Purchase a bag that is six inches / 15 centimeter (5. 9 in) longer than your longest board; this additional length leaves room for cushioning. Consider how many boards you’ll be traveling with on this trip and in the future. Obtain a bag that will accommodate your needs. Board bags are available with compartments that enable you to carry more than one board safely. Think about what kind of bag would be most convenient to travel with. For example, you may wish to get a bag with wheels so that it’s easier to bring with you through long airport queues and getting and from your accommodations. A plastic hardcover board bag will be most effective at protecting your board, but also the most heavy and bulky luggage to travel with.
Wrap the removed fins in a towel and keep them with your board, along with the fin key. If you forget the fin key, your efforts are in vain, so double check it is in there before zipping up. If you have standard fins, place a fin box around the fins to protect them. Fin boxes are not expensive, but if necessary, you can make your own by using polystyrene blocks - ask for these at electrical stores and warehouses.
Cut a slit down one side of the pipe insulation. Secure the insulation to the railings with duct tape or shrink wrap.
If you’re using pipe insulation for the rails, you can use it to reinforce the nose and tail as well. Secure with duct tape or shrink wrap. Cut a “bend relief” notch at the center of the nose and tail so that the insulation doesn’t bunch up. You can also run insulation along the center of the board for additional protection.
If you’re packing more than one board, there are a few different ways you can arrange them: If the fins are removed, place the the largest board on the bottom, with all boards facing the same direction and the rockers running the same way. If the fins aren’t removable, place each board nose to tail all deck up, to even out the bulge from the fins and fin blocks on each side of the bag (rockers still run in the same direction). An alternative is to offset each board in the bag, but this is only convenient with two boards and an extra long bag. Lay both boards deck down in the same direction; put the largest board on the bottom and stagger the next.
