Collapsible Hiking Pole in Carry-On?

TSA doesn't allow
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hiking-poles

This is where I wish government agencies would get on the same page about what you can and cannot take in carryon.

CATSA allows them

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/what-can-bring/item/hiking-stickpoles

LizinPA and KB: Thank you for your replies. This is so frustrating! I can't believe I have to pay so much money just to get my hiking pole there. What if I needed to use it to help me walk to the gate? I bet they let canes in. To me, there isn't much difference. I hate giving the airlines more money and waiting for luggage!

pamayott yes they view canes ( a medical device) differently than a hiking pole (sporting goods). And they dont look the same. Are you quoting $105 x 2 as the cost of checking a bag?

Yes, $105 to check a bag, each way. I purchased the cheapest economy ticket because I never check bags. Now this.

Well, there is another option.

One year, when we knew we would be hiking the Samaria Gorge on Crete, we bought a set of poles to share once we arrived in Chania. Cheaper than $210. And the Bonus was we didn't have to pack them around up to that point.

I just researched online (before leaving home) to find a sporting goods store in Chania and it worked well for us. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

It is really too bad that you bought it before researching TSA exclusions. There are many, many threads on the subject on this forum alone. Canes and hiking poles are very diffrent. No one who has a medical need for an assistive walking device would be advised to use a hiking pole. If it's not too late, see if you can return the pole, and buy or rent one when you get to Europe. Or bite the bullet and pay for checked luggage.

Hiking poles are lumped together with ski poles as they both have sharp tips. Walking canes do not. But a walking cane would not be much use for Swiss hiking trails.

I'm not sure the difference between walking stick and hiking pole. I have a set of collapsible walking sticks (flat on the bottom) that I carry on and have not had trouble getting through security. I've done it both domestically and internationally.

We are headed to Europe in a few weeks. If I get stopped, I'll check them - I get a free bag with Delta.

Check with the airline if they charge to check carryon size luggage at the airport.

Mistake we made on our trip is we bought some wine and knew we'd have to put it in our carryon bags and check them. Paid $70 online in advance. When we got to the airport they said, oh we don't charge for carryon size bags. They want to save room in the overhead bins so let people check them for free before even going through security, just at the checkin counter.

That was British Airways. Maybe not all airlines are the same but you could ask.

Every mountain village I've visited has cheap (er) hiking poles available in multiple stores (See Intersport websites). Usually less than $50 (pre pandemic prices). Use and abandon like all the umbrellas I have needed once and left behind in my hotel (also various broad brimmed straw hats needed only on blistering days in Italy).

Have fun. Don't sweat the small stuff, ENJOY SWITZERLAND.

Thanks, everyone, for your input/advise. My plan is to see if they will wave the fee for a carry-on to be checked. (thanks for that tip, CJean). If not, I'll just pay the money. I can't wait for my trip!!!

Can you ship it to your accommodation? Will they accept a delivery from you to yourself care of them? Mailed "supply drops" are an extremely common method in the hiking community for hikers to resupply themselves.

Is this a guided tour or are you hiking on your own? For one of our trips we rented the pole from our guide. On several trips we have purchased items and gave them away when were finished. We left a can of bear spray at our last hotel near Yellowstone as that type of item can not be packed in your carry-on luggage. Probably buying the cheapest hiking poles you can find after arrival is your best bet. Also, they can't be misplaced and delayed. Nothing like paying $210 and the luggage is delayed.

My plan is to see if they will wave the fee for a carry-on to be checked. (thanks for that tip, CJean). If not, I'll just pay the money. I can't wait for my trip!!!

First, I don't think it was CJean that said that. And second, I would not entirely rely on this advice. Airlines do sometimes check carry-ons without a fee, but there is no guarantee they will do that, and it's usually only if the flight is very full.

Also, keep in mind that if they do charge a fee for checking your carry-on, it will probably be a higher amount than what you would pay before your flight. I'm helping my son-in-law with a trip, we found out that Icelandair charges $95 for a checked bag, but on their website, it says if you have to check it at the airport, the cost will be higher. You might want to peruse all 3 airlines to see what their policy is.

It appears that it would be easier to maintain your carryon only routine. Rather than pay any amount for checking a bag you could purchase an inexpensive hiking pole upon arrival. When you’ve finished using it donate it. It will probably receive a lot of use in that area.

I bought a nice pair of hiking poles while in Italy last year before researching whether or not I could bring them home in my carryon. Disappointingly it was necessary to return them immediately.

Yeah, I was not the person recommending that you try to check your carry on for free. The only time I've heard of offers for free bag checks were at the gate on full flights. But that's AFTER security, which is where the problem is. Returning your pole for a refund and then buying or renting at destination is likely easier and cheaper that paying to check the bag both ways.

You don't mention where you change flights. It's just as likely you won't be able to carry on your hiking poles at your transfer airport. Some Americans have managed to pack their poles in their carry on to find out that they are not allowed to fly out of Spain with them. So I suggest you check the rules for your transfer country and flying back from Switzerland as well.

I just checked my carryon with my poles inside and it worked very well. But that's just me.

I don’t think the OP is afraid of checking a bag. The OP doesn’t want to pay a high fee to do so.

Posted by Paula

I have a set of collapsible walking sticks (flat on
the bottom) that I carry on and have not had trouble getting through
security.

Would you share the brand please?

Hiking poles and walking poles/sticks are not the same. Hiking poles, like ski poles, have pointed spikes at the bottom - the better to help you grip the ground when doing true hikes. If your poles have sharp points on them, even if covered with rubber tips, they need to go in checked luggage. If you don't want to check them (for whatever reason) then leave those poles at home and buy or rent a pair in your destination. Will probably cost a lot less than checking the bag.

It’s not the airline that forbids collapsible poles in your carry-on- they don’t normally even get to peak in your bag. Rather, it’s the airport security clearance (TSA) that enforces the restriction. In facing the same issue two years ago, I left my poles at home and rented a good pair at a local sporting goods shop when I arrived in Zermatt, for 4 Swiss Francs per day. Wherever you’re going in Switzerland, google for sports shops and send out an email to see if they’ll reserve a pair for you. Unless you’re walking for a LOT of days, it will cost less than $210!

Our lodgings in Switzerland had hiking poles for us to borrow. No charge.

I've said this many times before, buy poles when you get to the destination. You don't have to get crazy about it, I bought a spare pair in Lidl (a chain shop with discounts) for $12 last month. They are light, and German made; considerably less expensive than my REI purchased ones. And they weigh less than 100 grams more.

I was in Garmisch, and all along the Alps to Bodensee, two weeks ago and there was no lack of places to buy a set of poles. And if you really need carbon fibre with all the bells and whistles they have them.

Advice to try and get airlines to check your bag for free.
That is the funniest thing I have heard in a while on the forums.

Good grief. All I did is share a true story of the airline I flew on recently that told me they don't charge to check carryon bags. It seemed related to the OP's post and I was so excited that I thought I might be able to give useful information.

What an idiot I am, right?

I see now why a forum admin recently created a thread asking people to not be jerks with their responses.

I see now why a forum admin recently created a thread asking people to not be jerks with their responses.

I agree that it was a jerky response and you were right to take offense, but rather than replying to it, it's best to just report it and ignore it (community guidelines #4).

Just as slight detour….. my recent experience is that the airlines are dellghted to check your carryon for free if the flight is full. Most of my flights this year have been full.

my recent experience is that the airlines are dellghted to check your carryon for free if the flight is full. Most of my flights this year have been full.

Was your experience at the check in counters, or at the gates? Which airlines? The OP, and others, might find the details helpful.

pamayott and others,
I have gate-checked my bag a few times. Usually the airline staff at the gate announce over the loudspeaker that if anyone would like to do so they will do it. It is because of full flights. I am happy to comply because I find it harder to lift my bag overhead and don't want to put others out by helping me. (80 years old and getting shorter as the years go by!)
It has always been on short runs (e.g. Long Beach to San Francisco or reverse) and always on Southwest Airlines. I have found that gate-checked bags are usually the first ones out on the baggage carousels also.

I’ve gate checked recently with British Airways and Air Canada and it is usually because flights are full and they are trying to avoid delays on boarding with trying to find luggage space.

BA offered the chance to board first as an incentive to gate check. This really drew the ire of those in Zone 1 who were held back from boarding until those who gate checked were boarded.

Air Canada also offered priority boarding to those who gate checked.

I'll just reiterate that gate checking is all well and good. But that won't help anyone trying to get hiking poles past TSA.

Ok- new question. I'm fairly convinced I won't even try to get the poles through in my carry on and besides they were expensive. But I do need them for a hip issue. So I am asking for a name of a store in Dublin where I can buy some cheap ones to use and donate to someone before I leave. Rental won't work for this trip.

gaildrew123
Wecome to the forum!

You will have more luck starting a new thread. People tend to answer the original question and ignore the rest.

TSA says no to them in a carryon leaving from the US. Some people on here claim they have had no problem with them in their carry ons but I sure wouldn’t want to take that chance with expensive carbon poles! We just got back from Switzerland and I bought a pair of Black Diamonds there but you can rent poles at the Intersport Shops that are found in almost all the villages.

And just a note, if you are hiking the more moderate hiking trails and actually use your poles for support to climb or descend, I advise not to rent or purchase “cheap” ones.

A possible alternative, our hotel in Murren had an entire trashcan full of various hiking poles. They happily loaned two for our four day stay. Would think this would be common.