luggage type

[Berettadouble]

I was going to pack my checked bag as a nonlockable Cabela's waterproof duffle. Bad idea? Thought would be easier in country transport than hard suitcase. Thoughts?

 

[wesheltonj]

To where? JNB - at one time they had a flat bottom requirement.

 

[Berettadouble]

sorry, JNB Tambo

 

[Mekaniks]

Those water proof duffles are good and durable as long as you dont pack anything in them that can break....
I use hard side cases whenever possible. If for nor other reason than I can bring back curios without them getting smashed.
Thats said, if I am connecting on small planes or charters, soft side cases make sense for the space available.

 

[crossfire3006]

I was going to use my KUIU Waypoint 6500 Roller, but it was suggested to use a zipperless suitcase. A few individuals told me they experienced their bags being tampered with and items missing when they flew with Cabela’s and Sitka travel rolling duffle bags. They said their zippers were the entry point.

I had a few conversations with outfitters and hunters at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA in February, and a few here on the forum, and they suggested a zipperless suitcase with TSA locks already built in. I didn’t want to travel with a hard suitcase, but the Luggex brand came up frequently and highly recommended for international travel. I researched the brand online and went with the ZX Check-In / 28” Zipperless Aluminum Frame, TSA Lock.

I’m rather impressed with how much I’m able to fit in the suitcase, including two pairs of boots, locked ammo case, toiletries, clothing, as well as a few other items I’m bringing, and still have room. I’m not bringing a lot of clothing only because daily washing of clothes is part of the cost. I’m leaving for my PG hunt two weeks from tomorrow.

Just wanted to share my two cents!

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Lock all your luggage.

 

[MontanaPat]

JNB can be notorious at times for having your bag rifled thru and things stolen so watch what items of value you put into checked bags

 

[Scott CWO]

I was going to pack my checked bag as a nonlockable Cabela's waterproof duffle. Bad idea? Thought would be easier in country transport than hard suitcase. Thoughts?

I would only take locked luggage through JNB and actually anywhere these days. I have a good friend who retired from working at the Denver International Airport and you wouldn’t believe the stories he relayed about theft even in the USA.

 

[Rimbaud]

I use a Rimowa suitcase, most of the time, and have started to also use zipties on zipper pulls to create a secondary defense, figuring the scumbags will likely not take the time to undo zip ties, locks, etc. Also, Pelican Air is a good alternative and many of them have wheels.

 

[Hunt anything]

On the couple of occasions I didn’t take a rifle, my wife and I didn’t check any bags. We took all we needed for 2 10 day safaris in our carry on bags.

 

[Russ16]

I travel constantly for work and have gone all over and never kicked anything except a gun or ammo case. Never had a problem.

That said for my August trip the only thing getting checked will be guns nd ammo. I scan easily pack for 10+ days in a carryon.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I was going to pack my checked bag as a nonlockable Cabela's waterproof duffle. Bad idea? Thought would be easier in country transport than hard suitcase. Thoughts?

I pack everything, besides my rifles and ammo, to carry on. One hard sided lockable roller carry-on and one backpack are always with me. That’s everything I need for 14 Days…

 

[gcbailey]

I used a Red Oxx duffle in case I had to stuff it in the back of a truck. Worked out great. It has double zippers, which makes it semi-secure, though any zippered luggage is easy to break into.

 

[Sabre]

I use a Rimowa suitcase, most of the time, and have started to also use zipties on zipper pulls to create a secondary defense, figuring the scumbags will likely not take the time to undo zip ties, locks, etc. Also, Pelican Air is a good alternative and many of them have wheels.

Just as a heads up, they don't have to undo your zip ties to enter a zippered bag. They can poke a pen through the zipper, unzip the case, go through it, and run the zip tied zippers back and forth a couple times and it doesn't even look like it's been entered.

I am always worried about this, but also, I am a classic over-packer. And I have struggled to give up the extra space and weight savings of a zippered check back. Hard sided bags typically have smaller interiors and eat up a lot of weight.

So, I just try to be careful about what I bring in my checked bags and put the most appealing things in my carryon.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I was going to use my KUIU Waypoint 6500 Roller, but it was suggested to use a zipperless suitcase. A few individuals told me they experienced their bags being tampered with and items missing when they flew with Cabela’s and Sitka travel rolling duffle bags. They said their zippers were the entry point.

I had a few conversations with outfitters and hunters at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA in February, and a few here on the forum, and they suggested a zipperless suitcase with TSA locks already built in. I didn’t want to travel with a hard suitcase, but the Luggex brand came up frequently and highly recommended for international travel. I researched the brand online and went with the ZX Check-In / 28” Zipperless Aluminum Frame, TSA Lock.

I’m rather impressed with how much I’m able to fit in the suitcase, including two pairs of boots, locked ammo case, toiletries, clothing, as well as a few other items I’m bringing, and still have room. I’m not bringing a lot of clothing only because daily washing of clothes is part of the cost. I’m leaving for my PG hunt two weeks from tomorrow.

Just wanted to share my two cents!

Have the Luggex ZX 28 on order waiting on it to arrive. Going give it a try this next trip.

 

[coreydb]

Hard case for air travel; duffel inside the hard case for in and around your hunting if that's what you envision. I tried a stiff bottom duffel with rollers when I went to Ireland. The duffel was ripped through on the bottom during airport loading/unloading. I made the Airline pay for the repair, but it also showed me any duffle or soft side suitcase is asking for trouble. After that fiasco, I bought a Pelican hard case.

 

[Tanks]

His n hers Pelican Air for adventure travel.

For anything else, there is Rimowa.

 

[JimP]

I just use a Cabela's duffel with a hard roller bottom.

I don't pack anything inside it that I can't afford to loose, the main things that are in it are a knife, and a Leatherman. I'm lost without a knife. If someone wants to break into it the most they are going to get is that knife and Leatherman, that is unless they like dirty underwear.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I use a Red Oxx Duffle and lock the double zippers. Ammo goes inside locked.

Last year flying through Zambia, I took a second duffle with fishing stuff that was locked. At some point between Dallas - Newark - Joburg - Livingstone the lock on that duffle was cut, (2) 1 Gal Ziplocks of Fishing Tackle were taken and it was “re-locked” so I didn’t notice until in camp because it appeared locked. Same trip my gun case had 2 of the 6 locks on it cut as well.

 

[dogcat1]

I use lockable duffles on all trips. If you go through a "bad" airport, nearly any bag can be breached.
Use a meet and greet service as well as an escort through customs and gun check in. That is worth the price.

Luggage theft is a big deal. It happens. What I have done is carry optics and cameras in my carryon. I pack everything else that is valuable in the gun case (for me a Tuffpak). I only pack clothes (no electronics) in rolling duffles. Ammo does not get stolen if you pack it in a locked pelican case.

Further idea (and I know people do not like it), use camp guns. I do this most of the time now to lessen the overall travel cost and speed up the airport issues. When returning to the US, guns delay you at least 2-4hrs in customs.