Carrying All of This Stuff?

[SpaceCadet65]

Hi All-

This seems like a silly question. But I recently purchased a Sky-Watcher Evostar 72 and an Orion Sky View Pro mount. While the scope came in a nifty aluminum case, I now have all of these pieces that need to be stored and carried in an organized and safe way. Then there are the eyepieces, and hopefully soon a camera, and cables. Does anyone have any recommendations for reasonably priced tripod bags, cases for the tracking mount, counterweights, and all of the other various gear? What's your strategy for storing and keeping everything organized so it is accessible in the dark, and nothing gets left behind?

Also, if you have any pictures of your astro-luggage/organizers, that would be really helpful.

Thanks!

Glen

[helicon]

I searched Harbor Freight "case" and came up with a number of carrying case designs to haul stuff around, including eyepieces camera and whatnot, soft foam interior that you can customize to fit your gear snugly.

[SkyHiker]

I have small plastic container for each set of accessories (eyepieces, camera, autoguider, mount, collimation). Each of these go into a plastic tote. I don't use anything for protection just throw it all in there. Works great, I never forge anything and is space efficient.

[SpaceCadet65]

Michael-

That's a great idea - the foam lined cases. Maybe look at that for the mount as the tracking motors look pretty vulnerable to getting knocked about. SkyHiker's suggestion of the plastic bins is good to for the small stuff.

Thanks guys!

[gregl]

I, too, use Horrible Fright cases and toolboxes, as well as an old gym bag. The tripod flies naked.

One of our club members says the hobby is not about astronomy. It's about carrying cases.

[JayTee]

I'll put this out here before Bryan does. It's a handy device to have and it collapses flat it's great for moving stuff around.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail- ... iIQAvD_BwE

Cheers,
JT

[pakarinen]

I have a small Apache pluck foam case for my EPs from Harbor and a larger one for my ST80. I recommend them.

I don't have tripod bags / cases, but some people use microphone stand or musical instrument cases or bags. Never really looked, so not sure what might be a good deal.

[Jay6821]

Like JayTee I also have a collapsible wagon I picked up on Amazon. My wife liked it so much for her photography hobby that we ended up buying a second wagon for her.

Not only is it a great way to transport equipment, but I also put stuff in there during the night as I observe, lens caps, binoculars, whatever, so I don't need to worry about leaving anything behind in the dark when I finish for the night.

[Lowjiber]

... Also, if you have any pictures of your astro-luggage/organizers, that would be really helpful.

I've used one of these for years...
https://www.wood-wonders.com/eyepiece/

Here's mine ready to go to the desert...

Clear, Dark Skies

[musiclucho]

Provisionally, I have a small suitcase that holds my OTA (SCT), EQ mount Head, RACI and some of the mount parts. I could have put foam in between but the way I carry it, does not call for additional protection.

[OzEclipse]

Neewer make reasonably priced long bags in a range of sizes up to 35" suitable for smaller tripods or refractors. The 21" bag costs about USD8.00 and fits my ED80 perfectly.
This is a link to a range of Neewer photo bags including some of the long bags.
https://tinyurl.com/ttej3pv

When I started out and only had a few 1.25" eyepieces, they all travelled in a wooden card file box with a foam inlay that I cut with a utility knife. As the collection grew I had to make new arrangements.

For many years now, my 1.25" eyepieces travel in a cheap plastic divider box (screw organizer) that I bought from the hardware. It is about halfway between the size of an A4 and A3 page. If it fits in the compartment neat, I use little to no padding. If the partition is too big, I'll use a small piece of foam next to it to stop it rattling around. Each partition is only just over 1.25" deep so no padding under the eyepieces.

In the last five years I have acquired a number of 2" eyepieces including some Nagler "hand grenades" [31mm and 17mm Naglers] These 2" eyepieces are all camera lens sized and so I carry them in a small padded camera bag insert.
https://tinyurl.com/vdvtyxd


My 8" cassegrain travels loose on the back seat held in place by my padded freezer suit

My EM200 equatorial head just sits loose in the trunk but travels laying on a folded old woollen blanket to protect it from the bumps with nothing on top.

The large wood tripod for my EM-200 mount and a large Manfrotto 475 tripod both travel in the roof boot not wrapped in anything padded but the base of the roof boot has a blue tarp and foam camping mat on the bottom.

I have another camera padded bag that holds hand paddles, sky fi, cables, APPS polar alignment laser, spare batteries, etc.

I see some people here and on other forums have hard padded cases for everything. If I put everything in large hard cases with loads of padding around it, I'd need an small truck to transport it. I have a small Ford Focus. My regular observing site is 75km from home so the gear travels back and forth regularly.

Joe

[Cookie]

After I got a case from Harbor freight, I went to Home Depot and picked up a collapsible hand truck to lug everything around.

[pakarinen]

Another thought - get a plastic toolbox and some extruded foam insulation (green, blue or pink), not the white beadboard stuff. Cut foam to fit box and add cutouts for EPs and such.

Not as soft as pluck foam, but pretty inexpensive.