Crampons in my carry-on

I got crampons as a Christmas/birthday present! Now I need to know whether I can fly with them in my carry on. Anyone with recent experiences getting through security with crampons? Googling this gives me mixed results:

blog.tsa.gov/2014/05/tsa-tr…
summitpost.org/phpBB3/cramp…

My guess is that'd be a "no". Even if it was technically ok, it'd be entirely possible to get the TSA agent who didn't know the rule and good luck trying to convince them otherwise, even if you are correct. If that happens, you either lose your crampons or miss your flight. Wouldn't be worth it to me. Check em.

Though the blog says crampons are okay I would print that out and take it with you. If your bag gets pulled for secondary inspection you have something to show the clerk. That said they can still say no.

I think you have a decent shot of getting them through security since the TSA site (updated this year) says crampons can go in your carry-on. The SP forum is from 2011.

That being said, getting to security extra early with a backup plan for checking them might not be a bad idea. Or, send them via mail for less than a checked bag.

blog.tsa.gov/2014/05/tsa-tr…

But they might be easier shipped.....

I dont bring any gear on my carry-on. It's not worth the risk of dealing with the TSA IMO. I have heard of people getting denied access because of a single carabiner or a rope. The argument was the carabiner could be used as brass knuckles and the rope can be used to tie someone up....

Granted, that was a few years back when the TSA was really going overboard on security. It seems they have chilled out slightly since then.

TSA has definitely chilled, so I was hoping for definite recent experiences on whether the implementation mirrors the current policy.

Last year small knives *about to* to be allowed on planes, but it never passed and I had to give up a very nice souvenir multi-tool.

So it might be better to pay the check-in fee rather than risk the delay and hassle.

Ana Tine wrote:TSA has definitely chilled, so I was hoping for definite recent experiences on whether the implementation mirrors the current policy. Last year small knives *about to* to be allowed on planes, but it never passed and I had to give up a very nice souvenir multi-tool. So it might be better to pay the check-in fee rather than risk the delay and hassle.

TSA is usually subjective depending on the location. Last time I was through philly they enjoyed being anal.I believe there's an inverse for; fun/hazardous(legal){awesome airports} to minimal fun/innocent(still legal){everybody is a turrurist}. YMMV.

Mike Mu. wrote:Common sense should tell you "NO"

why is this "common sense". They are not a weapon, and no airplane has EVER been hijacked by someone wielding a crampon. I bet a dollar that nobody has ever been assaulted on a commercial flight by a crampon.

Hysteria much? I can assault you with a pencil quite savagely. Given the choice I would choose a pencil over a crampon.

tenpins wrote: why is this "common sense". They are not a weapon, and no airplane has EVER been hijacked by someone wielding a crampon. I bet a dollar that nobody has ever been assaulted on a commercial flight by a crampon. Hysteria much? I can assault you with a pencil quite savagely. Given the choice I would choose a pencil over a crampon.

You're working under the false assumption that the TSA follows "logic"

csproul wrote: You're working under the false assumption that the TSA follows "logic"

Exactly. If they will prevent me from boarding because I had a rope which could be used to tie someone up, a crampon is a .50cal compared to my rope. I wouldent count on it.

I agree with the previous comment regarding the subjectivity of TSA. I HIGHLY recommend not chancing it and eating the ten bucks and shipping them to yourself or putting them in your cheeked bag if you've got one.

I flew home last year with a set of Rambos from Tampa FL. No issues just explain what they are for.

If you don't want to risk it, shipping is way better than checking them if the airline has the typical $50/bag fee and it's a domestic flight

Don't take chances. Usually I've had no issues with airport security, but sometimes that is not the case. I lost a rope in Argentina (tie up pilot), locking carabiner in Spain (brass knuckles (non-lockers were fine)); and most ridiculous, in the U.S., a friend lost the rear shock of a mountain bike that he carried on because it could be used as a club.

tenpins wrote: why is this "common sense". They are not a weapon, and no airplane has EVER been hijacked by someone wielding a crampon. I bet a dollar that nobody has ever been assaulted on a commercial flight by a crampon. Hysteria much? I can assault you with a pencil quite savagely. Given the choice I would choose a pencil over a crampon.

Common sense says it CAN be used as a very effect weapon because it has forged chromoly steel point(s) on a frame that's meant to be strapped on an appendage and swung with force. It can be far more lethal than box cutters.

Good security requires some imagination and proactive prevention, not reactively banning shit that's already caused harm.

It doesn't matter what anyone's experiences have been. It doesn't matter what someone was able to carry on. It doesn't matter what is on the TSA web site. All that matters is what the TSA agent that you get thinks about them as carry on. This judgement can be affected by their mood, their interpretation of the regulations, whether they've had their second cup of coffee, or what dealing with the person in front of you on line was like for them.

If you want to be assured of keeping your crampons and making your flight, check them or ship them.