First time flying and checking my backpacking pack. Was looking to see if anyone had advice on how to prepare the pack so all the straps, zippers and various other components don't get fouled up by luggage handlers and conveyor belts.

United's website said most stations have large clear plastic bags technically for protecting checked car seats that may be used for other things, but no guarantee they are available or will fit whatever you are checking.

Another option seems to be doing the saran wrap-type plastic wrapping, but not sure if that is available at IAD or if TSA decides to check out the bag they will just cut/rip it off.

There are pack travel bags that should fit my pack, but reviews say they are rather bulky and I'm not thrilled about having to haul around the additional weight.

Then there is just letting it go as is, cinching down all the straps and tucking in or typing off the loose ends as much as possible.

Anyone who has some advice or experience with checking packs and options at IAD (or MUC) would be appreciated.

Maybe just bring your own plastic bag. I found this on Amazon. Pretty thick. You can cut it to fit at home. Also small enough that you can take one with you for the trip home. $37 for 5. That leaves you 3 for Marinating and Brining large animals.

QWORK 5 Pack 55 Gallon Clear Plastic Drum Liners, Heavy Duty Leak Proof Clear Bucket Liner Bags for Marinating and Brining, BPA Free, 5.5 mil

Not a direct comparison, but I have checked my 25L day pack as a separate bag and never had it damaged. IME the biggest risk of bag damage tends to be sharp objects abrading the bag anyway, for which a plastic wrap would not help.

FWIW, using a (thick) plastic bag serves the added purpose of keeping everything dry. Many of us did a variation when we mobilized to Afghanistan, placed thick heavy lawn/garbage bags INSIDE of our 3-4 required duffle bags. Worked quite well even when the bags were left outside uncovered in the rain for hours at a time.

I�m not a back-packer, don�t some people use plastic bags to keep their packs dry when they're caught outside in the rain, similar to a poncho placed over a backpack? 1 or 2 shouldn�t be significant extra weight and can be folded/rolled into a small volume.

Yup, this is standard advice for backpacking. You pack so that even if your pack gets wet your stuff stays dry.

Garbage bags are a common solution, although personally I use dry sacks instead. A bit more weight but they're much better protection--a dry sack properly closed can withstand a short dunking. You can't do that with trash bags because an airtight seal will have problems with altitude changes. You can roll the top of a trash bag like a dry sack does but don't expect that to survive for too many uses.

It's not going to do anything for protecting your pack from a strap snag, though--and normal packs are full of snaggable points. Long, long ago we checked packs by securing everything the best we could, but that was back when the handling was a lot more manual--I'd be much more worried about it now. I have never tried it but you can buy rolls of the saran-wrap like stuff. What they use in the airports is too wide to be practical to take with you but I have a roll of 6" material that wouldn't be too much of an issue to put in a carry-on and I think would make it past the TSA. Separating the roll and handle would make it look less clubbish.

If they are large enough to fit over your bag, trash compactor bags or contractor-strength black trash bags (get those at Home Depot) are a possible solution. Both are much tougher than regular trash bags. That’s what I use inside my pack or duffel bag when kayak camping, to keep things dry.

My advise is to get a light weight duffle bag and stuff your pack into that. The problem with plastic sacks is that the baggage tag will go on it, not your pack. The sacks can get torn and separated. It is one thing to lose a car seat - which can be replaced somewhat easily vs losing your bag with all your clothes and other things.

When my son was in Boy Scouts, the troop used to transport gear to the starting point for trips in an open truck, including in wet weather. I bought jumbo sized Ziplocs that fit his frame pack when I adjusted the frame to the smallest setting, and could be folded up and put in the pack during the trek. These were effective at keeping his pack and sleeping bag dry. I think they were called the 3XL size. If I was using one on a checked frame pack, I'd run a couple loops of strapping tape around it.

Would a rain cover work? It should contain everything but the shoulder straps and be more durable than plastic bag/wrap. You can visit a camping store or REI for some that should fit your bag. Maybe the brand website sells it as an additional accessory.

The rain cover for my pack is held around the container part of the pack with elastic, and brushing against it can easily pull it off the pack. Getting the shoulder straps of the pack caught on machinery as it moves the baggage system is the greatest element of risk to the pack, and the rain cover will do nothing to protect them. The heavy weight plastic of certain oversized bags will completely envelope the pack, containing all straps and keeping them from getting caught in machinery.

No way.

1) They aren't secure. They're held on by a bit of elastic around the edge. This is fine for their intended use but they're easy to pull off if you grab the edge. In use that edge is against your back, basically impossible to snag. It would have no such protection going through baggage.

2) They aren't full covers. They're meant to shield 5 faces, not 6--the side facing the wearer is unshielded because that's how you're wearing it. You would have to leave either the front or back uncovered and that means some strapping is exposed.

I hadn't thought of the duffel bag approach mentioned above, if I ever have to check a pack that's what I'm going to do.

This. I use my old parachute gear bag. Its thin, but very tough material with a long zip that makes getting the backpack in quite easy...the handles are part of two webbing loops stitched around the bag and thus will never 'tear off"... It folds up very small and is light to boot. I'm sure there are many duffle bags that are similar..

I've checked an overstuffed 30L quechua backpack multiple times, and the key there is to make sure you tighten all the straps and zip-tie the closure so that it doesn't accidentally open (or if it's opened by TSA you will know it).

In Europe, it would often get put on a tray to ensure it doesn't get snarled in the machinery.