Need to find a bag for skis

[Aerlind]

Do you think the Tourit is padded enough for international travel? I'll be flying from CA to Courchevel and back from the Dolomites in Italy so LONG flights...I want a really padded case(just for skis; I will be carrying my boots on board) that has rollers. Thanks.

It’s reasonably well-padded, but we added foam that we cut to fit around the tips, tails, and bindings to add extra protection. It worked really well.

 

[Ginny]

Hi,
I am flying with skis for the first time. I know I don't want to check my boots because I don't want them to leave my sight but which ski bag do people like best? I am looking at Dakine fall line roller or something similar, or maybe a Sportube for one pair. I don't know.

I have a backpack carryon thing I plan to use for the boots, my bibs, socks and mittens; basically first day or two of skiing should everything else fail to make it. I will check my skis and the rest of my clothing for the week. The larger soft bags with wheels look kind of awkward but could that be used instead of a rolling suitcase and Sportube?

I don't have much time to buy a case before my trip to Taos next week but thought I would send this out into the Ski Diva universe, knowing of course everyone has different preferences.

by the way, I only own one pair of downhill skis at this point but hope if the weather patten doesn't stay this bad in future years, I'll want some more powder oriented skis in my future. Who knows though. Any thoughts on this? TIA!
Pam

I have used many soft sided/padded ski bags and never had an issue with damage! I have travelled to other countries and domestic so pick a bag comfortable for you to carry.

 

[mes2024]

I have the Thule RoundTrip and I love it. It's really tough and has tons of straps (to secure things) and handles (so it's easy to lug around an airport). It's a double but I put only one pair of skis and my poles in it, and the rest is clothing. This way I only check one bag. I've taken on maybe 9-10 trips and there's very little wear and tear.

Did you travel to Canada? Going next year and need to purchase one. Do you have to have a hard case for Canada? Question 2. Can you fit 2 sets of skis and 2 pair of poles in this bag? Question 3. Are ski bags not permitted on plans as a carry on?

 

[marzNC]

3. Are ski bags not permitted on plans as a carry on?

Welcome!

A carry-on has to fit in an overhead bin. That's not going to work. There are even times with a bootbag that hasn't been check at the ticket counter has to be gate checked because it won't fit in an overhead bin on a smaller plane.

I always carry on my boots to start a ski trip. I have a clamsheel boot suitcase that looks like a standard rolling suitcase. It fits in an overhead bin on any jet that's 3x3 for seats across. There are times when I check the boot suitcase on the way home. My boots are old enough that if it got completely lost, it wouldn't be terrible. If the flight requires a plane change, I take out the custom footbeds that I updated relatively recently.

 

[QtrHrs3]

It’s reasonably well-padded, but we added foam that we cut to fit around the tips, tails, and bindings to add extra protection. It worked really well.

Thanks for your thoughts. I figured I would get an unbiased report from a Ski Diva, and I wasn't wrong!

 

[Jilly]

If you are using Air Canada as your carrier, then hard case is recommended. You can still fly with a bag, but they could ask for a waiver against damages. I haven't flown with them since 2010 when this came into effect.

I have a Sport tube, which may have been mentioned before in this thread. I did have an issue with TSA in Denver (of all places) when the opened to inspect and didn't close it properly damaging the tip area of the base of my skis. Fixable, but I was not happy. Denver airport being the entrance to Colorado skiing, they should be used to all makes and models of luggage.

To @mes2024 be careful with weight. 2 pairs of skis, may put you over the weight allowed and cost you extra.

 

[QtrHrs3]

Thanks for the tip. I'm a solo skier so no worries about the weight of two skis. It's unlikely I will be flying Air Canada since I need to get to Paris or Geneva from SFO and that would mean several layovers. Flying back here from Italy via Munich. If I can get a soft sided bag and do a bit of padding retrofit, I think that might be the way to go...!

 

[santacruz skier]

Thanks for the tip. I'm a solo skier so no worries about the weight of two skis. It's unlikely I will be flying Air Canada since I need to get to Paris or Geneva from SFO and that would mean several layovers. Flying back here from Italy via Munich. If I can get a soft sided bag and do a bit of padding retrofit, I think that might be the way to go...!

Try Air France for direct from SFO.

 

[QtrHrs3]

I usually fly French Bee direct from SFO(better food and quite a bit less expensive than Air France).

 

[teppaz]

Did you travel to Canada? Going next year and need to purchase one. Do you have to have a hard case for Canada? Question 2. Can you fit 2 sets of skis and 2 pair of poles in this bag? Question 3. Are ski bags not permitted on plans as a carry on?

1. I haven’t traveled to Canada with it, only within the US.
2. only put one pair of skis + one pair of poles + clothes because the weight with two pairs of skis would be too much for me to deal with. I also wouldn’t have space for my clothes and I prefer checking just one bag.
3. Do you mean a boot bag as a carry-on? (Yes, I bring my boot bag as carry-on.) Ski bags are way too big for carry-on.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

Did you travel to Canada? Going next year and need to purchase one. Do you have to have a hard case for Canada? Question 2. Can you fit 2 sets of skis and 2 pair of poles in this bag? Question 3. Are ski bags not permitted on plans as a carry on?

My club traveled to Canada in March and I was one of the few who had a hard case (Sportube). No one using a soft case encountered any difficulty w/Air Canada. My Sportube will hold 2 sets of skis and poles. I've never packed 2 sets, but I like having the option. Like @marzNC , I chose a carry-on boot bag that will fit in the overhead. Mine even fits under the seat if it isn't over-packed and/or the plane too small.

 

[QtrHrs3]

Ski bags are generally permitted as a carry on as long as they can fit in the overhead bin(at least that is my experience).

 

[santacruz skier]

Ski bags are generally permitted as a carry on as long as they can fit in the overhead bin(at least that is my experience).

A ski bag can fit in an overhead bin ?? How is that possible?

 

[QtrHrs3]

Sorry, I meant to write BOOT bag.

 

[Jilly]

This is from the AC website:

Skis (including poles)​

• One or more sets of skis (snow or water) carried together in the same container count as one piece of checked baggage.
• Skis and poles must be packed in a rigid and/or hard-shell case specially designed for shipping.
• If carried separately, a set of ski poles will count as one piece of checked baggage.
• No oversize charge applies to skis, but any overweight charges will apply.
• Please see ski boot information above.

I know that people are using "soft" bags, but I think if there is any damage, AC will not accept responsibility.

This hard case is the same for golf clubs.

 

[Pamtryingagain]

Did you travel to Canada? Going next year and need to purchase one. Do you have to have a hard case for Canada? Question 2. Can you fit 2 sets of skis and 2 pair of poles in this bag? Question 3. Are ski bags not permitted on plans as a carry on?

I ended up with both a two pair hard case and a soft shelll ski bag. I really liked the softshell bag better for minimizing the number of bags I need to check. It is harder to move around but I limited that by using a cart at the airport.

When I flew to Canada from the US to ski last April I used the softshell ski bag with wheels, which had skis, poles, a folded boot bag, an ultra lightweight nylon backpack, and clothing for the week; then I packed a Cottapaxi 42 L soft carryon sized backpack with my ski boots and anything I needed to ski and sleep the first day. It worked out great. I only had to pay to check one bag and still kept my boots on the flight with me. It was cumbersome and heavy but not so much that I couldn't manage alone.

I kept wondering though, could I have packed clothes in my boot bag instead of my boots or would they kick that out? I just don't want those boots subjected to being tossed and smashed. (I have horrible feet and need custom molded boots).

 

[Jilly]

When I flew to Canada from the US to ski last April I used the softshell ski bag with wheels, which had skis, poles, a folded boot bag, an ultra lightweight nylon backpack, and clothing for the week; then I packed a Cottapaxi 42 L soft carryon sized backpack with my ski boots and anything I needed to ski and sleep the first day. It worked out great. I only had to pay to check one bag and still kept my boots on the flight with me. It was cumbersome and heavy but not so much that I couldn't manage alone.

I kept wondering though, could I have packed clothes in my boot bag instead of my boots or would they kick that out? I just don't want those boots subjected to being tossed and smashed. (I have horrible feet and need custom molded boots).

My husband tried this and he had to unpack clothes and put them in a box which they sealed and checked for him. So just be careful what the rules are with the carrier you're using.

I flew Air France to France and packed my skis, poles, ski jacket (bulky) and a sweater in with the skis. It was more to pack the bulky stuff somewhere, but I rationalized that it was "protecting" my skis.

Now I pack the skis, poles and a pair of hiking shoes in the single sport tube. Everything else goes in the large roller suitcase from Atomic. My boots, camera, and laptop go into my "Go to Ski" boot bag from Salomon as a carry on.

 

[Aerlind]

On the two pairs of skis topic:

The padded bag I link above (Tourit) I bought for my SO and I to put both pairs of skis on. Mine are 165 long, 93 underfoot, and Santa Anas so on the heavier side. His are 182 long, 96 underfoot, and Libertys (so a touch lighter) but with heavy Look Pivot bindings. Both pairs of skis, both sets of poles, and the bag and foam we added were 38lbs. We added some snow boots and other misc things to get to 48 lbs. With the wheels, it wasn’t an issue.

I have a small suitcase scale that I bought at Walmart that I bring on every trip where I check luggage. It’s saved me many times from the humiliation of repacking in the baggage check line!

 

[Pamtryingagain]

My husband tried this and he had to unpack clothes and put them in a box which they sealed and checked for him. So just be careful what the rules are with the carrier you're using.

I flew Air France to France and packed my skis, poles, ski jacket (bulky) and a sweater in with the skis. It was more to pack the bulky stuff somewhere, but I rationalized that it was "protecting" my skis.

Now I pack the skis, poles and a pair of hiking shoes in the single sport tube. Everything else goes in the large roller suitcase from Atomic. My boots, camera, and laptop go into my "Go to Ski" boot bag from Salomon as a carry on.

Do you end up paying to check two bags?

I was trying to reduce the bulk I carried around since I travel alone and take public transit and for shorter trips, this worked out well for me but luckily I haven't had a ski bag emptied and rechecked!

I think if I had a single sport tube intead of the double, and one large suitcase plus a backpack carryon for the boots etc, that would be manageable.

 

[Jilly]

Yes, I paid for 2 bags. But I usually travel on points, and 1 bag is free.