With all the news on SUP’s being damaged and written off at the hands of reckless baggage handlers at Perth airport I just wondered how people actually pack their SUP’s for airline travel. Which board bags are best, use of additional foam, rail protection, nose and tail cones, nice messages written on your bags.
Might be good to share some good practices that may save you board in the future.
Phil
Cut up cardboard boxes it's a bit of a job but when wrapped over the board it gives a little room between the inside cardboard and the board rails nose tail etc and still fits in a bag
Cheap easy enough to do but plenty of tape.
Great protection though
Phil
Mate I have just got back from Kiwi land and left two boards there I picked up a hypernut stubby board bag from ' STAND UP SURF SHOP' for my 8.5ft, with the board bag being 8.6FT X 32 inches wide it gave me plenty of room two wrap & foam the rails even foam underneath & on top for good measure
The flying objects stubby range gives you rail support and has Velcro expanders to allow you to wrap that precious bit of kit with out two many dramas .
Here's a quick link mate.
www.flyingobjects.com.au/products/surf-sup/travel-cover-sup-stubby/
enjoy indo
Ok, here's my bit of information. I had 10mm foam taped to the rails and then wrapped the board in cling film. It was then inside a custom-made board cover which has 10mm foam stitched between the layers of PVC. That means 20mm protection at the rails and 10mm at the deck and bottom. According to the airline Baggage Claims Department I'm dealing with for my claim (on another thread) this is insufficient packaging, even though it exceeds the recommendations on their website. They emailed me yesterday suggesting that in future I should consider a hard case. I pointed out that a hard case would not have saved the board in this situation. If I don't get a satisfactory answer from them tomorrow I'll fill you in on all the details. I've been carting boards around for 50 years now - has anyone ever seen a hard case for surfboards (and I don't mean the hard cases ON a lot of surfboards!).
we just got back from a trip, we took 3 boards in one bag (32kg) the bag is 10mm foam I put 20mm of eps in the bottom extra. I think the bag is so heavy its almost imposable to throw it any ware even with two people and I have never had any problem.
I used to put thick carpet down the rails or a inflatable roof rack but now don't bother . I did however find a new idea coming home and that was stuffing a load of empty 1.5L water bottles down the rails, they weigh nothing and provide a lot of protection im tempted to get a tube put into the board bag to hold them in place as they work so well.
I too am interested in this as getting a little worried about board damage to Indo, Nusa Lembongan. Going with Air Asia.
I have never flown with a SUP before, i am always worried with it being on others rooves or around the place with my kids, haha
Anyhow my ideas are:
purchase Flying objexts travel cover (only one i have found that fits my 8'1x29) most people around have FO covers so figure they are good.
wrap rails and nose n tail and possibly bottom with either bubble wrap or 10mm foam from bunnings
got a Jimmy Lewis world wide so has deck grip over entire top so should help somewhat, add towels n boardies?
now not sure on paddle, do you slip in on top of board or put it in poaddle bag and strap it to outside of board with a lock strap? or have it completely separate?
wondering if safer to just take short board. trouble is i get double or more wave count on sup to shortboard so will prob regret if i dont take SUP.
other option is slip short board on top of sup and that may help also?
I know this sound s crazy ..but I take windsurfing board to WA every year ..it's carbon and worth a lot ..$2500..I put it in two board bags .both have good padding
the one on the outside is bigger .. ..sits in the corner after getting there ..but you can see its had a hard time by the airlines.. 
worth ago if its your special board ...
This is how I pack my boards like when I went to ISA Worlds two years back and didn't have any problems. Also have the insulation over the top of the board. It went Perth-Sydney-LA-Houston-Nicaragua and returned the same way. I have also taken my board to Battle and multiple trips to the east coast like this and touch wood never had a problem. Pretty simple to lay it flat, place board on it then tape over the top. Saves the hassle of trying to meticulously unwrapping bubble wrap just to be able to get it back on.
Please excuse but what is that ,? you said insulation . Roof , wall or what type , it looks light which is very important to keep overall weight down
You're talking about traveling with a hardtop, not an inflatable, yes? I've never had any luck traveling with a hard, full sized board. Always come out dinged and damaged. I think they don't fit well under the plane to they move around as the plane takes off/lands.
Personally, I'm a bit fan of an iSUP when I'm traveling. I picked up one of those 3 piece paddles which break down easy. Pump, paddle and rolled up board fit right in a large suitcase. If you're lucky enough to get a free bag checked, you're golden.
Select to expand quotesurf4fun said..
This is how I pack my boards like when I went to ISA Worlds two years back and didn't have any problems. Also have the insulation over the top of the board. It went Perth-Sydney-LA-Houston-Nicaragua and returned the same way. I have also taken my board to Battle and multiple trips to the east coast like this and touch wood never had a problem. Pretty simple to lay it flat, place board on it then tape over the top. Saves the hassle of trying to meticulously unwrapping bubble wrap just to be able to get it back on.
Is that insulation availble at somewhere like Bunnings or specialised insulation resellers
^^^^^^Looks like carpet underlay?
But I recon Clark Rubber might have something useful
Select to expand quotesurf4fun said..
This is how I pack my boards like when I went to ISA Worlds two years back and didn't have any problems. Also have the insulation over the top of the board. It went Perth-Sydney-LA-Houston-Nicaragua and returned the same way. I have also taken my board to Battle and multiple trips to the east coast like this and touch wood never had a problem. Pretty simple to lay it flat, place board on it then tape over the top. Saves the hassle of trying to meticulously unwrapping bubble wrap just to be able to get it back on.
Yeah where did you get the foam Surf4Fun ?
Phil
Surf4fun must be busy, Im sure he will get back to you if he knows, at a guess I'd say it came from where mine did it was what my new DC was wrapped in for its flight back from Queensland.
I think it is some sort of air-conditioning duct insulation but yep it does do a good job.
Select to expand quotetightlines said..
Surf4fun must be busy, Im sure he will get back to you if he knows, at a guess I'd say it came from where mine did it was what my new DC was wrapped in for its flight back from Queensland.
I think it is some sort of air-conditioning duct insulation but yep it does do a good job.
Looks like dc gave you a double layer of insufoam for safety?
