Traveling with a board

[Rob]

OK, if you are on the road, you either attach a rack to your vehicle or, if you are driving something BIG, you can put your board inside, but what if you are flying? Is there a bag that holds a board, bindings and boots so that airlines will let you check them and so they are safe from most damage?

[snowd0gg]

I have a friend who bought a snowboard bag a couple of years ago. The bag he bought has what looks like a backpack on the front (where the board surface is) and there is enough room for his board, the bindings and his boots.

I can't recall off the top of my head who makes this particular bag, but I have seen a couple versions of it in the local ski/board shops in town.

[John]

There are several options out there. For example, here's what you can buy at REI:

http://tinyurl.com/yqd3o4

I have a wheelie bag. Wheels are great.

If you get a big enough bag, you may be able to put all your street clothes in the bag as well as your mountain gear. Beware it may put you over the weight limit, as happened to me one trip.

[Rob]

Thanks, John and d0gg, I had only seen unpadded bags that looked more like storage weight. I'm an REI member; I'll go over there.

[MrEMan]

I know I'm resurrecting a post from last season, but I travel a lot with my boards and thought I would chime in for folks that might have the same question this season.

I have two bags ... a Burton Wheelie Board Case and a Burton Wheelie Locker. In my opinion, wheeled bags are definitely worth the extra cost. The board case is the smaller of the two ... I can typically carry two boards (without the bindings attached), one set of bindings, one pair of boots and some outerwear. But you can get into trouble with the locker ... the thing is huge and fully packed will easily exceed the airlines 50lb weight limit. If paying extra for overweight luggage isn't a concern, you can pack an obscene amount of gear into this bag ...

I've traveled extensively with both bags and have never (knock on wood) had a board damaged. One side note though ... be prepared when you travel, as not every ticketing agent knows that snowboard bags (which are technically oversized) are exempted from the oversize measurements. Do your research before you travel and be prepared to prove the exemption. I've had more than one occasion where a ticketing agent tried to charge me extra for my bag.

[MunkySpunk]

My 2 cents:

Make sure you check on the cost of bringing a snowboard with you on the plane... These days the airlines nickel and dime you for everything. They'll probably have a surcharge based on how many teeth you have soon (we call this the redneck discount ).

Also.. if you've got time and patience, just keep checking Whiskeymilitia.com... They have wheeled bags every so often for a steal. Otherwise Craigslist and Ebay work well too.

[runswithdog]

Both Steamboat and Crested Butte and running specials this year.

You get some sort of waiver or kick back for the cost of your extra luggage (snowboard!) if you fly into Hayden (Steamboat)
or either Gunnison or Montrose for Crested Butte.
50 bucks? I think.

That's IF you use their booking site/reservations for lodging/.

[GravityAddict]

I've got a great idea for everybody. Don't bring a board with you at all. Come to Summit County Colorado. When you get here buy a new board, and when you go home you can leave it in my basement in Breckenridge. When you return, just pick it up again. If you come out just 5 or 6 times the board was free, and no hassles at the airport !!

[bernwern]

^ When I have money (and the wife lets me) I am taking you up on that offer. Partially since I am sure riding with you would be fun, as would riding CO, but also because I would leave you with a something like a NeverSummer Titan 169 to "demo" while I'm not using it

I have let my other friends try my setup before and it is comical watching them. Cassi, who is 5'2" and 120#, could not torsion my Ride Yukon 168 and had to lean into turns....causing her to fall. Other compare it to piloting a barge down the slopes When I tried theirs (if my big feet fit their bindings) it was like standing on a limp spaghetti noodle

As for bags, I have them....but I prefer driving (usually 2-3 others with for a road-trip). Good times all around, plus you get to see cool things on the ride....and have more stories about the trip. Upgrading from a Powderhound rack to a Rocket-Box this season.

-B

[GravityAddict]

I was kinda jokin there about leaving me all your stuff, but if you really wanted too I would be fine with it. My girlfriend is traveling to boston tomorrow and was planning on bringing back a pair of cross country skis. us air told her it would cost $100 one way. she will be shipping them by fed ex.

[MrEMan]

Links to some of the major airline's baggage allowance policies, in particular regarding transport of snowboards:

AirTran http://www.airtran.com/policies/sport_equip.aspx
American Airlines http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/ ... vent=false
Continental http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/co ... ports.aspx
Delta http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/ ... x.jsp#skis
Northwest http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/specialitems.html#ski
United http://www.united.com/page/article/0,67 ... .html#snow
US Air http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/tr ... items.aspx

As you can see, there is a fair amount of variability at this point. Always pays to know before you go ...

[snowd0gg]

That's very helpful MrEMan - thanks for those links!