Flying with gear

[dirtbag]

Whats the situation with flying domestically with your gear?  A full pack with Bear can or ursack packed with 7 days worth of food?  I understand no gas cans.. what about esbit tabs? Or would it be best to use alcohol stove and buy some heet at the destination?  I assume hiking poles would be fine too,  packed in the pack or secured on the outside?

[Matthew / BPL]

No direct experience (I have always driven to my backpacking destinations) but in reading about others doing it I always thought I would check my backpack bundled inside of a duffle bag that would contain it nicely.

I’m pretty sure you have to check trekking poles.

[dirtbag]

Yes I would be checking everything in.. not really wanting to pack or carry anything extra that I will not be carrying on trail…

Im considering airport – trailhead- back to Airport..

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

No to flying with any fuels.  But you can take hand sanitizer and some have up to 85% ethanol.  Pretty sure piles have to be checked as most have carbide tips

[Matthew / BPL]

@dirtbag, where are you flying to? Maybe there is BPL member who would stash the duffel and a change of spare clothes for you or whatever.

[dirtbag]

Well not set plans yet but seeing if I can  make it happen this year towards fall.. to South Carolina.

[David C]

Regarding poles, here’s what TSA says: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hiking-poles.

[David D]

The TSA has the list

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

I also found this helpful for a US trip I’m planning to the Foothills trail  https://www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com/blogs/affordable-backpacking-gear-blog/flying-with-backpacking-gear

When I flew to the Canadian Rockies for my trip last summer (flights in Canada), I put my entire bag into checked baggage inside an Ikea duffle.  Except stuff with lithium ion batteries and my lighter, they had to stay in the cabin.

Your airline will also have info on this, e.g.  https://www.united.com/en/ca/fly/baggage/dangerous-items.html

In Canada, here’s what I found.  I think US is almost 100% the same [sorry for the formatting, cut and paste from my notes]

·         The following camping items are only accepted as checked baggage:

o   A new unused camping stove in its original, unopened package.

o   A used camping stove that has contained flammable liquid such as kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, butane and isobutene. The used camping stove will be accepted only if no fuel tank

·         The following are not accepted in either carry-on or checked baggage:

o   Fuel tablets

o   Camping stove gas cartridges such as butane\propane mix or propane cylinders and liquid fuel

·         Insect repellents (aerosol and non-aerosol) are accepted if they’re non-toxic and non-flammable

o   in carry-on baggage provided the canister contains no more than 100ml (3.4oz);

o   in checked baggage provided the release valve is protected by a cap or other suitable means to prevent inadvertent release of the contents.

·         Lighters:

o   Only one of the following items, intended for individual use, is permitted when it is carried on one’s person (e.g. in pocket or purse):

§  One (1) Bic-type butane lighter, OR

§  One (1) USB lighter, OR

§  One (1) book of matches

o   No other type of lighter is accepted in carry-on or checked baggage.

My food was checked baggage.

No bear spray in checked or carry on

·         These items cannot be in checked baggage:

o   E-cigarettes

o   Lighters

o   Lithium ion batteries

o   Lithium metal batteries

o   Matches

o   Smart bag

o   Avalanche rescue packs

o   Thermometers

o   Dry cell batteries (C,D,AA,AAA,9 VOLT)

[dirtbag]

Haaa.. Foothills trail.  Thats what I was eyeballing.

Thanks everyone for input.

[Alex H]

I wrote a whole piece on this. Tips on flying long distance to backpack in the US

[Mark Verber]

to answer some of your specific questions:

basically no fuel can be carry-on or check-through, unless you want run on hand sanitizer which isn’t ideal. In the past I have picked up fuel between airport and trailhead (HEET works, but there are often sporting goods stores that have canisters… esbits are harder to find) or when meeting others who were driving… had them bring esbits for me.

I could fit 7 days in a ursack in a carry-on compliant bag.  My Bearikade doesn’t technically fit…. it’s 9 inch, inside the pack I am over 9″. I did get it through on a couple of flights because they didn’t do a check at the gate and I knew the plane for the route had overhead storage that accommodates bags a bit thicker than 9″.

Poles are risky. Technically they are now permitted. but it’s up to the individual TSA agent.  I know people who have had the denied.

Stakes are also risky.  Recently. gotten Easton 6″ through, but if I am going carry-on only I bring wooden chopsticks.

A few more ideas about carry-on https://verber.com/trek-packs/#mixed

 

[dirtbag]

Thank-You,  Thank-You!!!

[Murali C]

I always fly to my backpacking trips (from Texas). Most of the time, you can get away with hiking poles – but sometimes they will object and you will have to check it in. I usually keep them in a big Dillards plastic bag and have had success taking it in. I will go there early and try to take it – if they don’t allow, then I will check it in. During the times, they have objected to poles, they have never objected to stakes.

If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of finding out – USPS has a nice long box perfect for hiking poles you can use to check it in. Though you could also just wrap them in bubble wrap and check it in.

[Ray J]

So a USED alcohol stove IS except-able in Checked baggage in the USA?  No fuel in the fuel bottle and no residual fuel in the alcohol stove.

[Mark Verber]

You can fly with pretty much any stove so long as you have cleaned it / no fuel left in it.  This is fine carry on or check through.  Have never had a problem with stoves by themselves which has included alcohol, esbits, canister, and liquid fuel (white gas / multi-fuel) stoves.

[AK Granola]

Being in Alaska, any trip outside the state means flying (except the Yukon). I have flown numerous times now, and I always check my main pack, and use a STS lightweight day pack (an ounce or two?) for my carryon stuff. I carry on my charging battery, and any thing fragile like binoculars, phone, inReach. Other sensitive stuff I don’t want banged up like my stove, headlamp or water filter, I make sure to pack inside clothing at the middle center of the pack, well padded. I take apart my trekking poles and put them together with rubber bands, and pad them also, middle of the pack; I don’t trust putting them in the side pocket, although I did do that at least once without a problem. Everything else just gets shoved in; it will all get repacked before going to the trailhead. I do pack the food into the bear canister and that goes into the pack also. Never been a problem doing that. Or I’ve just used a waterproof roll top food bag if I don’t need a canister.

I put the entire pack into a contractor’s trash bag – the real heavy duty plastic bag used in construction. I fasten it with a ziptie after the airlines have checked it over. The bags are not expensive so I don’t mind leaving it at a hotel or wherever I’m jumping off from; it can get reused there. You don’t need a fancy duffel from REI or anything. When I have not been able to use such a bag such as on the return trip. I’ll just make sure to fasten every buckle down tight, nothing hanging loose to catch on anything. It has always made it without damage.

This method works great. I have lost nothing and had nothing damaged ever. I always buy gas at my destination town, along with repacking everything and filling my water bottle, etc. I have it so ingrained I don’t even need to double check stuff any more.

The only scary part for me now is what if they mislay it en route! With a permit or reservation at a trailhead, there’s no time for them to get a bag to me if they don’t deliver. So far so good.

[Steve Thompson]

I’ve always use a large duffel for traveling with my gear, everything fitting inside, and checked (no carry-on). I’ve left the mostly empty duffel in my rental car, or if no rental, then the hotel I am using has always agreed to hold it (and in one instance they held it 14 nights).

[HkNewman]

With no gas canisters, blades, etc.. it’s been pretty easy especially with UL gear with most of the gear puffy down, fabric, and right sized pack.  If not in checked luggage, .. I’ll mail ahead (US) my SAK, stove, and poles general delivery w/“priority” rate w/receipt, tracking, realistic ETA.

I’ll usually go with the checked luggage option as leaving, I always have a “buffer” day or 2 to pick up canister fuel, last minute fresher trail food, etc..

Returning home isn’t a problem.

[Mike M]

I’ll be flying into a different airport than I will be leaving, so that leaves out having stuff stashed at a hotel—no rental vehicle either.

I’ll have an ounce-ish day pack I’ll carry on w/ a few clothing items, lithium batteries/charger, inReach, phone.  Stove, knife, lighter, trekking poles will be checked w/ the backpack.

I was thinking most baggage checks have packing tape and thinking it might be a good idea to give the pack a few wraps around the shoulder straps and waist belt????

[John S.]

Mike M, make sure that checked lighter has no fuel. In the past they allowed at least one disposable lighter in carry on.

“Disposable and Zippo lighters without fuel are allowed in checked bags. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked bags, unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case.”

[Mike M]

Mike M, make sure that checked lighter has no fuel. In the past they allowed at least one disposable lighter in carry on.

“Disposable and Zippo lighters without fuel are allowed in checked bags. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked bags, unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case.”

Good catch—I’ll carry that lighter w/ me! :)

[Author]

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