Traveling on a plane with a backpack.

[hunsta]

OK. Now I know this might be a question that could be ask about any trip let alone one to a Camino. Ive done a few overseas trip in my life, but this will be the first time I have ever just taken a backpack.
So how does one assure that ones backpack arrives undamaged. By undamaged I mean, shoulder straps and any other straps are not accidentally ripped off. Most packs have a double zipper system so a small lock can be used to secure compartments.
I once heard that using heavy duty cling wrap to encase the pack and secure any loose strapping. And that some airports even had services for this, but once in your destination country, does this pose a kind of pain in the rear for customs workers who need to check ones bag?
Hope this doesnt sound like a stupid question, but its one Ive thought about.
Cheers
Craig

 

[wayfarer]

I always wrap my pack with industrial pallet wrap when I am flying from home. For the return trip I buy a roll of kitchen/cling wrap and wrap the bag at the airport just before check in. I never worry about customs or such as they will open it anyway if they have to. Also, there are no such things as stupid questions, maybe sometimes stupid answers.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I have never seen customs rigorous enough to even open a wrapped bag. If it makes it through the scanner check at the airport of origin, it will be OK.

I made a ripstop nylon sack to cover the buckles and straps of my backpack. It has a simple drawstring at the top, and weighs only about four ounces. It has survived nearly a dozen plane trips with only a few scrapes and holes. Baggage handling can be very hard on straps and buckles. It is permethrin treated and comes in handy for protecting the pack in albergues.

 

[wayfarer]

I made a ripstop nylon sack to cover the buckles and straps of my backpack. It has a simple drawstring at the top, and weighs only about four ounces. It has survived nearly a dozen plane trips with only a few scrapes and holes. Baggage handling can be very hard on straps and buckles. It is permethrin treated and comes in handy for protecting the pack in albergues.

Great idea, I must look into this.

 

[Kanga]

I used a cheap red and blue woven plastic bag when my sticks did not fit inside my pack and had to be attached on the outside - I used duct tape to attach the poles securely to the pack, then threw the whole thing inside the plastic bag. Our current sticks fold up smaller and go inside the pack, so we don't bother with a bag. We turn the waistband inside out around the pack, do the same with all straps, and pull them tight. No attempt to lock it. I guess we've been lucky because we've never lost anything or had any part of the pack broken, in spite of stopovers, changes of aircraft and multiple airlines. As far as I can tell it's never been opened - until we get back to Australia when the quarantine officers usually look inside for mud. They have been kind enough to clean my shoes a few times (considering the foot and mouth threat).
My pack never seems small enough to go inside the cabin.

 

[dougfitz]

First off, it doesn't matter whether it is a suitcase or backpack, if its in the hold it will get tossed around at some point or other, as well as being subjected to a variety of material handling equipment like conveyor belts. Packs don't seem to suffer any more or less than other baggage.

I have used a couple of different approaches, including using a specialised travel/trekking pack with a cover for the harness. At its simplest, I have just:

• strapped my walking poles to the pack,
• made sure there are no long loose straps by tying them together
• fully lengthened the waist straps, and wrapped them around the shoulder harness, and
• if asked, checked it in as special handling luggage.

I have also used @Kanga's approach, and bought a cheap woven poly-fibre bag and used it to wrap up my pack. On arrival, I have just ditched the bag, and bought another one for the trip home. It's probably the best middle ground approach if you want to provide some protection, but don't want to carry half a kilogram of specialist pack travel cover.

 

[Leaningforward]

Carried my Osprey 50 (February camino) on IcelandAir from the USA (economy comfort seat) and had it wrapped in plastic and checked in Porto for the flight home. Big fan of plastic wrap -- whether kitchen wrap (great idea) or airport wrap. It protects contents from rain and discourages "exploration" by baggage handlers. Falcon's drawstring bag is a good idea, too -- especially for trains, buses, and albergues, where one is less likely to risk breaking into or stealing what they cannot see.

 

[hunsta]

Thanks guys. Lots of great ideas there. I may go with the wrap method as it seems to be the easiest.
cheers
Craig

 

[Piccata]

I haven't and never will check my backpack before a Camino, but that's just me. And I've never seen those wrap systems in airports in the US (that doesn't mean they don't exist). As an alternative to making your own bag, if you must/want to check your backpack going out of the US, I have often used the Ikea Frakta bag (the big blue one with zippers) as checked luggage when I didn't want to have a heavy bag to store upon arrival someplace. It's amazingly sturdy, although it may not be as light as the bag Falcon269 made. I don't currently have one in the house to weigh. It does meet most airline dimension limits for checked bags, and at $2.99 it can be given away or put into recycling without worries. If your backpack and poles together don't fit in it, you should rethink something!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90149148/

 

[rubyslippers]

The plastic wrap is what the airlines use for broken bags. It's how they come in sometimes to the dismay of the owner. Many times if you ask they point you to the baggage area to wrap them up. Last time I saw it tho I was in Barcelona. I carry mine on. Haven't had to check it yet, not even the poles.

 

[GreatDane]

My plan in two weeks is to carry on my pack, send through my trekking poles along with a small knife and a few small liquids. Right now the contents of my pack with everything including my hiking boots goes up to about the 32L mark (rough estimate!!). I'll be wearing my after hiking sandals on the plane. The pack will go in the overhead bin and I'll have my Sea to Summit sling bag with me at my seat with things I need during the flights and over night like contact lens case and solution, my iPad and my other valuables with my passport, cash and cards on me in my neck pouch. I don't care how much it weighs (.13kg) but I am carrying on and using my REI seat pad because Delta Airlines has the cruddiest seats in the industry in coach. No padding and it feels like you're sitting right on the seat frame for 18 hours...

 

[Piccata]

I'll have my Sea to Summit sling bag with me at my seat

Thanks for mentioning this bag GreatDane! My daughter stole (she would say borrowed) the ChicoBag crossbody I have used happily for the last few years. This looks to be even better because it's lighter, water resistant, and available in grey. Just ordered one!

 

[Mark Lee]

I met two people on the Camino who told me for the flight to Spain they put their backpacks in cardboard boxes, secured the boxes with tape and checked them in as "checked luggage" on the flight and simply discarded the boxes upon arrival to Madrid. Don't know if they obtained more cardboard boxes for the return flight home.

 

[Arn]

I have never checked my pack, it goes in the overhead. On occasions where the aircraft had limited overhead space, I carry it to the boarding area, they give me a tag and I carry it down the ramp. I see it get into the cargo hold and I see it come off. As I've mentioned in other threads, the amount of "stuff" you will carry on Camino..will equal the size of the pack you choose to fill. In many situations, it's the walking poles that are the reason for checking baggage due to the points on the end.
Buen Camino
Arn

 

[jmcarp]

Since we were not doing any tourist traveling either before or after the Camino, we had no other luggage other than our backpacks. We carried our backpacks on and stowed them in the overheard bin. We put a few "essentials" in a couple of small, very flimsy day packs in case the airline insisted on gate checking the backpacks (they didn't). The day packs went under the seat. That helped to reduce the size of the backpacks so they would fit within the carry-on dimension limits, and the day packs were handy for shopping later on the Camino. We put our trekking poles, liquids, Swiss army knife, etc in a cardboard shipping tube and checked it. Coming home we had no backpacks -- they were stolen in Santiago -- so we traveled very light with only a paper sack containing two toothbrushes and some clean underwear we bought in a mall near the Madrid airport. Our backpacks, by the way, were later recovered and shipped to us, but that's another story.

 

[rubyslippers]

When I left Spain I flew to Paris and then to the USA. (Pass traveling) Even though the plane had LOTS of overhead room I had to check my backpack in Santiago de Compostela to Paris. I had to buy a cheap purse in the airport there as I had nothing to carry anything in. Then when i got onto the A320 I had to put my purse in the overhead bin! I could not even place it under the seat. Hey, I don't argue with flight crew. haha I remember they just taped my poles right to the side of the bag and wrapped the entire thing in plastic wrap. I really believe one of the main things we should all take with us when we pack for the Camino is Flexibility and a good attitude. It's all good.

 

[Kanga]

I really believe one of the main things we should all take with us when we pack for the Camino is Flexibility and a good attitude. It's all good.

Heartily agree. It is not just a matter of "go with the flow" because sometimes we need to make decisions, and those decisions are often unplanned. So be aware when circumstances change and be prepared to be unprepared!

 

[Alan Pearce]

First off, it doesn't matter whether it is a suitcase or backpack, if its in the hold it will get tossed around at some point or other, as well as being subjected to a variety of material handling equipment like conveyor belts. Packs don't seem to suffer any more or less than other baggage.

I have used a couple of different approaches, including using a specialised travel/trekking pack with a cover for the harness. At its simplest, I have just:

• strapped my walking poles to the pack,
• made sure there are no long loose straps by tying them together
• fully lengthened the waist straps, and wrapped them around the shoulder harness, and
• if asked, checked it in as special handling luggage.

I have also used @Kanga's approach, and bought a cheap woven poly-fibre bag and used it to wrap up my pack. On arrival, I have just ditched the bag, and bought another one for the trip home. It's probably the best middle ground approach if you want to provide some protection, but don't want to carry half a kilogram of specialist pack travel cover.

I use a " zip away tote" carry bag that I bought from the Kathmandu store in Canberra. It is a very distinctive yellow colour and recognising my bag on the carousel is never difficult. There is room in there also for loose articles that you might need on arrival but don't want to cram into your pack. It makes arriving in Sydney easier as I can claim it off the carousel, walk through customs and get on the train without having to do anything more than hoist it on my shoulder.
I remember showing it to Doug who rolled his eyes and asked about the weight. Yes Doug, it is about 500 grams, and I could post it to Ivar on arrival in Spain and pick it up later, but even with the tote bag, my pack only weighs 8 kilo, which I can manage okay, so I carry it with me.
This year I hope to get my walking staff to Spain by putting it in the carry bag also. It will stick out the end, but I hope the Korean Air staff will gaze upon it kindly.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[hunsta]

. So be aware when circumstances change and be prepared to be unprepared!

HA! As you have never met my wife, I'm a master at dealing with the "unprepared"
Its just my obsession with being over prepared that worries me. LOL

 

[Silvester]

Hi there any of you Aussies or Kiwis who have flown with Singapore Airlines and/or Iberian. I have pacer poles and an overhead locker compatible pack. Of course I'd prefer to pack my poles inside my small pack and keep it on me in the cabin, but I'll roll with whatever. If any of you have travelled with either of these carriers recently, did you manage to avoid checking the poles into the hold?
Thanks
Mary

 

[dougfitz]

@Silvester, prohibited items are a not a matter for the the airlines. but for the civil aviation authorities (CASA for flights departing from Australia, TSA if from the USA, etc, etc). In all that, the prohibited items lists are pretty similar so far as I have been inclined to compare them. They all ban ski poles from cabin baggage, but are generally silent on collapsible trekking poles. They seem to get caught up inasmuch as they are similar types of sporting equipment.

I haven't tried to carry my trekking poles as cabin baggage, including on Singapore. You could try, and be prepared to return and check in your poles as hold baggage if you are stopped at the security check.

 

[JanetEllen]

I am leaving for my Camino on September 14th and will be carrying a Gregory J38 pack on board with me. With the help of compression bags to reduce the size of my clothing and sleeping bag stuffed inside, it will fit within the size limitations for carry-on luggage and will go in the overhead compartment. My papers and necessities will be at my seat with me in a small purse that packs well while walking. I am planning to purchase trekking poles and a swiss army knife in SJPdP when I arrive. It took too much planning and expense to risk losing my pack by checking it.

 

[TarynAnn]

May I offer some advice as a current baggage handler or baggage relocation specialist as some of us like to call ourselves..

First of all the primary reason for a bag is to protect its contents. I will admit that I have ( never intentionally ) caused damage to the odd bag over the last 5 years but generally they are bags of poor quality and filled with way more than they should be or are already damaged.
I have travelled long and far and have always travelled with packs not suitcases and have never had any trouble. Make sure there is nothing lose on your pack. Secure everything tightly. Tension all your straps and like said earlier if possible wrap your longer straps around your pack. Try not to over fill it and if possible 20kg is enough for one bag.
As for plastic wrap... Yes it is a great idea but try and make sure there is 2 lifting points for the baggage handlers. You would be surprised how many people totally cover their bags with wrap and have not even one handle accessible.

But in all honesty if there is nothing hanging lose and nothing to get caught on machinery your bag will be fine..

And one more thing.. Most of us are honest, just making a living and truly love our job.. I don't know how many airports people have travelled in but most baggage handlers are way way way too busy to care what's actually inside people's bags...

Hope to meet you all

Buen camino

 

[Silvester]

May I offer some advice as a current baggage handler or baggage relocation specialist as some of us like to call ourselves..

First of all the primary reason for a bag is to protect its contents. I will admit that I have ( never intentionally ) caused damage to the odd bag over the last 5 years but generally they are bags of poor quality and filled with way more than they should be or are already damaged.
I have travelled long and far and have always travelled with packs not suitcases and have never had any trouble. Make sure there is nothing lose on your pack. Secure everything tightly. Tension all your straps and like said earlier if possible wrap your longer straps around your pack. Try not to over fill it and if possible 20kg is enough for one bag.
As for plastic wrap... Yes it is a great idea but try and make sure there is 2 lifting points for the baggage handlers. You would be surprised how many people totally cover their bags with wrap and have not even one handle accessible.

But in all honesty if there is nothing hanging lose and nothing to get caught on machinery your bag will be fine..

And one more thing.. Most of us are honest, just making a living and truly love our job.. I don't know how many airports people have travelled in but most baggage handlers are way way way too busy to care what's actually inside people's bags...

Hope to meet you all

Buen camino

Hi TarynAnn
So would you recommend packing carbon fibre poles inside a tube rather than bubble wrap for ease of handling and protection? My travel agent thought i should make a package of pack and poles if the poles had to go in the hold lest the poles be too small a package and get lost. On the other hand the pack is pretty small too... over reacting?
One of my sons was a baggage handler for a while - I always wondered what people were thinking taking giant suitcases on planes and not factoring in the risk of back injuries for the handlers.
Thanks
Mary

 

[Jacquelineharris]

I have never checked my pack, it goes in the overhead. On occasions where the aircraft had limited overhead space, I carry it to the boarding area, they give me a tag and I carry it down the ramp. I see it get into the cargo hold and I see it come off. As I've mentioned in other threads, the amount of "stuff" you will carry on Camino..will equal the size of the pack you choose to fill. In many situations, it's the walking poles that are the reason for checking baggage due to the points on the end.
Buen Camino
Arn

I think I would be afraid to check in my backpack as we all know that luggage has a tendency to get lost periodically and with my luck, mine would not show up at my final destination!! I will be carrying mine on so I know it will be there when I arrive! Buen Camino!

 

[SkuratO]

I'm going to fly to Porto sept 16th. and still debating about my pack going with me on a plane or checking it in.
What size was your backpacks? I have Deuter 45+10.
Sorry , your packs were stolen(

 

[dougfitz]

I used the Deuter Guide 45+ on the Camino Ingles this year. It's actually well outside the dimensions for cabin baggage, and I checked it in as hold baggage with my trekking poles strapped to it. It would have to go sideways into an overhead locker if it was full, but might work if you haven't bulked it out.

 

[jpflavin1]

I have an Osprey 46L pack. It fits vertically in the overhead bin. Never been a problem.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[hunsta]

May I offer some advice as a current baggage handler or baggage relocation specialist as some of us like to call ourselves..

First of all the primary reason for a bag is to protect its contents. I will admit that I have ( never intentionally ) caused damage to the odd bag over the last 5 years but generally they are bags of poor quality and filled with way more than they should be or are already damaged.
I have travelled long and far and have always travelled with packs not suitcases and have never had any trouble. Make sure there is nothing lose on your pack. Secure everything tightly. Tension all your straps and like said earlier if possible wrap your longer straps around your pack. Try not to over fill it and if possible 20kg is enough for one bag.
As for plastic wrap... Yes it is a great idea but try and make sure there is 2 lifting points for the baggage handlers. You would be surprised how many people totally cover their bags with wrap and have not even one handle accessible.

But in all honesty if there is nothing hanging lose and nothing to get caught on machinery your bag will be fine..

And one more thing.. Most of us are honest, just making a living and truly love our job.. I don't know how many airports people have travelled in but most baggage handlers are way way way too busy to care what's actually inside people's bags...

Hope to meet you all

Buen camino

If this the case and I'm sure it is, I hope you'll be the one handling my pack Brisbane Inter. May 3 2015. And I'll leave something to grip. LOL.
Buen Camino.

 

[TarynAnn]

Hi TarynAnn
So would you recommend packing carbon fibre poles inside a tube rather than bubble wrap for ease of handling and protection? My travel agent thought i should make a package of pack and poles if the poles had to go in the hold lest the poles be too small a package and get lost. On the other hand the pack is pretty small too... over reacting?
One of my sons was a baggage handler for a while - I always wondered what people were thinking taking giant suitcases on planes and not factoring in the risk of back injuries for the handlers.
Thanks
Mary

Hi Mary,

If you can't get your poles inside your pack I would definitely put them inside something ridgid and then wrap that on the outside of your pack, that should protect them from being damaged from being exposed. Also poles can get caught on moving things when they move from A to B.

I am planning on putting my poles in a short length of PVC pipe inside a duffel bag if I don't decide to take a backpack. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to carbon fibre.

Buen Camino

 

[Silvester]

Hi Mary,

If you can't get your poles inside your pack I would definitely put them inside something ridgid and then wrap that on the outside of your pack, that should protect them from being damaged from being exposed. Also poles can get caught on moving things when they move from A to B.

I am planning on putting my poles in a short length of PVC pipe inside a duffel bag if I don't decide to take a backpack. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to carbon fibre.

Buen Camino

I can definitely fit my poles inside my pack - although pacer pole handles probably make them look like a couple of spearguns in an xray. I'm hoping that it's OK for them to go through as carry on. It seems that there is no definitive answer on whether I'll get away with that though. Maybe I need my farewell crew to lurk at the gate with packaging just in case...
Thanks
Mary

 

[Alan Pearce]

Jetstar Australia is about to crack down on travellers who try to bring on board luggage that exceeds the published allowable dimensions. YES!!! Now if only the international carriers would do the same, those of us who follow the rules would no longer have to subsidise those who don't.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[dougfitz]

I have an Osprey 46L pack. It fits vertically in the overhead bin. Never been a problem.

Ultreya,
Joe

@jpflavin1 I found a couple of Osprey 46li travel packs that claim to be the maximum carry on size - a claim that might be true for international flights, but certainly not true in Australia for all domestic flights.

Carrying oversize items into the cabin appears endemic on both domestic and international flights. The worst behaviour I have seen is on the budget carriers like Ryanair, where there seem to be many passengers with bags that well exceed the airlines stated limits, presumably to avoid paying extra for checked bags. This is as much about the bad behaviour of the passengers as it is about the airlines willingness to insist on compliance with its own guidelines.

I much preferred the Easyjet approach. If the bag complies, its carriage in the cabin is guaranteed. If its over by a certain amount, it might be accepted, but you are at risk. I checked mine in any case. So far I have been fortunate enough not to have a checked bag go missing on an international flight, and they didn't change that.

 

[rubyslippers]

International flights on bigger planes make it easier to carry the bigger back packs. Smaller carriers within Europe sometimes don't allow many carry ons even when there is room. That happened to me on Air Lingus. Matter of fact, a friend of mine just got her bag last night shipped to her in Ireland. She flew from JFK on Air Lingus to Ireland and her bag was checked to her dismay and it never made it until several days later. There was room on the Aircraft. Good luck and try not to worry, no matter the outcome. Life is good and it is full of challenges. 95%+ of the time bags arrive.

 

[dfitzg773]

In 2012 when I walked the Camino I carried on my Gregory 40L bag onto the plane in Chicago and again JFK with no problems. I had checked my poles, a Swiss Army knife and folding scissors. All worked fine and retrieved my checked bag in Paris. Upon the return, I checked my backpack in Paris and it was lost on the way back home. It finally arrived 3 days after I did.

I leave again for my second Camino on October 2 and I have a smaller OMM 32L pack that is definitely going on the plane with me. I have smaller Black Diamond Z-Poles that I plan to put in my backpack and try to carry them on as well. If they stop my, I will be prepared to check the poles in a stuff sack. I'm not brining the Swiss Army knife this year, didn't really use it in 2012.

 

[Former member 22438]

OK. Now I know this might be a question that could be ask about any trip let alone one to a Camino. Ive done a few overseas trip in my life, but this will be the first time I have ever just taken a backpack.
So how does one assure that ones backpack arrives undamaged. By undamaged I mean, shoulder straps and any other straps are not accidentally ripped off. Most packs have a double zipper system so a small lock can be used to secure compartments.
I once heard that using heavy duty cling wrap to encase the pack and secure any loose strapping. And that some airports even had services for this, but once in your destination country, does this pose a kind of pain in the rear for customs workers who need to check ones bag?
Hope this doesnt sound like a stupid question, but its one Ive thought about.
Cheers
Craig

https://static.bever.nl/productimages/big/2161C40033_7373_01.jpg

Buy a flight bag. Colour fluorescent yellow. Directly recognisable at the transportbelt at the airport. Can be used as raincover too for your backpack and like us who walked the caminho Portuges we were visible for drivers when we walked alongside roads.
With a small lock you can lock up the ands of the zippers as some protection against theft or if somebody else wants to put something into your pack that you do not want.

 

[dougfitz]

Buy a flight bag. Colour fluorescent yellow. Directly recognisable at the transportbelt at the airport. Can be used as raincover too for your backpack and like us who walked the caminho Portuges we were visible for drivers when we walked alongside roads.
With a small lock you can lock up the ands of the zippers as some protection against theft or if somebody else wants to put something into your pack that you do not want.

My wife bought a very colourful bag some years ago on the basis it would be readily identifiable, which it was to the person sharing the same flight to Sydney who had bought the same pattern bag for the same reason. We were lucky to notice it being removed from the baggage carousel, and were able to reach the other passenger in time to stop her leaving the arrivals hall, and have her check the baggage tag. We are now very careful to check the baggage tags before heading away from the carousel area.

 

[Mark Lee]

My 48L REI Crestrail was just small enough to be a carry-on for my flight, but it was only about 3/4 full. Don't know if I could have done that with a full pack of that size.
I would say if you can do the Camino with about a 40L pack, that would be perfect. That would definitely be small enough to be a carry-on.
You really don't need to carry any liquids at all. You can buy anything you need (soap, toothpaste, etc) in SJPDP. Heck, you can even show up in SJPDP with nothing and outfit yourself very quickly with a pack, clothes, shoes, hiking sticks, rain-gear, etc.

 

[xin loi]

Just returned from Peru where I had my Backpack wrapped in Plastic for $8 US on return trip. This Service is NOT available in US airports.

After twice seeing tourists separated from their large backpacks at the gate and then told their backpacks would be put on the NEXT available flight, I would NEVER second guess the airlines by assuming a pack will be allowed to be put in over head storage bins.
I also have had backpack straps and side pockets ripped off by baggage handling conveyor belts in the past. Since I flew out of a small regional US airport for recent Camino, I stopped at airport to determine if I could Duct tape my bag. Nope--Was told that at local US airports, they MUST open bags. Solution was to bring duct tape and a large Construction type garbage bag to local airport and give these items to baggage staff so they could wrap bag after they inspected contents.

If you think that an airline is automatically going to let you put a backpack in an over head compartment, you are asking for trouble.

BTW--the big statue of a Pilgrim in Asturga is carrying a suitcase, not a backpack. Don't think it has wheels on it . Saw many Pilgrims with suitcases in May & June; they just threw them in Taxis for 5 Euros each day and walked with zero weight!

 

[gittiharre]

Hi there any of you Aussies or Kiwis who have flown with Singapore Airlines and/or Iberian. I have pacer poles and an overhead locker compatible pack. Of course I'd prefer to pack my poles inside my small pack and keep it on me in the cabin, but I'll roll with whatever. If any of you have travelled with either of these carriers recently, did you manage to avoid checking the poles into the hold?
Thanks
Mary

Mary I travel every year from Auckland to Europe to do some kind of pilgrim walk and I never check my pack in. I have a 30 ltr Deuter Groeden and it weighs 5.5 km with the Z Poles inside. Never a problem on any airline including Singapore. When I had slightly longer poles I did check those in as hit and miss and I did not want to risk it.

 

[NovaSofi]

I have never checked my pack, it goes in the overhead. On occasions where the aircraft had limited overhead space, I carry it to the boarding area, they give me a tag and I carry it down the ramp. I see it get into the cargo hold and I see it come off. As I've mentioned in other threads, the amount of "stuff" you will carry on Camino..will equal the size of the pack you choose to fill. In many situations, it's the walking poles that are the reason for checking baggage due to the points on the end.
Buen Camino
Arn[/QUOTE

Arn, could you tell me what size bag you've carried on? I am bringing a Gregory 38 liter and wondering if I too can get away with carrying on (British Airways).

Thank you,
Sarah

 

[Katybeth]

Sarah, I too have never had to check my pack. I now carry a Deuter Futura Pro SL 34 with foldable pole (rubber tipped) inside the pack. I have also carried a Deuter ACT 35 +10 without having to check from/to US, France, Ireland, & England. It always fits in the overhead and I've never been asked to gate check...maybe I've just been lucky. The pack is smaller than some carry-on roller bags that many people own.

 

[NovaSofi]

Sarah, I too have never had to check my pack. I now carry a Deuter Futura Pro SL 34 with foldable pole (rubber tipped) inside the pack. I have also carried a Deuter ACT 35 +10 without having to check from/to US, France, Ireland, & England. It always fits in the overhead and I've never been asked to gate check...maybe I've just been lucky. The pack is smaller than some carry-on roller bags that many people own.

Thanks for your reply, I'm at sfo airport and it appears I won't have any trouble with my gregory 38 liter (stuffed to the brim). Im forcasting a garage sale on the camino...my dad is in Toulouse and saus the weather is great. We start from sjpp may 14, I cant believe its finally happening. Will be "live" from the camino shortly. Thanks to everyone on this forum, its been tremendously interesting and helpful!

 

[jeffnd]

On my flight over, I used a cheap duffle bag for my pack and checked it. I had intended to just carry it with me and use it again on the flight home, but it was too heavy and bulky.

For the flight home, I used the rain cover. I wrapped all the straps around the back of the pack and cinched the rain cover as tight as I could. There were no problems.

 

[t2andreo]

For those who must, or choose to check their rucksack, here is my latest clever idea...

I just returned from my local Dollar Tree store. Among the "essential items" I found and bought there for only USD ONE dollar each was a 36 " x 24 " mesh nylon bag, with a toggle slide closer.

Here is a photo of it:



My 48 liter Osprey Kestrel rucksack fits in it (loaded with pillows as I am between Caminos at the moment). I assess that the mesh is not loose enough to easily snag baggage handling machinery.

On my last Camino, I used a solid polyester cloth" sack of the same size to check my bag several times. My hiking poles were tightly attached to the side of the bag. Use rubber tips or the covers the poles came with so as not to snag any fabric sack or stick anyone who handles your bag.

This bag is lighter and potentially more useful as you might also use it in a large washing machine where you share a load, to isolate your clothes from others... In fact, it is so light that I just stashed in the compartment that holds the rain cover. It will not be noticed or get in the way.

As it is mesh, it will also serve as a handy laundry bag, or loose storage bag for a sleeping bag. Did I mention it cost ONE DOLLAR?

I hope this helps.