I’m flying to Japan for class next year. How should I transport my tools?—Shakti
The Line is an advice column, with perspectives gathered through working and reporting with professional craftspeople.
This is a great question. Since I live in one of the most remote places in the world, I’ve had experience flying with tools to California, Oregon, Idaho, Maine, Japan, several times through the years to take and teach classes, and work with dozens or even hundreds of pounds of equipment. Many people travel with tools wrapped in clothing, in regular suitcases, hard and soft. This works just fine.
I prefer to travel with Pelican cases. Specifically, I favor Colorcase Pelicans, making each one easily identifiable when I am traveling with a stack. They aren't cheap, but there's never a question of if my tools will safe, or if someone will be stabbed because a blindingly sharp edge through the wall of a suitcase. Depending on the type of work, I have tried many but favor three cases, all from the lighter-weight Air series, all with wheels: