Thanks so much, Corey! I used to break a sweat carrying my camera bag, light stand, sandbag and trip

As a photographer that does a lot of non-profit work internationally, I have always been on the look out for traveling with my gear in the safest yet most affordable way. Typically, my cameras, lenses and lighting equipment (strobes and powerpacks) graco travel systems travel with me as carry-ons in two Pelican 1514 cases . As for my grip gear, well, I was mostly limited to what I could throw into my checked bag with my clothes, which typically would be one Manfrotto Magic Arm, a Photek Softlighter and a small softbox or other miniature modifier. I have never really been able to find a hard case that is under $500 to carry a real light stand or any large modifiers with me, which can really hold me back when I am out shooting in the field, graco travel systems so naturally I had to search for other alternatives.
In the search for large hardcases I only had 3 criteria: (1) It had to have holes for me to put TSA locks in to secure the gear it would contain (2) It must have roller wheels, graco travel systems and I dont care what kind or what size, as long as it has something (3) It must fall within the standard airline checked baggage specifications for most major airline companies, i.e. I dont want to pay extra for a bag being too long or too wide.
After a few days of searching I found the perfect answer to my solution, Plano Golf Guard Standard Case . It was perfect. It met all of my criteria and it was only $49.99! How's that for moving gear on a budget? Here is what I pack it with when I am on the go, but there is a lot of space in this thing and you can arrange whatever you'd like in this puppy.
Like I said, there is so much more that you can store in this thing as well, but the gear I listed above is what meets my needs and all I really need grip-wise to get the job done while abroad. One last thing, to close. To reinforce the case before I get it to the airport, I tightly wrap some good ol' strapping tape around the top and bottom to protect the latches from the abuse I know the airline workers graco travel systems put our bags through while loading and unloading. I have yet to have any issues with this case and am so stoked to have found such an affordable way to fly with my big boy gear! Enjoy! via www.CoreyMelton.com
graco travel systems Thanks for this cool tip. Interesting that golf gear can be this affordable. As soon as it gets labeled as 'photographic' equipment and one of the big names slaps their logo on it, the price skyrockets!
The good thing is that golf gear goes under sports equipment and is an extra luggage not counted in the weight usually... graco travel systems that's an additional graco travel systems reason to get a golf pack :D check airline details for that :)
Yeah, I have 2 Pelicans, both are 1514s. graco travel systems One has foam which holds 2 bodies, 3 lenses some filters, my profoto trigger, GPS and a few other things. Then the other Pelican has dividers and holds my Profoto Acute2B power pack, strobe head and other miscellaneous stuff.
in the US we also have a one carry on and one personal item.  They are pretty strict about the size but I've never had anyone weigh my bags.  If it fits in the overhead graco travel systems then you are good although in some of the smaller planes you still have to check it in plane side.
If you read the description, most airlines in the US describe a personal item as a camera bag, computer bag, briefcase, purse, or tote. I have only been stopped twice for having 2 larger carry-ons, all they have done is checked one of the cases at the gate but I haven't yet had to pay for them to check it. That is also why I use Pelican graco travel systems cases, I am not afraid graco travel systems of the gear being checked and thrown around when they are in a Pelican. Also, I use standard padlocks on the carry-ons (not TSA locks that can be opened by crew) because the bags have already gone through security I can get away with having a more secure lock on, so I am never worried about checking the bag at the gate. All of the other times I have gone on smoothly with the 2 cases.
Thanks so much, Corey! graco travel systems I used to break a sweat carrying my camera bag, light stand, sandbag and tripod most of the time without an assistant. The soft bags I've tried would eventually break and anything else was too dam expensive (I'd rather buy an Alien Bee Einstein instead.) I had to take some measurements of my stands to make sure it would work (It holds drivers up to 46 inches).
51 x 14.2 x 12.6 inches.  The airlines use the linear dimension total of these, graco travel systems which is ~78 inches.  Both Air Canada and US Airways (the only 2 I checked) consider a linear dimension greater graco travel systems than 62 inches as oversize, and in US Airway's case incurs a charge of $175.
Are you using a loophole of claiming it is golf equipment since that's what the case is made for?  Air Canada gives an exemption for golf bags.  US Airways does as well, but explicitly states if the bag is not used for golf equipment, the oversize charges apply.  United/Continental has the same limits and policy, with $100 charge applicable.
Just dont fly with US AIRWAYS... I had a shoot a few months ago and flew with them, a horrible horrible experience.... I was with my assistant and we had two pelican cases full of gear and they said the overhead compartment was full and would not allow us to bring them into the plane ourselves, we had to check in the two cases at the gate. We told them there was over $30,000 in gear and they didnt even budge, graco travel systems they took our cases and tossed them down the 30+ foot ramp smashing to a stop. Once we landed graco travel systems my cases came out in a rubber bin with one case open and camera lenses with all the caps off and with gear spilt out everywhere. The other had been opened and inspected and quickly thrown back together, they closed it on my of my wireless lav mics damaging the antenna. **wait graco travel systems why would US Airways inspect my bags I thought that was TSA the only ones that did that? So I believe that some one was just curious about what was in the cases and illegally went through them with out thinking, (wish i knew i was checking them in I would have put my locks on them).....
Make sure you get one with an integral, molded graco travel systems handle. graco travel systems  I had one with a handle that simply folded down.  Seemed OK, until it came thru the baggage turnstile sans handle.  Luckily there was an integral handle at the top so moving the case wasn't graco travel systems a problem, but loading it into the SUV was a PITA.  You need that handle for leverage.
Don't over load the case.  There is a LOT of room in those things.  It's easy to pack a whole lot of stuff.  Don't.  I did.  My back has never forgiven me.  Neither has my assistant.  Especially my assistant.  It was a local assignment and we needed a lot of lights.  Something like a dozen heavy duty stands, plus any and all smalls were crammed inside the case.  It seemed graco travel systems like the thing to do at the time... I know there was a good reason why we did it... but all I can remember is how much of a mistake we made.  That case packed graco travel systems weighed a half ton.  So keep it light, resist the temptation.
If you want to keep your stands graco travel systems from getting banged graco travel systems up, or banging into other gear while traveling in the case, buy (or make) stand sleeves.  I know, who cares, it's a light stand.  But who wants to arrive at a job site and find one of the knobs of your stand has been sheared graco travel systems off, or bent, in transit?  A little protection goes a long way.