I would add a suggestion to put the Darwin in the tray with your mobile phone. I've done 3 trips with the Darwin, about 5 cities in China (I had the Darwin forwarded to me while I was on a long trip there), Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Had trouble in Indonesia but went smooth through China and KL. I caught a peek of the xray screen when going through KL and the Darwin looked a lot like my mobile phone. I
think if you lump it with the phone, it will be easier for security to dismiss it as a threat.
I like to use poly fill cartos when I hit airports. This is because there is no visible liquid. It varies per country, but in Asia, you can easily put liquids in your suitcase. So I put all my liquids there and just carry on 6-10 filled XL DC cartos. No need for quart ziplocks and no extra hassle. My goal in traveling is for no delays. Nothing to make security delay me.
Traveling is where PVs fail a bit in comparison to death sticks. You can buy death sticks anywhere. Used to travel with only a few packs and buy a few reams in duty free on the airplane. PVs are something if you get stuck, you are probably SOL. So I am with L2S, backups are key and Egos are the best.
I am of 2 minds about traveling with the Darwin. It is just as convenient as passthrough Ego batts (USB charge anywhere) and I don't really want to be without it. However, its a hole in my airport routine, as Indonesia showed. It is a question mark. I have done a few trips with my Ego batts and my Ego Booster and not had any trouble. Indeed, in Indonesia my Ego Booster and Ego batts were in my carry on and they didn't raise any eyebrows, only the Darwin did. Then there is also the issue of loss. When you travel the probability of loosing something increases. I can live with loosing an Ego battery or what have you but loosing the Darwin would be painful.
