Newbie looking for carry-on luggage suggestions to put gear in.

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I really like the Pelican Air 1535 Case. It is guaranteed for life and is the maximum carry on size. It comes with or without foam.

Pelican or Pelican style (many manufacturers of professional cases) are a bit much if it's a carry on scenario, just my opinion. My strategy is a Briggs & Reilly Domestic Carry On (Unconditional Lifetime Warranty/Guarantee/No Questions asked) and a backpack. In the carry on goes the DSLR housing, 2 strobes, DSLR body, miscellaneous thingy's, all protected by t-shirts, undies and socks. Backpack has regulator, laptop, dome, other miscellaneous thingy's. In the checked suitcase is fins, mask, BackPlate/Wing, fins, clothes, dive light, 3mmwetsuit, etc. if you buy a Briggs & Reilly suitcase, it's the lat suitcase you will ever buy and you have a suitcase for life. I travel heavy for both business and leisure, never without my Briggs carry on. Pelican's or Pelican style (to me) would be ideal if someone other than yourself is handling your beloved gear, such as checked baggage, etc. The 2 drawbacks would be weight & " hey, that looks expensive and probably has expensive stuff in it".
 
Pelican or Pelican style (many manufacturers of professional cases) are a bit much if it's a carry on scenario, just my opinion. My strategy is a Briggs & Reilly Domestic Carry On (Unconditional Lifetime Warranty/Guarantee/No Questions asked) and a backpack. . . . The 2 drawbacks would be weight & " hey, that looks expensive and probably has expensive stuff in it".

The Briggs & Reilly name alone is enough to get it stolen. :wink:
 
Some things to consider:
- since you are checking your fins, you may as well max out your checked bag and put as much in it as possible - how much do you now have left for carry on?
- as you get wiser (and older) you will realize it is a good thing to have light and small carry on as you will be the Sherpa for it
- unless you get on the plane first, there may not be any room for your cabin carry on bag - so it will be either gate or bridge checked, especially if you are flying on bigger planes with dual aisles - more seats per row with no extra overhead space than a single aisle plane. There is not enough overhead space for every passenger to have a bag on most planes. Also stay away from bulkheads since you will not have any floor space for a bag either.
 
haven't had that happen, as it's never out of my sight, but I get your point :)

I was being a little facetious, as I doubt would-be baggage thieves are familiar with the brand.

I'll pick one up next time I'm at Marshalls/Ross/TJMaxx. Oh there I go again. :wink:
 
Going to return the one I ended up getting. I could get everything in there but my regs.

I then did the math and the total size was around 2350 cu inches.

The two that I saw at REI that I liked are ~ 2450 and 2750 cu inches so I think I am going to check them out again.

The one I got is a hard shell one where it kind of splits in the middle, so that you put half the stuff on one side and the other half on the other side, then close. After messing with one like this, I don't really like it that much. I'd prefer one where the whole thing is as deep as the dimensions with a flap that just goes over top, the way traditional carry ons are. It's just easier to pack everything in it and then just flip the top over and zip it shut.

But, in the 2 I mention at REI, the 2450 is the North Face one that has the flap that folds over, and the 2750 is the Gregory Quado hard shell one.
 
IMG_4826.jpg


Dry bag doubles as carry on (meets 9" x 14" x 22" TSA size limit)
Apex soft plate doubles as backpack straps.

Inside:
ScubaPro Titanium Regs. -- 3mm full wetsuit.
Expedition weight boots. -- VDH 22# wing with ScubaPro Air2.
Two cam straps. -- Hollis F2 fins.
Mask and back-up mask. -- Two Big Blue lights, batteries, and charger.
SMB. -- Wrist mounted compass.
Suunto Favor computer (back-up) (ScubaPro Chromis on wrist).

Weighs in at 26 lbs.

K
 
View attachment 528418

Dry bag doubles as carry on (meets 9" x 14" x 22" TSA size limit)
Apex soft plate doubles as backpack straps.

Inside:
ScubaPro Titanium Regs. -- 3mm full wetsuit.
Expedition weight boots. -- VDH 22# wing with ScubaPro Air2.
Two cam straps. -- Hollis F2 fins.
Mask and back-up mask. -- Two Big Blue lights, batteries, and charger.
SMB. -- Wrist mounted compass.
Suunto Favor computer (back-up) (ScubaPro Chromis on wrist).

Weighs in at 26 lbs.

K

I like this. How are you securing the drybag to the backplate?
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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