Introduction
When I moved to South Korea in 2007, I left behind some good friends. Among the toughest to part with were my trusty K2 Pontoon skis.
I continue to live in South Korea to this day, and for the past 15 years, I have been frustrating myself with rental gear.
No longer!
It made absolutely no sense to lug a pair of the oldest, fattest powder skis on the planet to a country that sees very little “powder.” I wanted to do it anyway.
I’m not a rational man.
So when I recently returned home to Colorado, I decided to bring my Pontoons back to Korea with me. To do so, I would need to purchase a quality, padded ski bag meant for air travel.
I considered several options, which I will explore here, but ultimately chose the Sukoa Premium Padded Ski Bag for Air Travel.
For my needs and budget, it was the perfect choice.
What follows is a review of my recent purchase of the Sukoa Premium Padded Ski Bag for Air Travel.
Sukoa Premium Padded Ski Bag Review
Price
I purchased my Sukoa Padded Ski Bag on Amazon for $59.99. Now that I’m back in Korea writing this review, it is priced at $41.97.
Go figure.
I guess ski season is coming to an end and prices are dropping. Strike while the iron’s hot!
I think it’s safe to say that depending on when you make your purchase, the price should generally be between $40 and $60.
Pros
Cons
For what I needed and expected, there were very few, but as we explore a few other products, you should choose the bag that is right for you. Here are a few cons that did not apply to me:
Video Review
Alternative Choices
TOURIT Rolling Ski and Boot Bag Combo
Price
The TOURIT Rolling Ski and Boot Bag Combo is priced on Amazon at $199.99.
Obviously, this is a step-up in price from the Sukoa. However, it may be worth the money if you consider a few things.
Description
This really is an all-in-one ski equipment bag. It fits two pairs of skis, has room for a helmet, and has plenty of room for ski clothes. It also comes with an unattached boot bag.
Did I mention that it also has wheels? Well, it does.
As earlier stated, for my trip from Colorado to South Korea, I was able to pack my ski boots in my suitcase and could free up space by packing my ski clothes and my t-shirts around my skis in the Sukoa bag.
However, if you want a rolling ski bag with a separate boot bag, this would be a great option.
I’m not going to lie; having the ability to roll it with wheels on one end would have been nice, but I wasn’t willing to pay an extra $100+ for the luxury.
Honestly, if price wasn’t a factor for me, this is the option I would have chosen.
This bag may be for you if:
GoHimal Ski and Boot Bag Combo
Price
The GoHimal Ski and Boot Bag Combo is a comparable-priced alternative to the Sukoa, and it comes with an additional boot and gear travel bag. It is currently priced at $49.99.
Description
At a comparable price to the Sukoa, I did consider the GoHimal. The real selling point would have been the boot bag, with the large compartment for gear.
However, as I mentioned, my usual suitcase has a lower compartment that isn’t meant for ski boots, but it works quite well. So the boot bag wasn’t a driving factor for me.
I was also constrained to two pieces of checked luggage for my international flight, so the extra boot bag may not have even made the cut.
If I was just looking for a bag combo for everyday life (rather than international travel), I may have considered this one further.
However, just using the “eye test” on the product images, the actual ski bag didn’t seem to compete with the sturdy and roomy Sukoa.
Perhaps it is just an illusion from the product picture, but the GoHimal ski bag appears much flatter and less sturdy.
Remember, I needed to transport my K2 Pontoons (see earlier picture), so strength and girth were important to me.
Get your minds out of the gutter, people!
Placed next to the Sukoa and the Tourit, I wouldn’t recommend the GoHimal for the ski bag.
GoHimal Boot and Gear Backpack
However, now that I’m safely back in Korea with my skis in tote, poking around on the Internet for this review, something that I really might consider is the GoHimal Ski Boot Backpack.
After throwing a little shade at your ski bag, my apologies, GoHimal; I was not familiar with your boot backpack game.
Thule Roundtrip Ski Bag
Price
If you really want a top-of-the-line piece of name-brand ski luggage, one final consideration is the Thule Roundtrip Ski Bag, currently priced at $239.52
Description
I can’t in good faith recommend this option for two reasons.
If those two things don’t apply to you, it looks darn nice, holds two pairs of skis, and has plenty of room for gear.
It also has a nice pair of wheels, making it a great option for air travel.
Conclusion
I said it in the introduction, and writing this review hasn’t changed my mind.
The Sukoa Premium Padded Ski Bag was the perfect choice for me. I couldn’t be happier with the purchase.
My skis made it to Korea, and the bag’s sturdy materials came through without a scratch. I was able to balance out the weight of my two checked bags by packing my ski pants, t-shirts, and socks in with the skis.
Wheels, admittedly, would have been nice, and if I had bigger plans than this one trip, I might have sprung for the TOURIT rolling bag.
Two days after arriving in Korea, I packed them back into their padded bag and took a road trip up north (no, not that far) to High1 Resort.
The powder gods rewarded my effort!
Next season, Japan is calling, and I’m confident that the Sukoa and my Pontoons will enjoy the ride.
Questions?
If you have questions, please join my free Facebook group and community. I’m happy to answer you there!
