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Been spending some quality time with our Pelican bags, trying to configure the kits to make sure that everything crucial gets to Nepal in one piece, and that we can carry all the really key stuff on the planes with us.

To that end, I’ve been configuring our two Pelican 1510 carry-on sized roller bags. These are killer bags. You give up a little space (compared to a roller bag of less robust construction, but what you lose in size you gain in bombproof security. Well, let’s not jinx it by using quite those terms. But these bags are TOUGH.

Packing the Canon XH-A1 into one was a priority, and I didn’t know how much more stuff I’d be able to get in there. I think I did a pretty good job–fitting…

• XHA1 camera with lenshood
• Canon Wide angle lens and hood
• Charger and two BP970G batteries
• Five tapes plus a cleaning cassette
• Two sets of Sennheiser EW100G2 wireless mic radios
• Two Audio Technica AT899 wired lavalier mic power modules
• Two AT899 lavalier microphones (we use a custom cable to connect these to the Sennheiser for better sound than the Senn lav that shipped with the wireless kit)
• A little box of lav goodies–wind protection and mounting do-dads (Rycote Undercover / Overcover / Stickies are great)
• An AKG SE300b power module and CK93 Blue Line hypercardioid micrphone mounted in a K-Tek shock mount
• An AKG CK98 shotgun mic capsule inside a Rycote Softie
• Short, medium and long XLR cables, plus cables for the wireless kits to feed the camera
• Eight rechargeable AA cell batteries
• A case of all manner of little A/V solutioning cables. 

I never thought I’d be able to put that much kit into one bag that size. I think I have a reasonable handle on how stuff travels, and I think I was careful about making sure stuff has enough padding/insulation. Still, I hope nothing eats itself or its neighbor for lunch on the long plane rides ahead.