Yeah shipping would defiantly be preferable, but my travel schedule is subject to change. My stuff ends up in a one state and I end up having to go somewhere else it'd be an expensive trip to the supply house! My work pays for all baggage fee's, so worrying about multiple checked / over weight isn't a huge concern (would like to just be multiple checked). I may end up getting one of these http://badbags.com/store/duffel-p-33.html for my clothes and sticking my equipment in my eagle creek bag, http://shop.eaglecreek.com/orv-trunk-30/d/1016 . I use a Tom Bihn Aeronaut (http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/500/TB0906) for carry on it works great if anyone is looking for a new carry on.