Travel Tying Kit

Work is going to put me on an airplane weekly for the next couple of years. I'd rather not spend my away nights doing any more work than I have to - and watching TV is only slightly better than working.

So, I need to find a decent travel kit to tie flies instead. I've used a home-made travel kit before, but was wondering what you regular traveler/tiers use.

I've seen pictures of the Fishpond Coyote kit and it seems to be along the lines of what I'm thinking: compact, room for enough materials for a couple of nights tying, a shoulder strap to carry. Price seems a bit steep, though.

Any thoughts?

I use and please try hard not to laugh a traveling soft case for a laptop computer. Lots of pockets and places to put things. Have carried enough stuff to last for months

I've been using the BW sports tying bag for about a year. It's less than half the cost of the Fishpond and holds a surprising amount of materials. It uses heavy duty zip lock compartments. I imagine the zip locks will fail eventually and the tool pouch isn't great. Otherwise it's functional and a great value.

I use a Craftsman tool bag with a zipper on top and several pockets on the inside. I've used it on 4 occasions and have had no problems. I bought it at a flea market last year for $2 without any idea of what I'd use it for but knew it would be good for something.

I use a soft tackle bag. Mine is a Bass Pro model but you can also find them from other sellers such as Plano or Cabelas, for example. Mine is probably too big or at least too overloaded for a lot of air travel but these soft bags come in many sizes. I use small hard plastic plano boxes and plastic bags inside to keep things organized (yeah, right). Mine can hold my Ott Lite, Montana mongoose vise in plastic case, extension cord, and anything I could possibly want to use to tie. It has a carry handle and a shoulder strap and several outside pockets.

I too travel for a living (5 nights a week in a hotel). I have gone through various iterations of tying kits from Tackle Box bags (soft side bags) to even trying an airline pilots chart case. I finally settled on a laptop case as previously mentioned. I try to pre-plan what I'm going to tie for the next week and pack those materials and hooks. Of course, I also carry some generic tying materials in case I get creative (or bored). The best thing was findng a computer tool kit zippered pouch to put my vise and tools into. I friend who also ties and travels found a zippered ladies makeup bag that he puts his tools into and it tucks into his laptop case. The next best idea I can pass along is to transfer materials into ziplock baggies - saves lots of rooms. I do carry TONS of hooks with me, I went to the craft store and bought bead boxes that have 24 compartments and a safety-latch so you can't dump the contents out by accident. I carry my entire collection of hooks, but watch what tying materials I bring along so I don't lug the kitchen sink with me.

Oh, use a pedestal vise, if not you get quite creative clamping a vise in a hotel room.

After struggling to find room for my stuff in a travel bag for several years, I just carry stuff in a couple of small duffle bags.

My wife got a FishPond Coyote from Santa. That thing holds an amazing amount of tying supplies, neat and orderly (until I start digging around in it), and a very well thought out design. Now I want want one(Gonna have to tell Mrs. Santa).

The price is a little steep, butI think it's money well spent if you travel and tie a lot.

REE

Thanks for all of your responses. Lots of very good ideas. Now to pick one......