[at-l] Bringing your pack on the airplane

[daveh@xxxxxxxxxx (Dave Hicks)]

I don't understand the logistical difficulties.

As someone mentioned before, you can get used military duffle bags / sea
bags at nearly throw-away cost from surplus stores.  Do both, as I have.

Another option (which I have used pre-9-11) would be to check with a rug
store.  Rugs get shipped in incredibly heavy plastic bags, which fit around
a pack rather nicely.  Post 9-11, just tie the top with twine, so that they
can inspected the contents.

Also, Osprey makes an "Airporter" that is an upscale military duffle bag /
sea bag, which is rather light, and which sells for around $30.  A google
search on Osprey & Airporter will bring up a few dozen venders.

Buy a mailing envelope which will hold an empty "Airporter" and address to
your home.  Put the "Airporter" in this self-addressed shipping envelope
(but do not seal), take both to the PO and check the weight and postage to
send it home empty from the destination airport, pre-pay postage, and stick
the empty self-addressed shipping envelope in your pack.  Stick your pack in
the "Airporter," check it, fly to destination.  Remove pack.  Remove
envelope.  Place "Airporter" in the self addressed postage paid envelope and
seal.  Drop in mail.  Go take a hike.  Reverse mail / carry logistics at end
of hike.

Chainsaw

BTW -- Most airline allow two or three checked bags / boxes.   If (heaven
help you) your pack is over 50 pounds, put some heaver items in a box (but
do not seal it before check-in).

I recently went to England with 12 pieces of luggage (self, wife, daughter,
two granddaughters) of which four were checked boxes (mostly presents).
Security inspected them and taped them (using their own tape) at check-in.
No problem.  On the return trip, ditto for GB security.  However, I was glad
that I had brought my own tape, as US Customs opened the boxes and I need to
re-tape them on this side of the pond to be able to handle them.