look'n4powder":dkfp6k37 said:
We never rent skis (when travelling).
I always bring my own. A few years ago, I would even travel with two pairs.
look'n4powder":dkfp6k37 said:
On ski trips our luggage weighs 180+ lbs! These comprise two double ski bags (each with powder & standard skis); an equipment bag containing boots, clothing, avi equipment, etc; and a large normal suitcase. We use soft sided double ski bags because they can also hold some clothing, packs, etc. Handling skis at most airports is easy as carts are usually available.
Do not overpack your bags!! The airlines usually weigh the skis carefully and are always ready to charge extra for overweight bags. Most airlines now limit you to 50 lbs/bag although some may still allow the older 70 lb limit.
I never checked how much the total weight for my luggage was. I generally have one huge bag + a ski bag. This winter I was surprise about that *&?&*?8 over 50lbs rule. I went skiing and had my ski boots in the bag!!! I was only charged when I left from SLC at the end of the trip. On the last trip with the wife and two kids, we had one suitcase, that same large bag, a boots bag (with my and my daughter's ski boots), ski bag + car seat for the youngest. To my wife surprise, the over 50lbs was per bag. She was pissed... :x Yes, let's give each kid a 45lbs pound bag and carry as many bags as possible, instead of the two normal bag + the 2 others for the boots and skis. Yes, the huge bag I also carry with me was over 54lbs, we reajusted to make it at 50.0 with a 50.0 suitcase. :? That's was really close. The cost for over 50lbs is $50US per bag over. :x Sometime it doesn't make sense to have over 50lbs/bag to travel, however there has be some logic used.
I might be mistaken, but that over 50lbs isn't use by Air Canada. I was never close to paying anything extra when I leave Canada. That last flight out of Portland to Vancouver was a shared Air Canada/United flight.
Since airlines consider a set of skis and a boot bag as "one check item" there is no reason not to bring your favorite skis with you. I use a SPORTUBE hard carry case. It protects the skis and is easy to wheel along behind you.
I've had the same travel bag since maybe a 1990 trip to Europe. Not cheap material, pretty solid, however it might be a bit long now a days as I can fit two pairs of 215cm skis in it. :lol: What I always do is pad the ski bag with gear.
On my August/September I had my ski + my daughter 105 skis + 2 set of poles + my running shoes + 2 winter ski pants & 2 ski jackets (daughter's and mine) + 1 fleece + 1 sleeveless vest). Also helps reduce the weight of the main bag.
However a tube for the skis isn't a bad idea either.
Prior to this summer last trip to Oregon, my boots would always be in my main bag. However this time, it wasn't really in the main bag, but more like the boot bag was inside another smaller bag with my daughter's boots in the sidepockets. Once in Oregon, we eventually emptied the ski bag of all clothes and put then in the small bag while taking out my own boot bag from the inside.
