Advice please - backpacks

"wafflycat" <w*a*ff£y£cat*@£btco*nn£ect.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now that I've posted once, albeit that was an unitentional post, I might
as well ask advice now that I'm here...

Backpacks... on airplanes, security of contents.

The offspring is off to Egypt next summer and the recommended luggage is a
large backpack. How does one take steps to ensure the lack of nicking of
contents of one's backpack as it goes through baggage handling? And even
more importantly, the lack of fiends putting unwanted stuff *in* one's
backpack...

Cheers, helen s

Put plenty of smelly socks in! Guaranteed to deter the most determined
Customs Officers and Sniffer Dogs!

wafflycat bashed at the keyboard and came up with this gem of wisdom in
uk.rec.walking:

Quoted message said:

Now that I've posted once, albeit that was an unitentional post, I might
as well ask advice now that I'm here...

Backpacks... on airplanes, security of contents.

The offspring is off to Egypt next summer and the recommended luggage is a
large backpack. How does one take steps to ensure the lack of nicking of
contents of one's backpack as it goes through baggage handling? And even
more importantly, the lack of fiends putting unwanted stuff *in* one's
backpack...

Cheers, helen s

http://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=54230301&desc=BACKPACKER+PACSAFE

Have a look at that. It can enshroud a pack.

I always wrap it in cling film, stops the machinery snagging the webbing as
well.

Most airlines in my experiance wrap rucksacks anyway, they play havoc on
baggage lines....

"wafflycat" <w*a*ff£y£cat*@£btco*nn£ect.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now that I've posted once, albeit that was an unitentional post, I might
as well ask advice now that I'm here...

Backpacks... on airplanes, security of contents.

The offspring is off to Egypt next summer and the recommended luggage is a
large backpack. How does one take steps to ensure the lack of nicking of
contents of one's backpack as it goes through baggage handling? And even
more importantly, the lack of fiends putting unwanted stuff *in* one's
backpack...

Cheers, helen s

Helen,

I have traveled for years with a backpack - Asia, the UK and North America
and I put mine in a large light nylon duffel bag.

That way there is a layer of nylon duffel with a small padlock for minimal
security, it doesn't look like a backpack and if someone cuts into it, they
get one layer and then they have to get through the next one making it very
visible that they are trying something. Also, the nylon bag which is
relatively cheap helps protect the more expensive backpack from scuffing,
etc.

At the destination remove nylon duffel, scrunch into small ball and stuff
inside backpack and carry backpack in normal manner.

Works for me.

Bill'

"Bill Brabender" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"wafflycat" <w*a*ff£y£cat*@£btco*nn£ect.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now that I've posted once, albeit that was an unitentional post, I might
as well ask advice now that I'm here...

Backpacks... on airplanes, security of contents.

Daughter used a Pacsafe in Africa and says it was great. Also like the idea
of the nylon bag and would be tempted to use both, as webbing getting
snagged is a real risk on airlines!

Roger C

Bill Brabender said:

That way there is a layer of nylon duffel with a small padlock for minimal
security, it doesn't look like a backpack and if someone cuts into it, they
get one layer and then they have to get through the next one making it very
visible that they are trying something. Also, the nylon bag which is
relatively cheap helps protect the more expensive backpack from scuffing,
etc.

/And/ if you end up coming home with an extra pile of stuff (which is
not exactly unknown on holidays) then if you've gone for an oversize
covering bag then you can pack it out with the extras (or more likely
put the extras inside the inner pack for maximum safety from baggage
handling excesses and prying fingers and pack out the outer bag with
smelly, dirty clothing).

Another bonus is that if you're living out of a bag you can leave the
backpack out of the day to day equation and work from the duffel, which
is actually much easier. Rucksaks are designed primarily to be carried,
and actually getting in and out of them is often a PITA compared to a
simple Big Bag With A Long Zip.

You can get Serious Ones in cordura from outdoor shops for moderate to
silly sums or cheapies from the market. The latter are (naturally)
cheaper, also stow much less bulkily, and don't draw as much attention
to themselves; the former will last considerably longer and are very
useful cargo bags in their own right. I usually only take rucksacks
with me if I'll be walking places with all my stuff, for general use
with public transport taking the strain I find a holdall is much easier
in use than a rucksack. Some have handles that will do double duty as
rucksack straps for making short lugging jobs easier, though they're
nothing like as good as a Proper Rucksack if you're doing any distance
greater than, say, between the hostel and the station.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/