Domke not good for airplanes?

We're flying across the country for a couple days and I'm wondering about my bag, I have a Domke something or other (can't remember which one,) and love it but worry about the lack of padding for a carry on bag.

Although I'd like something a bit bigger to pack my medications in (to keep all the import stuff together) I'd rather not have to buy anything new if I can help it.

Anyone travel with just a domke or should I go with a crumpler?

I've been flying with Domke bags since the early '80s and never had a problem as carry-on, either under the seat or in the overhead bin. If you have to check it, I doubt that the Crumpler will be any better. I've used the F1x, F2, F802, F7, F3x, F805 on assorted domestic and international flights.

My Domke spends almost as much time in aircraft as it does in cars, intercontinental to india and almost weekly internal flights there, absolutely no problems at all.

Great! Thanks guys! I was hoping it would be ok since I'm very familiar and comfortable with this bag. I'll just be watchful to make sure it doesn't get banged around much.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #8357059
Great! Thanks guys! I was hoping it would be ok since I'm very familiar and comfortable with this bag. I'll just be watchful to make sure it doesn't get banged around much.

Presuming it goes in the cabin with you, it's not going to get "banged around" any more than it normally would from day to day use.

And if vibration is a concern, you can always get some small bubblewrap and nest the body in that.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #8356903
We're flying across the country for a couple days and I'm wondering about my bag, I have a Domke something or other (can't remember which one,) and love it but worry about the lack of padding for a carry on bag.

Although I'd like something a bit bigger to pack my medications in (to keep all the import stuff together) I'd rather not have to buy anything new if I can help it.

Anyone travel with just a domke or should I go with a crumpler?

my domke F1-x has been to africa and back....

ed rader

I'm flying to DC tomorrow and my F2 will be loaded and in an overhead. Never had an issue.

Familiaphoto wrote in post #8358947
I'm flying to DC tomorrow and my F2 will be loaded and in an overhead. Never had an issue.

DC has been unseasonably cool and comfortable this year. About 5 degrees cooler than normal and much less humid than normal. Residents thanked my wife and I for bringing good weather from California, when we were there two weeks ago!

ed rader wrote in post #8358859
my domke F1-x has been to africa and back

Agreed....On Safari in Africa, through Asia for a year of backpacking, and multiple trips in Central America.

you'll have no problem....just don't even think about checking it. If you check it, you really need a pelican box, and even then I try and avoid that as much as possible.

Cathpah wrote in post #8359066
....just don't even think about checking it. If you check it, you really need a pelican box, and even then I try and avoid that as much as possible.

Good advice. Sometimes you can't avoid having 'hand luggage' checked in because for one reason or another the check in dude notices it is either too big or too heavy. Different airlines have different rules and then some are strict and some are not. A bag of bodies, lenses, laptop and such is heavy - usually quite a way beyond what is acceptable to carry on. You need to study each airline rule and then decide what to do. I always take my stuff in a Peli and have my walkaround bag folded in my cargo bag for use at the destination. If the Peli has to be checked then it's safe from crushing, etc. If it gets through then I have it with me and safe from loss or theft! Clearly it's better to keep it with you if you can.

condyk wrote in post #8361120
Good advice. Sometimes you can't avoid having 'hand luggage' checked in because for one reason or another the check in dude notices it is either too big or too heavy. Different airlines have different rules and then some are strict and some are not. A bag of bodies, lenses, laptop and such is heavy - usually quite a way beyond what is acceptable to carry on. You need to study each airline rule and then decide what to do. I always take my stuff in a Peli and have my walkaround bag folded in my cargo bag for use at the destination. If the Peli has to be checked then it's safe from crushing, etc. If it gets through then I have it with me and safe from loss or theft! Clearly it's better to keep it with you if you can.

another fun trick is to wear a shooting vest, and just stuff your vest with a lot of your gear. Then it doesn't count toward your carry-on, and they can't really say much.

Once you're on the plane, transfer everything out of your shooting vest back into your carry-on. I don't ever use a shooting vest for shooting....but I've used it for this exact reason a couple times.

Shouldnt really have an issue.

If you need to carry a lot of gear though Think Tank makes some great products that are carry on legal.

I have taken my F-4AF on several flights with no issues.

Gear isn't really that fragile. You just have to watch for break points and avoid tossing it around unnecessarily hard.