Diving bag vs. suitcase

[BuzzGA]

If you are looking for a fairly cheap and durable way to check dive gear on a plane (my wife and I always carry on regs, computers etc...) try one of those wheeled, golf club hard cases. They are pretty cheap on Blue Light or at Wally World and have a couple of places for locks. Granted they are big but I've been able to put 2 BCDs, fins, masks (in cases) and all kinds of other stuff in and still come in under 50 lbs. Also a TSA agent gave me a carry on tip. Put your regs etc in a clear plastic bag (dry cleaning or one of those new Glad ones) and pack them in the top of your carry on that way you can take them out and run them through the x-ray no problem. Since I started doing that TSA just smiles and waves

[TAH 73]

I generally use just a mesh bag for carrying my gear, I haven't had the need to pack it for flying, so no need for a more durable carrying solution, but when we went on a trip to Tobermory we ended up with all the gear in a open trailer due to space requirements (no rain on the horizon). Wanted to keep the gear a little more enclosed so i went down to the local sporting goods shop and picked up a couple of "junior" sized rolling hockey bags. I got them for a little less than $40 and they are a basic looking bag, nothing fancy looking, the skate pockets held my boots and the inside has a couple of "dry" pockets and has enough room for fins, BC, and all else. It also had a separate pocket that the regs can fit into.
The wheels/zips are pretty durable looking (rollerblade wheels) and best of all when empty it folds completely flat.

[namabiru]

Originally Posted by BuzzGA

Also a TSA agent gave me a carry on tip. Put your regs etc in a clear plastic bag (dry cleaning or one of those new Glad ones) and pack them in the top of your carry on that way you can take them out and run them through the x-ray no problem. Since I started doing that TSA just smiles and waves

That's a good tip, right there. That way you don't have to be hassled. Some of the rent-a-cops aren't so bad, but others are still bitter for having been rejected for Wally World security employment.

[nferra2]

I happen to look at bags today, and it is amazing how much a Scuba specific bag costs. There were too bags, almost identical. One was a Scuba bag, it was 299, the one that looked to be made by the same people, without the little scuba flag on it was 119. I really could not tell the difference inside or out. I will probably go even cheaper, like a rolling duffle bag.

[namabiru]

Yeah, you're not kidding there. You can take the $180 or so you'll save and probably buy a scuba patch from Joe and iron/sew it on your bag.

I went with a $28.64 bag I purchased at Wally World. It will go with me on my cruise in a couple of weeks. If you're not purchasing right away, I'll let you know how the bag works out for me. However, on SB, another diver's using the same bag I just bought, and he likes it a whole lot. FYI.

All the same, I'll post a nice juicy review.

[quarrydiver]

depends upon where i'm diving... if i'm going local i chuck most of my gear in a rubbermaid tub that I fill with rinse water when I get home. when i travel, carry on for regs, and the rest goes in a big akona dive bag. zippers won't rust and it has some hardcore wheels for the weight. Hadn't thought of the hard golf cases...nice tip!

[quarrydiver]

Originally Posted by namabiru

That's true--about the mesh bag. I read, too, that Blackbeard's will allow you to leave stuff with them while you go on the boat. So perhaps one option is to have your mesh bag with you and ask them to hold your suitcase.

Or I just had a thought--what if you packed your gear into plastic, then put it in the suitcase? I know you won't get as much air, and the bags will possibly reek to high heaven when you open them, but you could, in theory, re-rinse or let air. With a wetsuit, you can always use wetsuit shampoo and clean. A BCD can also be cleaned with that BCD cleaner stuff.

If you're going on BB, you won't need a mesh bag. They have storage bins on deck that you'll transfer your gear into. BB has a nice locked storage area so you don't have to bring anything on the boat you don't need like the clothes you wore to get to freeport or will wear when you get back to FP. you'll often have plenty of time to let your gear dry before your flight unless you have one of those really bloody early ones.

[namabiru]

Originally Posted by quarrydiver

depends upon where i'm diving... if i'm going local i chuck most of my gear in a rubbermaid tub that I fill with rinse water when I get home. when i travel, carry on for regs, and the rest goes in a big akona dive bag. zippers won't rust and it has some hardcore wheels for the weight. Hadn't thought of the hard golf cases...nice tip!

Mmm! Yes, I do that too. I don't fill the tub with rinse water, as usually it's all dirty (plus here I have a clothes line and garden hose).

So here is the review on the $28.64 Wally World suitcase. It's so popular that 3 other divers going to BlackBeard's this last week used it. All the same color too. We had to check luggage tags to make sure we were getting the right bag.

The cheap bag worked just fine. I saw a tiny rip in the back, along a seam, which came from wear and tear. There was also a yellow mark. However, I think I could probably fix the fine rip with something (super glue, maybe?) so it doesn't become a huge rip.

Perhaps my only complaint about the bag is that it doesn't have backpack straps. If you're going across a lot of sand, you have to carry it. Nor does it have a big shoulder strap--you have to make do with the two bag loops. But so it goes.

I was able, though, to fit all my gear in without difficulty. I dive a Zeagle Ranger (I did have to kind of squish the 'wings' up to make the BCD fit), and had room to put two towels too, as well as my booties, etc. My fins and wetsuit fit fine in the bottom compartment. I did remove my spring straps and laid them separately. Clothes fit fine either in the bottom zipper part or on the side pockets. I was underweight, at 44 lbs coming and 47 returning (and that was because I took a couple of things from my carry-on and put them in my checked bag).

A couple who bought nice new luggage--looked like it cost a bit-- noted an unsightly rip in one of their bags. Worse than my hairline rip--we're talking big swiss cheese holes. They were a little vexed. I would be too.

So really no sense in buying expensive luggage when it's just going to get all ripped to hell by the airlines anyway. Even if this bag lasts me 10 trips, it's gotten its worth, I think. After all, I have a nice set which has a rip, a grommet missing, soiled spots, and the retractable handle broken on the big suitcase.

[Capt Hook]

We use a LARGE rolling bag from K Mart for our gear. Why advertise you have something of value in the bag?

[CompuDude]

I'm going to shamelessly rip off the post of a friend of mine at ScubaBoard, just because I love his writing so much. This guy has spent more time experimenting and trying to find the ultimate combinations of gear it's not even funny.

(Note that this advice may not precisely apply to liveaboard destinations, but it's worth reading anyway):

Someone here on SB recommended these to us last year. I picked up a couple from eBags (caught a sale... they were $100 ea, no tax, no freight)

http://www.ebags.com/samsonite/flite...?modelid=11113

I've used them a dozen times - gone to Belize, to Florida, to Hawaii, and on many local trips to Catalina.

They are the best travel dive bags I've ever used. I am SO DONE with softside dive luggage for travel purposes. My big Stahlsac only goes on the local boats these days. Its Rubbermaid tub for shore diving and these if I'm getting on a plane or on a ferry.

Been using this bag for a number of years. International travel, domestic travel, local trips. I beat these things.

We dive drysuits, and I travel with a big 35mm DSLR camera outfit... everything fits in these. They're tough, simple, and CHEAP! When they croak, I'm getting a couple more.

Its just a big, tough, plastic box. Doesn't scream dive gear, lockable, can sit on it, over load it... it just rocks, AND it will protect your stuff.

Love 'em.