traveling w/external frame backpack

My son will be flying from California to Indiana this summer and will need to take his backpack. He has an external frame Mckinley II. What is the best way to get his backpack to Indiana? We also have the option of shipping it ahead of time.

Two options- box it up and ship by UPS/FedEx or take as check-in luggage. If you take it as luggage, I'd put it in a cheap duffle bag to protect the straps, pockets, etc. from catching on anything while it is being transported on conveyor belts, etc.

I would choose the FedEx pre-ship route, if it were me. FedEx Ground is surprisingly cheap (less than UPS Ground in many cases, and faster). Both FedEx and UPS are a lot more gentle than the airline gorillas.

That said, I have taken external frame packs on air flights many times with no problems, though I have seen other people's externals come out with serious bends. I would certainly put the pack in an inexpensive, but tough, duffel (you can get the military heavy-duty duffels fairly inexpensively). This protects the straps at the least - they won't catch and thus won't twist the pack on the conveyer belt so it gets forced cross-wise. I have taken my internal frame packs this way as well for the past 10 years or so with no problems. Filling the pack with clothing might provide a bit of padding as well.

I spent 6 years working for an airline at the airport (I'm now in mgt) and I've never seen an external get damaged. Wet, but not damaged. I remember helping our rampers offload a jet once and had some boy scout troup on it, and they were smart and put them in huge, thick garbage bags. I was actually at the counter when they checked in for their return and was talking to the scout master & guess they had no damage w/ their packs. They were mainly Jansport Scout/Rainier and Kelty Yukon packs...

So... I'd recommend checking in early and putting some padding to it and risking it with the airlines.

I'm with Bill. FedEx ground.

Make sure to get your own box and pack it yourself.

I frequently ship and receive 6' x 2' (10-15lbs) wakesurf boards between Calif & Florida. The price for that size box usually runs around $35.00 and is delivered in about 4 days - even on a Saturday.

The backpack will be much less in price. Put it in as small a box as possible.