Soft Or Hard Dive Bag? - Scuba Tech Tips: S15E09

[@stuartdunbar6121]

I have a Stahlsac, and it's well made bag. I use it for local trips, but you made a good point about the added security of the Terrapin spinner. Might be a good investment when travelling abroad. Thanks for the video!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for watching. A

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

Hard or soft isn't really about security. All bags need to be openable by the TSA. You can buy TSA locks that can be opened by a TSA master key for inspection so they don't have to destroy more secure locks or the bag itself. Those TSA locks are pretty bad locks, and really only good to deter opportunity thieves. Airport thieves aren't walking around with Exacto knives or wirecutters. It's more about protecting its contents from damage. If you're storing fragile things in your bags, a hard bag offers better protection. If you're storing things that aren't fragile, a soft bag can conform more to what's inside it. In general, I would recommend putting the expensive, fragile stuff like your dive computer, camera, lights, and regulators in your carry-on, and put only your BCD, fins, mask, wet/drysuit, etc. in your checked luggage. A soft bag will do fine then (as long as you put your mask in an EVA case or the footwell of your fins). And don't leave your bags unattended. Thieves will much rather take the entire bag then try to open it there and then.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Good points and thanks for sharing with everyone. A

[@divingbubbles]

Totally agree with you Alec! My wife won't complain too! I think that packing into an hard bag is safer for regulators, dive gear in general and also for my VIDEO GEAR too!!!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Well said! We have all seen how airlines take such gentle care of bags. A

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

That's not stuff you should be putting in checked luggage.

[@timgosling6189]

Personally I take my regs, torches, computers and camera in my cabin bag. Everything else goes in an anonymous grey hard suitcase, just in case dive gear is thought of as something worth pinching.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Plain bags may be an idea but when I land at a popular dive location like Cozumel, Roatan or Truk Lagoon, 90% of the bags are divers. Still may work in some locations. A

[@timgosling6189]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Good point!

[@michaeloneill6427]

Hi Alec, do you think you could do a video on the inner workings of diaphragm first stage regulators?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I did a detailed video on piston vs diaphragm (S07E01) which has the key points. I'll will add a specific video to my future ideas list. A

[@TheTurbinator]

Finally, more tek tips!!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

More to come! A

[@DidierWolfs]

This hardshell case is nice, so as any good Samsonite or Delsey (?) Might just be more challenging to having it rolling on soft/gravel than a Stahlsac or other big wheeled bag. The good point is that with an hardcase, we are more sure to not be overloaded. And 100 liters is perfect volume for 1 diver. Hopefully Peli Case with come with a super light case at some point, as their Air cases are still too heavy.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Peli cases are heavy but never seen one broken open on an airport conveyor belt. Seen several dive bag zippers popped from stress on the zippers. Pick which works best for your budget and comfort. A

[@fatphoca5009]

Whats the difference between the Akona Spinner and a normal hard suitcase which is cheap as chips? Dive manufacturers charge an awful lot for what is essentially just a suitcase.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Most dive bags are very light weight due to travelling being the priority, not strength. Kevin just came back from his annual dive trip and it was about 50-50 hard vs soft cases in the airport. Personal preference is key if budget is not an issue. A

[@fatphoca5009]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks for the reply. I think the weight difference is less now. Years ago most soft suitcases were made from cloth and very heavy. Hard cases were like bricks and even heavier but the current crop of suitcases are now made of all sorts of composite materials making them lighter imo than many dive bags which still look the same as twenty years ago. I was going to buy a new dive bag after my trusty stahl sac packed up but looking at prices and weight made me end up with a normal suitcase, the key being price, choices, weight and low key look.

[@giuliolorenzoni1234]

Love the hard bag, however 100 liters vs 148 of the soft fabric one means that the hard one is 1/3 smaller. To give you an idea, if you have to stack them in the trunk of the car, you can easily fit 2 soft ones side by side, but you would need to fit 3 hard cased ones for the same capacity. I usually dive with a double tank set up, (beginner tech diver) and drysuit, so fitting all the gear plus redundant equipment (I double everything I have including gloves, just in case) into 100 liters is damn near impossible. I have to say however that I would give an eye for a 4 wheels spinning bag. Cheers!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Good points on size but I find many divers overpack gear & cloths. My motto is 1/2 the cloths and 2x the cash for a fun trip. Thanks for watching. A

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter True, you don't need to pack much in terms of clothes. Two boardshorts, and maybe 3 shirts for a two week trip is plenty. If they get dirty, dive into the water while wearing them or wash them in the shower. Everything's wet anyways.

[@cascadianrangers728]

Oh man I would have killed for one of these, I had to cancel my planned dives on the great barrier reef when I dropped a slippery steel tank onto 3/5 toes, breaking the first two and fracturing the third. I had been in Australia for less than 12 hours, not even as long as the flight back, the wasted airfare and hotel reservation and dive bookings cost a hell of a lot more than a hard case! The only only perk of packaging your gear in old surplus duffel bags is that it doesn't look as tempting to steal, and that it helps make it less obvious you are a wealthy tourist, but you could probably fit your hard case in a duffel bag before you check it and then ditch it after getting to hostel or whatever

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

OUCH!!! That's no way to start a trip. I like the idea of putting the hard case in a big old bag just in case. Take care and hope your next trip is much more fun. A

[@scubacro5758]

They don't cut bag with knife, you just push tip or ball point pen in zipper and it will open no problem

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Did not know that, thanks. A

[@peterneubauer9712]

I recently had a drone stolen from my soft checked in dive bag on a trip to Cancun. Looking at using a hard case so good timing on this video Alec.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Oh wow that can ruin a great dive trip. If you need a lot of protection, consider a Pelican hard case, no way to break into them. A

[@PeakFire]

This guy has good genes

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you. Not bad for 75 eh? A

[@PeakFire]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter No way! thats amazing

[@AdamHelb]

There's no advantage to using a "dive" bag when regular luggage works just as well. And there's a reason to avoid a dive bag as it advertises that the contents is valuable and temps a luggage thief.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Some use regular bags but dive bags have a few special points: wet area for items like suits, stronger sides, more pockets to stuff long items like fins. In all my decades of dive travel, not seen dive gear stolen just because it might have a logo on it. Either way it's an option to go basic. Thanks for watching. A

[@Kebekwoodcraft7375]

That’s what she said it’s hard but not to hard it flex 😂😅😊

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you know who does not watch these. A

[@alainbourgault1937]

I personally use a regular very old and decrepit suitcase (why advertise you potentially have very valuable things to steal) and keep my most precious pieces of gear (regs, dive computer) in my cabin bag. I don't trust airlines to keep my gear safe.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Good point! A

[@alainbourgault1937]

@@aliasincognito0 That would be the best option but last time I checked for a private jet it😅side of my price range unfortunately so I guess I'll keep giving my luggage to overworked and underpaid pissed off employees and hope for the best

[@paulbaratta1566]

I’ve been very happy with my Akona bags

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

They are good bags. A

[@drmack911]

We've owned both of the models shown in the video and have traveled worldwide with each. We have settled on the Akona. The airlines love them too, I guess because they stack well and are a bit easier to handle. That's what the gate agents say anyway. The Akona does not have a wet compartment however. So damp wetsuits are an issue unless you put them in plastic sacks before packing.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Good points. A

[@DidierWolfs]

Always bring a big plastic garbage sack. Doesn’t weight and nice to handle still wet stuffs. Even that we are not supposed to dive 24h before taking the plane, so the wetsuit has a chance to dry :-) I’ve also bought a 35 liters dry bag from sea to summit, that could handle the wetsuit. These dry bags from sea to summit are very very lightweight.

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

vintage scuba where are you ?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Never forgotten but will be in Sept/Oct due to Kevin and mine summer schedules. A

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Been living and dive traveling all around SE Asia for twenty years and never had a bag stolen or broken into...these issues are a Joe Biden's America problem (Justin Trudeau Canada problem too.).

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I have traveled the world and seen others bags opened in countries big and small. Not good for tourism anywhere so protect yourself. A

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

If you think theft is directly connected to who's president in the US or Canada, you've got bigger problems. Theft is a crime of opportunity, and not at all politically motivated.

[@DidierWolfs]

Some years ago, I’ve got my whole bag stolen at the airport. It got checked in and then disappeared and never been found. It was not a dive trip, but a very nice Philippe Starck bag… The insurance was something like 1200 euros and did not cover half of the value of the bag + what was inside :-( In this case, it has been stolen from airport people…

[@josephdracula7487]

👍😎🤿! Good to know thanks!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

No problem 👍 A