Walking sticks or cane and TSA?

Cane yes.

Hiking sticks, maybe. Do they have the metal tip under the rubber tip?

Here is what the TSA websites says - and it says no to hiking poles. Put both hiking poles and canes in the search box.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

I walk with a Leki brand cane/stick. It is not a hiking pole. It looks like a cane but it’s quite sporty.

It has a rubber tip - not metal.

It has gone with me as a carry on through many many countries and US airports and I have never been asked a single question about it. I do not walk with it in the airports - it is always collapsed down to its smallest size and slipped into the handle of my carryon.

Do you feel lucky? I ‘ve had hiking poles confiscated from carry on luggage before.

Now I take folding poles and check my bag.

I've carried on a collapsible walking stick as well. Its a medical device. A pair of hiking poles would more obviously not be a medical device. I made a point of asking the TSA screener, and leaving it attached to the outside of my bag where its visible. I've heard others say they were not allowed. But really, they have such things over there (I bought mine in Varenna for about 10€). So no need to worry about it.

We are like Carol, we were disallowed on hiking poles. We check them now.

My husband does carry-on with a folding cane/seat. The collapsing trekking poles went in a duffle bag that got checked. I was just too worried that we’d get the TSA agent who wasn’t allowing them. I know some people have gotten them through, but I wasn’t feeling lucky.

Cane is ok. They treat you nicer. You will need to scan it, but they offer one to use if you need it to cross the thresh hold of the x-ray machine.

I have made it through TSA for multiple international trips and domestic trips with one Hunger Hiker pole. I use it as a cane through TSA and put it on the conveyor belt for screening. I had one TSA agent question it, but her supervisor told her to let it go. After security, I collapse it and attach it to my Osprey back pack. I put it in the overhead bin during the flight. On the way back from Iceland, I just had it attached to my back pack, they didn't look at it twice.

I am completely prepared to have it confiscated. If that happens I will either do without or buy one at a sporting goods store at my destination. If that happens I might also get something that is more like a traditional cane. But until then, my Hunger Hiker pole comes with me. It allows my arthritic knees to walk double the distance than without it.

It's a crap shoot. We were walking the Camino and brought the hiking sticks in our checked bags. Another time, my wife just carried them on with our carry on with no problems. I f you want to carry them on it's possible they could be confiscated.....or not!
Hank, Novato Ca

Collapsible trekking poles were no problem in June 2001, 3 months prior to 9/11. I was using them for post-surgery stability, walked with them thru the airport, and handed them to the flight attendant upon boarding. They were waiting for me again at the door upon deplaning. As with liquids, shoes, powders, poles, metal silverware, and so many other things, 9/11 changed all that.

Pam’s TSA link is stunning. Appears that little strap-on snow traction bands (“cleats?”) are prohibited, yet snowshoes, which likely have big, spiky crampon cleats built in, plus a sizable metal frame, are allowed as carry-on. Snowshoes, allowed, are a real potential bludgeon device. But Yaktrax shoe grippers are way less lethal than the massive headphones lots of people bring onboard. It says hiking sticks are not allowed as carry-on. Medical walking sticks, allowed.

And the final decision lies with the TSA agent. Catch them on a bad day, or if they think you looked at them sideways, and your items are confiscated.

If even the slightest doubt, put sticks in your checked bag, or leave them at home.

Cyn...I can really get WAY down the rabbit hole on that TSA site just scanning thru to see the contrasting yes/no answers.

I don't understand why Fresh Eggs are OK when they are liquid inside the shell whereas hummus and peanut butter are restricted to your 3-1-1.

And I love that they keep repeating:

"Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving."

Yeah, well if they didn't have to look at all the food items the lines wouldn't be so long.

You’re right, Pam. Hiking sticks are forbidden, but pretzel sticks must be pretty suspect, as well.

Cyn--Don't get me started on TSA right now;) We have Global and just recently went to Iceland. Our boarding passes had the stamp on it for TSA, yet the TSA guy would not let us through that checkpoint, so we had to go around with the masses. The boarding passes were stamped correctly, and we had our global cards with us, but he was having nothing of it. We knew there was nothing we could do or it would involve more than we bargained for.

Is the Global entry pass honored at airports in US and in Europe for TSA pre check like it states.

bkkroman, where are your reading that? CBP and TSA are US government agencies and dont run or controi foreign government security operations. There are a few foreign airports where CBP has an agreement to set up entry points for US citizens, like Dublin and Vancouver. But Global Entry only concerns entry into the US. For TSA Pre, if you have Global Entry, you still have to enter your number on your ticket reservation for the airline to know. But It only works one way.

I'm getting on in years, but I have had so many things fall on me when overhead bins are opened that I have to point out that this is not just all about you. Taking a long, heavy object on a plane creates dangers for others. Placement and movement of items in bins is not solely under your wise (!) control. Alas, just as phony "Service Dog" vests have become common, it's not unheard of for people to exaggerate their walking needs to get to keep sticks with them.

It's a difficult issue. Where does your "reasonable accommodation" begin to trump "my safety?"

I believe the government missed an opportunity when they took over security screening costs from the airlines to extract a requirement for a free checked bag ... or ... certain other items.