Need help with dive bag/Travel bag?

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BspoonDiver

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Messages
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Location
California
# of dives
100 - 199
So I'm looking into new dive bag for traveling but hopefully would be used for local dives. I'm leaning towards a roller bag but haven't seen much feedback on a lot of them. I travel a lot with my gear so I need something thats some what light weight but has some durability to protect my gear. So I'm asking what gear bag do you use currently? Do you like it and what are your pros and cons for it? if you don't like your bag, what bag would you upgrade to if you did?
 
I have a large mares roller bag and I love it. Extremely sturdy, side poket that fits long fins, great zippers, and many extra pockets.
 
No need to advertise that you (may) have expensive dive gear.

I tend to use a generic heavy duty roller duffle bag. It is light enough that it doesn't create too much of an issue with the airlines, it is sturdy, it doesn't draw any undue attention, it folds up very compact (if you are on a live aboard where space is at a premium), and I can find a size that is big enough to fit all my gear but not so big that it is awkward to handle.
 
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No need to advertise that you (may) have expensive dive gear.

I tend to use a generic heavy duty roller duffle bag. It is light enough that it doesn't create too much of an issue with the airlines, it is sturdy, it doesn't draw any undue attention, it folds up very compact (if you are on a live aboard where space is at a premium), and I can find a size that is big enough to fit all my gear but not so big that it is awkward to handle.

Do you check the duffle bag? How do you know your regs or BC won't get damaged by the baggage handlers? Do you put your regs in a hard case inside the soft sided bag?
 
I have about 6 different bags from Briggs & Riley that I use for all my types of travel. These are not cheap bags, but they have a lifetime warranty for any reason. When the airlines trashes a zipper or a handle, they make it right. I don't like to advertise that I am traveling with expensive scuba gear. My favorite is the Baseline Large Upright Duffle. Clothes get packed in the lower compartment, dive gear on top. The Baseline Medium Upright Duffle is the same design in a smaller package.
 
Do you check the duffle bag? How do you know your regs or BC won't get damaged by the baggage handlers? Do you put your regs in a hard case inside the soft sided bag?
Yes, I do check the duffle bag. I normally pack my regs, computer, mask and BCD in my carry-on.

The duffle has a hard bottom and I use my fins and wetsuit to protect anything in the duffle that needs protection. If for instance I need to check my BCD rather than having it in my carry on, I will put the BCD inside my wetsuit, and then put this in a mesh dive bag with my fins so that my BCD is protected by the bottom of the duffle on one side & my fins on the other, all while wrapped inside my wetsuit.

I have never had a problem with this type of packing.
 
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My gear has been all over the world many times in checked baggage. I don't subscribe to the idea that advertising you have scuba gear makes it a target for theft. To the contrary, Scuba gear is large, cumbersome and needs a specialist market to dispose of. Most thefts are opportunist needing to move the items on for money fast.

My gear once went to thailand in a heavy duty mesh bag, and got there safely

My regs go in a soft case inside my bag generally padded by a wetsuit. again no issues ever.

I have teh Mares Cruise bag. I don't like it and can't recommend it. For sure it has load of room. The exterior pockts on teh side hold fins, the two from pockets are deep but shallow so never get used.

The exterior material, doesn't hold up to travel well, mine has tears. While it's a great roller on a smooth level surface, its unstable and hard work on something uneven

I'm tempted by the SthalSac either the Caicos Cargo pack or the Steel 34. I'm really fussy about bags and the practicality so I'd want to see and touch one rather than buy blind over the internet with the fuss of returning.

For local diving I use an XS Scuba Delux mesh duffel Both my wife and I use them. Ours get used weekly and are about 2 years old. They do hold a full gear set (not dry suit) and take abuse. The internal rubberised coating has come off the internal pocket, perhaps that due to heat here. both main bag zips broke - teh end stops cam off, this was easily fixed with a zip tie and has worked well (better than the original end stop)
 
Honestly, I've gone with "diver specific" bags in the past (Akona & Stahlsac) and found that they didn't perform any better than a generic roller bag from Costco-- and they tend to be HEAVY. My personal opinion of having a bag slathered with dive logo's is "Why advertise that you have a bunch of dive gear when you don't have to". Maybe it sets you up for theft, maybe not-- but why advertise and take the chance? Currently, I'm using a generic looking duffle bag that has interior and exterior pockets at the top and bottom ends of the bag. It has a base made of some sort of indestructible material, has plenty of handles, and has hidden backpack straps in case you need to lug it on your back. It works better than anything I've ever used. Fins go in the bottom, followed by bc. Everything else goes around it, with wetsuit providing padding. My wife has the exact same setup and we've taken them all over the world without a single issue.

I pack my regs and computer in my carryon luggage, just to be safe.

R.
 
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https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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