Airplane travel pack

[buckshotbarlow]

While back on a fam vacation in PA, i was reading a couple books. Now, what the hell do you guys have for a airplane kit? IE, going through TSA and the BS involved with long haul travel. I traveled with my CCW, but felt very very under prepared after reading The Road Home.

[Wulf202]

Checking bags or carry on only?

[Great-Kazoo]

Check in is hand gun in separate lockable container with 2-4 mags, ammo in original boxes then declared. My latest nationwide approved long gun is a 357 lever action. Fortunately for us either coast we travel to (if by plane) we have a selection of firearms as needed, on site.

Carry on is nothing, they have med kits on board. For personal defense you have at least 5-10 weapons on you not including hands and feet. Each is in plain sight and very accessible, but ignored millions of times daily.
My brother and i would joke how ignorant TSA and the .gov is when it comes to actual airline safety.
Example: He has carry on and they remove the nail file & clippers informing him these are prohibited items. Hhe then lays his sig [ loaded / chambered] on the counter and says "really, i'm armed and the gun is ok but no nail clippers?" yes sir those are the rules[facepalm] BTW" your large water bottle is not allowed also.

While reviewing my reply, it occurred to me. There is not 1 place we travel to once on the ground, they are not armed.

[buckshotbarlow]

Preferred carry on, i hate waiting for bags...

[Wulf202]

Sharpies are allow kubatons are not
Flashlights are fine. Laser pointers aren't
Belts with big heavy buckles are allowed but flails are not.
matches fire pistons hand lenses etc are fine. Lighters are not.

[cmailliard]

I routinely get on with my Surefire E2 Defender. Also never an issue with my 5.11 belt, it does not even set off the metal detector.

[DireWolf]

I'd be curious to know how people who need to travel to crapholes like Chicago for business go about things.....Best I've been able to come up with for those places is a tac-light, which is better than nothing but still really (really) sucks...

[Wulf202]

When I went to cleaveland for 5 days I found the nearest corner store and bought a $5 knife. Really wished I would have had it on the ride from the airport to downtown though. Trashed it before I hit tsa

[ray1970]

I usually check a suitcase with clothes and such and usually just bring my wallet and cell phone through security. Quick and easy that way.

[buckshotbarlow]

This kind of pissed me off a bit...
Reciprocity w/kommyorado:
Virginia
AK*, AR, AZ, DE, FL, IA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT*, WI****, WV, WY

Trying to get as close to DC as I can, and look...no reciprocity...WTF? I believe I can still bring the gun, but can't carry it concealed anywhere...

So, I'm researching the gun laws here, no problems with my hunting knife, and as mentioned earlier a good flashlight. Still looking for a decent pack though...

[Great-Kazoo]

Your wallet contains many hard plastic CCards, safeway, king soopers gas card etc. One of them as it sits is a formidable weapon of itself.

[Wulf202]

So you want actual bag suggestions?

Messenger? Backpack? Wheeled case? Carry a laptop?
its like asking what holster is best. Depends on your needs

[kawiracer14]

I traveled every week for work for 3+ years and went through a bunch of bags and packs. If I could leave my day to day stuff at the hotel I would bring a large messenger bag. Has enough room for a laptop, iPad, Bose Headphones, phone chargers, change of shoes, underwear, another belt, jacket etc. Throw in the overhead bin and you're GTG

[cmailliard]

So you want actual bag suggestions?

Messenger? Backpack? Wheeled case? Carry a laptop?
its like asking what holster is best. Depends on your needs

For my computer and always carry on I used to carry a Tumi soft sided briefcase for my travels. When I started traveling weekly I switched to a backpack, much better for riding the Metro in DC. I like the backpack, much more versatile and safer I feel, I am trying to find a new one right now.

I will carry on a wheeled duffel if I can, if not a larger wheeled duffel for check. If it was just an overnight trip I would take a trifold garment bag, much easier to get into an overhead in a cramped spot if necessary.

[cmailliard]

As far as weapons, you could always try to get though security with 3 knives and a ASP baton, not that I would know what that is like [fail]

[buckshotbarlow]

I'm pretty much asking what you guys carry in your packs. This includes guns/knives/boots/firstaid kit/survival kit....I had packed my glock and a gerber blade, along with my leatherman. I know that there's no way in hell i could make it from DC back here to the kommunist peoples republic of kolorado, but what the hell, plan and go...

[Omicron]

Interesting topic. Did you mean "The Road" (Colin McCormick) or a different book?

Anyhow, problem is, there's a difference between having with you what you need as a business traveler, versus what you'd need to survive on "The Road." I've done a lot of business travel, and have it down to a science.

When I travel, I carry the TSA approved Leatherman PS (like this (http://www.theemsstore.com/store/product.aspx/productId/20290/Leatherman-Style-PS-Multi-Tool-Lenser-K1-Flashlight-Combo)), then clipped in my pocket where my folding knife normally resides, a "Tactical Pen" like this (http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-Army-Tactical-Brown/dp/B003D9MH8I). I chose this one because it look doesn't look especially like a weapon, even tho it's just as deadly as one of the Uzi brand or others, but also because it rides and hides nicely in among the other pends and pencils in my bag. Recommended.

Still, this topic is definitely worth pondering. Have to build myself a little kit of carry on-able Prepper items.

[Ready Room]

"Sharpies are allow kubatons are not". Yep, I carry the stainless steel version of the Sharpie ($6), a full-on climbing rated carabiner, various pens and such in my 511 Messenger Bag or Maxpedition Kodiak Gearslinger. A "go" pouch (4"x 6" IFAK type pouch) goes in my checked bag. I used to carry a S&W knife about 12" in the original box (gift) in my checked luggage but got away from it. I also wear or bring hiking or combat boots ( lightweight) and 511-type operator pants and base layer tops. I was on the road for 9/11 and KNOW I will be away the next time the SHTF - so I try to mitigate "the long walk home". I will be carrying a fixed blade knife every time I travel from now on.

[Inconel710]

I've heard this recommended a few times as an improvised weapon - a couple feet of chain with a padlock. When TSA asks about it, tell them you use it secure you bag when napping in the airport per TSA directions to secure your luggage.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Hmm ... my airplane pack varies depending on the kind of trip I'm taking and it's usually geared more toward surviving unexpected travel issues than being suddenly thrust into a "Road Warrior" environment. Access to firearms are the least of my worries in this case (although I wish it wasn't even an issue) -- having equipment flexible enough for me to improvise for survival is at the top of my list. I usually have a carry-on AND an REI computer bag. The computer bag has my various electronic essentials (cables, memory sticks, rechargeable battery packs, etc.) but instead of the usual shoulder strap, I've got 100 feet of paracord woven into daisy-chained slipknots with a carabiner at each end to clip to the D-rings on the bag. That lets me let out as much cord as I need or want while keeping it fairly compact and untangled during travel AND it looks innocuous.

I usually have a good camera and lenses when I'm traveling on pleasure so there's usually a tripod or monopod in the carry-on as well and security doesn't even blink. You can do a LOT with a monopod in a pinch. ;)

I try to keep an empty water bottle, 9-LED flashlight, and ziploc bag with a bit of TP in a side pocket of the duffel bag along with hard copy printouts of my address list, flight itinerary and copies of documents like the ticket/invoice and my passport. It's always good to have some spare plastic bags -- especially zippered ones. When I have room, I add a basic first aid kit. My basic first aid kit has 3 types of pain relievers, decongestant, anti-histamines, anti-nausea, anti-diarrhea, burn cream, antiseptic/pain relief cream, 1 oz of sanitizer, gauze pads, mole skin and ace bandage wraps in addition to the usual adhesive bandages. BTW, you can carry a helluva lot on your body in a photographer's vest and it doesn't count against your carry-on size. :D

I like to have a good strong locking jacknife as well as a multitool in the checked luggage. If I'm traveling internationally and am not absolutely sure of the water sources, I will throw a hiking water filter in as well. When I've been unsure of access to power, I've placed a 19W solar panel at the bottom of the checked luggage to ensure I could recharge batteries and electronics. The one thing I haven't covered that I'd like to is fire building. I like to keep a couple books of matches in a pocket but TSA now allows you to carry a common lighter (they say no "torch" lighters) or a SINGLE book of matches. Of course, you might have a single book of matches in the carry-on and forget you had one in your vest pocket or vice-versa but you could always toss one out if it ever became an issue.