AKONA Bags

[Scubabob]

Still lookng for that perfect dive gear travel bag, Akona's new duffel and backpack now come with a Travel security sleeve, has anyone used one of these? Have avoided Akona in the past because of the logo's. Can't find one in local LDS to check out if this is a practical product.

[scuba-sass]

I got it on sale at the LDS, when I need a travel bag for gear anyway. It has the security sleeve, but I forgot to use it when I got to the airport....

Does that count as "dumb things we have done with scuba gear"? Luckily, the mistake didn't cost me anything!

Happy Diving!
Scuba-sass :-)

[BadFish]

I have an Akona Travel bag with the wheels and the backpack straps. Is the security sleeve the cover that is in the pouch on the backside?

is it lockable?

[Scubabob]

Scuba-sass, Is the sleeve permenently attached to the bag or is it a seperate item?

[reiny13]

the diveshop i work at sells akona, its our best selling bag, most of our staff has owned or used other brands and have switched to Akona. Most of us use the Akona Deluxe Backpack, works great. The security sleeve you're talking about is a separate nylon bag that has no markings on it, all black, that your bag slides into. looks like a large duffle bag then. Akona is one of the best selling bags because its appearance is less inviting to airport theives and vandals. Most people recognize other larger brand names for diving equipment, than Akona. The logo on the bag for Akona as you well now is the frog, but underneath it says Adventure gear, unlike other companies that advertise a scuba name. Since our staff has changed to Akona brand bags we've had less problems in the airports with missing items, or damaged items. Hope this helps.

[Scottri]

I have a Akona Regulator Bag/Backpack and love it! It's very well built and holds 2 regs, 2 masks and other stuff. It's the best bag I own.


Scott:)

[Scubabob]

Thanks everyone, for the info. Scuba Bob

[Scubabob]

Just wanted to comment on the great service I got from WWW.DiversDiscount.com, ordered bag on Thursday morning, delivered Fedex ground Sat. They matched Leisurepro prices(20.00 cheaper), and shipping was $8.00 less. Scubabob

[MnataRay 777]

Your not wanting to buy a bag based on their frog Logo is a little goofy.
Suck it up, throw a bumper sticker over it if it bothers you and buy the bag.

I have owned and used a big rolling Akona dive bag for 4 years. Both for diving and regular travel. I have beat the **** out of it, and although it has a few small tears, it has worn really well, particularly for the cost.

[Juls64]

Never have used the sleeve. I usually carry stuff in the front pockets, like my reg, then remove them to carry on once at the airport. Upon arrival, I put stuff back in the pockets while in transit to hotel or wherever. The sleeve would be in my way too much. I haven't had any problems.

Another thing I've noticed, when I use my Akona bag I am going diving. I usually notice several other bags that are like mine. I have to make sure and put cutsie ribbon etc to be able to identify mine easily.

Julie

[tboxcar]

I recently purchased the Akona 144 and will travel with it next week to the Philippines. I really like the idea of the travel sleeve, for protection from 'wear and tear' if anything.
Although my LDS says they like to leave theirs off, because TSA has a tough time (or are just too lazy) getting to your zippered compartments. Has anyone else heard of this or had any negative experiences by using the sleeve. I think I'm going to use it and take my chances.

[tboxcar]

So far so good, traveled from San Francisco to Bangkok via Hong Kong, with my new Akona 144. I locked up the bag with TSA locks on the main compartment and the two side pouches for fins. Then put the cover on the entire bag.
After arriving in Bangkok, I noticed the TSA in SF opened the bag and put a notice inside saying that they did. No damage done or items missing, just one small rip in the cover bag which is very minor. Think I will keep the cover on in the future as it's alot easier to replace than damage to the bag, I suppose.
Should be interesting as the bag weighed 31 kg. out of SFO, which was allowable, will now see how PAL deals with this weight issue going from Bangkok to Manila.

[zboss]

Still lookng for that perfect dive gear travel bag, Akona's new duffel and backpack now come with a Travel security sleeve, has anyone used one of these? Have avoided Akona in the past because of the logo's. Can't find one in local LDS to check out if this is a practical product.

The "Travel Security Sleeve" is basically a thin laundry duffle you could pick up at walmart for about $1.00. It also falls apart like one. Keep in mind that while your dive bag is inside the sleeve, there are no handles for the baggage handlers to hold onto, so trust me when I say, it'll get torn apart on your first trip. Also, since the bag uses cinch draw-strings, they have a tendancy to get pulled into machinery...

[tboxcar]

You are right, it got a minor hole in it. My g/f who knows all thought I should not use it. I could see it really coming handy when it rains and you are out in the weather.

[Mandy3206]

Akona uhh......

I got 5 Akona bags:

2 regulator bags (similar to AKB604)
1 large regulator bag (similar to AKB615)
1 backpack (similar to AKB154) (big one for diving, not treking)
1 Dive bag w/o wheels (similar to AKB114)


The regulatorbags where used on every dive trip for more than 6 yrs and don't show wear at all, just a few stains and that's all

The large regulator bag is the size of a briefcase and is my main weekend travel bag, has gone all over the US as a carryon and looks brand new after 6 yrs of use. This bag has the option of being used as a back pack, can be carried as a briefcase and has a shoulder strap.

The Big back pack has been used a couple of times, not abused like the other bags, but the construction of the bag is similar to the other bags and has multiple handles all over it.

Tha dive bag has multiple handles around it, can be used as a back pack, it has carried 2 full scuba gear sets in many dive trips. This bag has been abused for the last 8yrs and has multiple stains from the diferent boat fluids. Now is starting to show some wear at the bottom of the bag, at this rate, the bag may tear at the bottom in the next 5 yrs or so. This bag is bullet proof and can handle anything that I throw at it, now with the new Pelican 1620 it will get some rest (I'm tired of lugging the gear around in my back, I'll now roll it and save my back)

In fact I'm a big Akona fan and it's the best bag manufacturer I've come across.

Not sure about the last and this yr models, the materials used now are diferent from the balistic nylons in all the models I own, but since these people have a good track record with me, I don't see why the newer materials should be of lesser quality, I may need to buy one of the newer bags just to try this new materials.

[dlndavid]

Big Akona fan here too. Even got an Akona 7 mil wet suit.

[jetfixer]

Does anyone realize how old this thread is? I bet the original poster bought one with the green logo! lol!

(edited to add) Incidentally, my Akona Deluxe roller bag completely fell apart after one year of mild usage. The seams were all coming apart. It started with the reg bag then the fin pouches. I'm not down on it, its a great bag and I recently returned it for a new one. :crafty:

[dlndavid]

Does anyone realize how old this thread is? I bet the original poster bought one with the green logo! lol!
I am quite aware how old this thread was when I posted to it and
I didn't even resurect it.:D

The information is still valid, and I have green/purple logo and orange logo Akona bags. :dazzler1:

[Hoosier]

Does it matter as long as someone is intrested in? :)

[liamklenk]

hi there
you are worrying me a bit... or maybe i was just lucky so far and am a bit naive.
is theft of diving equipment at airports etc. really a big issue?
i wanted to get a bag that doesn't announce "diver" immediately, but also wanted something lightweight, so bought a lightweight mares bag a few years back. it's totally practical, and so far i've done traveling to the maldives a few times and to the mediterranean...
do some of you actually have experiences where you checked in your luggage, and then got it from the baggage claim after your flight and some of your equipment was vandalized or stolen?
really curious about this, and a bit mystified...
thanks for any info. better to be informed than to blindly stumble along, just being lucky =)
happy diving
liam

[tboxcar]

Just returned from 7 weeks in SE Asia and my AK 144 bag looks as good as new, mainly to the fact that I used the travel sleeve which is now looking a bit warn and with some slight holes in it, I figure I will buy a new sleeve when the time comes. I made 16 flights with it covering the following countries: Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and I'm fairly certain it got the hell banged out of it as some of the ground crews in these countries could give a rats a_ _!, but it only shows minor abrasions near the wheels. I'm convinced this Akona gear is tough as nails, the only drawback was the weight of my bag which was never less than 26 kg. and over 30Kg. on the trans-pacific flights. One note, I did carry my reg. in it's bag as 'carry on', I would never trust it on the outside of the bag itself. I locked up every compartment with TSA locks and never had a problem. As a frequent long distance traveler I'm convinced this must be good gear!