Camera Bag for trip to USA???

RobertP

RobertP

TPer Emeritus
Suspended / Banned
Messages
11,726
Name
Robert
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm going to America in mid September for 2 weeks and I'm trying to solve the bag problem with the new reduced size allowances. I've already worked out the laptop will have to go in the luggage as just placing the camera on top of the laptop comes to the allowed 16cm. Add bag padding thicknesses and it is over. Reports say they check the sizes carefully when you check in so I have a problem.

The Virgin Atlantic size limits are 45 x 35 x 16 cm - and its the 16cm that is the real problem.

So if anyone has a camera bag/rucksack that will take a 20D, a couple of normal size lenses and have room for some other stuff - but stays within the size limits when loaded, please tell me what it is as I probably need to buy one. I have a small walkround crumpler bag that will pass but it has no room for anything else so I'd rather pack that and use a bag that has near the max allowed capacity.
 
cant help im afraid, my bag is deeper than that i think
 
They all seem to be too deep.

Think I may end up travelling with the lens off the body just to get a narrow enough bag depth. (My wifes suggestion - It's so annoying when wives do things like that :) )
 
How about a laptop case with the addition of some foam to keep everything secure Robert? I gather that the new regs are designed to allow that type of bag through.
 
is a shame my mini trekker is just that little bit too thick i think !

maybe with the grip off, it would push down flat enough but not sure it the safest way to try and get it rejected ! Lens off with body cap on would be a good way !
 
Witch said:
How about a laptop case with the addition of some foam to keep everything secure Robert? I gather that the new regs are designed to allow that type of bag through.
Click to expand...


I have a laptop bag that I've been measuring. Problem is the thick padding built in to protect the laptop. Need to go in the loft and find the camera box to retrieve the body cap. Might just work with the lens off the body. Then i'll need some foam.
 
Good chance the regulations will be changed again before you fly.
 
Bro in law and Mrs flew back from Italy today. She told staff she accidentally left scissors in her bag. Security checked her bag - took away her jar of vaseline and gave her back the scissors :)
 
I'm pretty sure that small scissors have been allowed for a year or so along with metal cutlery for those airlines that still serve food...

I can't quite understand what the reasoning behind reducing the allowed bag size is; according to the government it's to speed up bag searches but talking to folk who've travelled recently there's been no increase in the number of hand searches.
 
rpstewart said:
I'm pretty sure that small scissors have been allowed for a year or so along with metal cutlery for those airlines that still serve food...

I can't quite understand what the reasoning behind reducing the allowed bag size is; according to the government it's to speed up bag searches but talking to folk who've travelled recently there's been no increase in the number of hand searches.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's to speed up searches of all hand luggage on a plane in the event that it's deemed necessary?
I've lost the link, but I get the impression people (both passengers & crew) are being more tetchy, and there have been a fair few false alarms requiring total searches.
 
Just getting back to this problem :)

12.5 + 4 = 16.5 thick ... so its too thick adding internal sizes and must be way too thick on external sizes. You got my hopes up for a while there though :)

Now wondering about an aluminium foam filled briefcase type thing like this...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=36796&criteria=Flight case&doy=24m8

It's 10mm too long but it says all sizes include feet and handles so it is just the shoulder strap anchors on the end that are oversize.

Anyone know of any problem with an aluminium briefcase as hand luggage??
 
Don't know if this is any help but I've just done a return journey from Toronto to Manchester, UK and took my Orion Trekker II onboard with me. I know your lap-top won't fit in this bag, but at least it gives you an idea of bag size.
 
Current plan is using a laptop bag. I have cut out some of the internal padded dividers so it has one narrow and one wide space only and minimal padding. The laptop goes in the narrow one and the camera and lenses need packing in the larger space somehow.
With the body cap on and no lens fitted it stays under the 16cm thickness. Camera bag will have to be filled with socks or something and go in the cases.

I did buy the Maplin case and everything fits easily. Being a metal case though somehow looks wrong for a holiday flight so I attacked the old laptop bag rather than take a chance on a metal case raising objections.
 
I'm going on holiday mid Sept too and the bag sizing rules are mad, but.....
I use a Tamrac Explorer 2 to lug the majority of my stuff around normally as my big rucksack is too big & cumbersome. I have my D70 body with 10-20mm, 28-80mm and 70-300mm lens in there, spare battery, 4 CF cards and other odds & ends. The bag when fully loaded is about 24x25x18 cm (depending on how well you pack it). The CF cards and battery can always go in my suitcase then it will be definitely 16cm as the front pocket squashes flat when empty. That's what I'm taking anyway as the baggage rules are the same on my flight. I don't think they'll argue over 1-2cm anyway.
 
I've read of people having to repack hand luggage so it fits into a 'size' box so didn't want to take a chance on being over. Agree the sensible approach would be a little tolerance... but just in case I'm erring on the side of caution.
 
There are extra staff going around Manchester airport with a cardboard box, and if your hand luggage doesn't fit in they make you put it in the hold. The thing is, this box they are carrying around is smaller than the dimensions you are allowed; we measured it whilst putting our bag in it. Plus, once you are through security you are now allowed to take duty free onboard all non-US flights, so why the bother on the size of hand luggage? People were going onboard with 3 or 4 bags of duty free :shake:
 
Robert,I have a Tamrac 5549 which is 33-28-51cm.You might want to look at it.I can fold the top down to make it look even smaller.It carries my 350d, 70-200,24-70 and 16-35.I Put my tripod in my Check in Bag.www.tamrac.com. Good luck.I got this at a reasonable Price www.tantronics.co.uk
 
Appreciate the thought Sean but the 16cm thickness is the killer on all the bags I've looked at.

4 days to go so modified laptop bag is what I'm taking.
 
What I've done previously when i've struggled for my hand luggage to make the weight, is to wear both my camera and bino's, rather than but them in the bag...

I wonder if you could take a similar approach now and have some of your kit on your person untill you get "airside" and then pack it in your hand luggage?

Also at what point do they measure/weigh your hand luggage? If its at the check in desk still, another trick i have seen is to leave your hand luggage with a friend while you check your cases in, then collect it before going through secuirty ect...This used to work as the security people were never really bothered about the size/weight of the hand luggage (with in reason) but just what was in it....
 
:) I looked at those when I was first wondering what to do - then I looked at the prices! It was from that thought that I got the Maplin case - which will be useful but not being used now.

As to taking it out of the bag, I thought they were being pretty strict on the one item only thing so I'll not be chancing it.
 
I'm flying out to Italy tomorrow and had the same problem. My Mini Trekker is just too big for these new size limitations. The 16cm is the real killer.

I had a good look around for a bag and found the new Tamrac Adventurer Messenger 4 was about the best bet.

It can hold my 20D with 17-70 fitted, 70-200 f/4, 430EX flash and batteries, mem cards, and filters.

Unfortunately it wont take my grip as well, as that pushes the width out just a bit too far (so the grip stays at home)

Its a nice bag. I picked it up from Park Cameras for £35
 
Hi and welcome to the forum :)

Just looked at that bag. It is similar size to my crumpler walk around bag. I'm taking that filled with socks or something and packed in the case. I'm travelling with the body cap on the camera instead of a lens just to get the depth of the bag under the 16cm.

Currently deciding what to pack out the bag with that will keep things in place. The lenses are inside a few thick white socks!
 
iv got the same problem with me trekking samsonite,
bought from this forum, its 1.5 centmeters to big.
It will sqeazzzz down to 16c (is that aloud?)
 
If I make it online in USA I'll try and post to this thread what I see at security and what gets through. My bag is 15.5 cm thick fully loaded :)
 
Well I'm here in San francisco :)

My watch says it is 6.17 pm but my head says it is the middle of the night :(

At Heathrow they were being quite strict making people fit their hand luggage into a wooden 'size' box. I saw one woman made to fit her handbag into her carry on bag and force fit it into the box. I did see oversize bages get through but only ones that looked like they might squash to size.
 
How things have changed! In May I flew from Heathrow to LA. I took on as hand luggage my Laptop (in laptop rucksack), My PSP, My Canon 300D with two lenses (packed in an Off trail 2) and a couple of books. No one batted an eyelid.
 
Yeah, it's all because of the recent terrorist threats from a few weeks back :(
 
Well, I just got back from Bologna. Nice place (never been before), full of culture, got plenty of shots. Only bummer was I got pick pocketed by some lowlife scummy pikey woman :thumbsdown: luckily she only got 20 euros

Anyways, the Tamrac Messenger 4 did the job just fine.

It seems they are not as strict at Gatwick as they are at Heathrow. I saw the little wooden box things you are supposed to put your hand luggage into, but I never saw anyone actually put their bag in.

There were plenty of people taking much bigger bags than mine. Quite a few even had rucksacks bigger than my mini trekker... ho hum
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top