Transporting Equipment

[elfboy]

This may have been asked before, or there may be some way of doing it, but forgive me, a million different things whiz by my head each day.

Anyway...

My question is, how do people generally carry around their bogu and hakama and keikogi? Is there some great, big bogu bag for sale somewhere that has compartments for all three things or do people just stuff everything into the same bag? I know that's not such a good idea since it could damage the gi and hakama. Do people just put their uniforms in a completely different bag together? I for one don't want to carry three bags around.

For one thing, I haven't seen anybody come to the dojo dressed beforehand. I don't think walking around in NYC with a gi and hakama on is such a good idea. :D So does anybody have any suggestions? Anything's appreciated. Thanks!

[Hongsermeier]

If you don't mind spending a little money, go to Bujin. Their bags are really nice. Their shinai bags can hold about 6 shinai and 2 boken at the same time. :cross_eye

[Neil Gendzwill]

Your regular bogu bags work ok. I've used the plain ones that open on top (http://www.bogubag.com/Bags/Dogu_bags/dogu_iris01_L.jpg) and close with a cord, and the fancier ones that zip up the front (http://www.bogubag.com/Bags/Dogu_bags/dogu_nylon03_L.jpg).

You put the bogu in first in either case. For the plain ones, I just put the folded hakama and kendogi on top. For the zipper ones, I leave the flap out on the floor and put the kendogi/hakama on top of the flap. Then I close the flap, pushing the clothes against the bogu and zip it up.

You can also get some that have are meant for travel and have pockets (http://www.bogubag.com/Bags/Dogu_bags/dogu_nylon02_L.jpg), but I find them kind of big and bulky to lug around for everyday use.

The main thing, whichever way you go, is to take your hakama and kendogi out of the bag right away when you get home.

[elfboy]

If you don't mind spending a little money, go to Bujin. Their bags are really nice. Their shinai bags can hold about 6 shinai and 2 boken at the same time. :cross_eye

Wow... that's a pretty high quality bag - I think I have something to dream for getting :D. But, is there a difference between the Cordura and Ballistics bag? I mean the extra $5 may not seem like much but there must be a reason why. I'm wondering, what is ordering from them like? I've never ordered anything there but I'm curious as to whether its a smooth process.
Bujin Design does have some pretty good stuff, but the thing that always cracks me up is this picture, demonstrating the incorrect usage of a wall-mounted target pad:
http://www.bujindesign.com/images/makiwara-head.jpg

Love the expression on that guy :D.

[Phorest]

Normally I carry my gi/hakama in a backpack and my bogu seperate. But then again for me that just makes sense...I leave my bogu in the training room, then I have to walk downstairs to the lockerroom to change. At which point I can just toss the clothes I'm wearing into the backpack. Cause putting your streetclothes into the bogu bag during practice kinda...isn't convenient..and they might smell funny when you're done!

[Hongsermeier]

I got the ballistics just to keep the airline people from tearing it up. I've taken it to Japan 2 times with no problems. Other than they had a problem with me taking the shinai bag as carry-on while full of shinai. As for ordering from them. Took a little longer than I expected, but overall went very smooth. :cross_eye

[Koori]

Yes, How do you manage to transport Shinai? How do you explain that to the TSA? I was contemplating how I was going to take them with me on the plane to Chicago in November, then we decided to just drive.

-Koori

[Hongsermeier]

They kinda spazzed out when they went through the x-ray machine. The security people took them and checked them with the airline. Then on the other end I had to go to a designated security area to pick them up. They said they were classified as weapons. Not really a problem. :cross_eye

[Neil Gendzwill]

I've never had a problem, always just sent them through as checked baggage and answered "bamboo and wood sticks" when asked what is in the bag.

[elfboy]

They kinda spazzed out when they went through the x-ray machine. The security people took them and checked them with the airline. Then on the other end I had to go to a designated security area to pick them up. They said they were classified as weapons. Not really a problem. :cross_eye

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_0086.xml

Seems that shinai do fall under martial arts devices, but you can take them in the luggage compartment. I wonder if their policy is the same when dealing with bokken or even more so, iaito...

[LadyGinevra73]

Elfboy your question is very interesting, i've recently buy my bogu and i've your same problem actually i put my uniforms in a different bag but finally i've a bag for shinai and bokken, another for uniform,soap ecc..ecc.. and another one for bogu: very difficult moving around with 3 bag !!!! :dead:
I don't know what doing !!!! :ermm:

[swrdply400mrela]

I bought a huge Adidas duffel bag that measures 30"x18"x14" that has a huge compartment with two side compartments for $25 at Academy. It holds everything but my shinai.