Some Advice on Bags from you experienced guys...

[bjoseph]

Ok everyone. Lets say money is no object and you want the best possible regulator bag to protect your investment from abuse. What does everyone feel the best reg bag available today is...

A soft bag with a lot of padding seems nice but padding can be smashed down right? Is a hard case better? Akona makes a reg case that seems stiffer than a soft padded bag. Does anyone have one?

I am also looking for a good mesh bag for binging gear on the boat or to the shore. I am considering the Akona Bonaire Mesh Backpack. Can anyone give m a good mesh bag reccommendation?

Thanks!

[Daved]

I've been using a computer briefcase for a few years. It fits in all carry-on and protects very well.
As for the mesh bag--cheap is better. You end up leaving the bag unattended at shore dives and--well it might disappear. If you spent $20.00 it does not bother me as much.

[vadiver]

I use Stahl Sac products and have been very happy with them. My regulator bag is soft padded material and has worked well for years. The key is not to toss it around. If you want something more rugged go with any of the correct size Pelican or Storm cases--these worked well for me in Iraq.

[Silverlode]

Don't have a reg bag yet, but I bought my mesh back from ST which is giving a good price on the Mares Technomad Mesh. I had been eyeing that bag for ages, but the price has always been too high for me over here.

[Damselfish]

I have yet to find a need for a reg bag. My reg is 17 years old and is still perfectly happy without one.

[Goober]

Well for me money is an object. I just bought pinnacle's pacific duffle. There is a padded reg bag on the end that can be zipped off. This bag is huge. So I unzipped the reg bag off of the end and place it between the legs and body of my wet suit inside the bag. That offers alot of protection

[azdiver]

I've used a stahlsac mesh bag to carry me gear back and forth for 19 years and it still looks great! I have a sfot sided, no name brand reg bag that I've used off and on.... more off than on. I carry my reg in my backpack, which is padded, going and then just pack it into a soft case with my luggage on the way back.

[CompuDude]

I just use the plain little Akona reg bag that came with my bigger gear bag, and it's worked fine. No complaints. The best made dive-specific bags are by Stahlsac.

But the only 100% certain option for absolute protection would be a hard case, like Pelican or Storm. Hard cases are fine for local dives where weight and size aren't an issue, but they're lousy to fly with.

I have an Akona mesh backpack that works quite well, although I'm not sure if it's the same model you have. Good for small local boats. Surprisingly heavy, though, which may be an issue if you're flying. When flying, I use the cheapest, lightest possible mesh bags possible, recently a cheap $25 Aqualung bag I picked up at the local sporting goods store.

[Hollywood703]

I found a rolling Duffle bag from Walmart.....It has a lower section that is about the bottom 5" of the bag, It fits my fins, mask and other thin misc. objects, then the main compartment fits my XL Excusrision BC, and My Reg Bag on top of that..There is still room for a wetsuit (if i had one). If i finaggled it, i could probably fit my drysuit into the bag, but since it has its own bag.....I dont need to. There are 2 end pockets and a Pocket just large enough for my Cell phone.It is also a wheeled duffle and at 6'1 the handle is long enough for me. It was under $25. I just love how it has 2 seperate compartments.

[Hollywood703]

oh, I forgot this in that post......I use a nice padded Bag that isnt labeled....It isnt made for scuba...But is big enough for regs, and some extra stuff, but small enough for a carry on.