Airplane travel with trekking poles

http://blog.tsa.gov/2014/05/tsa-travel-tips-travel-tips-for.html

According to the TSA, you can't. I keep the cardboard box that mine shipped in and use that to checked my poles, pocket knife, and other tiny things in.

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I don't think they are allowed at carry on. I also had a pair of LT4's damaged during baggage handling so ship them ahead or pack them safe.

For packing, you might try what some folks do with fishing poles. Get a length of PVC pipe, cut it to length, insert poles, cap both ends. To keep them from rattling around you can stuff the ends with newspaper around the ends of your poles then put the caps on.

Nope. Check em in with baggage is only option or face having to miss flight or throw em away to get on flight …

Keep in mind that even if security at the out-going airport allow you to carry them on, they may not on the return. It may even be different on another day at the same airport. Items that are not very specifically called out on the TSA list are open to interpretation by the local security personnel, guaranteed to be inconsistent.

If you're checking your pack, just put them in your side pocket and strap them down tight. I've done it multiple times without any problems. I don't think you'll be able to carry them on either. Although, you can take a golf club or a lacrosse stick on so who knows..

There is an allowance for "mobility devices" and my legitimately impaired brother can get through a wooden cane that is a lot stouter than any UL trekking pole. But a healthy hiker trying to get two poles through would be at risk of being denied, IMO.

Get a sturdy cardboard mailing tube or a length of ABS pipe (not PVC – ABS is stiffer and lighter for a given size). Warning – it can take a surprisingly large diameter to fit two trekking poles, depending on the handle style. I suggest taking the poles with you to Home Depot when you buy the length of pipe and two end caps. Personally, rather than plumbing end caps (which are a noticeably larger diameter than the pipe they seal), I prefer a "test plug" that glues to the inside of the pipe on one end:

which can be found at Home Depot.

And a slip-on thread protector as comes on threaded pipe to protect it during shipping:

Which can't be bought at Home Depot. Sometimes, I can take them off of 2-inch and 3-inch threaded electrical conduit and I've had real plumbing shops go in the back, pry one off and give it to for free. They fit quite tightly on unthreaded pipe. You could duct tape it in place, but I usually don't.

The regular end caps work fine:

but aren't as streamlined as the options I noted above.

jack,
I think that the LT4 are a bit too long to do that safely.

With checked luggage now costing $25, it's cheaper (and possibly more reliable) to mail them ahead of time to a post office near destination. I haven't done this yet. Just thinking out loud.

In a pinch, you can strap, tape or lash your poles to something sturdier – a length of 2×2 that's an inch longer on each end, a piece of broom stick, etc – so the poles can't get compressed lengthwise and have been sort of "splinted" against side forces. It's not perfect but pretty good. And cheap and easy.

Also, really pad the pointy ends with something tough – an old leather glove works nicely. Those trekking pole tips can really do a number on your luggage as it passes through the baggage-handling equipment.