Get Serious! 44lbs!?! What do you travel with?

[jjdub]

By the way, we flew Continental in Feb. to Cozumel and while regular luggage has a 50lb limit, they give you 52lbs for a dive bag.

I just did the same and they said they allow 70lbs for a dive bag (I wasn't charged for my 56.5lb dive bag) but they definitely don't advertise this. I was about to pay when I heard someone else complaining that they had only dive gear and when I asked the rep. she told me it was free.

 

[highlandfarmwv]

I just flew on DAE. It is one 44lb bag. I was able to take all my stuff, and a laptop. Put all really heavy things in your carry-on: laptop, regulator, flashlights, battery chargers, camera. They don't weigh the carry-on. Pretend it is lightweight. You can have another personal item (make it heavy,too). Don't take chemical glo sticks, they're illegal. No gloves, hood. A shortie wetsuit is fine (I only wore a skin in December) Most hotels will have shampoo, soap, hair dryers. Take small bottles of ebverything else you need. It's amazing what will fit whan you wraqp your things in clothes.
Most of all--don't take a 35lb Pelican. I took luggage that weighed only 6-8l bs empty. Then you can fill it will "stuff".

 

[ronbeau]

Get serious, DAE airlines has a limit of 44 lbs of checked baggage from Curacao to Bonaire!

This is my first trip traveling with gear by air. Since I live in Florida I almost always drive to great diving, or take a cruise. i have not had to try to squeeze my gear into a plane. I did a lot of reading hear before I started to try to figure out what to take. Though there are not a lot of specifics, the best advice I got from here was to start by making two piles, one pile of the the "must have" things, and one pile of the "nice to have" things. i did this, and then split out the things that I will carr on in my travel vest and my backpack. I am still WAY overweight on the must have in the checked baggage. and I have not even gotten to clothing or toiletries!

Here is what I have:

Carry-on: (weight unknown)
Two sets of Regs(might only take one)
Sav-a-dive kit, parts, bulbs, light sticks, etc. (not even in normal box, in a bag to save 2lbs)
One Mask
Dive computer
Dive Alert
One small submersible dry box
Camera
Strobe (for Camera)
Lots of Batteries and a charger


Must have dive gear in Checked luggage: (36lbs not including any suitcase, clothes, or toiletries)
BC - SP Knighthawk XL (9lbs)
Fins
Sausage and finger spool
Knife
3/2 wetsuit
boots, gloves, hood
Snorkel
compass
Second Mask (I know, questionable)
two flashlights (no Batteries)
Strobe light/marker (no batteries)
Slate and fish ID cards, and Deco Tables
Two Plastic Hangers for gear
suntan lotion and bug stuff
Dive log

Now I need clothes, Toiletries, swim suits, and worst of all, the suitcase. I need to get one for this. My boat bag just won't cut it. I was going to get a Storm case since they seem as strong as the Pelican ones but are much lighter. Now I am thnking even the Storm is too heavy. The big Peilcan is 35lbs by itself. The same Storm case is 22lbs. The cheap Samsonite hard suitcase I am looking at as an alternative is 15 pounds. Maybe I should even go to a soft side case and save another 3 to 5 pounds but I am afraid of damage to the gear. Which one should I get?

I also thought about taking my laptop, and my video camera and housing instead of the still camera, but that would be even more weight!

Wow, how do you guys do it? Suggestions? What really is the weight of the gear you take. Am I going to really that far over what you really take with about 60 lbs of Gear, clothes, and suitaces? I don't think I have over done it here, and I haven't even touched my "nice to haves" like power steip/surge protector for charging batteries, a reel, Gatorade powder, Etc.

Help me out,

LJ

DAE is very strict on baggage weights and they want any over weight paid in cash. They will not accept travelrs checks or credit cards for overweight baggage fees.

They did not weight our carry-on luggage when we flew from Aruba to Cruacao last summer.

If you have not already booked the flight you might want to consider Divi Air. Liz at the Golden Reef Inn has us booked on Divi between Curacao and Bonaire this summer. She says that Divi is more liberal on weight.

Unfortunately Divi was not an option between Aruba and Curacao.

 

[bubba105]

22 lbs extra is $20. Usually this is a one time charge for round trip. Save your receipt. It's warm water diving so you won't need a lot of equipment. Just go, have a great time. Remember, don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff.

 

[bperrybap]

I've recently done 6 tropical dive trips that all had similar limits.
I always try to stay under 4-5 lbs just in case the gear is heavier
from being still a bit wet on the return home.
I tend to take about the same gear as you and a laptop
& charger.

I've gotten it down pretty good now.

I carry on a bag, a small soft camera case, and check a bag.
Carryon bag is about 20 lbs and checked bag will be
about 40 lbs.

The key is bag selection.
For Carry on I use a bag from Ebags.com: Weekend Convertible
This is the best bag I've ever purchased. I even put my laptop
in a sleeve and put it in this bag. It just works great.
Even has shoulder straps for carrying through the airports.

My carryon bag usually has everything that would still allow
me to have a decent dive trip. Prescription mask, dive lights,
Batteries, regs, computer, 3/2 mm wetsuit, swimsuit, core warmer,
hood, contacts, spare glasses, Sunglasses, glass cases,
any meds, legal toiletry carryon limit, and of course the laptop.

Regs are in a reg bag that drops into the ebag.
Wetsuit and corewarmer are rolled up and layed in.
Mask is in mask box and lights and batteries are placed
in around things.
Camera bag holds the camera, housing, and all rechargeable
batteries and chargers.
It is very small, about 9x6x5 inches.

For a checked bag I've found that a roller duffle works
best for me. If the bag is too large 1 of two things happens,
A) you keep stuffing it until its full and its too heavy
B) you have too much empty space and things slosh around

Also, look around for one that is definitely under 9 lbs.
It amazing how much the weights of these vary.
Mine weighs about 6 lbs and is about 23x13x13.

The other thing to keep an eye on is toiletries.
Things like a large bottle of contact lens fluid, big can of
shaving cream, or large sunblock tube can easily eat up and extra
5-8 lbs over using the smaller sized products.

Also, don't carry many if any extra shoes.
I tend to wear one pair and then pack a pair of Tevas.

As far as packing. I use my clothes as packing material
around things. Save-A-Dive kit is in a case and definitely in
the checked luggage as the scubatool in mine can't be carried on.

Also, keep in mind that on some trips (the bonaire one comes to mind)
that even though you are allowed a carryon, the plane
is so small that there will not be enough room to store a
"normal sized" carryon bag. In these instances be prepared
to check your carryon bag at the stairs of the plane.

When this happens, I'll pull the laptop out of the bag (it is in a padded
sleeve with handles) and then check the bag. If I don't have
the laptop, I might pull the reg bag out or perhaps just
grab the mask case.

Other than the laptop and my prescription mask,
I'm most worried about the luggage missing
the plane rather than being stolen or damaged.

On a trip to Fiji, where a small seaplane was involved,
the weight limit was 25 lbs total! and they gave you extra 12 lbs for scuba gear.
Couldn't take the BC or fins on that trip.

It can be done with out having to really sacrifice leaving
stuff behind. It just takes getting lightweight bags
and not bringing along stuff that won't be used.

Hope that helps.

--- bill

 

[LJinFLA]

Wow, Thanks for all the advice folks. This will help. I like the ebag, it is bigger than my backpack and might help. I am definately going for the softside. Why waste the weight on "packaging". Right?

Can anyone recommend a really great wheeled duffel or gear bag that is strong but lightweight?

LJ

 

[bperrybap]

Wow, Thanks for all the advice folks. This will help. I like the ebag, it is bigger than my backpack and might help. I am definately going for the softside. Why waste the weight on "packaging". Right?

Can anyone recommend a really great wheeled duffel or gear bag that is strong but lightweight?

LJ

That is the $64,000 challenge. I searched all over the place
and started out with a 29/30 inch roller duffle before I went
smaller. The larger one was made by Sampsonite for about
$70 (I think it is available on Ebags too). It had two really
nice side pockets that kind of stuck out that were perfect
for the fins. I would put one fin on each side.
It was a fantastic duffle but with the lower
weight limits it was just a bit too large.

Ebags even had one that looked pretty neat that would split
and had moveable internal compartments, but in the end,
I couldn't pull the trigger on the duffle unless I could see it first.

Academy and Sports Authority had some that I almost bought.
But here in Dallas, we have an Asian import area where you
can get really bargain import bags.
I ended up with a bag that I thought was actually nicer than
the Sampsonite bag for $29.

The features that I looked for were:
- Overall Very light weight
- Tough nylon with corded & seamed edges.
- No name brand. I don't want it to look an upscale
bag with expensive goodies inside. My wife has a Columbia
roller duffle (small storm chaser - Great bag but just slightly
to small for me) and she removed all the Columbia logos.
- Single zipper opening on top that can be zip tied.
(My bag has several small side pockets that I don't use
but I figure it will be good for "decoys" to help waste time
of the crooked baggage handles looking for stuff)
- Can the bag stand up the tall way?
My wifes bag and my original Sampsonite bag couldn't and
to me, it is kind of a pain when in lines like at the airport,
or waiting for a bus/taxi.
- Plastic/metal feet or runners on bottom and end that stands up.
Sounds like a small deal but without these, the nylon ends
up wearing through.
- zippered pocket around handle/extension to hide it.
I've seen the extension handles get broken or bent because
they extended and caught on other baggage or the handlers
used it when loading/unloading.
- handles on the ends so you can pick it up the long way.
Mine has a heavy nylon handle on one end and a plastic handle
on the other that acts like a foot when standing the tall way.

If you don't have any local shops to look at bags, ebags
has pretty good dimension information on the bags, especially
their brand.

There is definitely an art to packing the gear. When I was
sizing bags, I put everything I thought I would take on the bed
and then kind of stacked and squished it up and then took some
measurements to get an idea of the size I would need.
I also use a large nylon waterproof stuff bag that I put the
BC inside (with alot of other stuff in pockets and in the odd
spaces around the BC). This helps hold things together and
is really nice to have if your BC is still damp on the return
trip home.

Gigantic trash bags work well too.



--- bill

 

[LJinFLA]

Bill your posts are extremely helpful. You are one of the many reasons why this place is so great. Thanks.

Just a question, What does a 'good' duffle weigh. I have seen them for 14 pounds and and I have seen them at 8 pounds. I like the ebags brand one but it is realy huge and it seems heavy at 14 pounds. There is a smaller one but it may e too small.

Also, bill where can i find a waterproof bag like you describe for the BC. That is a good idea for the wet stuff on the return.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Just got back from Curacao. Flew to Aruba on Continental FF miles, then DAE to CUR.

DAE weighed us as 27 kilos overweight (4 checked bags total) on the way in; the counter agent in Aruba cut us a 7 kilo break because we just said "OK" and didn't pitch a fit over this. We had also been patiently waiting while the counter agent had to swap out the ticket / boarding pass printer guts, so this was a nice return gesture on DAE's part.

We knew the procedure from a combined Bonaire - Statia trip last fall with US leg connections in CUR and SXM and island-hopping with DAE and WinAir that trip.

DAE did accept credit cards (MC and Visa I'm certain, not sure about AMEX) or cash payment for overweight charges - but you have to take the overweight ticket written by the check-in counter agent to the cashier and back - the cashier for DAE is always in a different section of the airport from the check-in counter, whether it's Aruba, Bonaire, or Curacao. They do not take travelers' checks for overweight charges but they did accept AMEX Gift Checks last fall from me.

So, for the AUA to CUR leg we paid around US$36 for overweight baggage on DAE. Returning, we were charged for 36 kilos overweight, even though we also just said 'OK', and our gear was still a bit moist, for the CUR to AUA leg, cost around US$60 for that leg. But, when we factor this in the overall trip costs, and that we were getting to Aruba and back on FF miles, this wasn't a big deal for us. Everyone's different. We could have used FF miles to get to Curacao and back via Continental and avoided DAE, but we would have had to fly from New Orleans to Newark first, overnight in Newark or its surroundings on the outbound leg, etc. The price of the DAE tickets and DAE overweight baggae fees were worth it to us vs. extra vacation travel routing hassle.

Continental allowed us up to 70 lbs per checked bag for 2 checked bags each person, since I had earned Gold Elite last year getiing the FF miles. If you don't have Continental Elite status, or similar status with their Skyteam partners, I'm pretty sure their rules are 50 lbs per checked bag and 2 checked bags per person. But you can always encounter a generous counter agent now and again.

DAE always had all our luggage arrive on the same plane we did. WinAir was a whole 'nother story in that regard.

 

[bperrybap]

Bill your posts are extremely helpful. You are one of the many reasons why this place is so great. Thanks.

Just a question, What does a 'good' duffle weigh. I have seen them for 14 pounds and and I have seen them at 8 pounds. I like the ebags brand one but it is realy huge and it seems heavy at 14 pounds. There is a smaller one but it may e too small.

Also, bill where can i find a waterproof bag like you describe for the BC. That is a good idea for the wet stuff on the return.

You can find the waterproof bag/duffle/stuff bags at camping
supply stores or sporting good stores. I think I got mine from
Campmor or REI.
I've also seen them at a few local sporting goods stores.
I have also used and have seen many people use large trash bags.
I like the 2-3 mil heavy duty contractor bags.
My favorite are those at HomeDepot (not available at Lowe's) sold
under the "HUSKY" brand name.

The roller duffle was definitely the hardest thing for me to
find. My wife says it is because I over think things and just make things
"too hard" or harder than they need to be.
My first bag was a 29" sampsonite. It was a great bag but
just a bit too big for the new lower weight limits.

She's lucky, her things are smaller than mine. She gets
away with a small columbia stormchaser roller duffle that weighs
about 12 lbs empty and still gets under the limit. She
also packs all her clothes in "Space Bags".

Believe it or not it was my fins that determined the minimum
length of the bag. The 20" bags were not large enough for my fins.

Hey, Its your lucky day. I just looked and found a bag that
looks like the exact bag I'm using on ebags.com
Its even on sale right now with free shipping.
Check out the Roller duffles made by Olympia.
Mine looks just like the 22" black/gray version, but its bigger
than that. I'm pretty sure it is the 26" version.
Mine measures 26x13x14 (external dimensions)
and it weighs right at 6 lbs.

Good Luck.

--- bill