Suitable bag for dive gear on flights

[sjwhite26]

Hi

I now have purchased some of my own gear - fins, wetsuit, mask and snorkel. I also bought a bag as my fins appear way too big for any of my 'normal' bags. What I didn't realise and I suppose this is due to being a newbie that the dive bag I bought has a mesh bottom. Which now I think about it makes sense! But worries me in respect of taking it on a flight, I've seen the battering that hard cases have taken and I'm not sure that the mesh will withstand it!

Any advice?

[deepestandy]

I and others I know use these

[Sambro]

Cotswold Outdoors, Mountain Equipment 70LWet & Dry kit bag £40 from the Rock Bottom section plus £5 p&p via the website or get from one of the shops. They will take lots of abuse and at the price one of the best kit bags around.

[Haylo]

But worries me in respect of taking it on a flight, I've seen the battering that hard cases have taken and I'm not sure that the mesh will withstand it!

As it's probably squashy and fairly lightweight, you can use it for hand luggage. That way you'll be able to use it for wet gear while you're away. As for your new purchases, I'd simply put that sort of gear in an ordinary large suitcase, and be saving my money for more diving. How long are these fins that you need a special bag for them?

[deepestandy]

Cotswold Outdoors, Mountain Equipment 70LWet & Dry kit bag £40 from the Rock Bottom section plus £5 p&p via the website or get from one of the shops. They will take lots of abuse and at the price one of the best kit bags around.

Agreed, I have on of these too. Just forgot to mention. Avoid the cheap Gelert ones, they look the part but the stitching won't pass muster. I wrecked on on the first trip I took it on.

[sjwhite26]

The fins are about 62 cm long, which I didn't think were that long until I went through every bag in my flat!

[Lou]

I've always used something like this. Cheap and cheerful from Argos. About £15-£20. Lasts longer than you would care about for that sort of cost, and doesn't advertise that it is full of expensive gear like the "outdoor" or dive bags do.

[Haylo]

The fins are about 62 cm long, which I didn't think were that long until I went through every bag in my flat!

That isn't huge, maybe you could borrow a suitcase?

Of course if money isn't an issue, you can get specialist dive equipment flight bags - I only know because I found them while browsing a whole bunch of other far more important stuff I can't afford either, but I'm wary of carrying expensive looking bags.

[whitenoise]

Cotswold Outdoors, Mountain Equipment 70LWet & Dry kit bag £40 from the Rock Bottom section plus £5 p&p via the website or get from one of the shops. They will take lots of abuse and at the price one of the best kit bags around.

The Mountain Equipment wet/dry bag is a good choice, although I would get the 100l rather than the 70l one.

I used to use the North Face Rolling Thunder (Medium) bag:


Bought this for a bargain, but after a few trips found out that its not quite as big as I would have hoped, and required packing things logically and neatly which takes too much time Besides it also weighs like 5kg or so empty which isn't good when you don't have much luggage allowance anyway.

After reading other threads here, I decided to get the Berghaus Mule 140 wheeled bag:


Its dimensions in pictures are deceptive as its huge, still has wheels so it can be pulled around, but its soft so doesn't weigh very much at all. You might get away with the 110 wheeled version, but I think the extra space will always come in handy, especially when I'm away for two weeks later in the year. While the bag is 'branded', its generic enough that it could be anything inside, so if someone is looking to steal luggage, hopefully they will be looking at the dive branded bags first.

Some other threads that might be of interest to you:
Anyone used those dive bag on wheels things for travel?
Which Dive bag
Can anyone help to find this bag for me or an equivalent?
New Dive Bag needed this w/e: Any Suggestions?

HTH

[Kalahari Diver]

I'm also of the persuasion that Argos is your friend, big low priced bags that do several trips and cost very little. Also don't shout "nick me I'm valuable". My sister broke the last one I had, she did put most of a dismantled teak dining table into it and took it to america. Even then it was only the bracing struts across the base which went, not the stitching.

David.