Suitcase or duffle bag?

[Pheroze]

Ok, here's a mundane question: do you take a suitcase or duffle bag when go on your safari? Would you use a suitcase if the trip involved more touring than hunting?

 

[Royal27]

Ok, here's a mundane question: do you take a suitcase or duffle bag when go on your safari? Would you use a suitcase if the trip involved more touring than hunting?

I use a rolling hard bottom duffle bag. Best of both the world's for me. Mine even has hidden backpack straps although I've never used them.

The nice thing about a duffle is that if you are doing a charter flight or might at some point it can be stuffed in somewhere if need be.

 

[AB2506]

http://www.eddiebauer.com/browse/du...=duffels---luggage&tab=gear&previousPage=GNAV

My wife and I waited until Eddie Bauer had a 40% off sale. We each bought a medium and large suitcase. The medium is about the biggest you can go for a carryon. They worked great on our trip to Africa. We also bought a duffel which we used to bring home our gifts purchased at the roadside or at Cambanos and Sons in Joburg. I'm not a shopper, but I loved Cambanos. Wow, what a store!

 

[Rob404]

I did a hardside Suitcase and glad I did as I ran into trouble at Air France and had to un-pack my ammunition boxes and ship them separately, with my luck I would have had the Ammo cases in the bottom of a duffle

 

[Royal27]

I did a hardside Suitcase and glad I did as I ran into trouble at Air France and had to un-pack my ammunition boxes and ship them separately, with my luck I would have had the Ammo cases in the bottom of a duffle

The entire top of mine zips, so even though my ammo box is at the "bottom" it is easy to get to. It was in the bag coming from the states, and removed for travel once there.

 

[CAustin]

Just bought one of these Pelican cases to use for checked bag! Water tight, dust proof, and crush resistant! Need something for the ammo and extras that doesn't get smashed! But in the past I have also just checked a soft side small case with ammo and extras! I take a small back pack for a change of clothes, socks, optics, boots and meds!

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

My wife and I each got one of the newer polycarbonate suitcases prior to our trip to RSA; In addition to being very light weight (which means you can pack more "stuff"), they are quite durable. I packed ammo in both my wife's and my suitcase, and we didn't go over the 50lb weight limit.
I had thought about a duffle, and saw several people who were using duffels, but I had heard bad things about airport staff using regular old ink pens to thwart the zippers and steal things from inside. I know that no case is totally theft proof, but I felt we were more secure with the polycarb suitcases than with duffels.
Works for us, at any rate...................

 

[Albertaguy]

Charlie that looks like a good sturdy case . What does it weigh empty ?

 

[Royal27]

Would you use a suitcase if the trip involved more touring than hunting?

And no, I'd use the same thing either way. The wife did use a regular rollerboard suitcase and would again.

I also don't worry about anything in my duffle getting broken or stolen as anything of value goes in my carry on, including binos, etc....

 

[CAustin]

If I remember correctly 20 pounds empty! But this thing is killer! Military members use them even on warships and they hold up great. It floats too!

 

[Pheroze]

About 25 years ago I went hiking in Europe and I still have my backpack. It is made of a lined canvass material. It has a flap that zips up the shoulder straps and padded waist belt. The frame is essentially two metal strips that can be molded to fit your back. I love it. When zipped up it is a suitcase. Unzip the flap and you have a proper knapsack with waist belt. It is heavy by backpack standards now and the rubber liner is starting to break down. Also it is a bit small so packing heavy warm hunting gear for a week or two gets to be a challenge. Its last hurrah may just be this trip to Africa.

 

[thriller]

Small Filson suitcase carry on and a medium north face duffle check bag, both fit a surprising amount of stuff and are tough as nails

 

[Red Leg]

Have done a lot of international travel other than hunting, and my motto is "if it doesn't roll it doesn't fly." Like Royal, I use rolling duffle bags - larger (though not the huge variety) for checked luggage and a smaller one for overhead. Anything of real value is in overhead. Have tried the heavy canvas duffles but the bag itself eats up a lot of weight. Absolutely hate shoulder carrying a bag thru a long layover hence the rolling carry on. Inevitably, the waiting vehicle, whether a cab in Rome or Land Cruiser in J'burg cubes out and a duffle is much easier to fit in the remaining space.

 

[rookhawk]

A duffle can be squeezed into overhead bins so that alone is why I use a duffle. Orvis has an overpriced one made in the USA with locks.

 

[BRICKBURN]

You know those situations when you just have to adapt?

I take that Stormcase for the rifles (It has the required wheels for rolling) I strap the bag to the rifle case and I am off in airports.

The bag can fit in those smaler spaces for transport. The straps can be used to adapt when transport is not quite big enough!

The bag that travels everywhere. Never locked. Never had anything stolen.
(touch wood)

 

[CAustin]

It's that Maple leaf that keeps your stuff safe Wayne! But what about ammo? Where do you put that?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Ammo is in its own locked box (pelican 1200) inside the bag when they let me. Otherwise it goes along on its own. That Mapleleaf does offer its own protection. Also, as of late, the Canadian Peso offers its own protection. There can not be anything of value inside anyway.

 

[Bruce]

Interesting that you guys pack your ammo inside your checked luggage... we, here in RSA, are not allowed to do that. Ammo goes in a separate locked box, with the rifle case and taken away by security to be loaded onto the plane separately. How does it work when you LEAVE RSA for home? Ammo wise, I mean!
I use a soft, hard bottom, roll on duffel for my hunting, as I normally have a charter flight involved.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Interesting that you guys pack your ammo inside your checked luggage... we, here in RSA, are not allowed to do that. Ammo goes in a separate locked box, with the rifle case and taken away by security to be loaded onto the plane separately. How does it work when you LEAVE RSA for home? Ammo wise, I mean!
I use a soft, hard bottom, roll on duffel for my hunting, as I normally have a charter flight involved.

SAA requires (RSA apparently) a separate locked container and that is when it gets carried separately on it's own.

 

[Royal27]

Interesting that you guys pack your ammo inside your checked luggage... we, here in RSA, are not allowed to do that. Ammo goes in a separate locked box, with the rifle case and taken away by security to be loaded onto the plane separately. How does it work when you LEAVE RSA for home? Ammo wise, I mean!
I use a soft, hard bottom, roll on duffel for my hunting, as I normally have a charter flight involved.

Separately as Brickburn stated.

What you might find even more interesting though is that for domestic travel here in the States not only does it not have to be separate, it can go in the same case as the rifle, which I always do. I'm going to get to my destination with everything, or nothing!