PShizzy: The Blog

Aside from the silly name, this is going to be a fairly serious post about travel. I am no travel expert, as I only travel a handful of times, so I will link to the real expert on this kind of stuff. I have a video as well, featuring my packing of a Think Tank Airport Security bag, as well as repacking some of that gear into my Lowepro Computrekker AW.

This post will feature a set of Youtube videos (the 10 minute limit means I had to cut the piece into two sections), as well as a Mediafire link to a higher quality download.

On top of that, I’ll go into some detail as to my “philosophy” on packing and travel. I don’t expect that everything I do will be copied, but I hope that the video and this post will at least give you an idea or two to try out on your next trip.

Oh, and one last thing: A turducken is a turkey stuffed with a duck, which itself is stuffed with a chicken. It just seemed fitting for a post title about how my bag is packed. If you want to make one, Paula Dean has a recipe on Food Network. Oh, and if you happen to make one, mind sending me some?

Read on!

First up, let’s talk experts. Steven Frischling is an expert on travel. He has a blog, Flying With Fish, that should be a good read for any photographer who travels frequently. He’s done such a good job that he’s actually going to write a book on the subject.

From knowing what power plug to use to pimping out your PSP for travel
and clearly identifying your baggage, Steven is the expert. So go check his site out.

Me? Well I have a few rules about how I travel, and I stick to those rules as much as possible. First rule: Pack so that you don’t have to check a bag. This one is tough, because some people will travel with location lighting. If that’s the case, just do the best you can, and I would seriously consider checking in your clothes. It’s soft, so mistreatment shouldn’t be a big deal. And if you lose your gear, and you need it to do a job, what then?

If you see the first image, or check out the videos, you’ll see that I’m not at all scared to really pack a bag. I find small nooks and crannies and fit little things in those spots. A lot of people will carefully assign a slot to a single piece of equipment, but I don’t. If there’s space, I fit whatever logically fits in there the best. Granted, it’s not pretty, and it isn’t for everyone. But consider this:

Would you rather pack everything in individual slots, and carefully wrapped, only to run out of space, forcing you to check in a bag? If you check in any equipment at all (despite my plea above), you have now placed it in the hands of a stranger, who probably doesn’t know or care about the contents of your bag. Me? I’ll keep it all in my bag, and under my supervision.

Next rule: Don’t bring clothes luggage. A Think Tank or Lowepro bag can do double duty as a clothes bag way better than a Samsonite can carry gear. For most flights, we’re limited to one large bag for the overhead, a personal bag (usually a backpack or laptop bag), and a jacket or something. By using two camera bags, you can add some versatility to your lineup.

Currently, I use the Think Tank Airport Security as my large bag. The new version looks great, and at 360 or so dollars, it should be. Consider buying the first version used. I got one for well under 300 dollars. Regardless of which version you get, it’s a great bag. It’s a roller, which is vital, because when you stuff it, it gets heavy fast. Rolling it beats carrying it. It comes with plenty of dividers, and you can configure it to your hearts content. I usually configure the bag by seeing what fits best where (the bag itself has rounded corners and dips and tapers in some spots, so I try to fit things that match that awkward spacing best). I also will tighten dividers to a specific item as tight as possible. Sometimes, loose fit dividers means you lose the space for an extra slot or two. Finally, as you can see in the video, I do my best to fit any random accessories in the nooks and crannies of the bag and slots. I fit so many things in those little crevices, that would otherwise have to get packed in a different bag, or would just not travel with me.

For my second bag, I use the Lowepro Computrekker AW. I really like this bag, because it fits so many purposes. For one, it fits a laptop in its sleeve. This means no dedicated laptop bag. Next, it has it’s own dividers, so you can just move them over to a side, and have a big area for clothing. Fold or roll your clothes up tight to fit as much as possible. The main compartment can easily fit enough clothes for a few days. If you’re out for a week or more, you will need to do a wash or two. Because most of my gear goes in the AS roller, the Lowepro is nice and light, so it’s not a big heavy backpack that weighs me down on the way to the airport. Finally, once I’m settled in on the road, I can use the Lowepro as my camera backpack, selectively taking gear from the AS roller depending on the day and what the task at hand is. Try that with a dedicated laptop or clothes bag.

BTW, these are only my preferences. I have heard great things about a variety of other bags. The Urban Disguise is a big hit, as are Think Tanks backpack line. But for me, I like a backpack with a laptop sleeve, and a big compartment to hold clothes, then later hold gear.

Next Rule: Take only what you need, not things you can easily buy on the road. With all the rules about liquids, and sharp objects and what not, I don’t see the point in wasting space taking toiletries and other knickknacks, unless of course you’re traveling to a country that doesn’t have these on hand. But in most countries, things like razor blades, shampoo, mouthwash, etc, are all common and inexpensive. Buy it on the road, then dispose of it when you’re done. This even applies to clothes.

I normally take enough clothes to last me a couple of days, but sometimes you may need more. Clothes takes up a lot of space, and unless you need specific clothes (suits for meetings, dress shirts for clubs), take only what’s necessary to get through a couple of days. T-shirts are cheap and come in a variety of colors at places like Foot Locker. Same goes for socks. Or just do laundry (if possible). If you do buy some clothes, you can always donate it to goodwill when you’re done with it. Tax writeoff, and you’re clothing the needy. Win/win.

So, maybe I’m crazy. But you know what? It took me about 15 minutes to get from the curb at the airport all to way to the gate for the airplane. Both ways. Last time I checked in a bag, I believe it took an hour each way. What can I say, I’m impatient.

For those who withstood reading all this, thank you. But for the rest of us, here’s a quick list.

• For detailed info, look to the experts (like Steven Frischling). They do this far more than you or I do.
• Avoid checking in a bag. It can cost money, take time, and lead to loss of personal items/equipment
• Don’t use clothes luggage. Instead use a second camera bag. It can hold clothes, and gear later.
• Take only what you couldn’t easily buy on the road. Avoid space wasters like toiletries unless they are scarce.
• If you need to, buying basic clothing on the road saves you space, and isn’t costly. Donate the clothes when you’re done and get a tax writeoff.

And finally, here are my videos on the Airport Security and Lowepro Computrekker AW bags. I unpacked the AS roller, then packed the Computrekker. I had to pack them for my trip to California, to cover X Games 14. Depending on the event, I might take different gear, but the general rules above, and most of the equipment remains the same from event to event.

The Mediafire link is below, and is the larger, higher quality file, which is also in one piece.

Packing and Unpacking the Airport Security and Computrekker AW Bags. It’s 95 MB

And the Youtube videos are below. Two segments because of the 10 minute limit Youtube imposes.

I await your questions and comments, both good and bad.

Tags: equipment //