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Brilliant idea. Thanks Michael. And the photo really helpedI used white PVC piping and end caps (available in most any plumbing or larger hardware supply store) as well as some duct tape and a rope handle to make a container for protecting my walking sticks. I fit in the sticks as well as my penknife and some liquids inside, seal it up (but with a small drilled hole to avoid air pressure issues), write my name & phone number on the outside and check it in at the airport. On three Caminos, I have left the empty tube with a hotel that I plan to stay in the day before departure (I fly home out of the same airport near the start of my Camino). I've never had a problem getting it back and using it on the return flight and subsequent Caminos. Buen Camino!
Gibbru, i walked the camino 3 years ago and asked the same question prior to leaving. I had heard stories of losing very expensive walking sticks to TSA because they were "dangerous". My solution, which worked well for me, was to buy a set when I arrived. I did so for a cost of 10 euros for a pair (they even were spring loaded). When I reached Santiago, I donated them to the "pile".Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can take my walking poles on a flight, please? I'm flying Ryanair who specifically ban them in hand luggage. Regardless, even taken apart they are too long for my pack (small 30l Mountain Designs pack, I travel light) so if I check them in they would have to travel alone and not in my pack. Would they be treated well/arrive safely? I don't really want the expense of buying more at the other end and I am really happy with the ones I have. Can anyone think of a solution, please???
I did something similar. I used a hard cardboard shipping tube (with cap not shown) for protection and put it in a 20 year old plus canvas bag which had reached the end of its useful life. I Also put some easily replaceable bulky items, such as empty Nalgene bottles, in it to reduce the size of my carry on (Osprey Kestrel 38). I also left my bag an tube at my hotel in Madrid (Nuevo Boston, near the airport) - I was prepared to just cast them away, but the were very accommodating.I used white PVC piping and end caps (available in most any plumbing or larger hardware supply store) as well as some duct tape and a rope handle to make a container for protecting my walking sticks. I fit in the sticks as well as my penknife and some liquids inside, seal it up (but with a small drilled hole to avoid air pressure issues), write my name & phone number on the outside and check it in at the airport. On three Caminos, I have left the empty tube with a hotel that I plan to stay in the day before departure (I fly home out of the same airport near the start of my Camino). I've never had a problem getting it back and using it on the return flight and subsequent Caminos. If you are flying out of Santiago, you can also just ship it to Ivar or your hotel there to hold for your arrival. Buen Camino!
Brilliant, MichaelSG! Finally, a workaround for this sticky issue. I am a big fan of carry on when at all possible. But trekking poles can be an issue. And I like my z-poles too much to leave them behind. I've seen where people get their poles through security sometimes, but the risk of not is too high, so this is brilliant. Carry everything on, save for the poles, and check them as baggage in a tube, love it.I used white PVC piping and end caps
When I left Salt Lake City for Pamplona last year I carried on my Pacer Poles (they stuck out the top of my pack) When I flew home from Santiago I checked them inside of the net bag that they originally came in. They arrived home with no problems. I expect to carry them on when I fly to Lisbon in September.
Mike
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can take my walking poles on a flight, please? I'm flying Ryanair who specifically ban them in hand luggage. Regardless, even taken apart they are too long for my pack (small 30l Mountain Designs pack, I travel light) so if I check them in they would have to travel alone and not in my pack. Would they be treated well/arrive safely? I don't really want the expense of buying more at the other end and I am really happy with the ones I have. Can anyone think of a solution, please???
My theory is that when collapsed to this length, they are no longer considered "poles," which is why they are acceptable. Similarly, one can carry many small (<100 mL) containers of liquid but not the same amount in a big container.My solution is to use poles that break down into 4 rather than 3
Biarritz (from Stansted)Would you mind saying which departure airport it was?
View attachment 28098
On Ryanair at Santiago they said to remove the poles from the backpack, I tied them together with two rubber bands and they went through into normal checked-in as a separate item, and came back out in London again on the normal reclaim belt.
On neither occasion was I charged extra or were the poles damaged. As I understand it, Ryanair has a long standing unofficial practice of letting you check in poles for free at Santiago airport.
But you were still checking your backpack? So you were paying for at least one item?
It would be wonderful if they didn't charge you for the poles while you could still take the backpack on the plane with you for free.
Easyjet and Ryanair are superbudget airlines and have very stringent restrictions on all hand luggage. I once saw a woman at check-in take most of her clothes out of her hand luggage and put them all on, so she could fit her smaller handbag (US 'purse') into the hand luggage, because she would otherwise be charged. When she had finished, the people in the queue clapped her.
You need to check carefully the guidance on their web pages on sizes and weights for hand luggage, because they make a lot of money by charging extortionately for non-booked (i.e. last minute) hold luggage. Their hand luggage allowances are considerably smaller than other airlines, and are not the same as each other. Ryanair even sells its own bag for hand luggage which fit its requirements.
That's why I pre-book my backpack as checked-in. Both airlines are so cheap, I don't mind doing this and I prefer not arguing about its size/weight or struggling on the plane trying to stuff it into the locker. So I really appreciate their flexibility around not charging for poles (unofficial - it's not on the websites).
Hello there,Gibbru, i walked the camino 3 years ago and asked the same question prior to leaving. I had heard stories of losing very expensive walking sticks to TSA because they were "dangerous". My solution, which worked well for me, was to buy a set when I arrived. I did so for a cost of 10 euros for a pair (they even were spring loaded). When I reached Santiago, I donated them to the "pile".
Buen Camino!
Hello there,
Can I ask where you bought your walking sticks?
... What ticked me off was the fact that people were blatantly carrying walking poles into the aircraft cabin or using them to walk onto the aircraft, apparently with no questions asked. There is a lesson to be learned here, me thinks.....! Still, it was the most brilliant experience - the Camino that is, not Easyjet - we were 3.5 hours late leaving Bristol......!!!
Why would that bother you? Lots of folks have been allowed to do so, both in the states and in Europe. If TSA sees them and the gate attendant for the airline also sees the trekking poles and allows boarding, I don't understand why that is a problem.
Hello and thankyou for your reply. We're stating in SJPdP so the two places you have mentioned will be idealThe post is over two years old, so the poster may not be on the forum now. Can you tell us where in Spain you plan on starting your Camino? That will let us know where we can direct you. For instance, if you plan to start in St Jean Pied de Port, there are two different outdoor shops which sell trekking poles within a short walk of the Pilgrim Office there.
http://www.boutique-du-pelerin.com/en/
https://www.mayasport.fr/
If somehow you miss them there, the albergue in Roncesvalles sells them (or did two years ago) and there is a sporting goods store in Zubiri that sells them, too.Hello and thankyou for your reply. We're stating in SJPdP so the two places you have mentioned will be ideal
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