I'm joining my husband on his business trip soon (beats sitting at home alone on our 1-year anniversary), and I need to know how to pack a my gear for checked baggage. In addition to dinners out with the boss, we'll be getting some adventuring time in hiking through woods or kayaking with a friend of ours. Normally when I fly I don't get the chance to adventure at all, so packing for this is new to me.

I figured bringing along my standard daypack(filled with gear and tools similar to a BOB) that I normally take adventuring will be sufficient, since I need space for dresses and heels in addition to the hiking boots in my luggage. My style is usually pretty discreet - so I'd like to keep everything in the civilian-looking matching luggage set that I have.

Would you recommend just throwing the pack in there as is? Or should I take everything out of the pack and pack it in Ziploc bags, with the empty daypack on top? I figured if the pack was with all the gear, it'll at least explain why the gear is there.

I'm a bit worried, too, about theft of my gear on the grounds that it might look suspicious. I'm not sure where Esbit stove fuel tabs fall in those regards, along with other flammables like lighters and matches or sharps anymore. Usually when I travel I don't check any baggage, so I'll fly sans blade (usually have one at my destination, like my parent's house) and with only the 1 matchbook allowance.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Hi Christina,

First, Congrats! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I have spent at least one anniversary and I think a birthday "on the road" with my wife. They usually turn out to be decent trips.

If you are worried about theft, don't put it all in the same bag... that makes it far too convenient for a would-be thief. If you aren't as concerned, there are rules regarding luggage theft and after writing a letter to United once, I got a $300 check back from a wallet of CD's that was swiped. It had the usual "our baggage throwers/checkers don't steal and they make good money and they are screened before leaving, blah blah..." It had that along with the money I demanded to replace what I lost. So, if you DO get ripped off, make sure you let your airline know and send them a bill for REPLACEMENT costs of your equipment. If you can, get a rep from the airline at baggage claim. Make sure you have them compare the weight before and after delivery and sign a statement of some sort.

One thing I'd be concerned about is packing any solid fuels. I'm no canine expert, but I wouldn't carry that for fear of tripping a dog's nose. I would pack sans any fuel sources and maybe even matches. A lighter would be fine most likely, but I don't remember current restrictions on checking lighters or other ignition sources. Your best bet is to buy matches, lighter and any stove fuel where you are going or have UPS ship some to your destination. You can get away with knives and other tools in checked luggage, no problem.

As for your hiking gear, anything that's pricey, like GPS or an altimeter watch - I would carry that stuff on. In fact, if it were me, I would put any questionable gear like LM Wave and a folding knife in checked (hidden in some sox, etc.) and just turn the daypack into my carryon bag.

Here is the TSA list of prohibited items:

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_NEW.pdf

I would leave the Esbit tabs at home, and also leave the lighter (only non-fueled lighters in approved cases allowed in checked bags). The matches are permitted for carry-on according to the list, but only up to four books of safety matches.

See below on lighter ban and DOT containers:

http://www.zippo.com/lighterBan.html

Your idea to throw in the daypack is a good one, plus it'll be handy when you get there.

The knife would probably be okay in your checked baggage, but I wouldn't risk it if it's something you couldn't lose. I've put a Leatherman PST in my checked bags post-9/11 and not had any problems.

If you have a good flashlight (no big Maglites) or even a Photon microlight, I would bring that on the plane as carry-on, along with a whistle. They shouldn't have a problem with those.

Or, just put everything in a FedEx or UPS box and ship ahead of you. Then you can pack whatever you want! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Check out the list of permitted and prohibited items on the TSA website here .

Ahh, got distracted while writing my response, and cedfire beat me to the punch. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've done just what Cedfire suggests, and I agree totally. However, forget trying to find the approved lighter cases: Zippo can't supply them promptly, Colibri isn't making them as they promised, and the Otter approved case is more expensive than buying a pack of bic's when you get ready to hike. And, TSA is absolutely NOT uniform in how they're handling the lighter issue in spite of their posted rules.

Go to Plan "W". That's Walmart or whatever the local you-want-it-we-have-it store is called when you get there. Buy your lighters etc there. Or better yet, contact the friend and ask him to get the bits for you. Reimburse him of course, and a small bottle of decent wine wouldn't go amiss. ( always a good idea to show your appreciation - otherwise someone might not help next time).

Just put all the valuable or questionable stuff in a box and ship it to your friend. If it disappears (courtesy of TSA) or is confiscated for some reason, you won't have it when you need it. FedEx is more reliable than TSA.

Sue

I agree with Susan. I didn't have anyone to ship my stuff to on my vacation last summer, so I purchased what I needed when I got to my destination and shipped it back home when my trip was over. No use trusting the bureaucrats at TSA. I would like to avoid flying this year, but gas prices may prohibit driving, as a matter of fact, gas prices may prohibit flying!

Thanks everyone, for the tips. I forgot about the option of shipping my supplies there, so that is something to consider. I'm hoping that as the trip draws near we'll be getting more of an idea of what we'll be doing and when, which will make the packing a bit easier.

Thanks for the advice on the Esbit tabs, especially, and the TSA link.