Packing Clothes & Equipment

The name of the game in packing any kind of bag or luggage is to avoid spilling anything liquid and to avoid wrinkles. No website has all of the answers but we hope to give you some ideas.

Rule Number One: Pack Light!

1. Lay out everything you will need and then leave half of it behind and you are probably still taking too much. Unless you are going to Antarctica you can always buy the little items you just have to have that you left behind.

2. No matter what type of bag you are packing, you will want to avoid spilling any liquids on your clothes or equipment. For this you should place those liquid items inside two Ziploc bags. One bag upright and the other upside down so that the liquid if it does escape its normal container it may be contained. Sealed containers work even better but are more bulky. Try to pack the liquids in your baggage so that they are upright when carried. You must think ahead about how you will normally carry your luggage to do this successfully.

3. Military uniforms are prone to wrinkles. Such is life. One way to minimize wrinkles is to wear your uniform on the plane. If you do have to pack it away here are a few tips:

• Weight on top yields wrinkles on clothes underneath. Pack your uniform on top of your other clothes with a plastic bag to cover it. The plastic bag will serve as a buffer between the side of the bag (which may be dirty) as well as a dirty clothes bag should you need one.
• Unpack your bag ASAP after you get into your hotel room. It may be inconvenient but it will cut down on the wrinkles. It will also let you limit the damage in case anything spilled inside your bag.
• Pack a couple of plastic coat hangers in your bag in case you need to put your uniform in the bathroom to steam some wrinkles out. Many hotels use hangers that don't come out of the closet. Do not use metal hangers unless you want rust marks on your uniforms.

Packing a Suitcase:

You can Google for many suggestions on how to pack specific items, but the best website we have found for showing how to pack a suitcase is LuggageOnline.com which has graphics demonstrating how to actually fold your clothes to avoid wrinkles when packing. Owning the right kind of suitcase is critical. You want a HARD-SHELL suitcase with wheels for luggage that is to be checked. We recommend the Samsonite line. Black is the best color for hiding scuffs as well as security purposes (watch the Tom Hanks movie "The Man With One Red Shoe" to see how easy it is for a team of criminals to keep track of someone or something out of the ordinary in an airport). See our Best Luggage note for more information.

Packing a Duffel Bag or Seabag:

Name of the game here is to put items that you need to wear soonest on top because the items on the bottom will get the most wrinkles due to all of the weight. Usually the best bet is to place those items that may leak UNDERNEATH the items that you have to wear immediately but on top of the rest so that you can get to them easily. If possible, place the clothes that you need to wear immediately in their own sealed bags. LuggageOnline.com has an excellent how-to guide on packing a Duffel Bag.

Packing Heat (Firearms)

Obviously you cannot carry guns or ammunition onto a commercial jet. Don't try to bluff it and say it is OK because you are military. The airline officials will not be impressed and may not allow you on the plane. Each airline has its own rules so once you have your ticket you should call and ask what those rules are. Those rules will have to comply with the Transportation Security Administration rules for transporting firearms. We will not try to summarize them here because they are forever changing based on the perceived threat. As an example of one airlines rules, you can see Northwest's here.

Packing SCUBA Gear

Boy is this a tough one! There are various SCUBA magazines and online chat boards discussing all of the possibilities. In general, first you have to decide what will you need to take with you and what can you rent when you arrive (tanks are not generally worth carrying with you). Then you have to decide what you will pack in your carry-on bags and what you will check-in. Obviously you cannot carry onto the plane your SCUBA knife, bangstick, or spear gun. Keep in mind that the cabin is pressurized while the cargo hold is usually not. Some airlines do not approve of the SpareAir canisters while others will allow you to carry it onto the plane. In general you want to carry on your computers, regulators, lights, cameras, and BCD if possible. The rest of the equipment (weights, dive suits, mask, fin, snorkel, and armaments) should be checked. The last consideration is that most airlines charge an Excess Baggage Fee for SCUBA gear, regardless of the weight so that if you bring it in your fancy SCUBA bag you are announcing to the world that you have SCUBA gear inside. Best Bet: Call your airline before showing up at the airport.

Packing Golf Clubs

This is much easier than SCUBA gear or guns. Due to TSA regulations, golf clubs cannot be carried on but must be checked. First you need to buy a hard-shell carrying case for your clubs. Yes, we are aware that most airlines will rent you a case, but that assumes that they have one available on the days and locations that you are departing and that it is in good condition. You spent a lot for your clubs, spend a little to properly protect them. Second you should expect to pay an Excess Baggage Fee if you have too much stuff. For a summary of the airlines rules, see the Travel Goods Association website.

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