Trekking Poles on Plane?

Just hit the local Walmart when you arrive, and pick up a pair of their somewhat heavy but cheap trekking poles. Leave them in a Goodwill box before flying home. Much less than $50

> The TSA says hiking poles can't be carried on the plane
So sprain an ankle and hobble in, supported by your medically-essential walking sticks.

Cheers

No Roger.

Have a hotel there? Mail ahead.

Hey Chris,
International Mountain Equipment in North Conway, NH, right in the White Mountains, rents trekking poles. On their website, under "snow gear" (ski poles/trekking poles) it says $15 for 2 days.
http://www.ime-usa.com/imcs/rental-gear/

IME: (603) 356-7013

I'm not affiliated with them; I just think they're a cool local independent shop. They also have a consignment basement with inexpensive, well-loved vintage to modern gear.

Have a great time in the Whites.
-Greg

Keep in mind that Conway would be an hour round trip (unless he got lost in the Consignment basement for another hour *whistles* ) times 2 since he'd have to return them and then go back west to VT.

The walmart idea is good, hell it's walmart you could probably return them after.

Mail them to yourself General Delivery… then pick them up at the post office…

b

> The TSA says hiking poles can't be carried on the plane
So sprain an ankle and hobble in, supported by your medically-essential walking sticks.

+1

But I doubt proper trekking poles will be accepted, regardless the (false) medical condition invoked (read: pointy stuff will always be problematic).
Back in the days when I was prepared to risk snow blindness during a Ryanair flight (cf. bright yellow seating), I used to have one proper walking stick as part of my carry on luggage (make sure you can properly explain your – ahum – medical necessity of it when questioned).
Less strong though, and the rubber wears off pretty fast. But it did save me plenty of €€€.

Ah, this post reminded me of the days I could take a tent, including pegs, on board as hand luggage (yes, that was indeed a long time ago).

The TSA says hiking poles can't be carried on the plane

Get the kind with a screw on top for mounting a camera and slap a few Manfrotto stickers on the side: *poof*, you now have a monopod, which should be allowable as camera equipment.

>"Just hit the local Walmart when you arrive"

+1 As little at $20 for a pair. I haven't tried this, but something that isn't stocked locally, you could use their "Free store pickup with Site to Store" and have it at the store near your destination when you arrive.

And/or go to a thrift store and get an old ski pole. Between adult, kid, X-C, alpine, something will be about the right length. Ski poles are often lighter than commonly available hiking poles. And maybe $5. Or not – half the time I walk to the counter with a bunch of crutches and aluminum poles (as a cheap source of Al tubing), they tell me they're free, because they get so many in and sell very few.

I just came back from a backpacking trip in the Sierra and was able to carry my poles on. I collapsed them all the way and went to the TSA checkpoint to see what they thought before getting my boarding pass (I was flying out of Reno). There was a lot of checking with the next guy but they eventually said that it was fine. If you have someone dropping you off at the airport you could give it a try, if they say no go with Plan B.

>"If you have someone dropping you off at the airport you could give it a try"

My main airports have mailboxes (some don't). If yours does, your fallback plan could be to mail them back to yourself, (as long as they are under the 11 ounce mailbox limit – didn't anyone tell the USPS that they caught the Unabomber?!?).

>"and was able to carry my poles on"

Yeah, that was my thought, too – if they are 3-part poles, maybe even 2-part, they could collapse down to a length that would probably be let on.

> But I doubt proper trekking poles will be accepted, regardless the (false) medical
> condition invoked
They were accepted at Paris, France for international flight to Australia. Rubber thingy on over the carbide tip, yes.

Cheers

Great feedback guys. Thank you. I like the Walmart ship to store idea. The tsa website says no ski poles so I am extrapolating trekking poles mean the same thing. But maybe you guys are right that these fold down whereas skiing poles do not?

On my last two backpacking trips i took mine on the plane in my carry on. I collapse them all the way and put the rubber caps on the tips and have never had a problem.

You could also mail them to yourself at a local hotel up there, perhaps in Randolph. Motels have much longer operating hours than the Post Office.

Google map really quick and a phone call.

I've taken my telescoping poles (BD carbon corks) on two trips w/in the past year and a half. I was under the impression they were allowed.

I had mine fully collapsed, and on the side of my pack. If I angled them a bit, they and my pack were just w/in legal carry on limit.

For the second trip I put bubble wrap on the tips, covered with toddler socks to make sure I didn't poke myself or anyone else in the eye.

On some of the earlier flights I removed them from the bag, cause I though I needed to in order to close the overhead bin (I didn't). I specifically asked the flight attendant to help me remember not to leave my poles on board!

If they collapse I doubt it will be a problem. Helps if you can secure them in some fashion to one of your two official carry-on items.

Good luck!

Ok, yeah, so what about tent pegs as carry on??? I guess metal = no. Tent poles?

I don't see why tent stakes would be disallowed. They have allowed knitting needles for a long time now and they are no different.