Bringing Gear to Europe

What's everyone's preferred way of getting their gear over to Europe for Climbing when flying to Europe. Giant duffel, etc?

I've done it lots of times with big duffel bags. Climbing gear is tough, doesn't usually need protection from handling -- likely some intelligent placement of clothing as padding is worthwhile.

I think airlines have gotten pretty precise about checking bag weights, so check the weight before you go to the airport.
Sometimes they;ve seemed more relaxed with exact size limitations (especially with a duffel where it's hard to measure three dimensions) -- anyway I suspect you're going to run into weight limits before size is an issue.

Guidebooks add lots of weight (but of course can be very useful).

Ken

One thing worth noting is that some European airlines have started weighing your carry-ons. Historically my strategy has always been to stuff them full of small, heavy objects to minimize checked-luggage weight. Sadly, that doesn't always work any more.

As to the how, I like this guy for the checked luggage: camp-usa.com/camp-safety/ca…
and then I use my climbing pack as my carry-on and a book bag for my laptop/books/etc.

Put your cams in a tupperware box to prevent the trigger wires from tangling/breaking

Carry the bulk of your gear in a North Face base camp duffel; its a duffel with backpack straps (90/100 liters capacity). Use your climbing pack as carry-on; cinch the compression straps tight to fit the airline size guidelines. Wear your mountain boots to the airport & on the plane- they are bulky and relatively heavy. You can take 'em off for the trans-Atlantic flight.

WildCamper wrote:Put your cams in a tupperware box to prevent the trigger wires from tangling/breaking

Patrick Corry,

Seems like a nice bag, hows it hold up to airline handling, it looks like it's padded pretty well.

Marc801 wrote: You're joking, right?

WildCamper wrote: No, why?

Second TNF Base Camp Duffel, I have two in size Large and they are perfect for domestic flights on Southwest Airlines. However, for international if you have a single rolling piece of luggage (e.g. Rolling Thunder) to place the rest of you duffels and/or packs on when traveling through airports or on trains and buses, it helps A LOT. Consider that the extra bag-weight of the Rolling Thunder will take away from the amount of gear you can put in there though.

(Unless you consider carrying 75-100lbs of gear on your shoulders while sprinting across the airport to catch the bus a fun workout. Get after it!)

I usually carry all of my hardware in my climbing pack (<40L) too, sucks to hear that some airlines are now weighing those now as well. I have personally tried to "carry on" a nearly-full Osprey Variant 52L on an British Airways flight. On the way there it got gate-checked for free, but on the way back they weren't having it and I had to fork over the extra cash.

A LOT of it depends on where you are going, what type of climbing you are doing, and what your lodging/transportation situation will be like.

e.g. Sport climbing in Klaymnos? - Bring a 35L carry on pack with all hardware and a single rolling duffel under 50lbs with rope and clothes.

Hope that helps.
-Mac

Gitrinec wrote:What's everyone's preferred way of getting their gear over to Europe for Climbing when flying to Europe. Giant duffel, etc?

Duct tape the rack to your chest and wear all your clothes over it.
Weight limit avoided.
But seriously, I've carried on a 45L pack with my rope and rack to avoid baggage overages. Didn't think they would let me past security with it, but they did...
There's a pretty big BlackDiamond rope bag that I have also used as my carry on with rope and rack inside.
This also helps to avoid frustration due to lost luggage. It's one thing when your extra clothes don't make it but if you're harness and shoes are lost in the ether? Sucks big time.
Also, if you're really really really nice to the people at check in, they can and do waive charges. Crap shoot for sure...

I always just take a carry on with my gear, however, I've just sport climbed, so I haven't had to deal with bringing my rack. For the carry on, I just use the BD stone duffle bag with all the sport gear for my wife and I, so if you're just bringing gear for one, you may be able to fit a modest size rack in as well.

Possibly 2 places, Mont Blanc for sure and possibly in the Tatras which are in Poland/Slovakia. Planes and trains.

Hey Gitrinec, sorry it took so long to respond. The North Face basecamp duffel is really durable! I bought mine cheap on EBay. The truth is, I buy most of my gear at reduced prices on EBay & climbing forums. I saw no discernible wear after 4 flights to, from, and within, Europe going to Chamonix.

I disassembled my ice axes, and taped the picks to the shafts so the baggage scanners wouldn't see them as weapons! They're not that heavy so they went between layers in the duffel. All the heavy stuff goes in the carry-on. My son used a Sealline Boundary pack- a top loading rubberized dry bag with backpack straps also in the 100 liter capacity range for his stuff. Our carry-on packs were 45-50 liter Wild Things Icesacs ( a note here: these are way too big for alpine climbing in the Mont Blanc range...30 liters is plenty). Consequently I would take a shoulder bag as well as the 'carry-on' pack for a laptop, book, etc. so it reduces the size of the carry-on.

Be sure to file a trip report after your climbs!

Patrick Corry, I think I'm going to bring my Osprey Mutant 38 and one of those North Face Base Camp Duffels.

This thread is pretty useful. Thanks guys I am planning to climb in the alps so need to check policies regarding carrying my gear on board

Gitrinic,

You're gonna be pleased with your mobility both in the airport and in the mountains. As long as you're not hiking miles between gates in the airport, you can wear the Mutant backwards (just imagine you are 8 months pregnant) with the duffel on your back- it'll hold the front pack in place. I assume you're going to Cham for Mont Blanc; we used AlpyBus for the transfer into Cham- they were great!

That Mutant 38 will be perfect. I had one for a while and I love that pack. I'd still recommend a small over-the-shoulder messenger bag for documents, laptop, reading material, etc on the plane.

What's your plan for Cham...what are you trying to climb?

Pat

Pat, I won't be there until next year but I'm planning on hiring a guide for Mont Blanc, The Gouter Route.

I'd love to see the (relatively) new Gouter hut. It's an architectural marvel! Keep your head down crossing the Grand Couloir, hopefully it won't be closed down as in some years.

The French guides can be somewhat relentless in short-roping & hurrying their clients along. Perhaps to the point of destroying much of the fun in making the ascent. You might consider Cosley & Houston; American guides who live in the Chamonix valley, and who guide in the Mont Blanc massif. They have a great website with trip reports & photos going back many years, and have written an excellent book on alpine climbing which is particularly suited to the French and Swiss Alps.

One last thing... here's a link to a used NF duffel for sale. Same as mine (90 liters). Check it out.

neice.com/classifieds/showp…

Pat, I have their book. Thanks, I'll check the bag out. I've read quite a few stories about keeping your head down and your feet moving crossing the Grand.