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A good tip that I've heard is to pack a climbing magazine -- a gear issue in particular -- in with your rack.

a good friend of mine works for the TSA so i asked her what she thought (she also climbs)

They are pretty inconsistent in their rules - how they interpret them. There is no rule for climbing gear, although there is a rule for tools longer than 7 inches. There is a rule for ice axes - have to be checked.

If they do have climbing gear as a carry on, it will surely get searched and they will have to explain it. I'd have a climbing book ready with pictures. Make sure your smelly shoes are in the pack - they won't stay in there that long!

just flew here from Denver with a bunch cams and shizzle on my carry on.... the security just looked confused and I had to explain, but I am here and so are the cams!

I've gotten some interesting queries from TSA but once explained they usually let me go. I guess they figured I could bonk someone with a number 6 but whatever.

kirker wrote:Just put Bcombs on a delta plane out of cinci this morning with a pig full of stuff with no problems.

The only problem I had was weight. I had the BD touchstone weighing in at 60 lbs on the way there and a touch over 70 on the way back (bought some crap in Josh). I had to pay $75.00 for "overweight & oversize" on the way back. I think *most airlines are using the 70lb mark as the definition of "freight" vs "baggage". On a side note, they lost my friggin crash pad. It's supposed to be delivered to me at home today. We shall see. Hope that helps!

What does trad gear have to do with plains. Last time I checked there wasn't any rock near any plains, especially air plains.

anticlmber wrote:no weight limit on carry on = pack all your biners and cams as carry on.
there are no problems with it, (other than a little longer on the security check) and you can have fun with people. i carry on at least my harness, shoes, chalk bag, and vitals in case your other stuff is lost you can still climb. just make sure you don't have the knife/nut tool combo.

I know someone who had their chalk bag confiscated when trying to carry it on the plane... I wonder why

Andrew wrote:What does trad gear have to do with plains. Last time I checked there wasn't any rock near any plains, especially air plains.

yeah, by definition "a plain is an area of land with relatively low relief — meaning that it is flat", so no need for trad gear there. Don't you just hate when people take things literally?

bcombs wrote:

kirker wrote:Just put Bcombs on a delta plane out of cinci this morning with a pig full of stuff with no problems.

The only problem I had was weight. I had the BD touchstone weighing in at 60 lbs on the way there and a touch over 70 on the way back (bought some crap in Josh). I had to pay $75.00 for "overweight & oversize" on the way back. I think *most airlines are using the 70lb mark as the definition of "freight" vs "baggage". On a side note, they lost my friggin crash pad. It's supposed to be delivered to me at home today. We shall see. Hope that helps!

this is completely different from bringing it in your carry-on, which is what krampus was asking.

Pru wrote:this is completely different from bringing it in your carry-on, which is what krampus was asking.

That's true, I didn't catch the carry on part. Hey Krampus, if you haven't already gone on your trip, I wouldn't worry about the metal gear (cams, biners, etc) like others said, plan to spend more time in security. I have been told by a couple of folks in Denver that their ropes were refused at security and they had to take them back and check them. Every airport is different. If it's Cincinnati, play it safe and check it. Others I can't attest too. Unless it's Kamloops, BC. Three weeks ago I watched a guy carry enough crap to summit Everest right through "security" with no problem. Just a "Headed out to climb, eh? Well, have a good time then." No kidding.