 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I am after the best bag solution for a family of 5 taking ski gear long haul as we have just booked a two week trip to NZ in August to ski Cardrona/Treble cone. The last time we travelled to NZ was in 1999 (!) and we are super excited. They had just introduced carving skis when we skied Cardrona last time!!
We are flying economy LHR via Singapore to Auckland, then Auckland to Queens town.
The weight limit is 23kg per person for hold bags, with maximum 7kg hand baggage allowance. There are quite strict limits on the sizing for carry on bags, similar to most other international airlines.
https://www.airnewzealand.co.uk/carry-on-baggage
We are a family of 5, (kids aged 18, 15 and 11) and 4 of us will be taking ski boots. All 5 of us will be taking helmets. I am thinking of leaving skis and poles at home. I am currently thinking to free up space I would put my ski boots in some sort of compliant rucksack which I could then use for the rest of the trip to free up some space in the main luggage.
Between us, we have about a million different kinds of rucksacks for walking and mountaineering, and lots of different kinds of large wheeled duffle bags. I even bought a Db large wheeled ski case last year. but I don't think that I will take this. My husband has recently bought an Osprey travelite 26+6. I have checked, and my 23.5 boots will fit in this, but there is zero room for much else!
I am thinking of possibly buying s simllar new dedicated 35-40L travel pack for the trip, rather than wrestle my boots into an Ortovox ski backpack which is too tall (and quite heavy). My husband has a dedicated discount code with Osprey through his volunteering which I could use, but happy to consider other brands.
If anyone else has wrestled with this tricky conundrum and come up with a solution, please let me know! Its size vs weight vs userbility for other activities other than transporting ski boots!
Hiring boots in NZ is NOT an option as we all have such tricky feet and want to enjoy the holiday!
Many thanks,
Zoe
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@gaschick, what difference does long haul make? Do you usually fly in Europe? Boots in hand luggage and 23kg without skis is more than enough space
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Suitcase and a carry on
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Have a look at Cotopaxi. I bought the 28L for my NZ trip (though I wasn't skiing), and it's been a really useful bag since for hand luggage and short train trips. Expensive, but well made, and if you get the one-of-a-kind designs, you won't meet another traveller with the same bag!
We went in 2023 with Lufthansa, Swiss and Air New Zealand, and while there were a lot of security bag checks, not a single flight (of 12 flights total) checked the size or weight of the hand luggage, though we definitely weren't taking the p. The only place I saw any checking was at Singapore, where they insisted on putting two of the four(!) wheely bags a couple had into the hold!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @gaschick, what difference does long haul make? Do you usually fly in Europe? Boots in hand luggage and 23kg without skis is more than enough space |
It's 28 hours to get to Queenstown, and multiple airports, so yes, it does make a difference to the hand luggage. I want something in hand luggage that is practical with easy access to stuff on the plane with my ski boots, and easy to carry as well as being able to be used for walks when out in NewZealand as we are probable not going to be spending 14 days skiing.
When we travel skiing in Europe, we usually fly Easy jet. There are not weight limits on the hand baggage unlike Singapore Airlines and air new zealand. We would just be skiing for 6 days, not doing other activities and having to pack other clothes.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Scarlet wrote: |
Have a look at Cotopaxi. I bought the 28L for my NZ trip (though I wasn't skiing), and it's been a really useful bag since for hand luggage and short train trips. Expensive, but well made, and if you get the one-of-a-kind designs, you won't meet another traveller with the same bag!
We went in 2023 with Lufthansa, Swiss and Air New Zealand, and while there were a lot of security bag checks, not a single flight (of 12 flights total) checked the size or weight of the hand luggage, though we definitely weren't taking the p. The only place I saw any checking was at Singapore, where they insisted on putting two of the four(!) wheely bags a couple had into the hold! |
Thanks. I saw another review of a Cotopaxi bag which was their top carry on rucksack. Good to know about the lack of bag checks!
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Better be good at £170 (on their website anyway) for 28L
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If you have 'about a million different kinds of rucksacks for walking and mountaineering' can you not go through these and find 4 that fit ski boots and are compliant with the carry on board policy? Then you are done. If you do not have 4 then find a rucksack you want from Osprey. I would not buy something specific for one flight that you are not going to use again. That's the approach I would take in any event.
The main reason I would carry boots is not to free up hold luggage (as 5 x 23 kg bags should be absolutely plenty anyway) but so as you ensure your boots make it all the way with you.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Can’t help with the luggage but make sure you (and the kids) are on top of the Bio Security stuff when you arrive in Auckland. They are justifiably very strict.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| Can’t help with the luggage but make sure you (and the kids) are on top of the Bio Security stuff when you arrive in Auckland. They are justifiably very strict. |
It's not hard to comply, it's widely mentioned, the declaration form you fill is clear , notices and bins (to dispose of contraband) in the airport are many and obvious, really no excuses. Just don't forget that apple you got on the plane and bring it in, they'll find it.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 2-03-26 23:17; edited 2 times in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I don’t understand why it’s a tricky conundrum. Without skis, 23kg is a huge allowance. Clothes in hold bags, split everyone’s clothes 5 ways across all bags so if one bag is lost, nobody has a disaster. Ex skis, my total kit weight for a two week trip would be about 15kg, including hand carry.
Ski boots and other mission critical hand carry items in your dozens of existing backpacks, within which you put headphones/iPad/charging cable in a lightweight stuffsac. Bag in overhead, grab stuffsac out to have at your seat. Remove rucksack frame if necessary, to save weight and make it more malleable.
Or upgrade to business and take it all onto the plane with you, nothing to check and much time saved.
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@ster, I made the mistake of sending my boots to the hotel in advance. I was actually travelling through the airport while my boots were in quarantine, but was unaware of the regs, so they went straight back to the UK. Had to hire.
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You know it makes sense.
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@joffy69, they can fumigate items like that to allow them through but costly and would have added time to the shipping so probably not the best solution for you anyway, apart maybe from the fumigation. 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ski gear is fine on the bio security stuff just fyi.
I’ve never had cabin luggage size or weight checked by air Nz.
Wouldn’t stress too much.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The Osprey 26+6 is my absolute travel workhorse works great. Compliant for budget airlines and I use it for hiking when travelling and as just an everyday bag.
Really you will need to go for a travel specific carry on to maximise space eg. Osprey Farpoint/fairview 40, daylite 44, Patagonia MCL 45 Black Hole, Cotopaxi Allpa 42, Decathlon Travel 500 40L.
Hiking backpacks of the same volume will be too tall for carry-on.
I would recommend the Onebag community of Reddit for tips on travel packing.
Packing cubes… use them Decathlon ones are brilliant
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Legend. wrote: |
If you have 'about a million different kinds of rucksacks for walking and mountaineering' can you not go through these and find 4 that fit ski boots and are compliant with the carry on board policy? Then you are done. If you do not have 4 then find a rucksack you want from Osprey. I would not buy something specific for one flight that you are not going to use again. That's the approach I would take in any event.
The main reason I would carry boots is not to free up hold luggage (as 5 x 23 kg bags should be absolutely plenty anyway) but so as you ensure your boots make it all the way with you. |
Thanks, this is a great point about having boots with us in case luggage goes missing. We've just done a stock take of the bag situation (which has prompted us to get rid of some rucksacks). As someone else has already pointed out, our hiking/mountaineering bags are too tall to comply with the carry on limits imposed by NZ, but they are great in terms of being lightweight. The Ortovox bags we have are going to be too heavy with boots to be able to take anything else.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| hang11 wrote: |
Ski gear is fine on the bio security stuff just fyi.
I’ve never had cabin luggage size or weight checked by air Nz.
Wouldn’t stress too much. |
Good to know about ski gear. We are well aware of the strict bio security measures in place. They have changed since we last travelled there in 1999! It was a good way to get our boots cleaned!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| MAthert wrote: |
The Osprey 26+6 is my absolute travel workhorse works great. Compliant for budget airlines and I use it for hiking when travelling and as just an everyday bag.
Really you will need to go for a travel specific carry on to maximise space eg. Osprey Farpoint/fairview 40, daylite 44, Patagonia MCL 45 Black Hole, Cotopaxi Allpa 42, Decathlon Travel 500 40L.
Hiking backpacks of the same volume will be too tall for carry-on.
Yup - I have just measured all the existing mountaineering bags we have. So.... internet black hole. AND found the Reddit forum.
I would recommend the Onebag community of Reddit for tips on travel packing.
Packing cubes… use them Decathlon ones are brilliant |
Thanks so very much. I went down an internet black hole yesterday. Who knew that there were so many dedicated 'carryon' back packs, and a massive Reddit forum dedicated to travelling the world with only one bag and stressing about the weight of your charging cable ;/
I ordered an Osprey 40l travel bag (fairview40) from Sportpursuit 50% off (!!!) which will get used loads instead of a little wheelie case on overnight trips.
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/4593164/
My husband has used his Osprey 26+6 a great deal for his hospital visits recently during his chemotherapy. His cancer treatment is the reason we have booked this holiday to give us something to look forward to after having to cancel our holidays so far this year.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| snowdave wrote: |
I don’t understand why it’s a tricky conundrum. Without skis, 23kg is a huge allowance. Clothes in hold bags, split everyone’s clothes 5 ways across all bags so if one bag is lost, nobody has a disaster. Ex skis, my total kit weight for a two week trip would be about 15kg, including hand carry.
Ski boots and other mission critical hand carry items in your dozens of existing backpacks, within which you put headphones/iPad/charging cable in a lightweight stuffsac. Bag in overhead, grab stuffsac out to have at your seat. Remove rucksack frame if necessary, to save weight and make it more malleable.
Or upgrade to business and take it all onto the plane with you, nothing to check and much time saved. |
Ok, business class for all 5 of us is over £22000.
Not happening!
Snowdave - have you tried travelling 'lightweight' with two teenage daughters? Their makeup bags alone will take up most of the 23kg!!!!!! 
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| gaschick wrote: |
| Their makeup bags alone will take up most of the 23kg!!!!!! |
Make them share.
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Thanks very much. Yes - these look great as there seems to be space for a ski helmet as well.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@gaschick, a little bit OT, but it's probably worth looking at picking up some cardies/TC multi day passes soon - same company so I think they work at both mountains - they will be on pre season sale at the moment. Cardies in particular has some fairly challenging crowding issues on some days - usually July school hols, but a bluebird powder day in August would also get very busy, and they limit sales of day passes to manage the crowds, so having pre purchased passes is probably worth it to avoid disappointment. I don't usually go there, so not completely up to date on how it works - a bit of prior research could be a good idea. I think uphill buses can be a bit of a struggle on the busy days too if you don't have a car.
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| hang11 wrote: |
| @gaschick, a little bit OT, but it's probably worth looking at picking up some cardies/TC multi day passes soon - same company so I think they work at both mountains - they will be on pre season sale at the moment. Cardies in particular has some fairly challenging crowding issues on some days - usually July school hols, but a bluebird powder day in August would also get very busy, and they limit sales of day passes to manage the crowds, so having pre purchased passes is probably worth it to avoid disappointment. I don't usually go there, so not completely up to date on how it works - a bit of prior research could be a good idea. I think uphill buses can be a bit of a struggle on the busy days too if you don't have a car. |
Not - not OT at all. The hire car is booked from Queenstown with winter pack. The accommodation is booked and SO much cheaper than the UK or europe for a peak holiday period for us as a family of 5. We've booked a 4 bed self catering house on the Cardrona road complete with a hot tub. Two weeks for the price of one week equivalent in Cornwall that we were looking at! We have had to cancel our holiday plans earlier in the year as my husband was diagnosed with cancer, so we have gone with as much as possible that we could cancel without too much hassle and loosing money (even if this has meant paying a bit more up front). We were hoping to get the cheaper pre-season passes for us all to save some money. I guess this is a bit wishful thinking, but I was wondering whether there is such a thing as a 'flexi pass' so that you can ski for say 7 days out of a 14 day period. I'm going to try to book the ski passes after he finishes his chemo in May and cross my fingers that nothing else happens. We can get insurance with a specialist provider.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@gaschick, They do loads of pass options like that. Good luck with the trip - beautiful place at that time of year! NZ Ski do similar as well, 5 day anytime passes, that cover a bunch of mountains, Coronet and Remarks in Queenstown - not too far from Cardies, and a few of the smaller ski hills further north - Dobson, Oahu, Porters etc. If you have a car, and don't mind a couple hours drive, Ohau is most definitely worth checking out, great little hill on the right day, incredible scenery, pretty chill from a crowd perspective. Do-able as a longish day trip from Wanaka, but there's also a really nice and reasonably priced lodge beside the lake there, at the base of the access road.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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If you are flying BA then you can use Avios to pay for luggage. (Only read your post & didnt see who you are flying with)
Family of 5, you could easily get a CC that gives an avios bonus to blow.
Alternatively, I would weigh up the cost of paying for baggage compared to buying & throwing (donating?) things like underwear, etc.
Also checked luggage is weight.
Carry-On is size.
So pack some carryons with clothes. Usually checked luggage is pooled weight. So the usual. Boots in checked, stuff socks, tees, toiletries, etc. in the boot.
One final.. If flying BA, then you can take skis/oversized as your allowance (ie instead of a suitcase).
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| Gored wrote: |
If you are flying BA then you can use Avios to pay for luggage. (Only read your post & didnt see who you are flying with)
Family of 5, you could easily get a CC that gives an avios bonus to blow.
Alternatively, I would weigh up the cost of paying for baggage compared to buying & throwing (donating?) things like underwear, etc.
Also checked luggage is weight.
Carry-On is size.
So pack some carryons with clothes. Usually checked luggage is pooled weight. So the usual. Boots in checked, stuff socks, tees, toiletries, etc. in the boot.
One final.. If flying BA, then you can take skis/oversized as your allowance (ie instead of a suitcase). |
Thanks Gored. As I state in the original post, we have booked tickets with Air New Zealand via Singapore (Singapore Airlines to Singapore-Air NZ to Auckland-Auckland-Queenstown).
Unlike BA, Air NZ do have a weight limit for both the carry on bag and the checked bag (7kg and 23kg). BA seem to have a VERY generous allowance in economy for hand baggage on the plane!
With Air NZ, as long as the bag for skis is less than 2m and 23kg, this could mean I can take skis in my DB roller with other belongings.
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You know it makes sense.
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| hang11 wrote: |
| @gaschick, They do loads of pass options like that. Good luck with the trip - beautiful place at that time of year! NZ Ski do similar as well, 5 day anytime passes, that cover a bunch of mountains, Coronet and Remarks in Queenstown - not too far from Cardies, and a few of the smaller ski hills further north - Dobson, Oahu, Porters etc. If you have a car, and don't mind a couple hours drive, Ohau is most definitely worth checking out, great little hill on the right day, incredible scenery, pretty chill from a crowd perspective. Do-able as a longish day trip from Wanaka, but there's also a really nice and reasonably priced lodge beside the lake there, at the base of the access road. |
Thanks! That's very helpful advice. It's going to be a trip of a lifetime for us a family after my husband's devastating stage 4 cancer diagnosis at the end of November, so I am keeping everything crossed that things carry on ok until we go in August! The planning for this trip has cheered everyone up as it's our favourite thing to do as a family.
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FAQ
