Another Carry-On Question

I just learned the hard way that the max weight allowed for checked baggage can change. Leaving Boston for Dominica a bag could max out at 100 pounds checking in at the airport. Returning from Dominica to Boston checked bags couldn't be over 70 pounds. I was traveling for work, taking my dive and camera gear along and my roller duffel checked in at about 85 pounds. Of course when I went to check in for my return flight, I learned the hard way that I had to lose 15 pounds before I could check my bag. (no fee was going to get me past this one) Luckily I had space in my carry on and after a few minutes of Tetris-Champion-like packing I was allowed to check my now 70 pound bag.

I'm leaving for another trip to Russia in a few weeks and am concerned about the same problem. I'd rather not go through this again as I don't speak a word of Russian. Assuming that my carry on is full and my bags are maxed out at 70 pounds each, I need to be able to carry my own stuff without one of those airport carts. (This isn't a crazy expedition to the north pole but but I do want to be able to move without leaving a bag somewhere and returning with a free hand so I can then drag it)

Anyway, this longwinded story ends with a question. Does anyone wear their gear in coat pockets or something like that? Just curious, I remember seeing a conversation on this somewhere but couldn't find it. I've got a few weeks before I leave for Russia and I need a new jacket anyway, I'm curious if anyone has any ideas that will help me get by?

You can stuff a lot of gear into a photographer's vest...

You can stuff a lot of gear into a photographer's vest...

Yea, I was thinking that but was just hoping for something a bit more subtle.

Jake -

You might want to check out SCOTTEVEST:

http://www.scottevest.com/

Read the fine print on the airline website for baggage capacities before buying your tickets. It really can be worth your while.

Each airline is different when it comes to baggage allowances. Some allow laptop computers to be carried free of charge and others don't. Also some airlines will not count a camera worn around your neck but will include it in weight allowances if it is carried in your carry on baggage. Some charge to transport scuba equipment and some airlines don't.

That being said, I do find it getting harder to carry a full DSLR set up without getting dinged for more cash at the check-in counter these days.

As the price of oil goes up these days, the airlines get ever more vigilant when it comes to baggage weight allowances.

Jake -

 

You might want to check out SCOTTEVEST:

http://www.scottevest.com/

nice, finally something fashionable... love to see a pic of one of those travel scottevests fully loaded with camera gear.

I took a look at the Scottevest www site and the promotional videos. It seems to me that this vest is designed to carry lots of small items and may struggle with lenses, camera bodies, strobes, etc.?

My solution has been an angler's vest by Orvis. My original vest was trashed last year by a spill of battery acid and I replaced it with the Zambezi Twill Travel Waistcoat. Check it out: http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/productchoice.aspx?pf_id=50HA.

I noticed a lightweight version here: http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/productchoice...;subcat_id=5531

Just returned LAX/Manila on Philippine Air.

All cabin luggage requires an orange tag to be boarded.

To get this, your bag must be weighed at the ticket counter.

At LAX, I hid one and the other was over weight. I was allowed to remove excess and place in back pack. After weighting, went around cornor and returned excess to bag. Second bag was not checked at boarding for orange tag. Hid in a group of other passengers!

On return at Manila, the plane was not full. The girls at the counter just wrote a few kilos on the tag with out weighting them. There was a hired gun at entrance to boarding gates inspecting for tags.

BTW, the tags are constructed for a one time use!