Air travel and packing bags

[Talisman]

A trick with the boot bag:
It won't fit in the overhead totally loaded. I put kitchen trash bags in the side zip pockets and fill those with clothing. When I get on the plane, I unzip the side pockets, remove the two trash bags of clothes, and the boot bag will then fit with the boots oriented sideways.

Neat trick with the trash bags, thanks for sharing as I have had a few instances where a crash diet would have helped getting the bag in the overhead bin. Even with that trick if you end up on some POS Canadair or Embraer commuter jet you may have to gate check.

 

[Cheese]

There's no need to do laundry! You've got room to take more change clothes to eliminate that.

Laundry also eliminates the need to purchase more expensive gear. A $2 box of detergent is a lot cheaper than buying 3 more sets of top and bottom base layers for example.

Hikers would be a pair of boots to wear to and from the mountain and around the village if there's snow on the ground. The other pair of shoes would be to wear out to dinner 7 nights.

I bring 2 pair of goggles since skiing is typically a bright light or low light activity and I'm not a fan of changing lenses. Hat, sunscreen, balaclava, whistle, FRS radio, beacon, cell phone, etc. are already packed in my coat.

I've seen the helmet on the outside of the boot bag trick and it usually has to be removed before stuffing it in the overhead bin. If that's the case, we're looking at a boot bag, helmet, hydration pack, coat and gloves stuffed in already crowded overhead bins. Some might consider that a bit much. No, I don't typically stuff things under the seat on longer flights.

Bags fill up quick and there are many items I left off in my hasty reply. Cell phone charger, FRS radio charger, camera, swim shorts and flip flops since most locations have a hot tub. Unless the destination is European, then only the flip flops are needed.

 

[Cheese]

This year, I'll probably be adding a base file and petex candles to the packing list. Unless it snows ...

 

[abc]

Laundry also eliminates the need to purchase more expensive gear. A $2 box of detergent is a lot cheaper than buying 3 more sets of top and bottom base layers for example.

Except the laundry detergent are consumable while extra base layers last for years. You haven't counted the coins needed for the motel washing machine. It adds up to a $5-8 laundry. How many trips before it pay for the extra base layers?

(that is, unless you had to pay for your laundry at home anyway)

As for shoes, I purposely bought a pair of walking boots nice enough to go to dinner with! Yes, I used to take 3 pairs of shoes but not any more since I found the right boot. (and being a size 6, my extra shoes also don't take up half the space a size 12 pair does either! )

Anyway, the key being you can just carry on your "checked bad" since your hydration pack only counts as a "purse/small backpack". So there's no need to pay for the 2nd bag.

I've done week long trip with no checked bag like that. And when I go to Europe, I wear my dress coat and had to stuff my light jacket in the luggage somewhere. But I somehow managed without checking a 2nd bag. (and that's with a giant SLR camera plus a ski camera too)

 

[kingslug]

Never check your boots..they are the one thing that cannot be replaced easily..rentals are a joke..I bought all thin lightweight layers, some that compress into a small ball..all I ever check is my skis...

 

[Cheese]

Except the laundry detergent are consumable while extra base layers last for years. You haven't counted the coins needed for the motel washing machine. It adds up to a $5-8 laundry. How many trips before it pay for the extra base layers?

Using the following ski clothing it's about 50 trips to the break even point.

3 pair of Smartwool ski socks = $60
3 base layer tops (Under Armour, Mountain Hardwear, Marmott, Hot Chillys, etc) = $150
3 base layer bottoms (Under Armour, Mountain Hardwear, Marmott, Hot Chillys, etc) = $150
3 mid layer tops (~$30 each) = $90

Ski clothing is WAY more expensive than soap and coin laundry.

 

[abc]

Using the following ski clothing it's about 50 trips to the break even point.

3 pair of Smartwool ski socks = $60
3 base layer tops (Under Armour, Mountain Hardwear, Marmott, Hot Chillys, etc) = $150
3 base layer bottoms (Under Armour, Mountain Hardwear, Marmott, Hot Chillys, etc) = $150
3 mid layer tops (~$30 each) = $90

Ski clothing is WAY more expensive than soap and coin laundry.

It maybe more expensive to buy. But you get to keep using it while detergents gets used up. Over a period of 10 years, I bet some of your base layers will wear out and need to be replaced. So having a stash of 7 vs a stash of 3 merely changes when you buy replacements!

Granted, my base layers are shared with other sports I do. So mine got used a lot more often. So I need to replace one or two every few years. It's not like I throw the money into the laundry!

 

[Cheese]

So I need to replace one or two every few years. It's not like I throw the money into the laundry!

Spend $400 in ski clothing to save $25 on a Continental bag charge. I'll let you keep proposing that option to the OP of this thread. I'm done. :beer:

 

[gladerider]

If you are flying from the east coast to the rockies in winter, you will see plenty of people hand carrying their ski boots in addition to their carry-ons. I saw many people just put it below their seats or on the floor under their legs. Flight attendants didn't care.

 

[abc]

Spend $400 in ski clothing to save $25 on a Continental bag charge. I'll let you keep proposing that option to the OP of this thread. I'm done. :beer:

Except it's not $25. It's $50 unless you want to leave all your stuff behind after the trip!

Now, using your formula, that's only 8 trips that it breaks even!

And are you going to tell me you won't go through more than 3 sets of base in your entire skiing career? But if you do need more than 3, you still wouldn't buy more of them early on, because you like to spend more on laundering the 3 sets for a 1 week trip instead!

 

[gmcunni]

i'm driving to Canada next month, i'm not checking any bags.

 

[MadPadraic]

:smash:

We're talking a 7 day trip, right?

Boot bag:
1 pair of boots
1 helmet
2 pair goggles
1 fleece
1 pair gloves
1 pair mittens
3 packs chemical hand warmers
hot sticks

Forget the gloves, just bring mittens. I've never used the hot sticks or hand warmers, but just buy them there. Why on earth do you need two pairs of goggles?

Ski bag:
1 carving boards
1 powder boards
1 poles
1 ski pants
1 hikers
2 ski socks
2 base layer bottoms
2 base layer tops
2 mid layer tops

What are hikers? Cut the base layers in half. Why do you need mid layers if you have base layer and fleece (above)?

Checked bag:
3 underwear
3 socks
3 shirts
3 pants
1 shoes

3 pants and shoes beyond what you wear on the plane? Are you there to ski?

Huck doll (to be awarded to the one who performs the biggest leap on the trip)
Multi-tool
7 Protein bars
Vodka
Martini shaker

They do have booze wherever you are going.

1 pair ski socks
1 base layer bottom
1 base layer top
1 mid layer top

didn't you already overpack on base layers earlier?

 

[MadPadraic]

Bags fill up quick and there are many items I left off in my hasty reply. Cell phone charger, FRS radio charger, camera, swim shorts and flip flops since most locations have a hot tub. Unless the destination is European, then only the flip flops are needed.

What about bathrobes to wear to the pool and hot tub?

 

[Cheese]

Forget the gloves, just bring mittens. I've never used the hot sticks or hand warmers, but just buy them there. Why on earth do you need two pairs of goggles?

I prefer gloves when it's warm and mittens with hand warmers when it's cold. I like being prepared for both. Hot sticks are plug in heaters that go in your ski boots overnight to dry them out for the next day. I'm not a fan of starting the day with wet boot liners and these are about the size of a pair of glow sticks so don't require much packing space anyway.

Two goggles because I prefer tinted lenses on bluebird days and amber lenses when it's a white out. Some might bring multiple lenses instead but I bring two frames.

What are hikers? Cut the base layers in half. Why do you need mid layers if you have base layer and fleece (above)?

HIkers are a mid height boot for walking or hiking. Smaller than true hiking boots but taller and more waterproof than a sneaker. Why bring them? Hope to be walking through fresh snow at least once on the trip. This year, maybe I can wear flip flops since it's not snowing at all.

I've always dressed in layers and peeled them off when no longer needed. Base layer top, shirt and a fleece isn't excessive to me.

3 pants and shoes beyond what you wear on the plane? Are you there to ski?
They do have booze wherever you are going.

Yes, 3 outfits to wear to dinner for 3 nights, wash and wear for the remaining 3 night. The 1 outfit I wear on the plane I wash and wear on the return plane ride home. Yes, I'm there to ski but I'm also in a different area and like to sample the local restaurants.

I still buy alcohol after I arrive. The bottle I bring is for the first night as the people I travel with enjoy a cocktail while unpacking and planning the week ahead. In my experience this is far less stressful than dropping the bags in a condo/hotel and then immediately searching for snacks and a liquor store.

didn't you already overpack on base layers earlier?

The ski outfit in my carry-on is in case of lost luggage. Old habit, maybe nobody does it anymore.

What about bathrobes to wear to the pool and hot tub?

Those should be provided. Check the closet shelf.

 

[RISkier]

Is there any problem having boot heater batteries in your carry on? They're on my boots that I'll carry on. I figure they're not much different than a laptop battery so they should be ok?

I've had security really go through my stuff because of boot heaters. At DEN or SLC they see this stuff all the time but at other airports the screeners often have no clue about stuff like this.