How do you fly with your gear?

Freedom211 wrote in post #11628617
Not sure your price range but check these out. There TSA approved or something along those lines, pretty nice.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1&N=4294538507+​4291423054

same thing as the pelicans no? Similar pricing too?

faz077 wrote in post #11629487
I've only looked at this online but would be keen to see it to see if it does what I need, it's the Crumpler Cork and Fork a roller that gives the freedom of taking the backpack out so you can ditch the roller.

http://www.crumpler.co​m …LanguageCode=EN​&SKU=CF01A

Bit pricey, but very cool!!

whoa, cool. But yeah, that's basically the same as putting my existing camera bag (that I like) into either a pelican or another nice roller bag?

butterfly2937 wrote in post #11628659
Tamrac 698 and love it!
http://www.tamrac.com/​698.htm

so you shoot out of that once you get there too?

Jon wrote in post #11628843
(CLT-PVD, I'm guessing SouthWest or USAir)

US airways, and that's what it was SUPPOSED to be. We were coming home from visiting my parents in Antigua but they canceled the last leg of our flight due to a mechanical... We got a (free) hotel overnight then did a pit stop in Philly on the way home.

NicolasRubio wrote in post #11629432
I use an Airport TakeOff and then take a Shape Shifter and Modular items, all from TTP.

tvphotog wrote in post #11629499
I check the tripod. Gear goes into a Pelican 1510. I take the ThinkTank Rotation 360 on my shoulder with books and a sandwich, etc. When I get to where I'm going, I put the gear I need in the backpack and lock the rest in the Pelican in my room.

jdizzle wrote in post #11629513
TT Airport TakeOff and tripod checked in the luggage. I always pack a shoulder bag in the luggage too.

nice, glad some people are actually understanding I'm asking what YOU use, not what should I use...

I'm torn on checking my tripod just because it could get lost/broken/stolen on the way there then I'd have nothing to use once there? But checking on the way home isn't a bad idea. I also need to get my tripod on my insurance I suppose because I'm sure the airlines wouldn't cover it if it gets "lost"? It's not insured yet because I'm not worried about dropping/breaking/gett​ing it wet, which is my primary reason to insure the rest of my kit...

eco_bach wrote in post #11630866
You don't mention how much actual equipment you have which is necessary to recommend specific bags.

yeah, that's because I'm not asking for people to suggest bags for me to use, I'm asking what THEY use...

here's my questions from the OP:

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11628436
What do you use while flying?
What do you use once you get there?

Thanks Guys!

^I've always packed my tripod in the luggage and never had any issues. I pack it deep/cover it with clothing but, I keep the ball head with me. If you wish to add more protection, get a tripod bag. That way you know it won't get hurt. My gear is always insured when traveling abroad. It's good to have peace of mind in case something happens.

yeah, I used to check my "trunkpod" and spin the head off, but I hate those legs so I started carrying the good ones, but just didn't feel right checking any photo gear? Something to consider. I'm not really worried about breaking though, especially collapsed they're VERY strong? but the theft/loss issue is what really worries me? As I said, if I fly over and it's not there when I get there, I most likely won't have time to order/get another in time?

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11631407
yeah, I used to check my "trunkpod" and spin the head off, but I hate those legs so I started carrying the good ones, but just didn't feel right checking any photo gear? Something to consider. I'm not really worried about breaking though, especially collapsed they're VERY strong? but the theft/loss issue is what really worries me? As I said, if I fly over and it's not there when I get there, I most likely won't have time to order/get another in time?

When I travel, all my glass stays with me. I usually pack all the accessories like all the plugs for charging stuff, sensor cleaning stuff (fluid), etc in the luggage. I've had one encounter where I wasn't allowed to bring it on the plane and was requested to check it in the luggage. From then on I had been checking in my tripod to avoid the hassle.
Carbon fiber can take serious abuse. You'd be surprised at how these guys just throw luggage around. If your tripod gets stolen, there's nothing else you can do during your trip. I always pray that it gets there with no issues.

Freedom211 wrote in post #11628617
Not sure your price range but check these out. There TSA approved or something along those lines, pretty nice.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1&N=4294538507+​4291423054

I use the High Performance Resin Cases when I fly 2550W and or 2600W with the removable inside case:

If there are issues at the gate I can take the interior case out of the roller and carry the case onto the place and check the empty roller.

When I not flying but working out of a case I usually put in their padded divider kits.

I like the HPRC wheels better than the other brands.

I think there are some Pelicans Rollers that also have cases.

how bout checking in vagabonds?

I carry on all my gear, like most people. My motto is: the gear goes where I go. For this purpose, I usually use a backpack, or maybe a large shoulder bag. If I take a tripod, I'll check it.

When I arrive at my destination, use the backpack as a storage medium for the gear, but I do not shoot out of it.... it's too heavy. Instead, I'll pack another, smaller bag in my luggage for use during the day, and load the gear I need from the backpack into the day bag. This two-bag system allows me to carry everything I want to carry on the trip, but also travel light during the day. Quick story..... I made the mistake years ago of taking all my gear in a single shoulder bag, and taking that bag with me all day every day. It got old real fast! Too heavy. After hiking at Bryce Canyon all day schlepping a 50 pound shoulder bag, I was through with that approach! Worst part was that I only used about 10% of the gear that day! Duh! Now I'm older and smarter! Using the second daybag approach, I actually use all the gear I pack for the day, and am much happier because it weighs so much less. I can actually enjoy taking pictures, as well as my surroundings.

My backpack is a LowePro ProRunner 300AW, which holds all the gear in my sig line plus a couple extra prime lenses, binoculars, iPod, photoviewer, etc. The "daybag" I pack will be either a LowePro Exchange Messenger (very packable!), or a LowePro Passport Sling.

For your setup, you may want to consider a LowePro ProRunner x350 or x450. These are basically rolling backpacks and hold a lot of gear. You could switch from roller mode to backpack mode if, for example, you had to carry your son for some reason. The daybag you pack in your luggage can be whatever you think you need for a day's shooting. However, I'd try to avoid overbuilt bags like the LowePro classified bags. They take up a lot of room in your luggage and do not pack well. Lighter weight bags are generally more packable.

Hope that helps.

so you can have the tripod hanging on the bag?

Last two trips:

To Banff I used my 3n1-33 and off loaded the tripod to my girlfriend. Once your son gets bigger he can carry the tripod? I use a light weight CF tripod since I almost never find myself in a situation of needing a tripod for long lenses. Note that that many of the kata line of bags have the insert trolly option which sounds perfect for you. You can covert the bag for airport and have it act like a roller carrying on. Yet use it as a backpack when you arrive at your destination.

To NYC I really needed to use something smaller since I was told you can't carry big bag packs into museums. So I got myself a national geo 2475 which worked out quite well. I find myself using this bag as my day to day bag now since I carry the kit in my car mostly. It's not a fully padded bag except for the small insert inside that can hold a DSLR and 1 lens, a padded and hard bottom, and padded back laptop slot. In general use the front of the bag is also padded due to the big flap. This leaves the sides and top corner being the weak spots. In general us it's not an issue but this is definitely a carry on only bag.

In the future I might investigate a better padded shoulder bag that can protect my gear more.

I travel with a Domke F-2 and always take my camera gear (generally two Leica M bodies & three lenses) into the cabin with me. Last trip I strapped a travel tripod under the F-2 and it was fine. Awkward but there were no security objections. Next trip I'm going to stow the tripod legs in my checked baggage and carry the ballhead in my F-2.

thanks for all the new replies guys, this is really helping me. I think I'm 90% sure a pelican is in my future, and either put the camera bag loaded into it, or put the camera bag into my checked bag depending on what's coming with me and what bag I want to use. Basically, my TT sling 20 fits in the case and fills it. That would go in the case. But my retro10 or boda or some other smaller options wouldn't come close to filling the case, or holding everything I'd bring anyway (but they'd be perfect for what I'd want to carry at any one time) so they'd go in the checked bag...

I'm leaning towards the pelican simply because I could lock it and check it if needed. While the backpack straps of the TT options would be very nice at times, I think the checkability of the pelican and the waterproof aspect, as well as the fact it makes a nicer "locker" at the house makes the peli win? Plus it's cheaper?

tgara wrote in post #11635733
This two-bag system allows me to carry everything I want to carry on the trip, but also travel light during the day.

yeah, that's what I'm going to end up doing, at this point it's just a question of which roller and what bag(s) to go with it...

yeah, I have a similar story with my 1Dii, 12-24, 24-70 and 70-200 going to NYC for a weekend in a tamrac pro 5. Great bag but that's too much weight for all day walking with that kit and it soured me on the 1 series. Because of that trip I've become a bag whore looking for comfortable options and I also prefer a 5D now (gripless) as well as using less and smaller lenses. Like you, changing what I shoot with and how I carry it has made me shoot much more and I'm just trying to keep that going by getting my kit sorted for flying so I don't regret bringing it anywhere.

yep, that's one of my considerations because it's what, $30? Also a tamrac adventure 4 messenger and my Retro 10 (which packs up smaller than you'd think).

any reason on that -vs- a TT backpack?
also, why backpacks -vs- a peli case? I'm only asking because I'm still torn... I'm almost thinking the best solution would be the peli case, then some sort of backpack step for it if I could rig it up (that would fit inside until I needed it)?

yes, it does help a lot actually, thank you.

Johnnyk_1 wrote in post #11635963
so you can have the tripod hanging on the bag?

I thought locking luggage is prohibited when checking bags in.

TSA locks.

and I think you can use your own locks, but they're going to cut them off if you do?

I see.

I used to fly with a think tank UD60 for my laptop and a lens + body with a think tank international. I got sick of gate checking the international for smaller hop planes and now use a tamrac 5612 for my kit and a Cinebag 25A for my laptop and misc. The cinebag backpack fits under my seat, even in the smaller planes and the 5612 fits just fine in the smaller overhead compartments. I have a 17" MBP so that sort of limits the backpacks I use to carry my laptop in.