Since I’m getting ready for my trip back to Seattle and this includes Mt Hood riding, I figured I would do a post on packing your snowboard bag. Traveling with your snowboard is always a popular subject of horror stories, packing stories and overall a lot of protectiveness about items you cherish. I generally travel a couple times a year with my gear and encountered no major hassles. I’ve gotten better at mastering the art of packing gear into my snowboard bag and making sure it’s below 50lbs.
Typically I pack 3 snowboards, 1 pair of bindings, 1 pair of snowboard boots and my snowboard outerwear into my snowboard bag. One board has the bindings mounted to it and the other 2 boards are hidden in the other compartment.
Eventually you find it’s worth it to invest in your own snowboard luggage to make these trips easier. The good news is snowboard luggage lasts a while, I’m currently on my 2nd year with the Burton luggage I am using. When traveling with snowboards and finding luggage there are two important words to look for: Padded and Wheels. If you’ve ever had to carry 50 pounds of snowboard gear from the airport to your shuttle or through the terminals…you come to realize how awesome wheels are on luggage.
It all starts with an empty snowboard bag.
Step 1: Packing the Spare Boards
My Burton Wheelie Locker features a lower board storage, where I can store decks (without bindings) in a safe and secure padded location. In this photo my board bag is on it’s side and I am putting in Atomic’s reverse camber to take for more testing at Hood.
Step 2: Packing the BootsTo remember snowboard socks and save room, I stuff them into my snowboard boots.
I use the removable boot bag to store my boots and remove the bag so I can move it into a better location in the bag. You can fit both boots in properly and zip them up. There’s also room to put in more stuff to pack it in so nothing moves around.
Snowboard Boots are super important…and sometimes it is easier just to carry them on with you depending on the length of the trip and the suckyness of the airline. Having to rent boots will suck. I pack everything on summer trips in the same bag and depending where I’m going on winter trips…if there are a lot of layovers (where baggage could miss a flight or close calls) then I’ll take the boots with me on the plane. Thank goodness for Febreze!
Step 3: Packing the OuterwearThis generally takes a couple steps between other processes. However I use the other removable liner to put my snowboard pants and jackets into. Then I remove it from the bag until it’s time to put it in the right location.
Step 4: Packing the snowboard with bindings
Step 4: Packing the snowboard with bindingsSome will argue that you should remove the bindings from the board. I keep my bindings on my snowboard, but I adjust the bindings so it’s more protected. I lower the highback and ratchet the straps over.
Then with the snowboard I flip it over, so the base is upwards and the bindings are facing down into the board bag. This lets me use the space between the bindings to fill in and pack, making it so my snowboard doesn’t have empty space and is protected by the base.In this photo my boot bag is on the right to fill up the space.
A look at the board bag, my board is base up with the bindings still attached. I put the removable bag with my outerwear in between the bindings and it fills up that empty space and packs it so nothing will move around.
Step 5: Pack the Softgoods/Spare StuffIn the side compartments, I pack the smaller softgoods. This is where my gloves, beanies, headphones, bandannas…sometimes t-shirts or layering.
To protect my goggles, I use the Oakley Goggle case. I’ve had this for the last 7 years and one of the best things to make my goggles last longer. Once I put in the goggles, I pack those in the last empty spot in the board bag. 
Step 6: Pack it up & weight itOnce everything is into the snowboard bag, zip it up!
Using a home weight scale, I put the snowboard bag vertical on it and just do a basic test to see how close to 50lbs I am at. With 3 snowboards, I usually hit about 48 to 51lbs of gear. I just use the scale to double check and make sure I am not too far over 50lbs.
And then it’s all done…bag is packed and ready for the flight. I always make sure that I have my current address on the tag just in case something does happen along the flight.
Here’s a list of what is inside my snowboard bag:
- Snowboards
- Boots
- Bindings
- Snowboard Jackets
- Snowboard Pants
- Layering
- Socks
- Gloves
- Beanies
- Sunscreen
- Measuring tape (when I change up boards, to measure out width)
- Snowboard Tool (screwdriver)
I packed a couple days early just so I could take photos but I can always go back into the snowboard bag and repack or add things if needed. Usually at the airport, they just weigh it and ask me to take it to the oversized baggage loading area where I hand it off. I make it easier for TSA by making it organized.
*MILLY*
August 14, 2008 at 10:46 amHave so much fun at home!!!!! and shredding hood!!! come back with rad photos to make rad blogs!
Shayboarder
August 14, 2008 at 11:08 amThanks Milly! I’m stoked for this trip, really looking forward to riding time and some family time and hanging out time. I’ll still be blogging when I’m there, as per allowed by free wifi, haha.
Zboy
August 14, 2008 at 2:22 pmPadded board bags are an absolute must… I’ve had 2 boards cracked, chipped, broken… whatever… while traveling with a non padded shit bag.
It’s definitely worth the extra money to protect your gear!
Anonymous
August 14, 2008 at 8:32 pmWeighing your board at home is a really smart move because now with the price of jet fuel and crude oil as high as it is the the Airlines are going to charge high fees for overweight cargo. Just about every bag now has a surcharge anyway.
Crazy times indeed.
Shayboarder
August 14, 2008 at 9:59 pmDefinitely agree with you on the fees. The fact that airlines are now charging for checked luggage makes me re-think what airlines I fly with. This trip to Seattle I am flying Delta which charges $15 for the 2nd bag, so that’s $30 versus I could have flown United which charges $25 for each bag (that would be $100 extra). Definitely have to be smarter with how you travel with your snowboard gear.
italiaboi24
August 15, 2008 at 9:29 pmYeah, but b careful over 50 lbs at least on my trip back to SFO from Maui 3 days ago, they would charge 200 dollars for every bag over 50 lbs.
bs yes i know, but what else can they do???
Brayden
September 20, 2008 at 5:20 amFabulous bag for snowboard… I like this!!