Photography by Carrie Garcia and Katy Danca Galli

Dive travel is great. Traveling with dive gear, less so. In this era of tightening carry-on restrictions, escalating baggage fees and ever-changing security regulations, moving scuba gear through airports can be an exercise in frustration.

Over the years, divers have tried any number of tricks to expedite gear transport, ranging from the use of cheap, tattered suitcases that escape the notice of pilfering porters to shipping gear directly to the resort, and even turning themselves into human gear racks by wearing the majority of their dive kit onto the plane. Eventually, however, most travel vets embrace the concept of the dedicated dive-travel bag – just not that same bag they toted back in the day.

Much as airlines have streamlined their flight schedules and whittled away in-cabin amenities, so have gear-bag makers trimmed the weight and streamlined their designs. The latest crop of gear bags is not just lighter but also the ideal shape and size for easy handling.

Recently, the ScubaLab team examined a number of new travel bags, and singled out a representative ­cross-section for comparison and review. Comments and opinions are based on our more than 100 years of collective dive travel to places near and far.

Stahlsac Curacao Clipper
This premium roller bag delivers a winning combination of low weight, quality construction and a streamlined yet utilitarian design; it’s stable at rest, easy to tow and reinforced in all the right places. You’ll spend a bit more, but get what you pay for, an equation that earned this bag our Testers’ Choice. What We Liked: High-density poly-plastic “unibody” frame provides exemplary rigidity and stability; Cordura nylon fabric is both wear and water resistant; telescoping handle is wide and retracts below bag top; strong coil zippers and chafe-protected corners; wheels and hardware are user replaceable — or bag can be returned for service under lifetime warranty program. What We Didn’t: Adding a side handle would increase versatility.

Dimensions: 28" x 14" x 14"
Capacity: 109L/6,664 ci
Weight: 7.2 lbs.
MSRP: $260
stahlsac.com

Akona <10 Roller
A best seller for several years, this sleek, light and easy-rolling gear hauler is updated for 2012 with a more wear-resistant nylon fabric. The relatively wide, low-profile bag provides ample room for fins and BCs, while the overall package remains well within airline size and weight restrictions. What We Liked: Wide wheel stance increases stability; nylon coil zipper has repairable slider; reinforced piping and corners for wear resistance; corrosion-resistant coil zippers, utilitarian compression straps. What We Didn’t: Top handle might benefit from additional reinforcement.

Dimensions: 29.5" x 18" x 9"
Capacity: 78L/4,779 ci
Weight: 9.3 lbs.
MSRP: $211
akona.com

Armor Light Armor
Moves like a roller and packs like a duffel, delivering a solid combination of quality construction, value pricing and streamlined yet utilitarian design — a combination that earned this bag a Best Buy. What We Liked: Ample corner and base protection; sturdy handles on top, side and bottom; noncorrosive wheels, PK zippers and fastening hardware are all replaceable; optional extend-a-handle facilitates towing; optional full-bag cover sleeve deters theft and reduces wear; length accommodates longer fins (when packed inside). What We Didn’t: A bit harder to tow than bags with rigid, telescoping handles.

Dimensions: 30" x 16" x 13.5"
Capacity: 106L/6,480 ci
Weight: 6.2 lbs.
MSRP: $139
armorbags.com

TUSA Large Travel Roller
Substantial construction, understated design and a generous cargo capacity make this the luggage equivalent of a crossover SUV — a dual-purpose bag that can carry gear to the tropics, then clean up to deliver civilian attire to a sales conference. What We Liked: Wider-than-average stance enhances maneuverability and standing stability; large single compartment design incorporates a wrap-around stay for protection and ease of packing; subtle graphics don’t identify it as a dive bag; side-compression stays enhance security. Liner removes for cleaning. What We Didn’t: Rigid design means higher initial weight.

Dimensions: 26" x 18" x 13"
Capacity: 100L/6,100 ci
Weight: 10.2 lbs.
MSRP: $189
tusa.com

Cressi Moby Light
Keeping it simple allows this full-size, single-compartment bag to weigh in at under seven pounds, yet still deliver the capacity and ease of transport expected from a dive roller. What We Liked: Large single compartment is long enough to accommodate a majority of fins; padding and lining provide reasonable degree of rigidity and protection; zipper-enclosed telescope handle forces porters to use adjacent soft handle; wheels are replaceable. What We Didn’t: Graphics signal “dive gear inside”; lighter external fabric may be more susceptible to tearing; exposed fasteners on inside bottom should be covered to reduce snag potential.

Dimensions: 30" x 16.5" x 12.5"
Capacity: 85L/5,190 ci
Weight: 6.4 lbs.
MSRP: $168
cressi.com

Aqua Lung T8 Roller Duffel
Aqua Lung’s new tour series weighs in several pounds lighter than the company’s popular Excursion line, yet delivers similar capacity and utility. The T8 rolling duffel is a no-nonsense bag that loads, tows and stows easily, delivering a generous capacity while remaining within checked bag size requirements. What We Liked: Substantial, corrosion-resistant coil zippers, strap/handle combination provides multiple transport options; corners are reinforced for wear resistance. What We Didn’t: Single, central telescoping handle provides less towing stability than dual-rail systems.

Dimensions: 31" x 14" x 13"
Capacity: 92.5L/5,642 ci
Weight: 7.1 lbs.
MSRP: $199
aqualung.com

Scubapro Caravan
A robust roller/duffel hybrid with a relatively narrow profile and an ample helping of reinforcement; this bag can go right from the luggage cart to the dive boat, making it a good choice for divers who do both local excursions and airline travel. What We Liked: Top-quality materials and construction; padding and internal stays create rigidity to ease packing; primary zipper has loop fittings for TSA locks.What We Didn’t: Narrower-set wheel decrease towing stability; 10-pound bag weight; side-fin pockets are unnecessary.

Dimensions: 28" x 14" x 14"
Capacity: 82L/5,000 ci
Weight: 10.7 lbs.
MSRP: $216
scubapro.com

DUI Roller Bag
Expansion capabilities allow this outsized cargo bag to accommodate the bulkiest of drysuits and undergarments, though even when cinched down to a 12-inch height it offers more than enough capacity for the accoutrements of cold-water diving. What We Liked: Compression straps keep bulky fabric cargos in check; square, single-compartment design maximizes capacity; substantial wheels to handle heavy loads; designed to piggyback a matching backpack. What We Didn’t: Seam piping at base a potential wear point; compression strap retainers create a bit of “fumble factor” if bag must be opened for fast inspection.

Dimensions: 31.5" x 16" x 16"
Capacity: 132L/8,060 ci
Weight: 8.8 lbs.
MSRP: $198
dui-online.com

Fourth Element Travel f.Light Manta
An ultralight alternative to roller bags, and an upgrade for divers who prefer straightforward duffel bags, this sturdy carryall features expedition-tough construction, generous capacity and simple, sturdy carry options that include detachable shoulder/backpack straps. What We Liked: Welded, waterproof seams; ultralight yet tough construction; use of enviro-friendly TPU fabric. What We Didn’t: You’ll have to shoulder the load; capacity is a bit generous for tropic travel.

Dimensions: 31" x 16" x 14"
Capacity: 115L/7,070 ci
Weight: 2.1 lbs.
MSRP: $150
fourthelement.com