Backpack Airplane Sack Tutorial

We have these great Osprey backpacks we're taking to Costa Rica.  They have plenty of storage, hefty zippers, interesting pockets, and lots of straps.   Straps on backpacks are good. Straps stuck in airline conveyor belts -- not so good. 

Since we need to check these bags, we had to find some way to corral the straps.  We drove all over town, checked online, and almost ended up spending $40 each on duffle bags made specifically for our packs, but instead we got a tip from someone to try the feed store.  Yep, the feed store.  Who needs a fancy duffle when you can spend $0.65 on a large feed bag/grain sack?

It was pretty easy to transform these beauties into simple covers for our packs.  So, I thought I'd share the project with you.  It saved us $80, so I think it was worth it!  

This is a "no sew" project, which is perfect for me.  The grommets were actually my Mother-in-Law's idea, and she did most of the work.  But I helped!  And I took pictures, so that has to count for something.  Thank you, Mary-Lynn! 

What you'll need for each sack: 
1 Feed Bag
8 Grommets (1/4" diameter)
Grommet kit
Straight pins (about 8)
Hammer
Scissors
1 padlock 

First, turn the feed bag inside out and fold the top edge over twice, using straight pins to hold it together.  (Note to self: the next time you use a feed bag, rinse it out first! I had feed dust all over myself by the time we were done... at least, I hope it was feed dust... is that even a thing?)  You can use the pins as place markers for your grommets.  Adjust them so you have eight pins evenly spaced around the edge and across from each other.

Next, use the grommet kit to pound grommets around the edge next to each pin.  (The grommet kit has two steps: 1. Cut holes with the "hole-pounder thingamajig" 2. Attach grommets with the "grommet pounder" pieces.  The scissors are to help cut out the holes because our hole-pounder was a little dull.)

From there it was a simple process of pressing the sides together and threading the lock through the grommets to close the bag.

Our backpacks fit in the sacks nicely, and the TSA locks held everything together. (Apparently TSA locks are the way to go these days, if you don't want your lock destroyed in airport security.  We got ours cheap at Target).

The only other thing we might add is a luggage strap around the middle for easier carrying.  All in we spent $1.30, because we already had the grommet kit.

There you have it!  Your very own No-Sew Backpack Airplane Sack!  Happy Travels!

***UPDATE***
We measured our grain sacks when the backpacks were empty. Heh. Heh. Yeah... obvious, right?  Well, sure enough when we got them packed, they no longer fit in our awesome Airplane Sacks.  Which is lame!  But, not the end of the world.  We are looking for some big laundry bags tomorrow... or we might just end up buying the Osprey Airporter.

Oh, and we leave tomorrow morning, driving to Minnesota, then fly to Costa Rica on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (it's a red-eye flight).  So I'll probably post once more before we leave.

We are feeling good, and just rushing to get everything packed! Speaking of which, I should get back to that.  
Cheers!
Lisa

***FYI: This is not a paid advertisement.  Osprey does not know who I am, and they didn't pay me to say nice things about their bags, we just happen to love them!***