Flying With Backpacking Gear: TSA, FAA PackSafe, and Airline Rules for Carry-On and Checked Bags

Ferro rod strikers?  I’ve found tiny, light ferro rods are simple, moisture & temperature proof vs any type of match or small butane lighter for starting my cannister stove.)

(I don’t do camp fires. At home in cold, I’ve  tested shaving metal piles onto dry cotton for starting an emergency fire, but have never needed a rescue fire in >50 years.)

Metal tent stakes aren’t expressly forbidden, but they probably won’t let you on a plane with them. I tried once because I wanted to avoid checking a bag and also spend as little as possible when I got to my location. Lesson learned.

When going on a backpacking trip, I do not want to check in luggage since I had stuff lost for days in the past. So anything that I think will flag some TSA agents, I mail it ahead of time to a Post Office, hotel, hostel, businesses that will accept packages for pickup from FedEx or UPS, or a local friend. And after my hike, I mail it home. Never have to stress before a flight about what if I get a TSA agent that has a different interpretation of the rules. Before a trip, you do want to give it some extra time in case it gets misdirected.

Two questions regarding carry-on issues…

1.  Blunt-tipped hiking poles – does that mean poles with the rubber caps or does that mean you have to remove the metal tips?

2.  What about a Bogler trowel with serrated edges… will that be a problem for carry-on?