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How to pack your surf gear for the plane

Guide and tips for dummies

It is always unknown to carry surfboards in an airplane. Among the surcharges applied by airlines to sports equipment and the damage that our tables often show as a result of mistreatment by baggage handlers, many prefer to leave light and rent their surfboard on the spot.

Of course, renting is an option and there is no doubt that many times it can even be convenient, but many of us do not resign ourselves to leaving our table at home, and sometimes we are not sure if we are finding a good place. surfshop with a decent range to choose from or the stay will be long and the rental would cost a small fortune.

Here is a guide and some advice on how to pack the surfboard and prepare it for transport by plane .

Before starting, however, a brief introduction: surfboards, especially if made of polyester, are inherently fragile objects. In addition they are rather bulky and the bags, once filled to the limit of weight to contain all our quiver, become heavy and difficult to handle for the ground staff. Add that presumably the bellboys don't spur enthusiasm when the heaviest packages are in front of them ... and the picture is complete. Unfortunately this is the reality. What we can do is pack our equipment as best as we can to protect the board, or boards from shocks and damage, after which we hope it reaches its destination intact.

1. Choose the right bag

The first point is obviously to choose a suitable bag for transporting our tables. First of all because most of the airlines do not accept boarding of boards that are not properly packaged, but above all because it is up to the bag in the first place to protect your surfboard. Choose the bag so that your table is comfortable inside without tossing too much. Be careful though that the bag is not too tight because it would not allow you to use a little extra packaging that never hurts. Obviously you have to consider whether you will need it to carry with you just one table or more than one and how many accessories it will have to hold besides the table. 

For example, if you plan to carry more than one table, consider a bag with wheels that is easier to transport. If you carry more than one table, consider bringing one or more single sacks, such as socks or whatever you normally use at home, to bring the board to the beach once at your destination. Using the travel bag can be uncomfortable and the light bag will offer you additional protection both on the plane and during the holiday. 

Do you have to buy the bag and don't know which one to choose? Here are some of our favorite kitesurfing gear bags

 

2. Remove the fins

The second point is really obvious, but it's worth repeating. It is essential to remove the fins before packing the table. If it is a kitesurf board also remove pad, strap and any handle. I recommend then to immediately pack fins and any other accessories and immediately put them in the bag so as not to risk leaving them at home! When packing the fins remember that they are rigid and that if you put them in contact with your table they could mark it. So it is essential to wrap them in something soft and place them where they do not risk marking the table. You can use bubble wrap or cardboard and then maybe wrap it all in the wetsuit, or in a pareo or neoprene top. The same is obviously true for the leash. 

 

3. Protect your table

Here we are finally at the essential point, or how to effectively protect the table. The travel bag alone does not offer sufficient protection for your surfboard, whatever the bag you have chosen. So you need to use some additional protection. We list the most used and effective, which we have personally tested.

PLURIBALL: The bubble wrap is a simple, fast, rather effective and above all light solution. Packing your table with this material will not cost you much in terms of weight or money. If like me you always keep a little aside when you receive some packages, you can easily make do with that. Otherwise you can buy a bubble wrap on amazon with just a few euros . Wishing there are also more technological and efficient bubble wrap variants ... however if you don't have any at home it would be better to opt for something more sustainable.
The key thing is to be careful to protect the tip, the rails and the tail ... as well as of course the deck and hull. In short, the whole table must be well packed!

CARTON FOR PACKAGING: if you are sensitive to the problem of the plastic afflicting our oceans, and as surfers you should be, you can replace the bubble wrap with a recycled packaging paper roll. This is the Paper Roll cushion, an ecological solution that replaces the bubble wrap for packaging. It is made with recycled paper and is completely recyclable. It is sold in rolls of 5 meters x 60 cm, more than enough to pack your table more than once, but you don't have to throw it away with every trip and therefore it can easily last. long.
In addition to this the normal cardboard, recovered for example from used boxes, is perfect to give protection to the tip and the rails of your table. Use a strip around it.

FLEXI HEX: the Flexi Hex is a recycled cardboard packaging specifically designed to protect your surfboard. This means that it fits perfectly, leaves no uncovered parts and does not require you to be packaging magicians to use it. It is an ecological board packaging because it is made with 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard, reusable and adaptable, as well as very easy to apply, very resistant to compression, light and cheap. But how does it work? It is a ready-made packaging in which to insert your table. Thanks to its hexagonal structure, Flexi-Hex has passed the crash tests with a weight of  31,000 kg / square meter, so definitely a pretty good protection for our tables. The structure of the Flex Hex wraps your table creating a 3 cm structure all around ... so consider your bag measurements well, because 3 cm are very few, but still need to be considered. 
If you treat him well you will be able to use him safely for at least a couple of trips, if you are lucky even more. The important thing is not to put the wet table back!
Be careful to choose the right size based on your surfboard.

 

Other tips:

Pay attention to the position of the objects in the bag.

This is perhaps the thing to pay more attention to. Distribute the weights well and be careful that the objects you put in the bag do not kill your table is essential. This means packing the fins carefully, but not only. The leash can also do damage. For example you must not for any reason lay it on the bottom of the bag with the table placed on it or be sure that the table will come out marked. Surf suits, neoprene tops, towels, etc. they are all excellent shock absorbers: try to spread them evenly over and under the table. Paraffins and other more rigid objects go sideways but must be stopped so that they cannot get around. 

Limit the overall weight.

It is not just a question of surcharge. Even if your deductible is plentiful, better not to overdo it and if you can divide the weights. Too heavy bags tend to be handled less gently. are pulled, pulled, fall etc ... 

Check the conditions before leaving the airport

Unfortunately, when we board our tables on the plane the precautions are never enough, but if you do things right you certainly have a better chance that your beloved tables arrive intact at their destination. In any case, remember to check the integrity of your equipment before leaving the baggage reclaim area, because once you cross that threshold you won't be able to do much anymore. And in case of damage, read in this article how to  report damage to luggage

Pubblicato il 29 aprile 2019 | Blog > Technique: SURF

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