgeting extra time for that would be wise.

I take my backpack through security all the time and don't have any extra issues. I imagine its harder to see what things are on the xray because its more jumbled, but it doesn't seem to take longer.

[BuoyantC]

We just use an inexpensive roller duffel as checked luggage. We can get two sets of gear (minus regs) and keep it under 50#. We pack bcs with any fragile parts to the inside, fins stiffen the sides, and wetsuits surround everything else. I then pack a mesh duffel over all that to help protect from any punctures. Regs we carry in a backpack carry on.

A friend used to use a plain old canvas military surplus duffel. He stenciled on his name and some hokey numbers like 0U812 to give it a military look, and usually it never got touched!