How do you pack an ultralight BD Vapor Helmet for a flight?

Will be flying soon with 1 carry on, 2 check in, and 1 backpack. I need to bring my Vapor helmet but that thing is super fragile basically rated for a pebble to drop on it. I could find space in my carry on with my clothings to fit it in, but it would almost 100% break if the air attendants throw my baggage (which im not sure why they wouldnt). Whats a good way of packing this? Im taking LATAM airlines. I could strap it to the back of my carry on but I dont want to carry that and sit on a flight for 12 hours in the way. I dont know if they will allow me stow it above. 

Anyone have experiences? 

I usually carry it on so I can baby it. If it absolutely needs to go in the checked luggage, I pack it in the center of the suitcase or duffel, and try to cushion it with clothes, boots, etc. 

some people wear them. Wouldn’t make that plan A though. I do have a friend who once got denied boarding trying to wear a helmet.

I have a hardshell piece of luggage that I take on flights. I stuff my helmet with soft items then pack it in the middle of the suitcase with soft stuff around it. 

this works well for me.

Carryon. I've had a Half Dome helmet broken inside my checked luggage. It can be in your second (smaller) bag--I use a small REI summit pack.

I usually clip my helmet to the outside of my carryon and stow it in the overhead bin that way. Just make sure it’s positioned well before takeoff and it should be fine.

Wear it

I've always carried it in my hand, a lot of airlines have a policy for particularly fragile items such as cycling helmets. If they were to ever refuse me carrying it in my hands I'd just offer to wear it. I've yet to have any staff say anything and that's flying primarily budget European airlines and some transatlantic.

I can't be the only one thinking this- your helmet, the thing you trust the integrity of your skull too, is so fragile you need a strategy to fly with it?  

Dont know how to say it in a way that isn't flippant and trolly- Genuinely, maybe consider a different helmet?  I'm all about ultralight, but shit this is wild to me.

Sorry for the thread derail- hope your trip is sendy!

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

I can't be the only one thinking this- your helmet, the thing you trust the integrity of your skull too, is so fragile you need a strategy to fly with it?  

Dont know how to say it in a way that isn't flippant and trolly- Genuinely, maybe consider a different helmet?  I'm all about ultralight, but shit this is wild to me.

Sorry for the thread derail- hope your trip is sendy!

I use the same helmet, it's definitely not as fragile as the post makes it out to be. It's not fragile at all, it just scratches easily because so much of it is exposed foam.

Anyway, I fly with mine in my carry on and I pack inside the helmet with clothes and all around it. Never had an issue at all.

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

I can't be the only one thinking this- your helmet, the thing you trust the integrity of your skull too, is so fragile you need a strategy to fly with it?  

Dont know how to say it in a way that isn't flippant and trolly- Genuinely, maybe consider a different helmet?  I'm all about ultralight, but shit this is wild to me.

Sorry for the thread derail- hope your trip is sendy!

If my head was subject to the same abuse baggage handlers subject my luggage to I'd be dead, helmet or not. I've had a haul bag arrive with the reinforcement webbing totally worn out with a hole straight through it from this abuse, and that spot was previously basically untouched. 

that guy named sebwrote:

If my head was subject to the same abuse baggage handlers subject my luggage to I'd be dead, helmet or not. I've had a haul bag arrive with the reinforcement webbing totally worn out with a hole straight through it from this abuse, and that spot was previously basically untouched.

Fair enough. I'm out of touch, having only flown a few times with climbing gear, and before these new-fangled no-hard-shell helmets got popular. 

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

Fair enough. I'm out of touch, having only flown a few times with climbing gear, and before these new-fangled no-hard-shell helmets got popular. 

My hardshell BD Half Dome was cracked inside my luggage.

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

I can't be the only one thinking this- your helmet, the thing you trust the integrity of your skull too, is so fragile you need a strategy to fly with it?  

Dont know how to say it in a way that isn't flippant and trolly- Genuinely, maybe consider a different helmet?  I'm all about ultralight, but shit this is wild to me.

Sorry for the thread derail- hope your trip is sendy!

You aren't the only one. It seems smart for me to replace my 35yo Petzl Ecrin. I have read plenty of reports about modern high tech helmets exploding on impact during falls. If there is only one impact, that's fine, they seem to do their job. At least one death however seems likely resulted from the helmet no longer being present after the initial impact. I recognized these things,and more,  and then this thread comes along.............it is kinda crazy.

I’m flying with the same airline, and same helmet soon too.

Planning on packing the inside with clothes/gear, and wrapping it in my puffy or padding around it in the haulbag.

Will report back on how many pieces it is when I unpack. 

FWIW, I've flown with mine in a checked bag 10x and never had an issue. I just stuff the thing with socks/clothing and place it away from the edges of the bag. 

Steve Williamswrote:

Wear it

Yes, it is ultralight right?

Because I’m always traveling with an oversized carry-on I always clip it to my “personal item” smaller backpack and have never had any issues. Throw it up top with the carry on once you get on your flight or in case they gate check your bag it’s still with your “personal item”

I would stuff things inside of the helmet and put things around it.

Wear it getting on the plane so it doesn't count as a carry-on. Then hold or clip it to your backpack in front of you on the floor. In a bag it's just using up carry on space.

I have taken it in my carry on but more often I put it in a duffle with the rest for my gear and I have never had a problem. It’s flying tho, u never know 

I was leaving my house for a trip and had it clipped to my carry on. It shifted while I was closing the hatch and got broken as the door came down. RIP. Obviously my own mistake.

Funny enough, I hired a guide on that trip with the identical helmet, broken in the same place I broke mine. He chose to wear it but acknowledged it wouldn’t pass a real safety check. It wasn’t obvious from the outside, would have been useful for some blows but clearly less effective than a new one.

Obviously many people check theirs and it’s fine. Occasionally it won’t be. Similar to checking my rack; I prefer not to as it would be unfortunate if something happened to it while it was out of my possession. Carrying it on is a hassle but I feel it’s worthwhile as it minimizes the risk.