Traveling/Fishing With Pelican Photography Cases
- This topic has 15 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated Jul 1, 2010 at 10:56 pm by
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By the way . . . on the topic of travel.
Over the past year I have stopped using the roller luggage all together. I used to carry my rods, reels, and tippet on the plane, along with my laptop, cords/plugs and batteries. However, it is now the camera gear that gets carried on and the rods and fishing gear and boat bag get packed in a light weight (cheap $20) duffle bag along with the clothing. It weighs nothing and that keeps the total check on weight down below 50 pounds.
Finding a good way to incorporate the Pelican case into the schema would be great. Any ideas?
I have the 1510, and would pack two bodies, several lenses, filters, flashes, off camera flash cords, etc., in it.
Thanks Buz!
That was a great reply with lots of useful information. We have similar equipment, so the products you mentioned are a good match. I’m going to noodle it around a bit.
BTW, what is a good color to get?
I have had a Pelican 1500 for a number of years but don’t use it very much at all. Issues with excess luggage charges and a lack of versatility at the other end are the main problems. If I was going on a trip that was all boat based with no walking then I might consider taking it but most of the trips I do involve some kind of wading and walking so a backpack is my best option. The pack I put together myself from a WXtex canyoning backpack and a Lowpro insert has been sensational even if it also has some shortcomings (access mostly) but I have learned to work around these. I would definitely get the modular insert for the Pelican case as opposed to the foam which is rubbish really.
Morsie
I have a couple Pelicans and lately I’ve been going with my 1450 (dividers rather than foam) for almost everything.
1450 with dividers.
Haven’t flown with it, so cant help there.It is about perfect for boats and can carry quite a bit if you pack it smartly.
The only knock I have with it is it’s too large for my kayak ( fine in a canoe) to fit betoween my thighs for easy access. Difference being is the yaks just a little narrower.
I’ve got a 1400, a 1450 and a 1550. The 1450 is the most used of the three. I can typically carry it on the aircraft as my “personal item”.
Lots of good input everyone!
I had a wonderful conversation with an airline attendant (i.e. stewardess) today. Here is the summary: they hate Pelican cases! In fact, she said that they often just tell people to check them under the plane out of spite because of the shape and size. In fact, she was rather brash about the cases in general. Also, she mentioned that photographers are often a pain to deal with because they are very picky about their gear and insist on getting “special” treatment. Interesting perspective.
I am going to look at the 1504 Pelican case tomorrow. My plan might be to pack the case with fishing gear and stow it in a duffle to be checked with the fishing gear in a big light weight duffle with clothing. Then I would use my Lowe Pro Vertex 300 camera backpack for the camera equipment and computer in transit and then just reorganize once settled.
I went to the local mega camera store to look at Pelican cases and realized that they would impractical for this particular trip. The main issue is the camera body; my SLR with battery grip and ball-head mount won’t fit into any Pelican smaller than a 1550, which is just way huge for practical fishing travel.
Therefore, I decided to get “MacGyver” on this project. Here is a schema that should work. The camera gear and 17″ laptop will be carried on the plane in the Lowe Pro Vertex 300 bag. The Patagonia waterproof boat bag will be packed with clothing and stowed in my duffle for check in luggage. Upon arrival, I will convert the Patagonia to a camera boat bag using the Lowe Pro Velcro inserts. It works pretty well and holds a ton of gear if set up properly. Basically, a full Nikon SLR with grip, lenses = telephoto, mid-range zoom, 50mm prime, flash, HD video camcorder and M-Audio recorder.
Here are a few pictures.
Camera bag for carry on, loaded with gear and 17″ laptop
The Patagonia waterproof bag and fly box to be stowed in the duffle along with clothing and rods and fishing gear.
On arrival, remove camera gear from the Vertex 300 and remove one side of padding, which will be fixed to the Patagonia bag.
Patagonia bag with dividers and full padding
Boat bag loaded with camera gear (camera body, 3 lenses, camcorder, audio recorder, flash, and peripherals), plus tippet LOL
Fly box loaded for a week of Tarpon fishing ;D
I have only ever once been pulled up at the gate and then when I showed them the contents of my bag was allowed to board. I must say I’m always mentally prepared for a ‘showdown’. Now that I travel with 2 bodies I have adopted the Dave Anderson tactic of slinging one around my neck. I think they see ‘photographer, probably a grumpy bastard and prepared to stand his ground, we’ll leave him alone’. 😉
Buz you are dead right on being nice though. I have avoided some serious excess luggage charges over the last year by just being nice and having my credit card ready to pay up. Most of the time it works. They are so surprised at someone being polite they just wave you through. 😎
Morsie
Neal….thought you might find this article interesting:
The Art and Science of the Over and Under
by Stephen Frink
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