Bubble wrap around rucksack.

[Daveyp]

Hi Folks,
I am heading out from Ireland on the 14th of April to hike the Camino del Norte.
I noticed on the BBC documentary that some of them had bubble wrap around their rucksacks when they picked them up from the carousel at the airport. I am wondering if this is a requirement for Ryanair. My poles will be attached to the sides of the rucksack. Would appreciate any info as I have never hiked abroad before.
Thank you.

 

[NomadBoomer]

I wrap my backpack in its rain cover and a plastic bag when I fly. This is because it is a lightweight backpack with webbing to keep it off my back and lots of straps etc. I am worried that the bag might get damaged without any protection.
If it was a little smaller and I didn't have poles I would try to take it in the cabin.

 

[Fletchonides]

No its not a requirement for Ryanair. If there's too many loose straps and bits you might want to tape them for your own peace of mind, so there is less possibility of a strap getting caught somewhere. We have flown a number of times from Dublin with Ryanair to Biarritz/Santander and usually check in one backpack between us, that carries our liquids/penknife/poles. We usually put our poles inside the backpack for the flight, and then take them out.

I would not take anything in the BBC Documentary as indicative of the how things should be done, given that only Ed Byrne seemed to have done any hiking before, and one of them was surprised to find they were actually walking and not just being filmed walking.

 

[Daveyp]

No its not a requirement for Ryanair. If there's too many loose straps and bits you might want to tape them for your own peace of mind, so there is less possibility of a strap getting caught somewhere. We have flown a number of times from Dublin with Ryanair to Biarritz/Santander and usually check in one backpack between us, that carries our liquids/penknife/poles. We usually put our poles inside the backpack for the flight, and then take them out.

I would not take anything in the BBC Documentary as indicative of the how things should be done, given that only Ed Byrne seemed to have done any hiking before, and one of them was surprised to find they were actually walking and not just being filmed walking.

Thanks for that. I wasn't too impressed by the documentary either. Bit of a disappointment.

 

[Dorpie]

Hi Folks,
I am heading out from Ireland on the 14th of April to hike the Camino del Norte.
I noticed on the BBC documentary that some of them had bubble wrap around their rucksacks when they picked them up from the carousel at the airport. I am wondering if this is a requirement for Ryanair. My poles will be attached to the sides of the rucksack. Would appreciate any info as I have never hiked abroad before.
Thank you.

Definitely not a requirement but perhaps wise, bad things can happen if your pack isn't well protected with straps etc. under control as I discovered when my shredded pack turned up on the carousel in Milan a few years back.

BTW that wasn't bubblewrap, just clingfilm type stuff that for a (significant) fee you can have wrapped around you bag at many airports. I now favour the raincover (well actually double raincover) approach to cocoon my bag when checking it in.

 

[Iriebabel]

I am placing my pack in a folding duffle which I will then mail to Ivar in Santiago after I arrive in Barcelona . Will have it for my Ryan air flight after a I finish my camino. Hope this is sufficient
As to my Leki wanderlust poles I never had any problem bringing them on board as I have knee issues and wear a brace on my leg.

 

[Tamsin Grainger]

Be careful about taking your poles. Not all airports have the same policy but I have had my poles refused now twice and consequently I am starting in Mérida this wee but not been able to get one in Seville. I am very short and use children's poles but Decathlon do not have any and the adult ones are too long or expensive given that I expect to have to ditch them in Madrid before flying home to Edinburgh.

 

[Iano]

Last year I purchased a rucksack liner from Mountainware house here in Ireland. Used it to cover the rucksack when flying and as a liner when walking. It did the two jobs perfectly.

 

[Kurt5280]

I have a zippered cordura over-sack for flying with my backpack...or similarly you can use the plastic bags that most airline passengers use of cover children's strollers for flight baggage...and some airlines sell better zipper type bags for strollers for flight baggage.

 

[Pam Scott]

Hi Folks,
I am heading out from Ireland on the 14th of April to hike the Camino del Norte.
I noticed on the BBC documentary that some of them had bubble wrap around their rucksacks when they picked them up from the carousel at the airport. I am wondering if this is a requirement for Ryanair. My poles will be attached to the sides of the rucksack. Would appreciate any info as I have never hiked abroad before.
Thank you.

I put the rain cover on back to front with my poles inside and use a luggage strap to secure it well. Buen Camino

 

[Anniesantiago]

Be careful about taking your poles. Not all airports have the same policy but I have had my poles refused now twice and consequently I am starting in Mérida this wee but not been able to get one in Seville. I am very short and use children's poles but Decathlon do not have any and the adult ones are too long or expensive given that I expect to have to ditch them in Madrid before flying home to Edinburgh.

Yes, Joe had his poles confiscated in Santiago and another time in Madrid.
I no longer take expensive poles unless I check them.

 

[tpmchugh]

Hi Folks,
I am heading out from Ireland on the 14th of April to hike the Camino del Norte.
I noticed on the BBC documentary that some of them had bubble wrap around their rucksacks when they picked them up from the carousel at the airport. I am wondering if this is a requirement for Ryanair. My poles will be attached to the sides of the rucksack. Would appreciate any info as I have never hiked abroad before.
Thank you.

Not a requirement. There are bag protectors available to put your pack in that keeps the straps safe but you then have to carry it all the way. Mine weighs 0.4kg so leaving it at home this year. I will be using a big IKEA bag with two cheap luggage straps around it. Once in Biarritz, the IKEA bag goes in the trash. Apparently, similar bags can be purchased in Santiago for a couple of Euro which will get me home.

 

[dfox]

Air Canada provided a large plastic bag for my 45 L backpack and 2 "extendable", but not "folding", walking poles last April.

I was getting the plastic bag in YYZ with no time, but it took a while to get one in CDG.

By the way, if one plastic bag for the backpack and another one for the walking poles could be deemed a two checked-in charges.

The folks in the Compostela airport did not have the plastic bag for the backpack and poles. They shipped the two items separately without extra fee.

 

[Iriebabel]

Not a requirement. There are bag protectors available to put your pack in that keeps the straps safe but you then have to carry it all the way. Mine weighs 0.4kg so leaving it at home this year. I will be using a big IKEA bag with two cheap luggage straps around it. Once in Biarritz, the IKEA bag goes in the trash. Apparently, similar bags can be purchased in Santiago for a couple of Euro which will get me home.

My fold up duffle will hold my pack and items needed before and after the camino. I will be spending a couple days in Barcelona, one in Pamplona and also in Santiago. I will mailed the bag with those extra items to Casa Ivar upon arrival in Spain. Happy I won’t have to carry it with that brillant idea lol

 

[MikeyC]

I have used a builder's plastic rubble bag sealed with tape. Throw away on arrival. Spare bag for return serves as a pack liner. Take some spare tape wrapped around a piece of cardboard.

 

[lovingkindness]

Be careful about taking your poles. Not all airports have the same policy but I have had my poles refused now twice and consequently I am starting in Mérida this wee but not been able to get one in Seville. I am very short and use children's poles but Decathlon do not have any and the adult ones are too long or expensive given that I expect to have to ditch them in Madrid before flying home to Edinburgh.

Hello @Tamsin Grainger, I hiked across Sweden with a bamboo stick and a hiking pole. I accidentally trod on one of my Leki poles and it snapped. 5 minutes later I found a weathered bamboo stick in a ditch. It was surprisingly strong, lasting several months hiking before being discarded. A garden center in Madrid might sell bamboo poles.....

 

[SioCamino]

Hi, I've never checked in my backpack flying from Dublin. I've flown both Ryanair and Are Lingus and have brought walkings poles with me without any issues in Dublin Airport (but you cannot get them home via hand luggage from Spain or Porto). I know Ryanair have changed their hand luggage rule lately though but surely if your backpack is less than 10kilos and a reasonable size you should be ok for hand luggage?

 

[JillGat]

Are you sure your backpack won't fit onboard with you? I carry my pack onto the plane, but check my Pacerpoles (along with my Swiss army knife), which I wrap in bubble wrap. When leaving Spain, I go by on of those little China shops and get some more bubble wrap to send my poles home.

 

[Alan Tyson-Carter]

Definitely not a requirement but perhaps wise, bad things can happen if your pack isn't well protected with straps etc. under control as I discovered when my shredded pack turned up on the carousel in Milan a few years back.

BTW that wasn't bubblewrap, just clingfilm type stuff that for a (significant) fee you can have wrapped around you bag at many airports. I now favour the raincover (well actually double raincover) approach to cocoon my bag when checking it in.

I use cling film which I buy in any supermarket. It is cheaper than having it done in the airport and is effective in ensuring no straps get caught or damaged on the luggage carousel.

 

[Stephen F.]

Hi Folks,
I am heading out from Ireland on the 14th of April to hike the Camino del Norte.
I noticed on the BBC documentary that some of them had bubble wrap around their rucksacks when they picked them up from the carousel at the airport. I am wondering if this is a requirement for Ryanair. My poles will be attached to the sides of the rucksack. Would appreciate any info as I have never hiked abroad before.
Thank you.

I suppose some airlines might differ in their rules. I have checked my rucksack with my treking poles tied to the outside a number of times, including returning from 2 Caminos. Never had any trouble.

 

[Chris Gallacher]

I wrap my rucksack in cheap clingfilm. Is cheap, works a treat and is readily available for the return journey.