<p>My D will be leaving in 2 days for a week long backpacking trip. I've been worrying about her checking the too-big-for-carry-on backkpack because of all the straps and cords and whatnot. Has anyone dealt with this lately? I'm envisioning it tangling in the baggage handling equipment, ripping some vital part loose and spewing clothing and camping gear all over the innards of the plane. My logical side says they must have a system.... my "mom in a panic" side sees disaster looming.</p>
<p>D took a pre-orientation backpack trip last year before moving from California to Boston (Tufts). She was only allowed to take her pack and a small post-trip shower bag so she flew with the backpack as her luggage. I suggest your D pack with every strap either cinched down fully or removed and placed inside the pack. Use extra straps to close the pack as securely as possible. If possible, pack the sleeping bag inside. REI makes a stuff sack the really gets the bag size down small. She could also carry that onboard and put in the overhead. She will need to repack for backpacking once she arrives. </p>
<p>Is this part of a pre-O trip?</p>
<p>You could buy a really, really cheap suitcase, or even just get a box, put the backpack inside, and check it that way. Then she could throw the box/case away at the arrival airport. The return won't be a big deal, as she won't care so much then whether a strap gets broken, anyway.</p>
<p>Most major airlines offer free sturdy super-large plastic bags that you can use to enclose the back pack. If necessary, you can even use two plastic bags.</p>
<p>Some backpacks (particularly frameless ones) if not too overstuffed can be carried on board. I've got a backpack where all the straps can be zipped away which makes it a lot less likely to get damaged. It was a wedding present 23 years ago and has made many many journeys overseas and back again.</p>
<p>Nephew had some sort of cover that fits over his large pack to keep all snug and secure; also had a cable type locking system, which these days would have to be a TSA approved lock. This particular pack was too big to carry on. The cover was compact when not in use, probably would take up minimal room with little weight in the bottom of the pack when not in use.</p>
<p>If you have an REI or EMS near by, see what they've got. Super large plastic bag sounds like a good, cheap option too!</p>
<p>When my son went to Philmont boyscout ranch he put his backpack in a duffle bag and just tied it closed. I'm pretty sure that's what all the boys in his group did. They sell them at army-navy stores. My daughter has taken hers on as a carryon, but it's a smaller internal frame pack.</p>
<p>We used heavy duty plastic leaf bags a few years ago for a backpacking trip. Worked like a charm. You could also wrap it in cord for extra protection.</p>
<p>We even took a few extra bags. They're good for makeshift raincoats, ground cloths, whatever.</p>
<p>I see backpacks (and other stuff) at the airports wrapped really tightly in that shrink wrap stuff. I wonder where they get that?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great ideas. It's a big, internal frame pack. The hip belt doesn't fold back on itself very nicely, and there are all kinds of extra bungee cord things and straps everywhere. Belongs to 6' brother but after buying the other equipment she didn't want to spend the money on a new one until she's tried it once or twice. Unfortunately just larger than the leaf bags that we have - I'll check out Home Depot tomorrow for some bigger ones. The duffel is another good idea. I'll take a tape measure to Target after Home Depot. They have some pretty inexpensive light weight ones. I'd just cover it with two leaf bags duct taped together and all duct-taped up, but what if TSA wants to inspect?
Yes, the backpacking trip is a pre-orientation thing. Groups of kids go off on various outdoor adventures then meet back up at a campground near the school for a final night together. The next morning they hit campus for freshman move-in.... I'm fairly sure showers won't have been available. Either we'll take her back to our hotel for a quick hose-down (+60 minutes to do hair) or we'll just squirt her with fabreeze.... They've been doing this for years, so I guess it works.</p>
<p>If nothing else works out, just wrap it tightly in saran wrap...works the same as shrink wrap. We used saran wrap on furniture that we put in the back of a truck and drove 300 miles down the interstate. The stuff didn't budge.</p>