Camera Case - Checked Luggage

Need your advice about a camera case I can check as luggage.

I travel extensively internationally. Recent events have me concerned about future trips and how to handle all my gear. For example, I happened to be in the UK when there was a terrorist attack in London; the result was that I could not take any luggage on board the aircraft for a trip back to the US -- I was forced to check my rolling case, which thank goodness held up during the trip with no damage to my gear. Sometimes I must fly on smaller aircraft and my backpack is not allowed aboard.

And, with increased security screening, the hassles of explaining every item of gear is getting frustrating.

I am now concerned that my typical backpack carried aboard may not work in the future. In other words, I want to be prepared for having to check my stuff.

I have a large Pelican case, but unfortunately it has no wheels and it is heavy to lug around in an airport. Nearly indestructible, it might be a good choice, although I am concerned about how well the equipment will be protected from drops and typical luggage handling techniques, and I am thinking about internal packing solutions which might make this a good combination/alternative. My last trip resulted in my regular luggage bag being totally destroyed.

What would you recommend? I know that Pelican makes rolling cases. Are there other alternatives? What internal packing materials do you recommend?

And last, what camera insurance to you buy for international trips? What companies do you recommend?

Thanks.

Bill

Bill, I use the Pelican rolling cases and have zero hesitation recommending them. I have the smaller 1510 that will fit carry-on size limits, though current weight restrictions will now exclude it on most flights. I also have the larger 1610 which will take my Sigmonster 300-800mm lens when placed diagonally with the hood off or reversed. The 1610 fits checked bag size limitations, though again weight often will trigger scrutiny during checkin. Normally with over-weight conditions on checked bags one faces an extra fee. To me this is not a problem as long as airlines will be honest, straight forward and consistent about it in their policies; it just becomes a cost of doing business in air travel these days.

Both of these Pelicans can be double-padlocked, which I have done on international flights completely outside of the USA. With any US destinations of course you have the added aggravation of the TSA, preventing proper locking of the cases and potentially subjecting your gear to being removed and incorrectly repacked. Or worse. Can't help you there, take that one up with your congressman... not that that will help either.

I use a variety of internal packing materials including the Pelican velcro dividers & foam, plus bubble wrap, thin foam wrap and other materials accumulated from here & there. I have flown post-9/11 with heavy loads of gear checked in the Pelicans and had no damage, problems or questions. Destinations have included Canada, the UK and Crete. But given some of the treatment bags can be subjected to it's difficult to come up with a style of packing that's guaranteed to protect against all damage. So it's probably worth doing a bit of strategy in distributing gear amongst different bags or cases, especially if you're not traveling alone. That way if some particularly disastrous handling of one bag trashes or loses its contents, hopefully your entire kit doesn't get taken out.

Some people are concerned that large, black Pelican cases have signs on them reading "steal me". Look, we're in a bad situation and you can't protect against all risks. What's the choice? Travel with no gear, don't travel, or try shipping gear via FedEx or similar at high cost and different risks like being held up by customs for import / export problems. Or pack the gear well in a Pelican (or similar hard case) and travel with it as checked baggage, with full insurance. There's not a lot more one can do without being independently wealthy to charter private air transport or purchase / rent redundant equipment at the destination.

Insurance has been extensively discussed in some threads you can search for -- look for "state farm" and "nanpa" as keywords and you should find the threads right off. I use a State Farm personal articles policy, something that may or may not be available from State Farm in the US. It's the best option available in Canada that I know of. The NANPA policy would be available to you, and probably some others from press associations or the like that you may be able to join. Key components of my policy that I recommend everyone look for include global coverage, all perils, no deductible, listed replacement costs, a reasonably priced option to cover commercial use of equipment, and no connection to home-owners or other policies to avoid jeopardies during claims.

I own 4 of these and have loaded them up to 100 pounds with sensitive equipment. Each year I take 3 heavily loaded to South America when I do hummingbird workshops and I have never had an item damaged - including dozens of sensitive flashes and even a digital projector (pretty easy to damage with impact) and never once an issue. I use heavy duty luggage straps in case they pop open - sometimes two - and all gear is packed inside and padding or lens cases are used (if it is a big lens or camera it goes into a backpack inside the suitcase and is heavily padded.) I take two of them on every photo trip I have been on with the exception of Africa, Antarctica and Galapagos where the restrictions call for soft sided luggage. These are light too at under 13 pounds empty and are nearly indestructible, easy to wheel around (I have even been know to piggy back two together.)

I prefer these over more expensive and heavier pelican cases because they have wheels, are lighter, and look like any other suitcase.

Samsonite Hard Sided Rolling Suitcase

Bill; I agree international travel is becoming pretty difficult. I travel regularly to Russia with my equipment; I seldom have problems once inside the borders of Russia on flights but extensive problems just getting out of America and intermediate stops (Frankfurt, Paris, Oslo, etc). For this reason, I have become much better at selection of flights with less stops (hence less handling of baggage and less problems carrying on baggage. The major problem I have with pelicans or other hard sided cases is the weight. Currently, Delta and other want to limit you to 50 pounds per bag. When a hard sided bag weighs 15 lbs or 30% of the total allowed, that puts a real damper on the amount I am allow to carry without excess fees.

One technique I used in Paris when they would not allow me to carry-on my bag is to put the lenses and camera around my neck or in a belt system on my waist. I usually carry a parka in winter, these have big pockets. A 600mm with pro camera around my neck and lens in the pockets will pretty much empty my bag. I know this is stretching the regulations but I refuse to check my camera equipment. I have always been successful at getting my fragile glass to my seat.

Royce: Why do you say the 1510 is excluded on most flights because of weight? Isn't the US 40 lb carry-on limit pretty universal?

Greg: Your link is to the Samsonite F'Lite 31, listed as 31x21x12 = 64" total, 2 more than the official limit. Do you use the 31 or 28? If the 31, have you ever had trouble with the extra 2"?

John: I wonder if your camera around the neck trick still works. My impression of the latest silliness is that you can't have anything accessible during the first and last hour. Maybe not even under the seat - checked or overhead only.

thanks,
Alan

alillich wrote:
John: I wonder if your camera around the neck trick still works. My impression of the latest silliness is that you can't have anything accessible during the first and last hour. Maybe not even under the seat - checked or overhead only.

thanks,
Alan

We will see, leave for Yellowstone (month long) in a week.

Usually, I get stopped because my Think Tank Airport Security bag is to heavy (600mm, 200-400mm, D3s, 24mm, 35mm, sb900, etc), not because of size. With the lenses in my pockets or neck, the bag is allowed on the plane. The staff on the plane will usually let me load the cameras and lenses back into the bag and put in overhead/under seat.

I use the 31 and have never been measured once - these are pretty widely used as I have seen them used on flights pretty often. I have used them for years and have yet to find anything better. The actual width is 11 at the widest part so not sure of the listing. It's technically 1" over I guess.

Royce, Greg, and John

Thank you.

Royce, I appreciate the reference to the two Pelican cases, both look very strong and durable. The smaller one seems to fit what I am looking for.

Greg, thanks a bunch, I never thought of using normal luggage for camera gear but the one you use looks like an excellent alternative.

John, your method is something I have done in the past, maybe not with such large equipment though. My concern is that carry on stuff will be very limited in the future. It happened to me once already while in the UK.

Royce, I just checked USAA and they have an insurance policy that should cover my needs, I am fortunate to be able to utilize them.

I must decide soon, my next trip to Scotland is coming up in March and I know for sure that I will have to check my camera gear because I will be flying from Manchester to Inverness, and they use puddle jumpers.

And who knows what is next. Likely that restrictions will get more onerous in the days ahead.

Best regards,

Bill

Bill,

The ThinkTank Airport Antidote bag is supposed to be small enough for carry-on in RJs. I can fit a Nikon 200-400, D300+MBD10, D700+MBD10, plus some smaller odds and ends. And it is very comfortable to carry on long day hikes. I ordered mine directly from Think Tank and had them include a 17" laptop case instead of the 15" at no extra charge.

Alan

Alan, 40 lbs of carry-on is a luxury that many people will not see again outside of the US domestic flights, at least not for some time. 5kg carry-on limit (per item, often now with a 1 item limit) is very common internationally, and with long-haul charters and small puddle jumpers like Bill refers to. Google around, check lists like this and you'll see very few 40 lbs or greater, and virtually none outside the USA:
http://honeymoons.about.com/od/airlines ... -limit.htm

A Peli 1510 loaded with the stuff I can fit into it is far over that sort of weight allowance, and that doesn't even include the issue of a second carry on for the digital stuff such as laptop, hard drives, etc. If forced into a carry vs. check scenario I will always check cameras & lenses and carry the laptop & drives, because the latter contain tons of hugely important, personalized stuff (not to mention equally delicate!) whereas camera equipment is largely generic and replaceable.

I use the 1510 because it will fit the carry-on size limits. If I'm not stopped for weight, fine, I go ahead and carry it on. But if I do get stopped and forced to check it (or gate check it), I don't have to worry about the contents being smashed as with a soft-sided case or backpack.

The Peli's are heavy, no question... but if I'm traveling with a heavy load of camera gear anyway, there seems no point to me on scrimping a small percentage of weight on the cases at the expense of ruggedness. Usually an excess baggage weight fee is a small percentage of the overall trip cost. As long as I plan for it, I know the maximum downside and can judge whether it's worth it to take that extra gear or not. For a weekend flight, probably not... but if I'm going for several weeks, I'm more likely to go heavy.

Hard-sided luggage like Greg refers to can be a good alternative as well. But I use the Peli's for all around haulage of gear at home, on location or whatever... something that suitcases are not necessarily ideally suited for. Pelicans seal well against dust & moisture, stack compactly, and are virtually indestructible...

Royce Howland wrote: Both of these Pelicans can be double-padlocked, which I have done on international flights completely outside of the USA. With any US destinations of course you have the added aggravation of the TSA, preventing proper locking of the cases and potentially subjecting your gear to being removed and incorrectly repacked. Or worse. Can't help you there, take that one up with your congressman... not that that will help either.

I *think* you can lock them on trips *to* the USA, since those are screened in the country of departure, and not by TSA. (Whether TSA wants to rescreen if you have a connection in the USA, I don't know.) But certainly within the US or from the US, you can't lock them.

I do wonder why they don't allow locks. Just about every other country in the world allows locks, and they feel the X-ray checking (and whatever explosive swabbing they actually do on checked bags) is sufficient. I did once have an American Airlines staffer in Caracas roll my checked bag into the departure lounge to get me to open it for him for a secondary check, since they saw something on the X-ray. And I don't think it was even locked--they just wanted me there to open it. And when was the last time an airplane was brought down by something in a checked bag? My brief web search didn't find anything in the last 20 years, so whatever screening methods used around the world seem to be working.

On other notes:

I fly a fair bit on business. Maybe not as much as people who run workshops all over the world, but enough to maintain "Elite" (Star Alliance Gold) status over the past few years. I've had flights with Air Canada (mostly), Lufthansa, Air India (once), United, Continental, American, a couple of domestic Venezuelan airlines, and BMI and BA (domestic in the UK). Not once have I ever had a carry on bag weighed, or even checked for size. I can't even recall ever seeing someone have their bag checked for size. I know it happens though, so I certainly wouldn't recommend *expecting* to be able to get away with things!

I have been on a flight, however, where after only half the plane had boarded, they announced the overhead bins were full, so you could either put your carryon under the seat in front of you or check it. They didn't even offer a gate check--you wouldn't get your bag back until the carousel at the destination.

-Paul

I have my gear insured thru USAA. Just so all of you know, you must be an amateur for it to be applicable. You cannot generate $1 dollar of REVENUE from your photo gear or the policy is null and void. If anyone as info to the contrary from USAA, please let me know.

Greg, thanks for the headsup on the Samonsite alternative. I might need a hard case for my Kiboko bag and it looks like it is big enough for it. By the way, at Pelican's web site, they have a good table of what model bags fit carry on and as checked baggage by carrier. For checked baggage, look at the Pelican 1560 or the 1610 for a rolling bag that will hold a filled backpack. Andy Biggs has suggested I look at the 1610 for his Kiboko, although I hate the thought of what the total weight will be. Andy's thoughts are based on measurements only, not experience.

I am thinking thru how I will get to and from Tansania in March so this is very timely for me too.

I still remember traveling in Europe during the 1970s when full and complete body searches were done on all air passengers, men in the open, women behind screens. These were not simple pat downs. No one complained that I ever heard about.


Joe Smith

Way more than enough room for the Kiboko and a tripod, head and still lots of clothes on top. Also, it is almost completely water and air tight. I say almost as it has a gasket but it is not 100% continuous like a pelican. That said I have left it overnight in the cloud forests of costa rica and with heavy downpours with flash gear inside - not a drop. I even store most of my gear in these at home and to seal out moisture etc. Can't say enough good things about these which I paid $89 each for years ago. Love em.

Greg Downing wrote:Way more than enough room for the Kiboko and a tripod, head and still lots of clothes on top. Also, it is almost completely water and air tight. I say almost as it has a gasket but it is not 100% continuous like a pelican. That said I have left it overnight in the cloud forests of costa rica and with heavy downpours with flash gear inside - not a drop. I even store most of my gear in these at home and to seal out moisture etc. Can't say enough good things about these which I paid $89 each for years ago. Love em.

Greg, just to confirm, are you talking about the Samsonite cases here? Are you saying that the Samsonite case will accommodate a fully loaded Kiboko, tripod, head and clothes? Also, do you send this with all your gear inside through checked baggage? When I looked at the ones in the link you posted, they didn't appear to be that large or sturdy. Which model are you using?

Tim,

Yes we are talking about the Flite 31 that I linked to above. It's the largest suitcase you can get on a plane - It will EASILY hold a kiboko, 3530LS tripod, wimberley head, and a ton of other stuff. It is basically indestructible and has been tossed and thrown and sat on etc etc. I'll upload a picture later with the gear inside...

You can still lock your luggage in the US, you just have to use those TSA approved locks that they can open. Now that does not stop an unscrupulous TSA agent from stealing your stuff, but that is what insurance is for.

What a timely subject. I have a number of trips coming up in the next few months and have been concerned about the changes in Airline and Airport rules and procedures. I own almost all of the above mentioned bags that I have accumulated over time. My personal preference has been to carry everything on my back, either in the the new Kiboko or the Airport Accelerator. With a trip to Yellowstone coming up next week in mind I have just taken the Kiboko bag packed with a Canon 800mm lens and my new 1DMKIV and inserted into a Pelican 1610 case. The total weight is just less than 40lbs so there is room for a few more pieces of small equipment. I then packed my Airport Antidote with a 400mm DO and 7D camera, 70-200 F4, 24-105mm, 5D MKII, CF cards, extenders, and other misc. necessities and it weighs approx 18lbs. I'm now feeling comfortable that with the large pockets in my GITZO jacket that I could survive even if the Pelican case did not make it. The Airport Antidote should be good on the Regional jet that will take me in to Bozeman and the Pelican case can stay at the hotel while I go into the Park. I carry my laptop in a Patagonia laptop Messenger bag along with all my chargers and computer cords.
I will be flying Internationally in late February and if things don't change too much in the meantime, I will probably use the same procedure and hope for the best.

Malcolm

adamsti wrote:You can still lock your luggage in the US, you just have to use those TSA approved locks that they can open. Now that does not stop an unscrupulous TSA agent from stealing your stuff, but that is what insurance is for.

Every time I have used those, the luggage on the other end of the trip has been without the locks. The TSA just cuts them off not wanting to deal with opening them up with keys. I was told this personally by a TSA supervisor.

Greg, I see that Samsonite also has the Flite 28, slightly smaller and lighter than the Flite 31. Its dimensions are 11 x 19 x 28 in and therefore makes it big enough for the Kiboko--not sure about clothes, etc. It weighs 12.8 lbs vs 15 lbs. I am not sure if these dimensions are internal or external. Any thoughts on this model as an alternative? I will not be taking my tripod with me to Tansazia, but sure would like to know if the Flite 28 would accommodate a three leg Gitzo. Joe Smith

Greg Downing wrote:Tim,

Yes we are talking about the Flite 31 that I linked to above. It's the largest suitcase you can get on a plane - It will EASILY hold a kiboko, 3530LS tripod, wimberley head, and a ton of other stuff. It is basically indestructible and has been tossed and thrown and sat on etc etc. I'll upload a picture later with the gear inside...

Thanks Greg

So when you say "It's the largest suitcase you can get on a plane" are you talking about carry on, or checked baggage? So you have never had anything lost, broken or damaged with all your gear inside this case through checked baggage?