How to Pack and Protect a Snowboard for a Flight

Last Updated: March 28, 2022 References

There’s nothing better than a trip to the slopes for some snowboarding. If you have to get on a plane, then getting all your gear to your destination, especially your board, might seem a little tricky. Luckily, it’s a lot easier than you might think. It just takes the right bag and some careful packing. Then you can check your bag without having to worry about it and have all your gear ready for you when you arrive.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Packing a Snowboard Bag

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Get a snowboard bag for your trip. If you're flying with a snowboard, you'll have to check it instead of carrying it on. A specialized snowboard bag is the best choice for protection and storage space. Pros recommend getting a bag with wheels. This is much easier to lug around an airport and get to your destination with, especially since the bag will probably weigh around 50 lb (23 kg) when it’s all packed. You can get the right bag from a sporting goods store or website.^{[1]
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- Wheeled bags are more expensive, and will cost $30-50 more than a non-wheeled bag. Pros say this extra price is definitely worth it.
- You have a choice between a soft and hard case. Soft cases are fine for most of your needs, as long as they have plenty of padding. If you have a very expensive board and want extra protection, then a hard case might be worth it for you.^{[2]
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- Always verify the airline's bag policies before getting a bag and packing. All airlines have different rules about size and weight for checked bags, and you don't want to get hit with extra charges.
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Lay the board face-up in the bag. Open up your snowboard bag. Lay the snowboard down so the bottom of the board rests evenly on the bottom of the bag.^{[3]
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- This system works no matter what type of bag you use. The snowboard always goes in first.
- Some bags have a pocket for a second board if you want to bring one. Remember that this will probably make the bag overweight, and some airlines will charge you extra if you bring 2 boards.
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Put your boots on top of the board at the bottom of the bag. Boots are usually the heaviest items in the bag besides the snowboard, so your bag will be easier to carry with that weight at the bottom. Lay them sideways on top of the board so they take up as little space as possible.^{[4]
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- Some bags have a pocket on the outside for boots. You can also store your boots in there.
- Travelers have mixed opinions on what to do with your boots while you travel. Some like putting them in the snowboard bag, some like storing them in a boot bag and carrying them on the plane. It’s up to you, so choose the option you’re most comfortable with.^{[5]
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Stack any other items or gear along the top of your board. You might also be packing extra clothes, a helmet, gloves, socks, goggles, and a jacket. All these items can go along the top of the board. Lay everything along the board in neat stacks so all your gear is in one place.^{[6]
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- Fold any larger items like clothes or jackets tightly. This way, you’ll be able to save as much space as possible.
- Some snowboard bags have extra pockets or compartments for smaller items like socks or gloves. You can store your extra gear in these spots too.
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Zip the bag up to seal it. Once all your gear is packed, close the top flap of the bag. Zip it up to seal all your gear safely.^{[7]
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- For extra security, slide both zippers all the way to one side of the bag instead of letting them meet in the middle. Your bag is more likely to open accidentally if you close it like that.
- If you can’t get the bag zipped, then it might be too full. Try pushing everything down to make space, or re-packing if you still can’t close it.
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Weigh your bag to make sure you’re within the airline’s restrictions. Double check your bag’s weight when you’re all packed to make sure it’s not too heavy. Otherwise, you could get surprised with an expensive extra fee while you’re checking your bag. If it’s too heavy, take some items out and carry them on instead to drop the weight.^{[8]
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- A good way to reduce the weight of your bag is taking your boots out and carrying them on instead. This should get your bag below the weight limit.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Tricks to Save Space

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Remove the snowboard bindings if you need extra room. Most snowboard bags can fit the board with the foot bindings attached. However, they’re stuck in place, so you might not be able to pack as compactly as possible. If you’re packing a lot, then remove the bindings before putting the snowboard in the bag. Then you can store them somewhere else in the bag for extra room.^{[10]
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- Removing the bindings is easy. Simply lift the pads at the base of the bindings and remove the screws to take them off.
- Be sure you store all of the screws safely so you can put the bindings back on when you’re ready to ride.
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Wrap some of your clothes around your board to save space. Clothes can take up a lot of space if you stack them on top of the board. Instead, try saving some space by wrapping some clothes around the board before putting it in the bag. This can give you just a little extra room for more small items.^{[11]
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- As a bonus, this gives your board a little more padding to protect it during the flight. This is helpful if your bag doesn’t have a lot of padding.
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Wear some of your bulkier or heavy items on the plane. Thick jackets or clothes can take up a lot of room in your bag. If you don’t have extra space, then wear them on the plane with you. You might be a little uncomfortable, but it beats getting charged for an extra checked bag.^{[12]
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- You can also roll these items up and throw them in your carry-on.
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Stuff soft items into your boots or snowboard bindings. You might not realize it, but there’s a lot of storage space in your boots and bindings! It’s easy to stuff socks, hats, or gloves into these spots to save even more room in the bag.^{[13]
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- If your boots are old, put these items in plastic bags first. You don’t want them to start smelling during the flight.
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Store your goggles or other small items in your helmet. Goggles could get knocked around or damaged during the flight. To protect them, put them in your helmet. Then add other soft items like socks or gloves to cushion the goggles and keep them in place. This protects your gear and saves space at the same time.^{[14]
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