Best skate bag for travel
I only fly a couple times a year. I used to bring my skateboard with me as a carry on, but with laptops, camera bags and especially kids, it became more of a hassle than it was worth, so I began to look for skate bag options. I had one of those old Thrasher bags that were essentially oversized duffle bags from back in the day, but the zipper crapped out. It wasn’t very heavy duty and didn’t inspire great confidence as far as aiport travel. Enter the Body Bag from Old Man Army. It’s oversized enough to fit multiple skateboards and gear. In fact, mine is packed right now with my board, my kid’s board, my helmet and pads, and his helmet, plus my clothes. OMA really researched this before they had them made. They aren’t just some random bag rebranded as a skate bag. It’s got a million pockets, tie downs and straps, including a removable shoulder strap. There two spots on the bottom where you can unzip and poke your trucks through the bottom of the bag if you want. The inside looks like a space suit. They researched the maximum dimensions for luggage and made this thing as big as possible without falling into the oversized category. The zipper is heavy duty. and it opens super wide while still retaining it’s shape. I’ve had mine for a while now, made a bunch of cross country flights with connections, and it still looks as brand new as the day I got it. I can’t recommend this thing enough. Get yours from Old Man Army. Oh yeah, I’m headed to Florida. Spring Break! Whoo hoo!
You stuffed a hirsute hog into this bag and actually got it on the plane? I want one.
Wheels? I almost picked this one up a couple of years ago but opted for a 35″ rolling duffle from REI instead. As far as padding, pockets, dimensions, etc., the OMA one looks perfect, but my old man back needs wheels.
Not just a hog, but some of those burly ant pads as well.
I think OMA makes one of those where there are slots for your trucks and wheels to stick out of the bottom of the bag, solving the roller issue. Not sure. Also, can’t wait to see the Kilwag Gone Wild coverage from the Florida Spring break adventure.
There are zippers on the bottom of the body bag where the trucks and wheels stick out allowing you to roll the bag. The shoulder strap comes apart allowing you to pull the bag.
We will no longer be carrying these bags with the OMA name on them and moving forward all old and new bag styles will be from a company called Decent Hardware. Look for shops to be carrying them around June-July.
Ah…very clever. I see now that Kilwag did mention this in his review. I’ll keep an eye out for the new bags this summer.
Does it fit in overhead storage or do you have to check it under the plane?
Are you going to skate Kona when you’re in FLorida? There is going to be a large group of hopeless old men on skateboards skating Kona on March 26 and 27.
I have this bag too and love it. Although the wheel slots on the bottom didn’t work out for me. You pretty much just drag the bag around but since I check it I don’t consider it an issue. Overall it’s a great bag, super heavy duty and you can cram a lot of stuff in there.
They should call it the Gator Bag.
Decent Hardware makes a smaller version as well called the “Park Bag” which also has backpack straps. I have used one of the OMA park bags and it was AWESOME! I did check it, but it was easy to wear as a backpack through the airport. DH also makes laptop bags. DH like OMA is 100% Skater owned and operated!
the park bag rules, its a bit more airport friendly as far a size, but you can extend the ends if need be. built like a freakin’ tank too.
but it says old man army on it.
I always thought there should be a comic book superhero called Oldman
Where you going to Kilwag? Email me.. asap. I fly out also to Orlando area, but will have transpo. Where is that Bowl!? not the Bro Bowl.. Lol but might go there too!!!! Werd up JM
I have a decent hardware park bag and its fantastic. Its the little touches that make the difference, like a clip for your car keys, a secure holder for your phone, straps for your board that actually work! It even extends if you want to carry a longboard. Jonno who runs the company is a skater and is always off travelling so really understands what people want from a bag. Check out his website at http://www.decenthardware.com/ which is soon to be updated I believe or his facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40499816064
Not trying to sound like an advert I just really rate his stuff.
I owned one of them and i was not very happy with it. The zipper broke during my first travel and the idea to put your trucks through the bottom of the bag is not working when the bag is full packed.
Yeah the bag looks exactly like my friend, Juno’s (from UK) brand called decent hardware. Juno and OMA owner is closed friends i guess. So no doubt of the similarity of the bag
I dunno man. $150? That’s awful steep for a bag.
YEah, it’s pricey, but it’s well crafted and meant to last. I’ve had cheap suitcases crap out after one (!) flight and a trip to the baggage return. Over the life of the bag, I’d say it’s well worth it if you fly regularly with a skateboard. It’s always been a bit of a hassle, but now it’s one less thing I have to worry about.
To answer your question Doc, the body bag is not carry on luggage, it must be checked.
@ Brad, Well it looks like the new ones won’t have the OMA logo. You can always cover it up if you want.
@boy ipoh – Jonno made them for OMA. But the bags are now becoming his own brand, Decent Hardware.
Let me clear up a few things here. A few years back, Decent Hardware had made a skateboard bag, but had no way of getting the bag out to the public. OMA put our label onto the bags and sold them to the public.
Down the road the park bag was introduced which was a combo of both Jonno and OMA’s input/ideas.
DH is now trying to branch off into it’s own company away from the OMA label. I have quite a few years of my time invested into these bags, so I will not be completely stepping away..but will be the main rep for DH in Canada and the US.
There’s also another bag which OMA came up with and that was to do a bag at the same size as the old Alva bag, but to make it better constructed. This price point bag will retail around $65 USD.
We will hopefully have the bags into the US shops around June/July.
i am seriously enjoying the irony of someone who writes a column about old skateboards selling for thousands of dollars claiming the asking price for ANYTHING is “awful steep”
Well, the bag’s not a classic yet, and the graphic doesn’t really “pop” in that colorway.
Why? If Santa Cruz issues a deck today that costs $150 I’d say that was expensive too. The price of a 30 year collectible (of which there might only be handful in existence) doesn’t really come into it.
An old Nintendo game sold on ebay recently for $13,105. Does that put things into perspective for you?