Traveling w/Pack

“This summer I will be going to Alaska to trek through the ANWR for two weeks. This will be the first long range trek miles away that I've taken. Does anyone have any advice on how to carry a backpack on an airline? If anyone else has traveled long distance with only a backpack I would appreciate any advice and "lessons learned" you could offer. Thanks.”

“Get the biggest duffle bag you can find and put your pack in it)empty), along with your gear. You can get jumbo duffles pretty cheap from army surplus, and they can be locked with a padlock. Just be careful with them when full, the grommets can blow out. I usually reinforce with duct tape, and try not to overstuff.

Don't forget you will need to get stove fuel, bear spray, etc. once you get to Alaska; can't fly with that stuff.

Tuffy boxes are also useful for transporting food and gear on airlines.

Have fun; Alaska is a blast.”

“Some use a big duffle bag to put it in but I always just sinch up the straps and buckle them. Also be sure to tuck the loose & dangeling straps so they won't snag on any thing.
Don't carry fuel in your pack either. Sometimes the cargo area isn't preasurized and you don't want compressed fuel blowing up.”

“You are luckey I would love to go there backpacking.


8)”

“Don't get ate by a Griz.”

“container that I purchased at walmart. It sucks up everything that I want to bring. I even made a strap on wheel thingy that I put inside just before i turn it over to the check in person...makes it much easier to cart from one area to another, of you could just tip a bell cap to haul it for you. Have fun...”

“Walkindude, I'd be afraid to let them throw my pack around without putting it inside something. I'm sure you've flown more times with a pack than I have (which is once) so it surprises me that you haven't had a problem.

I used a canvas bag from the Army/Navy store. The bag got all scuffed up, but my pack was fine.

Gearjunkie, why would you put your pack in empty?”

“I haven't flown with my backpack yet. But I have seen the condition my luggage is in when I get it back and I want to put it in a protective covering. I can't imagine letting them do that to my baby, er I mean backpack. I've seen some duffles that are made for flying backpacks but they cost much more than a Tuffy.”

“Osprey packs and some other manufacturers offer what is called an "airporter". It is essentially a nylon bag that fits over your pack and has a loop that fits arounf the top so that you can lock it.”

“I have flown with my pack several times and never had any damage to the pack. I just put it in a large duffel. I tried the Army ones, but they weren't big enough for my 5500 cubic inch pack. I got a hughe duffel from an outfitter store for $40.

I took my pack out to the Grand Canyon in November and was randomly selected for a complete search. It took 45 minutes to go through my whole pack and every ditty bag inside it, so you may want to get there earlier than you normally would. They also didn't like my empty fuel cannisters for my white gas stove. They let me go with them, but only because I told the security person that I left them open for several days to ensure that there wasn't any vapor left in them. They let me take them, but I was advised that only new ones that never had gas in them are allowed.

Have a great time in Alaska!”

“Fritz,
I put the pack in the duffle empty because I find it easier to cram everything in the duffle that way (I have a big backpack). I always repack everything when I get to the destination anyway. Of course, if the full backpack fits in the duffle, that'll work too.”

“Also if you pack the bag empty,all the small items kind of find their own little space and you can use a smaller duffle. It's also easier to get through "The Search" with everything loose. My water filter got me stopped every check point on the way home from Peru. I saw someone's pack get stuck on the conveyor-it wasn't a pretty site!”

“I've flown twice with my pack. It was fully packed, and I wrapped the wole thing in several layers of plastic bags and duct-taped the whole shebang. Can't do that any more, so I like the ideas you have given me.”

“Bringing this one back to the top.

I'll be traveling from Indiana to Montana in September and this will be my first time traveling by air with a pack.

Wondered if anyone had anything to offer to the good advice I found on this thread.

Also, what are some of the other things besides fuel cells that can't go in with my pack? Pocket knives etc.”

“I made a bag out of condura for my pack. It's a bit oversized, my wife calls it a body bag.

Brother-in-law had no problem getting stove (no fuel) in his pack. He shipped fuel canisters ahead.”

“hockey bag will travel pak.

i've yet to fly w/gear also.

if had luggage sent to another continent.

lots of normal stuff not allowed as carry on now

see walking stik/trekk pole thread

be afraid”

“I travel alot and dont advise on travelling with fuel packs as you already have mentioned mate......However, the swiss army knife...etc and all that would go in the check in stuff along with all the other stuff the airport thinks you would use to kill the cabin crew with or even the pilot.....lol
I know things are crazy these days mate, and even takin a stove is an issue , but.......if you have a stove that can be taken apart...then do so, by distributing all the parts throughout your luggage as I do.
Doesnt look like a stove if it isnt put together......hint........! Cheers mate.
I hope i was of some help 2 ya!
Zay”

“I shipped my stove and fuel bottle (empty and clean, of course) to Montana via UPS ground a couple weeks ago - took about a week to get there. The other camping stuff shouldn't be a problem, but I wonder if they'll be curious about the bearproof canister ("Hey Joe, looks like some kinda depth charge in this one....").”

“yeah ok”

“I kept two military duffle bags that I am able to stuff my backpack into and other equipment (sans stove & fuel).

The bags are very heavy and have a padlock loop at the top--very secure.

I'm sure you could pick up a duffle bag at a surplus store these days.”

“What about food products. Any problems with traveling with dried foods, jerky, etc?”

“You can check anything in your pack, except fuel. I checked a 7,000 ci pack last month out of LAX with no problem. Didn't even have it in a duffel or anything. I'd always heard you had to remove straps but apparently, that's not the case anymore. I just bucked the waist belt, cinched everything down and tied up any lengths of webbing. No problemo.”

“most informative.”

“Packed the pack as usual. stuffed it in a large canvass army sack, put the boots, regular clothes (for the bsn meetings) and all into a seperate gym bag and zipped it all closed and locked it and checked it in. I took my pocket Rocket and bought fuel cannisters at the denver REI (and lots of other things...I hate denver). I also had a multi-tool in the bag as well...I had NO problems with anything.

In November (after 911) I packed my empty fuel cannisters and wisper lite and went to las vegas. Everything, including 14 inch stellito was checked in...again no problems. I even carried my hiking stick onboard...nobody said boo till I was coming home, they put the stick on the plane for me and handed it back to me when I got off.

I think that you all are making too much out of the travel scene. I travel monthly with my gear and have yet to have any difficulties...just inform them whats in the bag...emphasising that you have no fuel, and check it in. I have also posted on the "walking stick" thread...fool proof ways to travel with your hiking sticks. I have never had a problem...even in France...I had little of no difficulties.”

“no crap?
i almost always get "special" search considerations

my parents were almost arrested in euro over a money clip or something.

u must handle yourself well.

or freaked them out w/the 14" heels.

i will be taking your advice tho.”

“Put your pack in a duffle or some sort of bag. If something happens to it the airline will replace contents of bag but not bag so don't risk losing you pack.....just some info.
We were put through all the hoops on last airplane trip. The only reason they wanted a pack opened at the check you luggage point was some trailfood we had and they couldn't tell what it was in the x-ray machine....Gee don't they know how hard that stuff is to pack and unpack LOL
Best of luck
Barbara”

“I usually get the pretty woman and I always ask them to run away with me and lets pack...have sex...get married...you know,,,the usual chit chat. In sept, I'll be flying to vegas for a 5 day trip into escalante/zion and then again to Denver to go to RMNP and the GSDNM. Tough life...”

“so why do I always get broom hilda who insists on a strip search?”

“I just travelled from the MiddleEast to England to Italy to Croatia then Spain. Put my pack in a pacsafe and never had a question about anything that was in it. Stove, empty fuel bottles, walkman, tent, chow, etc.. I also put small pad locks on the zippers. The Pacsafe drew some attention because no one had ever seen one but I had not one problem”