Can You Bring Hiking Poles In Carry On Bags?
According to TSA, hiking or trekking poles cannot be brought in carry on luggage. You will find many stories where individuals have successfully flown with their hiking poles in their carry ons. This is an inconsistency in the TSA, but if you plan on bringing your poles in your carry on, there is a high chance they will be confiscated.
Here is the TSA page on this topic.
We do not recommend this, but if you are looking to pack hiking poles in your bag, we recommend you speak to the local TSA at your airport, and where you are traveling. Some airports are lenient on this rule, and may allow hiking poles due to frequent travelers on hiking trips. Even if you do get verbal approval on the phone, there is a chance your gear will be confiscated.
If you have poles that fully break into three sections and fully come apart such that TSA can see inside that the pole sections are empty, there is a good chance you will be let through in our opinion.
How To Fly With Hiking Poles?
Checked Bags
Travelers can carry hiking/trekking poles in checked bags without issue. Generally, when backpacking, you have a checked bag with you anyways, so make sure you pack your poles in, or attached to your checked baggage! Make sure if you are strapping poles to your bag, that they are fully collapsed, and do not extend beyond the bag, or there is a chance they will catch on items.
Is flying with poles worth it?
We recommend reading our article on when hiking poles make sense to use. That being said, many day hikers and backpackers love their poles, and they are expensive enough, that losing them to TSA is not fun! We recommend checking a bag if you want to bring them. You can also always check to see if you can rent or borrow poles at your destination.
Max DesMarais is the founder of hikingandfishing.com. He has a passion for the outdoors and making outdoor education and adventure more accessible. Max is a published author for various outdoor adventure, travel, and marketing websites. He is an experienced hiker, backpacker, fly fisherman, backcountry skier, trail runner, and spends his free time in the outdoors. These adventures allow him to test gear, learn new skills, and experience new places so that he can educate others. Max grew up hiking all around New Hampshire and New England. He became obsessed with the New Hampshire mountains, and the NH 48, where he guided hikes and trail runs in the White Mountains. Since moving out west, Max has continued climbed all of the Colorado 14ers, is always testing gear, learning skills, gaining experience, and building his endurance for outdoor sports. You can read more about his experience here: hikingandfishing/about
