Discussion: Flying with studs?

I was interested in taking my orocs to the next national meet, and was wondering if I should expect any hassle with TSA for carrying them on, or if I should go non studded for worry-free travel.

The TSA website says soccer cleats and track spikes can be carried on, so I imagine O-shoes would fall in that category.

Thanks, I missed that with my weak googlefu.

Disappointed :(
I had higher expectations from that thread: http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article5568359.ece...

I have traveled numerous times with o spikes (orocs and icebugs) and I have had zero issues or side screenings. Those were all in the carry-on bag. I also travel with my compass in my carry-on with zero issues.

US Champs medals, on the other hand, can cause issues if they are in your carry-on. Better to wear them (and put them in the tray to go through the machine so that they're easy to find). Buried in luggage, they look like grenades. (From personal experience, more than once.)

I've been pulled aside for a search with dobs (that's what they're actually called), compasses, and head-lamp (batteries) at security. Once they get them out and look at them they have no further issues.

Had my head-lamp batteries taken off me going to Jukola.

Anyone have trouble with Sportident controls? Sealed electronic boxes with clocks, they would look suspicious.

Luckily looking suspicious to idiot security guards isn't yet a crime. I fly all the time with bare circuit boards and weird assemblies in my carry on and haven't had any problems.

I haven't been pulled aside for anything (including multiple sets of Ayup lights, GPSs and various cables) since cutting my hair and beard off, so my conclusion is that the rules don't apply to normal-looking people.

Juffy - that was a big sacrifice for you!

It's not prohibited to bring a parachute though security, but when they realize what it is, they certainly do subject you to a bunch of scrutiny. (Enough that I missed my flight.)

I've had no problem flying with studded shoes, or with carrying on a pelican case with 50 or more SI control units. Never even any questions about the units, except one time, they wanted to look at some wiring and connectors that I had in the case with them (I think a master station with cable).

Like JJ, I've also had them search my bag to look for a large metal disc (championship medal). I couldn't figure out what they were looking for until they showed me the image - I had put it in a side pocket and they weren't finding it until I assisted.

Because they don't think they're looking for a disc, they think it's a sphere. Nancy had the same problem, and couldn't remember which of the myriad compartments of her purse she had put it in.

Tinytoes - things we do for our sport... :)

But seriously, I used to get yanked Every Damn Time. Random metal detector sweeps. Residue testing. What's-this-thing-in-your-bag questions.

Since I cut my hair off 3 years ago, I haven't been pulled once. I get it - I was a big shaggy-haired lout who looked inherently dodgy, but it does suggest that if you're going to blow something up you have a much higher chance of success if you just get a haircut the week before.

It's usually the ankle tape in the hand luggage which I get pulled up for :(

The Stick (a massage item) matches TSA criteria as a baton or club. Grrr.

My wife flies with a stud all the time and I, I mean he, is always welcome.

tRicky is scared to carry gaffa tape in his hand luggage but when I carry it in mine I have no problems at all! A few raised eyebrows maybe but nothing more.

Its very handy to have the gaffa tape to seal the bike box, outside of said bike box ;)

I'm not scared, I've just been told that it's not allowable because you could use it to immobilise someone on the plane. A well placed fist could do just as effective a job of incapacitating someone.

Just a quick note that there are new rules about metal batteries (NiMH and others I believe) being taken on planes. I don't know the exact rule but there is a (small) limit on how much battery you can take with you. My understanding is that it theoretically limits you to carrying two SI units with you regardless of whether they're in your carry on or checked luggage. Something about the risk of them exploding... yada yada... blowing the plane out of the sky...

Of course they'd have to find your SI units and realise they have metal batteries in them.

Interesting that "gaffa tape" has become a term. (For what I assume is not exactly the same stuff to which that term was first applied.)

No just strine for 'duck tape" which I assume has nothing to do with ducks

Not if you spell it correctly it doesn't.

Duct tape is the grey stuff I use on my bike box and usually requires scissors, a knife or teeth to break.

Gaffer tape is the black (or other coloured) material stuff I also use on my bike box, but it comes off too easily (as is its design) and rips a whole lot easier when intended.

Duck tape is an archaic term but then the guy who just used it is pretty archaic.

This must be true, I found it in the Information Super Highway Duck or Duct

Well if you want to be an American clone and refer to items by their manufacturer rather than name (e.g. Xerox, Google, Hoover (although that one's British)), go right ahead!

Here it is called "jesari" or "Jesus tape". Because it saves.

Gaffer tape is called that because it's used by gaffers, the guys who build sets on stages and studios. It doesn't leave a residue like duct tape does.

If I was to be named after my manufacturer I would be called Nigel & Caroline.

I use it too, therefore it should be called tRicky tape.

Yeah, gaffer's tape is different from duct tape, though they're both cloth tape and they come on similar rolls. I'm pretty sure the word "gaffa" comes from song lyrics, because Kate Bush had heard theater people talking about it but had never seen it spelled. And then there's the metal tape, which goes by various names.

Hmm...This is an interesting topic. How about flying with cleats.

Gaffers do not build sets, they light the set.

If Mr Wonderful comes to Aus he might do well to buy a scrubbing brush to clean said studs of all forest debris before confronting our diligent Border Control Force.

The carpenters are grips. I don't know what kind of tape (if any) they use.

(Although I like to imagine that the Key Grip is the guy in change of making sure they don't lose the key to the door of the studio, he just holds onto it all day. And I always like to watch the credits for the Boom Man -- there always is one, even if it's something like a romantic chick flick where you don't remember there being any explosions at all.)

And the Dolly Grip?

The Boom Man - obviously very common in an orienteering setting...

The last time I came back into Australia the Border Force people were more interested in comparing notes on the progress (or lack thereof) of industrial relations negotiations in our respective organisations than they were in the state of my shoes.

What does the Best Boy do?

JJ, no doubt there was a love explosion at some point.

Nancy has pointed out that as far as she's concerned, gaffer's tape has nothing to do with lighting, it's actually for taping together the sections of marley.

I imagine after 34 years of decomposing he'd need a fair bit of it.

@tRicky - ask Tash

Why would they tape together Bob Marley? It it to help him Get up, Stand up...?

I went to a Hallowe'en party as Marley's ghost once. (Bob Marley's ghost.)

Were you taped together?

No, but my band played at that party, and I have it on tape.

8-track or reel?

Pretty sure it was this one:

Is that real?

Yeah!
(featuring the debut performances of our hit songs VLSI and Stupid Drugs Rap/Chemical Warfare, in fact.)