Having just returned from a trip to NQ, which was a firm reminder that travelling is where its at if you want to be able to put yourself in the best possible conditions at anytime of the year, especially in winter. Ain't no fun sitting around in ****ty cold wet weather:)
Gave my bags a flogging, was looking at what is currently around for bags, options , weights etc ...there isn't a lot out there.
I noticed a couple of 'session bags' where board, rig and as many as 3 sails, 2 booms, masts , accessories and a board are all in the one bag....looks great ...however my excel Calc's just don't have that anywhere near 32Kg max, not even close! They must have heavier weight allowances overseas?
I normally take a board in a standard board bag and rig in rig roller 2 sails, then a normal travel bag ...which is extra 2 pieces of luggage., splits the weight Ok , but PIA 3 bags!! and extra for two extra bags instead of one $$
Have been looking at the Severne light rollers, www.severnesails.com/board-bags/lite-roller/ they seem lighter than the older Flying Objects bags?? Not sure?
Packing everything including clothes into two rollers , split the weights evenly, should work for a 2 sail 2 mast 1 board combo + accessories , bit spare for sand and moisture on way back. Drag/Roll bags around airport one in each hand should work, keep it simple.
Any other suggestion thoughts, products , types solutions to consider?
Here in the UK, the way we pack a bag for travel depends on the airline rules.
You start by finding an airline that does a flat rate for sporting equipment baggage, and then you get their board bag size and weight limits to work with.
Some airlines in Europe only take a 23kgs board bag whereas others will take up to a 32kgs bag. This determines how many bags you need and how you split the sails and boards if need be.
Triple board bags (or coffin bags) tend not to be accepted nowadays, mostly because they soon go over the 32kgs limit, and you'll often start a headache conversation at check in.
Roller bags are helpful when moving about the airport but you are sacrificing some of your luggage weight allowance by having the wheels. Try and find a bag which itself only weighs 6kgs or less. Compact luggage will fit on airport trolleys.
Severne do good board bags and so do Simmer.
Flying Objects bags are also good if they are still available.
You can also get modern stubby wave boards inside the larger surfboard triple bags made by surf companies like Ocean and Earth.
You might carry your sails in a separate quiver bag, as short as 1.6m or 1.7m for wave sails, but remember that a 4m mast will need to go in a board bag.
A boom bag can also take small sails and your clothes - and might just pass airline regulations as your 'suit case'.
Some airlines also carry 'golf' bags for free and Mystic do wheeled golf bags up to 1.6M
Many pwa sailors prefer turkish airlines (thy) because they usually allow windsurfers to go big with bags, as they charge one bag for a fully blown tripple bag and let is pass unweighted way over 32kg limit, and you can add as many as you like if you pay bag price.
I have a prolimit double board bag, weights about 32kg with 1 board, 3 sails, 2 masts, 1 boom but fins, extension, wetsuits etc all in normal luggage. Wheels would make it much easier to carry,
Select to expand quoteBasher said..
Here in the UK, the way we pack a bag for travel depends on the airline rules.
You start by finding an airline that does a flat rate for sporting equipment baggage, and then you get their board bag size and weight limits to work with.
Some airlines in Europe only take a 23kgs board bag whereas others will take up to a 32kgs bag. This determines how many bags you need and how you split the sails and boards if need be.
Triple board bags (or coffin bags) tend not to be accepted nowadays, mostly because they soon go over the 32kgs limit, and you'll often start a headache conversation at check in.
Roller bags are helpful when moving about the airport but you are sacrificing some of your luggage weight allowance by having the wheels. Try and find a bag which itself only weighs 6kgs or less. Compact luggage will fit on airport trolleys.
Severne do good board bags and so do Simmer.
Flying Objects bags are also good if they are still available.
You can also get modern stubby wave boards inside the larger surfboard triple bags made by surf companies like Ocean and Earth.
You might carry your sails in a separate quiver bag, as short as 1.6m or 1.7m for wave sails, but remember that a 4m mast will need to go in a board bag.
A boom bag can also take small sails and your clothes - and might just pass airline regulations as your 'suit case'.
Some airlines also carry 'golf' bags for free and Mystic do wheeled golf bags up to 1.6M
yep, was looking at the Serverne bags, they appear to be lighter than the Flying Objects (Now NA)...
Accessories in regular carry on bag looks to be the go, to sneak in under 32kg with one gear bag...amazing how it all adds up!
I paid extra for weight through Qantas ,so 30 kgs was allowed free any amount of bags ,plus $100 , gave me 15 kgs extra both ways ,2 large bags @ 45 kgs ,in total .
My bags are Pro limit travel bags ,seem to be pretty strong ,
but yeah it all adds up alright ,1 board 2 sails 2 mast 1 extension ,DWhaul winch ,1 mast foot ,1 x harness 3 fins ,boom, clothes ,and bag weight .bingo 45 kgs ,
I stood mine up on the trolly ,and strapped them to the trolly ...fast ..
.just lean it back for the low roof parts in the airport ,it was fun ,
a few wide open eyed people when they saw me coming ... 
Gun Sails bags used to be good.
This one, small thou: www.h2o-world.com/store/p299/Gun_Sails_Board_Bag_Air_Travel.html
But with some extra padding and really sturdy straps and fittings and so. But seems not to be in production any more?
Some airline managed to break off a part of the tail from my board anyway. I can imagine how much effort it must have taken from them! As a piece was broken off completely not just dinged and this board is really hard to destroy. At least they forgot to charge me for the bag at the check in :)
A trip with a 32 kg bag I did, it was a Prolimit one. The universal removable wheel base turned out to be completely useless with that much weight in the bag. Removed it, saved some weight and actually never missed it. Just dragged it on the floor where needed. But fragile stickers seemed work well :D Lady at the counter was like: "It's a surf board? Put these on, all of em!"
It's plastic wrapped because it supposed to go in cargo all the way but that fell through so I had to drag it myself. Last leg of the trip - in a local airport a lady looked at my bag and told me it won't fit in their plain, and after a considerable look at myself she concluded that I'm not going to fit in their plain either :) But after 10 minutes they had already organised my board going on a cargo plain and me on a nice 100 seat local flight. It was a solid 55 knots when we landed :)
Left all the gear there and got another set at home. Made no sense to travel with it all especially if just going back and forth, adds up quite quickly.
