Pack covers to protect pack during transport

[David M]

Does anyone have recommendations for pack covers to protect a pack during airline transport? Baggage handlers have a nasty habit of pulling on the wrong straps when handling a bag so best to keep it in some type of smooth cover.

[forest]

Go get yourself a large "wheelie" bin liner from Bunnings. Tape / cable tie the top closed. They are made from that woven white plastic material (no idea on the name of it).
Only about $8 a pair and you can get different sizes. One for each leg of the trip.
Did this with a baby car seat 2 months ago, worked a treat !!

[Moondog55]

I went to the Op-Shop and got a cheap extra large duffle bag for $5- and used that I put a CCF pad around the rucksack for extra padding/ security

[icefest]

Have you ever been on long haul flights? Many international airports have 'wrapping stations' where they wrap what is pretty much glad wrap around your bag. It also limits the likelihood of you pulling an unbeknownst Chapelle.
If your airport doesn't have this service you can just use normal glad wrap, just be prepared to keep wrapping with 5+ layers.

At MLB the company is http://melbourneairport.com.au/Flight-P ... tabag.html



I've had this done on every long haul flight with a pack and have not had a single broken strap. (greater than 20x)

[GPSGuided]

The other option is to use the packing service at many of the airports around the world. They essentially Glad-wrap your pack. Maybe more costly and less environmentally friendly, but you won't need to carry another bag/cover during the trip.

Here's a link to MEL's service.
http://melbourneairport.com.au/Flight-P ... tabag.html

[icefest]

Great Minds think alike.
and fools seldom differ

[GPSGuided]

Oh dear. It's a worry!

Can't believe it, even used the same URL.

[icefest]

At first I thought I'd double posted...

[daggz]

Mountain designs and Kathmandu have pack away duffles that are pretty good. I use one to put my two gear bags in when checking in to the airport. Has a grab handle on top to grab it of the baggage carousal.

[Joomy]

Oh dear. It's a worry!

Can't believe it, even used the same URL.

At first I thought I'd double posted...

You guys literally had a mind meld at 2:40pm today.

The problem with dedicated duffle bags and whatnot for pack storage is that then you have to either carry it or find somewhere to put it at the other end. Something lightweight and/or cheap and disposable is probably the best bet. Those wheelie bin liners seem like a good idea, or else, yeah, lots of airports will do it for you.

[GPSGuided]

It's called the common logical pathway.

Along the disposable theme, the other obvious option is to use a cardboard box that can be obtained easily worldwide, both before and at airports, very similar to how one would carry a bike internationally. The big negative based on my million miles air travel experience is, customs worldwide love to pick on cardboard boxes. One can almost guarantee a thorough search if one carries a cardboard box in.

[ahmondjai]

Would this be something that you are looking for?

http://theluggageprofessionals.com.au/o ... large.html

[roysta]

I've had a Sea to Summit Tote Converter that's done me well on five solid overseas trips.
They come in two different sizes.
My Macpac Ravine 75 litre pack will go inside the medium sized one.
It's actually a pack cover that turns into a duffle bag.

[Rico]

Some airline will give you a suitable bag free of charge at check in if you ask. Qantas is the only one doing it on domestic Australian flights I think. My preferred are the ones from Cathay Pacific as they come with strings and they are reusable.

[jimmeyer176]

I use a large stuff sack, basically huge, I think the dimensions were 40cm by 106cm (16 by 42 inches) and I cut about a foot off the top and had it re-sewn, also had a webbing handle sewn into the side...this simple $25 stuff sack has now see over 38 pacific ocean crossings and 40 tasman crossings.

It currently has 3-4 little holes in it, and looks TERRIBLE, went from light blue to dark muck/blue color. It weighs nothing and packs down to nothing, works great.

[dannnnn]

i guess all the other owners of wilderness equipment bags have opened this thread to have a bit of a laugh with me...

my WE pack has been around the world three times. the only thing i have ever wrapped it with is a boxing kangaroo patch. luggage handlers cannot break it!!

[Onestepmore]

I've just bought appropriately sized Osprey airline bags for our packs for Chile in Dec. We're flying Qantas. Now I feel silly I didn't know about the whole Glad Wrap truss 'em up thing. Our day packs will be our carry on luggage. We're actually allowed two pieces of check in baggage, which is good as we have the option to leave a bag of plane/ hotel/ fishing and horseriding gear with our Chilean guide organiser. BUT one of our internal flights only has a single piece baggage allowance
Might still be OK for the trip home as we always seem to accumulate extra stuff on an overseas trip. We could always use the Osprey pack cover as an additional bag and plastic wrap a pack. Thanks for the heads up!

[photohiker]

I use the osprey pack bag. Works well, packs small.

Never tried the wrap stations with a backpack. Not available at all airports though.

[hk_mike]

Resurrecting an old thread here, for my first post. Have been lurking for a while and picking up an enormous amount of useful information - great forum.

I am flying to Tasmania with a backpack soon, so have been thinking of how to protect the straps from the baggage handler gorrillas (or is that guerillas?). Like the idea of something disposable and packable, so am planning on using a chaff bag. We have horses so have plenty of empty ones, though given that I buy lots of them full, I can't say its cheap!

Mike

[radson]

I've had a Sea to Summit Tote Converter that's done me well on five solid overseas trips.
They come in two different sizes.
My Macpac Ravine 75 litre pack will go inside the medium sized one.
It's actually a pack cover that turns into a duffle bag.

I use the S2S tote as well

[sim1oz]

Last time we went to Tassie, we put our packs inside two cardboard boxes and taped them together to protect the packs while in stowed luggage on the plane on the way to Launceston. We kept all our food and items we would need to show on arrival in our hand luggage (our day packs). Once they came off the stowed luggage conveyer belt we tore off the tape, threw the boxes in the bin, put our packs on our back, and away we went.
We did have one 'Doh! moment' when our 'boxes' came off the belt and the quarantine lady came running towards us...I hadn't really thought through the source of the boxes (freebies from our local greengrocer)...which had Victorian apples marked all over them. But once she saw us pull our packs out and dump the boxes, all was well and then away we went. On our return flight to Melbourne I just dropped into a local supermarket, asked for some boxes and bought some packing tape. No problems having to store anything (or post it ahead) and a nice cheap, disposable solution!

[Onestepmore]

Boxes are a good idea to keep your bags clean too. On a recent international trip I was amazed to see some of the bags coming onto the collection roundabout with very definite dusty boot prints on them

[sim1oz]

Absolutely, no need to feel precious about cardboard boxes! And handy since we flew in one airport and out another. If we had taken something we wanted to re-use then we would have had to carry it (=more weight) or post it ahead.

[stry]

Boxes have worked well for me, except for the time I arrived at Tullamarine with a box that had contained bananas from South America. The concern was that some nasties from the bananas may have been somewhere in the cardboard. AQIS staff helpfully organised a replacement carton for me and disposed of mine. So a good tip by Sim1oz !!!

Also worth remembering if using things like chaff bags that the baggage handler still needs to be able to get a grip on the item to handle it. If you have created a nice smooth, maybe slippery bundle with no handles, it is going to make things hard for the handlers.

I have used soft cord to tie up stuff and at the same time create a handle or lifting point. Not as important for boxes, but can be helpful with those as well.

I have mainly used a light commercial thingy made for the job which weighs very little and packs small. If these are a bit loose fitting, cord can be used to avoid catchy/teary folds and flaps of material hanging out.

[hk_mike]

Good tip on the handles for the chaff bag solution. Box is sounding like a better option.

[Strider]

Found these at IKEA today. Fits my Aarn Guiding Light perfectly

Might even work as an ultralight pack for some!

http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90161989/

[RonK]

I've been using a Black Wolf Overall Tote bag for more than 10 years or so, and it has survived the abuse of many airport baggage handlers.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Ask Qantas staff for a plastic "pram bag". It's just a big, thick, clear plastic bag they usually put folded prams into.

That's what I use, tends to last a few trips before I need a new one.

And check in your hiking pack using one of the baggage tubs... Saves loose straps getting caught in the conveyor belt systems - and for the OCD like me out there, it keeps your nice bushwalking pack clean, too.

[dagsands]

Found these at IKEA today. Fits my Aarn Guiding Light perfectly

Might even work as an ultralight pack for some!

http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90161989/

Has it turned out to be tough and waterproof/resistant? Certainly the right weight and price point...

[Strider]

Found these at IKEA today. Fits my Aarn Guiding Light perfectly

Might even work as an ultralight pack for some!

http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90161989/

Has it turned out to be tough and waterproof/resistant? Certainly the right weight and price point...

I've only needed to use it the once so far, to Tassie and back. Held up fine and will likely last many more trips. Cheap enough not to worry about too much if it doesn't.

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