Are you about to go on a camping trip by air and you would like to know how to fly with camping gear, having questions about what to and what not to travel with?
Packing a suitcase for a normal trip is completely different from packing a suitcase to spend a week or so in the wilderness.
Going on a camping trip requires you to go with what will determine your survival. Thanks to the constant continual innovations in camping gears over the years which makes traveling with camping gear easier through the production of less weight equipments needed for camping.
Nevertheless, if you will be flying, there are some restrictions to what you can travel with. In this article is a guide that will assist you in preparing for your camping trip if going by air, exposing you to the appropriate camping gear you can fly with. Read on!!!
How to Fly with Camping Gear
If you are planning to go on a camping trip by air, there are several important things you need to be acquainted with ranging from the accurate method of packing your camping gear to how to protect your camping gear.
Below is a guideline to follow in making preparations to fly with camping gear.
1. Pack Luggages Light and Smart
Accumulating many items in your traveling suitcase or backpack might cost you some extra expenses.
Therefore it is wise to get a luggage scale to appropriately check and control the weight of your suitcase or backpack to meet the weight standard of the airport and avoid unnecessary queries or expenses.
Also, it is wise to inquire to know the maximum luggage requirement of the airline you will be travel with and also be aware of the basic TSA rules and regulations.
2. Pack Necessary Gear
This strategy will also go a long way in minimizing the weight of the suitcase or backpack you intend to travel with.
So it is important to always keep in mind you need as little weight as possible, on this note, you can try as much as possible to take a smaller tent and as well leave behind unnecessary gadgets or gadgets you can share with other campers.
Furthermore, if you are about to go camping for the first time, when buying camping gear, make sure to purchase camping gear that is affordable and are light weighted.
Practically, the highest weight in any camping gear mostly comes from sleeping bags and tents. However, the weight of the camping bag can be reduced using compression sacks.
Packing Camping Gear for Flight
1. Suitcase
There are different types of suitcases, therefore while choosing a suitcase to go camping with, you should be very selective.
It is advisable to purchase a hard-sided suitcase which is the best to go camping with. This kind of suitcase can be seen on yard sales and in thrift stores.
2. Saran Wrap
Though this might sound a little awkward but it is a reliable traveling bag to pack and secure your camping gears.
This wrap can also be found and purchased at some airports at the price range of $9.00 to $15.00.
3. Heavy Duty Trash Bag
This bag is not difficult to use, it just requires a tape to secure the heavy-duty trash bag after packing up your camping gears.
In place of this, you get a large bag used to hold strollers, car seats, and more, which also can be seen in airports. Nevertheless, this item is not all that reliable for packing camp gears.
4. Laundry Bag
Another traveling bag that can be used as a quick hack for packing is the laundry Bag.
It partially meets the requirements of a perfect camping bag, being light in weight, not expensive, and also easy to fold while not in use.
5. Duffel Bag
Perfect for packing camping gears for more than a person, this bag is quite reliable.
It also meets the basic requirements of a perfect camping bag. it can be folded easily when not in use and is also very light weighted.
6. Cardboard Box
If you are to use a cardboard box, try as much as possible to make your cardboard box not to surpass the exact given size and dimensions.
How to Protect Your Backpack when Flying with Camping Gear
After knowing the materials that can be used to pack your camping gear, it is also important you know how to protect your camping gear.
Many campers are guilty of tucking their hip belts and straps as tight as they can, this however is a very wrong strategy.
This strategy leaves you vulnerable to the probability of getting your straps hung or worst broken while flying or on the luggage carousel.
- You can adapt to the tips below to best protect your luggage:
- If the straps are tied and tightened very hard, the backpack handler might grab a strap. To avoid this, tighten the straps a little.
- After that, roll the hip belt around the luggage and buckle.
- Lastly, use tape to hold down the straps.
Flight Restricted Camping Gear
Some camping gears are restricted to be brought on a flight an example is the Bear spray.
While going on a camping trip by air you are expected to purchase a bear spray when you get to your destination and not bring them along while flying back.
You are free to weigh your options on how to get rid of them before your returning flight. You can give them out to another camper, or even drop them off at campgrounds, ranger station, motel, etc.
You can also consider selling them off, social media platforms like Facebook groups, can help find potential buyers. I think selling them off is the best choice, it being expensive and all.
Also, It is prohibited to carry any item that is tagged combustible into any flight and stoves are also in this category.
Nevertheless, if you will take a stove along with you when packing your camping gear, you should check for certain that it is oil-free, in other words, new and have never been used before.
Camping Gear Allowed on Flights
While arranging your camping gear for a flight, you can add a flashlight as this is allowed when flying.
You can also carry a safety matches along with you while flying. However, you are restricted to carrying only one box of matches and it must be with you when flying and not in your luggage.
Knives are also not prohibited from when flying, however, it must be adequately wrapped and shielded beforehand to avoid hurting anyone or puncturing other luggage.
Trekking poles can also be carried along while flying with camping gear but the tricky question is if it can be carried with you in the plane or be put together with your checked-in luggage.
Some campers have made claims of taking their trekking pole with them into the Aeroplane without being questioned by TSA agents, this is however not advisable as you might get stopped by some TSA agents if you go by this.
To avoid this restriction, you can carefully arrange your trekking poles inside your carry on bag. You can put them into a PVC pipe and close it at both ends using a tape or a paper before putting them into your carry on bag if you are afraid of them damaging or getting broken.
Also, other camping gear that does not go against flight policies can be carried on the while flying with a camping gear but keep in mind that you must check in all your carry-ons.
Conclusion
Always keep in mind that the sole aim while packing for flying with a camping gear is to keep the luggage as light as it can be.
Other than carrying extra luggage which exceeds the weight limit of the airport and might lead to extra expenses, it is advisable to pack light and rent camping gears when you get to your destination.