what bag to buy for trips

[Big Kahuna]

Living so close to Stoney & Dosthill and only diving Uk quarries so far I have a ex hayes document crate (think gear gulper only yellow and cost £4.50 off fleabay) which I transport everything in except dry suit. This also keeps water in the box and off the boot carpet on the way home as well, and I find this bloody brilliant

I am now booked on 2 trips, the first to Plymouth 2/3 April and am planning to do al least 10 trips this year.

I therefore have 2 questions:

1. is my gear guler imitation suitable for hard boat diving or should I look at a bag?
2. If I should look at a bag - any reccomendations and what features to consider. We are currently considering 2 weeks in lanzarote in June so what ever I get should be suitable and tough enough to take the abuse of baggage handlers at heathrow!

Cheers
Chris

[Buoyant Babe]

If you are boat diving, space is limited, so a big bag might not be a good idea. I put my kit together before I get on then carry my fins, mask, gloves, hood, reel, smb etc in a mesh goody bag - mine is rectangular one and has two carry handles and a long zip on the top - I can't find a link but I got it at Puffin. It is something like this and this although mine is made of string mesh fabric. I also carry on a dry bag.

For travelling, I have a large wheeled Scubapro bag, but to be honest I prefer the cheap canvas wheeled bag I picked up for £20 from a luggage store on a retail park. It doesn't shout 'Scuba gear - nick me!' I also take my mesh goody bag with me.

HTH

Helen xxx

[frosty the snowman]

For UK diving I've used one of these kit bins for the last 15 years or so.



It's practically indestructable, keeps the boot dry, holds all my kit except the rebreather and I always have somewhere to sit on the boat!

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by frosty the snowman

For UK diving I've used one of these kit bins for the last 15 years or so.



It's practically indestructable, keeps the boot dry, holds all my kit except the rebreather and I always have somewhere to sit on the boat!

Where from Nick?

[frosty the snowman]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

Where from Nick?

So long ago I don't remember. They used to sell them for a few quid at the aquasport hotel on Portland. I'll see if I can find them online.

[frosty the snowman]

Voila!
Miscellaneous

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by frosty the snowman

Voila!
Miscellaneous

What size is yours? Ahem, your barrel I mean

[frosty the snowman]

A throbbing and magnificent 60 litres my dear.

[Treerat]

I therefore have 2 questions:

1. is my gear guler imitation suitable for hard boat diving or should I look at a bag?
2. If I should look at a bag - any reccomendations and what features to consider. We are currently considering 2 weeks in lanzarote in June so what ever I get should be suitable and tough enough to take the abuse of baggage handlers at heathrow!


I'd agree with bouyant babe. I use a Dirty Divers bag for UK trips and a wheeled heavy duty bag from my local shopping outlet for airport trips. They are strong, lighter than the diving bags and blend in with all the rest.

You will need a smaller mesh type bag for the boat, this takes all the wet kit and leaves your big bag, at the hotel dry and clean.

I've taken my Gear Gulper on boats and had no problems. However we didn't have full boats and knew I had plenty of room. By choice I'd get ready first, leave the box in the car and carry on the kit in the mesh bag.

I picked up a couple of the barrells from local suppliers. The smaller one I get from the local indian - chutney come sin it. I have a couple of the 60l ones that came from a food place that used food die - all FOC.


TTFN
Andy

[Steve L.]

Have a careful think before buying a bag to travel overseas. A friend of mine bought a huge one weighing over 5kg. That used up a quarter of his baggage allowance.

Get something robust by all means, but take into consideration how heavy it is and is the extra weight caused by wheels and plastic handles worth it.

Steve