Shannon Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 I will be travelling overseas with my slalom water ski next month. I have a soft-sided bag for it, but wonder if others find this adequate for checked baggage on an airline? Or do I need to get a hard-sided case? Any other advice that I need for air travel with a ski? Thanks in advance for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Keith_Menard Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 I wrapped mine in bubble wrap and then put it in a snowboard bag with my vest. I stopped at Perf Ski on the way home...got one of those sleeves with the fin protector...put that in the snowboard bag with my vest...no issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller gjohnson Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 Buy a sport tube. Performance sells them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bigskieridaho Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 Sport tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted July 5, 2018 Baller_ Share Posted July 5, 2018 Sport tube or nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller aupatking Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 Hard sided Sport-Tube. The size 2 will easily fit one ski, if you either have soft boots or releasable boots so you can pack it blank. The 3 will fit anything you can pack. Still I put it in a neo-sleeve and wrap my vest around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Sivota Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 Flown many times using a long snowboard bag. The Radar travel bag looks good. Currently we use a Reflex bag. It takes up to a 67" ski with enough room further to protect the tips. We put pipe insulation round the edges and then fill any space with impacts, clothing, towels etc. No problems so far - transatlantic and European flights ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 Thanks so much everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller OldboyII Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 I travel with sportube-1 and extra bag. Blank ski with rtp and almost all ski things - in tube. Front boot and other stuff - in the bag. Last year friend arrived to holidays with a ski broken in two pieces in soft padded bag. She was a bit upset.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 I have traveled many times (but not internationally) with a Dakine snowboard bag and my slalom ski. I put a fin protector on the ski, wrap some towels around it and put it in the bag I take to the lake. Then I pack my vest and anything else soft around that in the snowboard bag. I have done this many times with no issues. I expect a Sporttube provides more protection but I also wonder if baggage handlers treat hard cases more roughly. I have traveled many times with golf clubs in a soft sided Club Glove bag and haven't had issues with my clubs either. I am nervous each time I travel with either though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DanE Posted July 5, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 5, 2018 @OldboyII If they managed to snap a ski in half I highly doubt a sporttube would have made a difference. Probably still a broken ski...and a broken sporttube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dhofert Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 I have only traveled one time with my ski. Padded radar bag with a fin protector and a towel wrapped from boot forward. There and back no problem with Southwest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted July 6, 2018 Baller_ Share Posted July 6, 2018 Your paying how much to fly? How much to ski when you get there? What is your ski worth? How much fun will you have without your ski? I got 28 years in the baggage business so do yourself a favor and get a solid case. The TSA will be the ones you need to watch. They never put anything back in place and love to put the bags in places that surely will have issues with finding its way to the plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DanE Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 Fwiw I own a sporttube 3. Got tired of the airlines repeatedly bending the wheelaxle out of shape. Just use my padded Masterline deluxe slalom roller instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DaveD Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 You might want to check the airlines policy on damage coverage. A long time ago, One airline told me they would not cover damage to sporting equipment not in a hard case. Haven't flown with my ski since so I have no idea what the deal is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jhughes Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 Never had a problem with the soft Dakine bag exactly how @Chef23 described. Dozens of flights. I'd rather have that than a rigid case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DanE Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 @DaveD Last time i bothered to check no coverage from the airline hard case or not, can't remember which though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Killer Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 Pretty sure it's MCO they take the oversize on an elevator. Makes me nervous every time I watch my ski go wherever they take it... I have used soft cases in the past and I think mostly, if you can pack the ski well they work just fine, and frankly they are easier for TSA to inspect than a sportube. Ski is obviously not as well protected though, yet I don't think that is an issue MOST of the time. One of the biggest reasons I use a sport tube is because for most airlines they will only cover damage IF your gear is in a hard case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 In college I used a big PVC pipe, two end caps, and screwed on a roller wheel and a handle. It worked great and I managed to fit two jumpers and slalom ski in it. I'd probably just buy a hard case now, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted July 6, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 6, 2018 @Chef23 do you happen to know which bag you have and do you think it could hold a 70 inch ski? Looking to do more flying with my gear and debating something like that vs something like a Radar wheelie bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted July 7, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 7, 2018 @UWSkier I am not certain which bag I have but I think it is either 180 or 185cm long. It holds a 68.5 inch ski easily. I would think it would hold a 70 inch ski. This bag is 190cm which would definitely hold a 70 inch ski. https://www.evo.com/ski-bags/dakine-fall-line-roller-bag?image=115930/516549/dakine-fall-line-ski-roller-bag-black.jpg&pt_source=googleads&pt_medium=cpc&pt_campaign=GSC_Bags&pt_adgroup=PLA_Bags&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9rrY4biN3AIVhIrICh3JbwINEAQYAiABEgJL-PD_BwE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller harddock Posted July 11, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 11, 2018 Dakine ski bags are the same as snowboard just longer. Master line had a3 event that you could move an apartment with. Sport tube splits in half and everytime TSA gets a looky your lucky you get everything back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller andjules Posted July 11, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 11, 2018 +1 for soft waterski bag inside soft alpine/snowboard bag cheap alpine ski bag (fits towel, rope, shorty, vest) Took this setup to Florida, Portugal, Spain & Thailand. No issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BlueSki Posted July 12, 2018 Baller Share Posted July 12, 2018 @harddock, If you put your gear in a snowboard bag that fits in the Sport Tube, you will likely have better luck having everything repacked in the bag and case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted August 1, 2018 Baller Share Posted August 1, 2018 I found this bag online and after reading tons of great reviews, decided to give it a shot for my next trip. I'll be flying with this a week from today. Looking forward to it! Unfortunate name, but great product that's very well-thought-out. I posted a series of short videos to demonstrate how it works on my IG. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8rk8-gSfz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Sivota Posted August 2, 2018 Baller Share Posted August 2, 2018 Update on 5 July post above. We used the Reflex bag and the snowboard bag London to Washington Dulles/JFK to London. TSA opened the bags on our return flight. No damage and both skis fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thanks to all who provided advice. I bought a sport tube, with a TSA lock, and although TSA opened it both on the way out and the way back, and although JetBlue lost it for two days (!), the ski came back fine. Just a word of info: TSA is required to check oversize bags going in and out of the country, and this process may take up to 5 hours at a busy airport like JFK. So if you need your ski to arrive with you, you need to book long layovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller OldboyII Posted August 22, 2018 Baller Share Posted August 22, 2018 I travel both with Tube and padded soft bag (50/50) depending on car transfer. If I share smaller one it is hard to find place for tube. So far so good. But I feel a little paranoid when travel with soft bag - always inspecting the ski and always suspect that there may be invisible cracks in the ski :/ One of my ski companions got Goode broken into two parts in soft padded bag. Holiday was lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Keith_Menard Posted August 22, 2018 Baller Share Posted August 22, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted August 23, 2018 Baller Share Posted August 23, 2018 I just flew cross country twice in the past two weeks with my ski and all my gear in the bag I posted about in the videos above. Aside from TSA opening it both ways and messing with my padding scheme on the way there by moving stuff around, it worked flawlessly! I highly recommend the douchebag (what happens when you let internet polls name your company... boaty mcboatface anyone?). https://douchebags.com/the-douchebag One 69.5" ski with bindings and all my gear fit just fine. I imagine I could get two skis in there if I staggered the boots appropriately or removed the boots from one of them and placed them lower in the bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DonT Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 it seems like this has been discussed a bit - but I'm going to pile on anyway - maybe it will be me my first Panda. Going to Waterski Costa Rica in Feb, with 2 skis, Radars with Profile & Lyric Bindings. Sportube 2 or 3? Easy to remove bindings if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BuoyChaser Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 Series 3, originally designed for snowboards is best. http://www.sportube.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BuoyChaser Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 @UWSkier the challenge with soft sided bags is that if the zipper blows out or does not get zipped all the way or gets opened by accident (ie zipper pull catches on other luggage) because it is a “soft case” the airline policies do not require them to insure it. So the damage is on you!!! I’ve learned that along with many others the hard way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted September 27, 2018 Baller_ Share Posted September 27, 2018 I would take the advise of all the soft side bag fans. They have all had success so that is the way to go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 @ms You Funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LOTW Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 She'd be tight for 2 in a series 2, 1 ski and some gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 @BuoyChaser The nice thing about the DB bag is that there's no way for the zipper pull to open once it's closed up. The zippers are nestled under some of the most robust velcro you'll ever find on a bag. I've heard far too many horror stories about SportTubes being opened and not closed appropriately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller harddock Posted September 27, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 27, 2018 We have used both types. Sport tube a little trickier to pack and if TSA opens up nothing put back where it belonged. Da Kine ski/snowboard bag is soft and will fold up quick when it doesn't fit good in rental car . Especially if your carrying 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAWSki Posted September 28, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2018 Another vote for a Dakane bag. We fit two skis (in neoprene socks) and all our gear without removing bindings. TSA usually opens but doesn't do a lot more than that. The biggest problem comes when checking in-- Delta's baggage system doesn't have "WaterSkis" in their list of items. So the agents often take a while trying to decide what to classify the bag's contents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted September 28, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2018 @RAWSki I have told the check in folks they are snow skis before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BuoyChaser Posted September 28, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2018 Absolutely say they are SKIS and you are good, no difference water or snow LOL . . . they never open them at ticket counter to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted September 28, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2018 It's not the airlines that are the problem in my experience. TSA opens my ski bag every single time. Can tell by the little note they leave and the disheveled appearance of my neatly-packed items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Killer Posted September 28, 2018 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2018 I had an issue one of the first times I traveled with my sportube 3. The case was open on the belt at MCO arrivals because they didn't put the clevis pin in, fortunately nothing was missing. Since then I put a bungee cord and carabiner on the female end of the tube with a small D ring through one of the holes on the male end. Pretty much fool proof and never an issue since. Now i have both the carabiner holding the case together and the pin (also now tied on with string so it wont be lost). One key with the tube is to not have any loose items in it so TSA can pack it back easily. Most of them are used to these types of tubes for a variety of items, not just skis. I pack the ski, with vest, rope, gloves, bungee'd around the ski and a small bag with other stuff inside the tube. When I get to the rental car, the ski comes out and the tube slides into itself, taking up little space and all my gear goes into the 1/2 tube its always a "ski" never a waterski. As has been stated without a hardcase, you can't claim any damage with most airlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted September 28, 2018 Baller_ Share Posted September 28, 2018 @Killer hits it right and I can only add to give the airline and TSA a minimum of an hour to get your bag processed. Depending on what airport you may be able to watch the TSA search it. If you are in a large airport like MSP they have trace detectors machines that the ski tube fits in. If it’s don’t smell like fert or explosives it will go on without having to open and search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Justin_C Posted March 13, 2019 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2019 Old thread, I know but I'm going to Florida in May and was planning on dropping the almost 300 on a sportube until I got reading this. A lot of people are suggesting the Dakine style bag. Is this the sort of thing that you guys are using? Athletico Maverick Padded Snowboard Bag 180cm (Black) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B074FV9XFX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xegICbHQ28CPZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted March 13, 2019 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2019 Whatever you get, make sure it has wheels. You'll regret it if you don't. I love my Db bag (videos earlier in this thread). Used it a bunch of times. Ribcage construction is a good compromise between hard case and floppy bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DonT Posted March 13, 2019 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2019 I can only speak to my experience last month flying SLC to Costa Rica. We put two skis, plus jackets, handles, gloves into a sport tube 3 and it worked out great. Having worked my college days as a ramp rat at O'hare, I know the abuse bags get. It worked out great. For a slightly cheaper option you can go to backcountry.com and get the orange version for about $230. Just make sure you use a bungee cord from the end to the "locking" hole in addition to a travel lock. Those locks are not very strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Steven_Haines Posted March 13, 2019 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2019 Try moosejaw.com I think that I got the series 3 sportube. Holds 2 skis. I think I paid under $200 for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Steven_Haines Posted March 13, 2019 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2019 Correction, it’s the series 2 for $199.95 with free 2 day shipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller NikolG Posted March 14, 2019 Baller Share Posted March 14, 2019 Be careful in Denver with jump skis. They put them vertically on the oversized carousel! They took out a chunk of drywall and fortunately we rescued them before the big snap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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