Trad gear in carry on bags when flying?

[Quarryographer]

I've checked the Southwest Airlines carry on regulations, and it doesn't mention anything similar to trad gear, but I would hate to find out too late. I've seen threads about this before, but didn't pay attention.. Any input?

[stevetimetravlr]

Don't put your nut tool or knife in with your gear, and you should be ok. I try to get all the heavy stuff in my carry on, so that my check-in bag will be under 50 pounds, and I won't be charged extra. They will usually look at your gear after it goes thru the xray, but thats just standard proceudre. Just don't put your nut tool in your carry on, or you will have it confiscated!

[Dave A.]

Never had any problems when flying Seattle to Vegas for climbing at Red Rocks. Ditto what Steve said about watching weight in your checked luggage.

[genepires]

pack your stinky rock shoes with the rack to give them a surprise when they rifle through your carry on bag.

 

Couple of times I did what you are asking about, been searched but no problem.

[boadman]

I had a big locking beaner confiscated as "a brass knuckle", I would recommend erring on the side of caution with your rack.

[bar-tacked]

I took my rack on the plane few times - never had any problems. They will typically make you unpack it fo inspection though (I was explained that it obscures the X-ray so they are concerned not about the rack, but what can be hiding behind it).

Since I found out, I always proactively unpack it and just send it through x-ray machine on a separate tray.

 

I think worst case scenario you can always check in your bag (in case they would try to confiscate the whole thing), but I never had to use such option. From what I was told, they see at least few bags with gear a day (at least in Seattle), so it's not like they've never seen climbing gear before...

[trumpetsailor]

Flown several times in the past couple years with nuts/smaller hexes/tricams, 30m double, helmet, slings, biners, etc. No problems, not even a search. SEA,COS,ROA airports. Always left the nut tool out, as per cc.com lore.

[Maxtrax]

I've flown across the country with my rack in my carry on 2 or 3 times each on Southwest and Delta, never had any hassle but have always taken my nut tool out. Never tried flying with ice screws in the carry on though... doubt that would be kosher.

[Off_White]

They will typically make you unpack it fo inspection though

 

That was my experience carrying on a mondo rack, but I've only done that once in the last decade.

[JosephH]

I've always just kept the gear bag under 50lbs and checked it.

[RBCC]

Never had a prob with southwest, ice gear is fun to fly with too.

[Quarryographer]

Thanks all! I brought an alpine rack with no biners or nut tool, and slid right through security without even a search. Spent a week in the Valley, but climbed more in Tuolmnie.