Which picks/tension tools would you take onto a flight? How?

[pillar]

Which picks/tension tools would you take onto a flight? (In the US and in Europe)
Special tools made of other than steel?
How would you pack them?
In suitcase or hand luggage?

[GWiens2001]

I take my Bogota set and Peterson Pry Bars everywhere. Normally, I toss them in with a bag of wires and power adaptors for my laptop, phone and iPod. Never had any problems when I have travelled.

Gordon

[pillar]

You are speaking of travelling in the US with their high security paranoia, right?

[GWiens2001]

Correct.

It is also a good idea to have a lock or two (with keys) in with the picks. That way, if they decide to ask you questions, you have an explanation for them. You have them for your hobby, and you have a lock to practice on that you own.

That said, have never been questioned about my picks.

Gordon

[ladylock1994]

I have flown quite a bit in my lifetime, both overseas and here in the US. You should be perfectly fine carrying your set along with you in your carry-on, since they are not weapons by any means. However, carrying them may raise questions as you are making your way through security. Carrying a few locks with you should put the agents at ease with your explanation, though, if questions are asked. If you would rather just avoid suspicion altogether, put them in your checked baggage. They won't give you any problems if you travel with them there. Just be sure to check laws about lock picks of the destination you are traveling to. I believe it is illegal to possess them in a select few states.

I hope this helps and happy travels!

-Lady Lock

[ckc123]

regardless of anyone's "stated" reasons, the TSA (or equiv) has to take into account the environment as well. once you've gone through screening, you are in a secured area where there are a lot of locked doors for valid reasons.. they have to assess your probability of lying to get access to areas where you should not..


eg.

having lock picks and a lock in the middle of the forest.. = no problem
having lock pick in a high security area.. = a lot of scrutiny.


just cause it's legal, does not mean it's the best decision to make at the time. would you risk the cost of the picks or the cost of the flight (to be turned away last minute) just to have access to them on the flight?

[spandexwarrior]

The reality is that there are no reports of anyone having a problem flying with picks. I've done it hundreds of times and there's another thread around here on the same topic with the same conclusions. Think about what happens after a big security conference like DEF CON, thousands of 'hackers' buy picks and then fly home with them.

-Brian

[Robotnik]

I'm the first to admit...I look kinda shady, so I'm careful about where I take picks. Car? Locked trunk. Plane? Checked baggage. Pocket? Nope. I've lost more than a few items to airport security, so I don't carry anything through I couldn't live without.

[Legion303]

Picks are "non-sharp tools under 7 inches long" ("sharp" means like a knife edge here not pointy), and thus allowed on flights. I've also never been questioned, even when I had something like 300 picks bundled up with rubber bands on my carry-on.

[pillar]

Picks are Non sharp tools...

Ok, what about a Petersen .... knife (yeah, dat name)...

[Lakes]

I think it would depend on the state I was leaving and the rules of the destination state - as well as any stop overs... So I'd check it and carry my certification card with my other ID.

I'm concerned about ill-trained screeners with inconsistent training and non-standard scripts from one location to another questioning passengers. Also people in authority having a bad day - who then decide to re-define something they don't understand or that annoys them as an alleged threat.

I have a beef with the idea security is anything but a state of mind. T
he paranoia that brought about the expensive existence of the TSA is the shameful definition of panic. Their rules about liquids, shoes, the length of a tool or blade, the body scans... and especially the ludicrous definitions of 'weapons'... none of it is logical since ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS A WEAPON. The mental shift in a perpetrators' mind, the decision, to use ANYTHING as a weapon changes its intended use and there is nothing anybody can do about that.

... but I digress

[GWiens2001]

Just got back from a trip which required going through TSA, and yes, had my picks in my carry-on this time.

TSA pulled my carry-on bag to be checked because they saw what looked to them like 'screens' in the x-ray pics. (They were antique United States Post Office Box doors with locks, but that is besides the point). While going through the carry-on bag, they came across a zip-lock bag with a couple locks, my Bogota pick set, my favorite hook and half diamond picks and a couple of Peterson Pry Bars.

The officer checking the stuff was surprised at the keys to one of the locks, and thought they were cool. She asked what the "small metal things" in with the locks were, and I told her "picks for the locks". She looked surprised and said she "always wondered what real lock picks looked like". Then she closed up the bag and sent me on my merry way. No problem over the picks at all.

As others have stated, if you are polite, you probably won't have any trouble. Fairly certainly did not hurt that I had locks stored with the picks. And for goodness sake, don't pick on the plane.

Gordon

[mhole]

I've been stopped once, IIRC on the way to Prague. I think the locks are what look interesting to the scanner , and then the picks raise eyebrows with the bag search. On this particular occasion I had to answer a few questions about why I had them and who I worked for (I'm a locksmith). The security guy went to check out my replies, but I think this was more a case of seeing how rattled I got when I thought I was being investigated. On the strength of this I might make a set of travel picks, as it looked, for a moment, like I might have to surrender the picks to travel and I wouldn't want to lose my favourite DIY picks. A somewhat disposable set would be good if I ever had to choose between ditching the picks or the flight.

I've travelled to the US and Africa without any trouble carrying pics, and I always pick on the flight to relieve boredom. I do have the luxury of being able to claim that I am a professional practicing to maintain my abilities if anyone gets funny.

[johnb007]

My set is in my carry-on laptop case. Never had any problems with it. They always have to look at my blade-less mutlitool, but the lockpicks normally don't even get a second look.

[Sinifar]

Try a "pen pick set" -- this looks like a pen, but the pocket clip comes out and is the tension wrench, and the picks go inside the thing and are attached to the front. Try looking for an HPC VIPS-14 pen pick set....

There are several others who also make this unit, so check around, and carry without the questions. Most will let this thing pass.

SS