Hiking Poles thru TSA Check Point

Hiking poles are considered the same as ski poles, and must be checked. There are stores at all touristy mountain resorts that sell them. But even the cheapest wooden poles are around $50USD so they're not exactly disposable:) Why not just check your bags, it's not the end of world and you'll save a hundred bucks.

I tried it once with a single pole (with a rubber tip over the spike), trying to walk with a gimp, and claiming I used it for a cane. It didn't work. In the last few weeks I bet I went though nine or ten airport screenings (all over the world) with the same arrangement on my monopod (strapped to the exterior of my carry-on junk) and nobody said squat. Go figure.

I have a pole that I can take apart and put inside my backpack and have never had a problem with it as a carryon.

You could buy them there and check your bags on the way home. We saw many sports shops in the mountain villages of Switzerland with hiking poles and other gear on sale in fro of the store. Or carry on your bags and just check the poles. Several people did that when my hiking club did a group trip to Switzerland.

I have been made to check my poles by security in Europe at CDG. Mine are similar to collapsible ski poles; they have a sharp metal point that can be covered with plastic. You can still take a backpack as carry-on and plan to check your poles. Just wrap your poles in bubble wrap or cardboard and put in a cheap lightweight duffel bag and check the duffel. Alternatively, you could even put them in some sort of cardboard box and check it. When you arrive, ditch the packing. Poles are not cheap in Europe. I bought mine in Sweden and cringed at the prices as compared to my local REI.

Hi Carol, On both my hiking trips to Europe my friends and I checked our poles. It actually worked out really well as I was able to pack them in a cardboard box and then also put other items in there that I normally take on hiking trips, but that aren't allowed on planes. Example: full size bottle of sunscreen, pocket knife, small scissors for bandaging blisters, etc. Everything else was packed in our backpacks and carried on. Checking the poles really didn't slow us down on arriving either. Maybe we got lucky but we never had to wait long for our box to come off the plane. Another option is to package your poles up about 10-14 days before you leave and mail them to your first accomodation (checking ahead with where your staying to make sure this is ok, first of course). On both my previous hiking trips to Europe my friends and I mailed our poles home from a local post-office. In one instance mine were just wrapped in brown paper and in the other I found an extra large plastic mailing bag in an office supply store in Dublin. On both occaissions my poles (and my friend's) arrived home safely 7-10 days after we mailed them. Good Luck!