Traveling with gear

[The Armourer]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

As you know the pros and cons of all sorts of bags has been discussed before. I think you should do fine with either bag you decide to get. I myself have an allstar 'Jumbo' rollbag and have had no problems flying with it.

I used to organise the GB U17 & U20 overseas mens epee competitions and all the 'boys' used to uses to standard roll bags. There were never any problems and nobody had anything different. All the tips above are good - particularly in view of the security necessary in travelling these days.

[The Armourer]

Originally Posted by O_O #2

i agree with this handsome guy

OMG just realised I need to update my iggy list!!!

[carlos]

Blade and Triplette are two vendors who sell hard cases designed specifically for fencing gear. They cost about $120 which is about the same price as a golf bag, but they have inside padding at the weapon tip end of the bag. The only drawback: they aren't as roomy as big, soft-sided rollbags.

Most US airlines have web sites that give details on what sort of sports equipment can be checked. Some of them even specifically mention fencing gear, but even when they don't, the TSA and the airlines regularly let fencing stuff fly. Even firearms can be sent in checked luggage, so a few epees should not be a problem.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by carlos

Blade and Triplette are two vendors who sell hard cases designed specifically for fencing gear. They cost about $120 which is about the same price as a golf bag, but they have inside padding at the weapon tip end of the bag. The only drawback: they aren't as roomy as big, soft-sided rollbags.

Most US airlines have web sites that give details on what sort of sports equipment can be checked. Some of them even specifically mention fencing gear, but even when they don't, the TSA and the airlines regularly let fencing stuff fly. Even firearms can be sent in checked luggage, so a few epees should not be a problem.

Actually, they don't sell hard cases specifically designed for fencing gear, they sell golf cases and paste their own logo over the existing logo of the golf case and pass it off as a fencing case. Now, I don't it's necessarily a bad idea, but generally you can find an identical golf item for less, and it really is the same product.

[Zilverzmurfen]

...forgot to mention one thing about bags.

A friend of mine is a great fan of the italian very, very lightweight (épée) guards. He has an identical bag as I do and once had to spend a great amount of time trying to "straighten out" his guards before a competition as they had been totally mashed out of shape...

Since you never know where your bag will be placed you may want to add a 'Fragile' sticker to your bag. Unless you use ordinary stainless steel/titanium alloy guards. Just a tip. Again, good luck DFP!

[edew]

Don't bring your toolbox to JOs. In fact, never bring tools to any fencing tournament that you have to fly to.

Baggage handlers and TSA folks have no need or interest in your fencing equipment. But cool locking pliers and jeweler screwdrivers seem to be easy pickings for them.

If you want, bring a bag of screws and tips and such. Ask (kindly) the folks at the armorers' table if you can use their screwdrivers and such to do any needed repairs. It's just not worth taking tools on the plane and seeing them not come home with you. Just another $10-$50 down the rathole called the US air transportation system.

[DHCJr]

Eric, I don't think you would like it if everyone took your suggestion of never bring your test box with them. Me for example.

Only approved locks are allowed on bags. The approved lock have a small hole, so they can be opened without the combination. So what is the use.

Whenever I fly, I do "Lock" my bag. What I use is cable ties. I have also checked every time I fly and whenever I take someone to the airport, that cable ties are not a problem. Last time I was at the airport, they were asking if the bags had locks on them.

Why I use cable ties is I know if someone has been in the bag. If TSA has opened the bag, they are required to place a note in the bag and they are supposed to put cable ties back on any bags that they cut any lock or cable ties. I do not use the sandwich bag as a 'Baggage handler' could open up the bag and reclose it.

And as been said before guns and ammunition (separate bags) can be checked in, they just need to be declared.

Eric, I hope you don't mind that some of us don't take your suggestion. In fact, as an Armorer, I hope every fencer does not take the suggestion. If you are on a piste and have a loose handle, don't expect to 'Borrow' a wrench from the Armorers to take to the strip to tighten your handle.

[edew]

Nope, if you have a loose handle, I'm sure someone else would have brought an allen wrench. Start using the kindness of strangers. Otherwise, the unkindness of strangers (baggage handlers and such) would make things unpleasant.

At last year's Summer Nationals, some folks' fencing bags (especially the hard shell ones) were stolen by a baggage handler, hoping to find some cool golf clubs. Instead the handler found a bag full of fencing equipment and promptly tossed the bag somewhere near Research Triangle area. A person who worked at a hotel noticed a bunch of such bags and took them home. One was a fencing bag. They looked for information, saw his name and googled it. Found his name on the Bay Cup website, contacted me. By the time they contacted me, the fencers have already left home. I talked to the fencer's coach and emailed the parents (I have their eddress). I got the finders and the owners to communicate together and American Airlines agreed to ship it back to CA free of charge (after a lot of busting of chops...it is AA's responsibility, no?).

So, I'd suggest:

1) Don't use the hardshell cases. For two reasons. Reason 1 is that they don't breath and if you stick your wet jacket in there with your weapons and mask. It makes a stink you can't believe. Reason 2 is that they look like golf bags (because they are) and unsavory baggage handlers who have designs on a cool set of clubs might just take the whole thing hoping for some loot. If they find fencing equipment, it's tossed into the nearest garbage bin (which is what happened in Charlotte) and everyone loses.

2) Don't bring tools. Fencing is a pretty close knit community. People will have no problems loaning you an allen wrench to make a quick tightening up during a bout. Those who drive to the venue might bring tools, of course, and they will be more than happy to help. No need to help supply baggage handlers with an expensive tool habit with their daily fix of whizbang equipment.

Armorers, of course, are required to bring their tools. That' their job. I'll let them deal with their methods of traveling as they seem to be able to do so pretty efficiently.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by edew

2) Don't bring tools. Fencing is a pretty close knit community. People will have no problems loaning you an allen wrench to make a quick tightening up during a bout. Those who drive to the venue might bring tools, of course, and they will be more than happy to help. No need to help supply baggage handlers with an expensive tool habit with their daily fix of whizbang equipment.

WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TOOLS WITH THEM IF YOU TOLD THEM NOT TO BRING THEM?

[ThatReallyHurt]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TOOLS WITH THEM IF YOU TOLD THEM NOT TO BRING THEM?

I think he was talking about the armourers and the people who drove to the event...

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by ThatReallyHurt

I think he was talking about the armourers and the people who drove to the event...

foolish starfish has to make things complicated

[ThatReallyHurt]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

foolish starfish has to make things complicated

Aw, man... I'm laughing my butt off at that comment... nicely done.

[pacer]

We usually travel with a hard sided golf case, although my son sometimes uses his rolling softside uhlmann bag - No problems with either one. However the last trip with the hard sided bag was out of Colorado Springs airport and the baggage handler had the oddest look on his face when we told him at 5:30 inthe morning that we were travelling with fencing equipment. we always lock that bag. It is well marked with fencing gear stickers and a club logo...

The more recent trip was withthe soft sided bag - TSA did inspect the bag as was evidenced by a 3x8 pre-printed piece of paper left in each compartment inspected. It explained the "process" of the inspection... That bag is never locked.

[Inquartata]

Whenever possible, I avoid flying in favor of driving. Part of this is that I am cheap, and part is that I hate putting up with the security protocols and overall hassle of the flying process. That and the colicky babies who are, without fail, positioned in the seat directly behind me, and are practicing to be banshees one day. I have driven as much as 18 hours ( one way ); 6 or 8 hours is nothing.

I use a hard golf case ( bought at Wal-Mart ) and have not had any problems. I lock it, after it goes through the enormous TSA X-ray machine and the hand search that inevitably follows. I do not use the special locks, just cheap little padlocks. USFA sticker and luggage tag on it, to help distinguish it from the 47 other identical black plastic golf cases on the baggage carousel.

I carry my mask, lame, jacket and shoes onto the plane. That carry-on bag always needs a hand search, which brings on a quizzical "What is it?" conversation.

I carry my tool kit. I like to fix anything that needs it after the day's events, back in the hotel room, when I have the leisure...and there are no armourer's tables in my hotel room, generally speaking.

[edew]

Inq, you fence saber. What's there to fix? I guess maybe body cords.

[Inquartata]

Yep, stupid bodycords. And a wrench/pliers, if a broken blade has to be replaced ( for the pommel ). Small file, to deburr blades.

Possibly a hammer, to iron out dents in guards or replace lost rivets in mask.

[LUDICROUS]

Surely, hitting someone's sabre guard so hard it deforms would CERTAINLY destroy the blade that struck the guard?

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by LUDICROUS

Surely, hitting someone's sabre guard so hard it deforms would CERTAINLY destroy the blade that struck the guard?

What if it's a bellguard that hit the guard? Most of the deformed sabre bells that I've seen have occurred via bell-bell contact.

-B :)

[foildad]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Yep, stupid bodycords. And a wrench/pliers, if a broken blade has to be replaced ( for the pommel ). Small file, to deburr blades.

Possibly a hammer, to iron out dents in guards or replace lost rivets in mask.

And you do this in your hotel room? "Honey, are they shoeing horses in the next room, or are those overexhuberant newlyweds?

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by foildad

And you do this in your hotel room? "Honey, are they shoeing horses in the next room, or are those overexhuberant newlyweds?

Originally Posted by inquartata

I carry my tool kit. I like to fix anything that needs it after the day's events, back in the hotel room, when I have the leisure...

Hammering out a guard, adding a rivet to a mask, or banging down the edges of the mask frame (another similar task not mentioned by Inq) could all be done in a hotel room and none of them are particularly noisy. Certainly not as noisy as, say, a group of teenage fencers.

-B :)