Shipping Photo Equipment: Looking for advice. I fly back and forth between Florida and RI and I carry a lot of photo gear in a Think Tank roller bag and a large Think tank back pack.

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

Looking for advice. I fly back and forth between Florida and RI and I carry a lot of photo gear in a Think Tank roller bag and a large Think tank back pack. Both of these are carry on and need to be stored in the overhead and under the seat. In total the weight of the combination is getting more than I can handle. I know that I can/should cut back on the amount of equipment that I move but I am trying to avoid that choice. So my question is: Is there a secure case that I can purchase and ship (with insurance) via either FedEx or UPS so that I don’t have to carry the stuff on the plane. I would really like to hear from any one with experience - good or bad- doing this. Thanks

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

In selling some gear to MPB, I’ve learned FedEx offers a “fragile wrap” service, but I can’t imagine what it would cost to ship so much gear. Good luck.

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

Thank you

TerryVS

While I haven't done it I've sure seen it done. Not unusual to ship broadcast cameras. Basically it's in a case no better than a large Pelican case with foam that's cut to fit the camera. I've seen it go as checked baggage as well. I'd get foam cut to fit your equipment and be sure to lock up the case. Remember, all that stuff comes from China in a box with a sterofoam insert.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I use bubble-wrap when sending anything delicate. I have bags full of it in the garage. You can also double-box the item.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

AFPhoto wrote:

Looking for advice. I fly back and forth between F... (show quote)

When I was still flying commercially we had many videographers and photographers engage our services. They NEVER shipped anything. Their reason was simple, if they arrive and their gear does not they just made a trip for no reason. No gear, no pictures. You, however are not in that situation. I know people who ship their skis when they fly. Airlines lose everything that doesn't talk. You need to weigh the consequences and act accordingly. IF you ship, ensure for much more value than market.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

For cripes sake, I would avoid Fedex right now. They have lost or re-directed 4 of my last 4 purchases. What should take a few days to get has taken weeks and I have followed my packages going back and forth in California making circles for no darn reason. So dumb. I will not ship a thing by Fedex right now.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

TerryVS wrote:

While I haven't done it I've sure seen it done. Not unusual to ship broadcast cameras. Basically it's in a case no better than a large Pelican case with foam that's cut to fit the camera. I've seen it go as checked baggage as well. I'd get foam cut to fit your equipment and be sure to lock up the case. Remember, all that stuff comes from China in a box with a sterofoam insert.

I actually have several of those cases I bought, not for cameras, but just to house our good luggage so the airline couldn’t trash it when we last flew to Europe. They are light, strong, absolutely waterproof (o-ringed), have pressure relief valves and serious locks, and the largest even has wheels. Before 9-11, you could padlock them and about the only thing that could happen is for them to be lost. I would hasten to add however, that in the 40+ years I traveled for business, that was the only time I ever checked anything. Between baggage loss, theft and the incredibly sloppy baggage handling, I would NEVER check cameras. I once sat on the tarmac and watched as a bag fell off the baggage cart onto the taxiway as the luggage was being loaded. It sat there in plain sight, in the rain for almost two hours as we waited for takeoff clearance before someone finally picked it up. I feel sure the bag and everything in it was ruined. ‘Nuff said.

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

TriX wrote:

I actually have several of those cases I bought, n... (show quote)

Thank you. I was never considering checking the bag. My thought was that I would ship it via a commercial shipper such as UPS with mucho insurance. I was hopping that some one on the site had experience doing this but no one is stepping forward so far. I think that my only option is to cut back on the amount of equipment that I take back and forth.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

AFPhoto wrote:

Thank you. I was never considering checking the bag. My thought was that I would ship it via a commercial shipper such as UPS with mucho insurance. I was hopping that some one on the site had experience doing this but no one is stepping forward so far. I think that my only option is to cut back on the amount of equipment that I take back and forth.

I think you’re correct - time to downsize your format or number of lenses. I now travel with a Fuji and a couple of lenses - the FF stays at home. Can’t see typically the difference unless shooting at very high ISOs.

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

I used to own consumer product companies, and ran my own warehouse. This included such hard to ship items as aerosols, candles, and pottery. The best suggestion is to avoid the "specialized" containers as they can get stolen. Preferably always wrap with bubble wrap, separated by crushed up newspaper, and hard cardboard. Then, most importantly, always pack a cardboard box within another cardboard box, separated by crushed up newspaper. This way the inside box stands a chance of arriving unharmed.

photoman43

A box within a box (with padding between the boxes) is what I do when I have to mail a lens or camera for repair. I have never shipped camera gear for a phot trip as I just take on the airplane what I need.

One of my friends uses an alternative approach for some trips. He rents special lenses that are shipped to his shooting location and returns them from the shooting location. You need to make sure that this practice is OK with the lens rental company and that the place that will accept the equipment and keep it safe for you.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

jerryc41 wrote:

I use bubble-wrap when sending anything delicate. I have bags full of it in the garage. You can also double-box the item.

How do you resist popping all that bubble wrap?

Richard Engelmann Loc: Boulder, Colorado

I saw a trick to create a custom foam case for anything by placing the fragile object in a plastic bag, choosing a box large enough to commodate packing, then using expanding foam to fill the box around the object. If this is done with bags for the foam, top and bottom separately, then it can easily be re-used.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

TriX wrote:

I actually have several of those cases I bought, n... (show quote)

I'm not a frequent flyer but when I do fly, I do not check my camera gear, it is a carry on. I too have witnessed the mis-handling of luggage both being loaded and unloaded. I have seen baggage handlers throwing cases about ten feet onto the baggage carts, some missing the target and hitting the ground. when traveling with my gear I use a Lowepro case with wheels and it actually is a back pack zipped into the case. I go through the hassles of hand inspection by TSA for the knowledge that my gear is in safe hands and will not be treated as regular luggage.