Poles

[peregrina2000]

I just thought of my forum friends and our many discussions about carrying on hiking poles. I am in Chicago, having just (once again) carried on my hiking poles. TSA had no problem with them. I'm not trying to fuel a debate here, but I did want to share that this marks the 30+ time I've taken my poles through US security. Having had them go missing once when I checked them, I far prefer to carry them on.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I just thought of my forum friends and our many discussions about carrying on hiking poles. I am in Chicago, having just (once again) carried on my hiking poles. TSA had no problem with them. I'm not trying to fuel a debate here, but I did want to share that this marks the 30+ time I've taken my poles through US security. Having had them go missing once when I checked them, I far prefer to carry them on.

Buen Camino. Norte again, right?

 

[peregrina2000]

No I'm not going to the camino till May. This is a different trip but I hope to use my poles!

 

[KinkyOne]

No I'm not going to the camino till May. This is a different trip but I hope to use my poles!

Maybe chop-sticks could do?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Buen Camino. Norte again, right?

Laurie, Do you tape them together first? Do they have rubber tips? Do they fit in your backpack/luggage? Just wondering...Chris

 

[Monajul]

Yes, I'm wondering also

 

[VNwalking]

A very safe and easy journey to you Laurie!
I do hope you get to nose around up on the Invierno in your spare time...

And thank you for the on-the-ground info about carrying on poles from the US.
(For those who are new, please know the rules may vary elsewhere. E.g., in Santiago Airport, there is a strict policy of no poles allowed as carry-ons...so if you're from elsewhere, check to see what the policy is at your airport before you fly.)

 

[Lance Chambers]

My backpack is large enough to take my poles and they are always checked-in. Never had a problem.

 

[movinmaggie]

I've never quite understood why poles are often not permitted on board, but knitting needles usually always are...

 

[alaskadiver]

I just thought of my forum friends and our many discussions about carrying on hiking poles. I am in Chicago, having just (once again) carried on my hiking poles. TSA had no problem with them. I'm not trying to fuel a debate here, but I did want to share that this marks the 30+ time I've taken my poles through US security. Having had them go missing once when I checked them, I far prefer to carry them on.

My concern is what happens when I go through security again in London. When I changed planed last May at Heathrow. I saw all sorts of people from my flight having issues at security that involved things they had carried on in the US. That's why I'm checking a bag with extra stuff. I've had bags delayed but never missing.
Thanks Laurie!

 

[C clearly]

My concern is what happens when I go through security again in London. When I changed planed last May at Heathrow. I saw all sorts of people from my flight having issues at security that involved things they had carried on in the US. That's why I'm checking a bag with extra stuff. I've had bags delayed but never missing.

I offer this as an explanation for what you saw, not to convince you to change your practice. I have carried my collapsible poles through Heathrow in my cabin baggage. The people you saw having problems might have purchased something in the secure zone of the US airport (after they had gone through security). In other words if you buy a bottle of water after security in the US airport, and take it out of security in Heathrow (which will happen), you will not be able to take it through security in Heathrow to get on your connecting flight.

 

[alaskadiver]

I offer this as an explanation for what you saw, not to convince you to change your practice. I have carried my collapsible poles through Heathrow in my cabin baggage. The people you saw having problems might have purchased something in the secure zone of the US airport (after they had gone through security). In other words if you buy a bottle of water after security in the US airport, and take it out of security in Heathrow (which will happen), you will not be able to take it through security in Heathrow to get on your connecting flight.

I WANT to change my practice. I just need more reassurance. Thanks

 

[dougfitz]

(For those who are new, please know the rules may vary elsewhere. E.g., in Santiago Airport, there is a strict policy of no poles allowed as carry-ons...so if you're from elsewhere, check to see what the policy is at your airport before you fly.)

This is a long and venerable discussion. Lets be clear that the rules don't vary - poles are not permitted in carry on. What changes is the that the people who check that you are complying with the rules are just that, people, with all the differences that entails. There is a consistent view on this forum that TSA staff in the US are more lenient on checking about this matter than the security staff at Santiago.

Further, if you are required to comply with the rules at a transit, you will not have the opportunity to re-check your poles, or any other contraband, and you will have to relinquish them. I haven't used any of the London airports as a transit, but the transits in other places have all required transit passengers to undergo a security check before re-boarding.

 

[VNwalking]

Further, if you are required to comply with the rules at a transit, you will not have the opportunity to re-check your poles, or any other contraband, and you will have to relinquish them. I haven't used any of the London airports as a transit, but the transits in other places have all required transit passengers to undergo a security check before re-boarding.

Good point, Doug. Every Asian Airport I have transited through requires this--and who knows if they will allow poles as carry-ons. So if you're transiting through such places, if you don't know the local criteria for exclusion and are very attached to your poles, pack them.

There is a consistent view on this forum that TSA staff in the US are more lenient on checking about this matter than the security staff at Santiago.

This seems (at least in @peregrina2000 's case) to be based on many years of experience back and forth--my sense of what she's sharing is not a view but her uniform experience. And it is the uniform experience of people who try to carry poles on at Santiago that the rules are adhered to there more strictly.
Semantics aside, if you don't know about your airport and anyplace you transit through, and care if your poles make the flight, check the darn things.

 

[peregrina2000]

I think we're almost at the point that any post about carrying on hiking poles could be considered trolling. I appreciate that there are some out there who disapprove of my carrying on my poles but I do it with a clear conscience since I am not hiding anything and I have never had a problem. I do bring a duffel so a last minute checkin would be possible. I don't want to fan the flames other than to say that I also have just taken them through security twice (long story with crazy transfer) at Madrid and once in Lisbon. The poles were in plain view and I wasn't trying to hide anything. Maybe I am just lucky.

Having said that, and in response to @alaskadiver I personally would not carry them through security at Heathrow. I have seen umbrellas seized.

 

[Annie Little]

I love my lightweight poles ... black diamond ..,, so 2016 was determined to take them .... took my pack and contents as carry on .... Australia .... wrapped poles in bubbles / cardboard / labelled ... they would have fit in pack but knew security would have an issue ... Australia / Singapore /Paris .......

Soo the girl at Singapore check in Brisbane said : can't you fit them into onboard luggage ... I said :Yes but security wil have an issue ... she said : but they will get lost ... I thought well honey better than whole pack getting lost ....

So arrived Paris ... poles arrived ... I collected ......... CAMINO was great ... others with heavy poles were envious ....

It's all part of the Camino

Ultreia

 

[VNwalking]

who disapprove of my carrying on my poles

I don't disapprove in the least, but I am envious.

Maybe I am just lucky.

Nope. Sorry, Laurie--I don't think so. It's more likely your karmic brownie points for being such a rock here. (Welcome back to Iberia, by the way!)

I have seen umbrellas seized.

Don't they have enough umbrellas in England?

 

[dougfitz]

I appreciate that there are some out there who disapprove of my carrying on my poles but I do it with a clear conscience

No more than I disapprove of any other scofflaw. Certainly in Australia, it is a personal responsibility to comply with the law, and in that, not bring prohibited items into the sterile zones of airports. To me the issue is not whether the security screening staff have let someone through with poles, nor one's personal view about whether walking poles are dangerous. While they are listed as a prohibited item, carrying them into the sterile area breaks the law. It might be no more risky to those around you than regularly exceeding the speed limit or using banned drugs for recreational purposes - illegal acts about which we might have different levels of tolerance. But to suggest that it is okay because the screening staff don't stop you is, to my mind, no different than saying exceeding the speed limit is okay because you haven't been caught yet. To me, it's just not the right analytical framework to use.

 

[Nina Rodriguez]

For the US, if you have any concerns you can @asktsa on instagram or twitter with a picture and they will respond if it's allowed.

Does anyone know if taking the poles on your carry on are allowed in Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD) or A curuña airports? I'm hoping to take mine on but not sure their policies.

Thanks in advance!

 

[alipilgrim]

Hi Laurie,

I can't find your other thread regarding the tips on the Black Diamond poles but I have the same poles and the same issue with trying to fit on additional walking tips. I found a solution! Well, haven't put it into practise yet but I think it will work. Plumber's tape. I'm not sure what it is called in other countries but here it's a thin, white, stretchy tape that's wound around pipe threads to ensure a tight fitting. I wound several feet around the tips of my poles (right over the screwed in hard plastic one) and almost up to the basket, enough so that slipping on a replacement Leki rubber tip caused it to fit snugly. I'd add a picture but have no idea how to do so....

 

[dougfitz]

Hi Laurie,

I can't find your other thread regarding the tips on the Black Diamond poles but I have the same poles and the same issue with trying to fit on additional walking tips. I found a solution! Well, haven't put it into practise yet but I think it will work. Plumber's tape. I'm not sure what it is called in other countries but here it's a thin, white, stretchy tape that's wound around pipe threads to ensure a tight fitting. I wound several feet around the tips of my poles (right over the screwed in hard plastic one) and almost up to the basket, enough so that slipping on a replacement Leki rubber tip caused it to fit snugly. I'd add a picture but have no idea how to do so....

I describe a similar approach here.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

If you are flying via the UK, the regulations prohibit walking poles in cabin luggage. It is a dumb rule but it is the the rule.

https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/sports-equipment

 

[alipilgrim]

I describe a similar approach here.

That's the post I was looking for! Thanks, Doug. And although I praised your method I must have forgotten about it as I hadn't tried anything on my poles until a few days ago. Being laid up with ankle issues I haven't used my poles in 2 years.

 

[rgutena]

Does anyone know if taking the poles on your carry on are allowed in Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD) or A curuña airports? I'm hoping to take mine on but not sure their policies.

Thanks in advance!

At Paris CDG, Emirates check in staff told me that I could not take my single walking pole as carry on luggage. Unfortunately it couldn't fit inside my check in luggage either, which was why I had to take it with me as carry on. The check in staff basically told me I had to throw away my pole. After some begging, he agreed to check my pole in on its own as a fragile item. It ended up being left behind at CDG and not loaded onto the plane because it was so small and therefore had been overlooked, but did eventually arrive at my final destination a couple of days later.

 

[junet]

I've heard it's easier to just buy a cheap pair in Spain and leave them behind - has anyone done this? I'm walking solo on my first Camino and the thought of having poles is helping me get over my fear of dogs!

 

[Mark McCarthy]

I left my poles in Santiago last time and plan to buy a new pair on arrival on my next Camino. This is significantly cheaper than paying for hold luggage.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

Where are you starting your Camino?

 

[rgutena]

I left my poles in Santiago last time and plan to buy a new pair on arrival on my next Camino. This is significantly cheaper than paying for hold luggage.

Does anyone know where I can buy cheap walking poles in Lisbon or Santarem?

 

[mspath]

Does anyone know where I can buy cheap walking poles in Lisbon or Santarem?

See this earlier Forum thread--

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/where-to-buy-trekking-poles-in-lisbon.44797/

 

[rgutena]

See this earlier Forum thread--

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/where-to-buy-trekking-poles-in-lisbon.44797/

Perfect! Thank syou!

 

[Mark McCarthy]

Does anyone know where I can buy cheap walking poles in Lisbon or Santarem?

Decathlon Lisboa GPS Coords 38.732187, -9.152388. It is about a 15 min taxi ride from the airport.

 

[rgutena]

Decathlon Lisboa GPS Coords 38.732187, -9.152388. It is about a 15 min taxi ride from the airport.

Thanks. I couldn't input those coords in a format that my GSP recognises, but I have Googled the place and found its location. By the way, I think I will still try sending my pole as a fragile item on this trip. My pole is of no use to me if I can't take it overseas because I never use it for any of my walks at home. If the airline asks for a large sum or if it gets lost, that's fate, in which case I will just buy one in Lisbon on my arrival.