OT: TSA Rules – Traveling with cast iron “stuff”

[Louis]

Have any of you folks flown with hunks of steel or iron in your checked luggage recently, and if so, were there any issues?

Rest of the story:

I’m going to be flying down to the Caribbean to spend some time with my parents and would like to try to keep up with bits of my exercise routine, so I’d like to take a few kettlebells with me. (I’ve looked into getting some there, or going to a local gym, but none of those options panned out.)

I’m thinking of putting the KB’s in some smallish boxes then strapping those together to try to keep them from moving around too much in my luggage. My specific concern is that the TSA folks may want to open things up, then just toss it all back in, defeating my careful packing job before the trip even starts. (I looked on the TSA site where they list stuff you aren’t supposed to put in checked luggage, and nowhere do they mention exercise weights. I can see why they might not want that in a carry-on, but I don't plan on doing that.)

I guess the bottom line is that I don’t know if their scanning machines are able to distinguish between a harmless hunk of iron (in which case they don’t have to open up the suitcase) and something that’s potentially unsafe.

TIA

[jtakeda]

You’ll be fine.

On a recent trip to visit her family my girlfriend went a little crazy at the lodge factory outlet store. Long story short the only thing she got hassled about was the cast iron wok in her carry on, but another TSA agent came and said “since it doesn’t have a handle we won’t consider it a weapon”

The cast iron griddle, and other bits were fine in checked baggage

[saab2000]

How heavy are we talking about?

Check your airline's weight restrictions for baggage. TSA? No idea but probably no issue.

[false_Aest]

One time I traveled to Taiwan with a steel fork in my carry-on. It got flagged. After the humorous inspection the TSA dude showed me the scan. You could see the welds and (more importantly) the gaps in the welds.

The inspection machines can show a lot. They just require someone behind the machine who thinks. This guy, knew it was a fork and knew it was harmless. Other folks might not and certainly if they inspect your bag things are not going to be put back properly -- they never are.

If I were you, I'd look into making a few kettle bells there. A gallon is 231 cubic inches. Concrete weighs about .09 lb per cubic inch. If you fill up a gallon milk jug with concrete that's about 20lbs.

[Dekonick]

https://www.amazon.com/Meister-Elite-Portable-Sand-Kettlebell/dp/B01MU01EY6/

[PacNW2Ford]

This is a cycling forum. The correct answer is you need some carbon fiber kettlebells. They would be a lot easier to carry.

[zmudshark]

https://www.amazon.com/Meister-Elite-Portable-Sand-Kettlebell/dp/B01MU01EY6/FTW.

Don't test TSA, they are *mostly* idiots, IME.

[Louis]

How heavy are we talking about?

Check your airline's weight restrictions for baggage. TSA? No idea but probably no issue.

My plan is one smaller bag dedicated to the two 20 lb KB's plus a few odds and ends to fill it up, and a larger bag with most of my stuff and, if I can keep it all under ~60 lbs, a single 25 lb KB.

70 lbs is the airline limit for the suitcases (going 1st class, which was "only" $200 more round-trip, to get the two checked bags free, and a weight limit of 70 lbs instead of the usual 50 lb limit)

[Louis]

https://www.amazon.com/Meister-Elite-Portable-Sand-Kettlebell/dp/B01MU01EY6/

I thought about this, but wasn't familiar enough with them to know if they'd work out. Plus, assuming my parents don't kick off any time soon (being a bit optimistic on that) I figured that I'll be going down there often enough that I might as well get some decent ones to leave there.

[HenryA]

If Amazon ships where you’re going, it seems a no brainer to have some sent ahead of your visit.

[Louis]

If Amazon ships where you’re going, it seems a no brainer to have some sent ahead of your visit.

No Amazon in Haiti.

(and no sporting goods store where I can just walk in and buy some)

[OtayBW]

Forgive my candor, but if you're taking kettlebells on a flight to the Carribean, I think U R NUTS! :banana::banana::banana: ;)

[Louis]

Forgive my candor, but if you're taking kettlebells on a flight to the Carribean, I think U R NUTS! :banana::banana::banana: ;)

Taking one of these too:

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/wsimgs/rk/images/dp/wcm/201922/0441/img92c.jpg

[Louis]

Another option, if you don't have much stuff to take along:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vgCYx4S0W3A/TC5HFURmS_I/AAAAAAAAArA/3whJ29SaKOA/s320/Kettlebell+travel.jpg

[.RJ]

Take drybags.

Fill them with water when you get there. Boom instant kettlebell.

[cderalow]

Another option, if you don't have much stuff to take along:



http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vgCYx4S0W3A/TC5HFURmS_I/AAAAAAAAArA/3whJ29SaKOA/s320/Kettlebell+travel.jpg



I’ve seen this done several times recently with some 30lb ones

Got a good chuckle on the baggage claim belt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[coreyaugustus]

Canvas bags filled with wet sand. Will strengthen grip as well. Flying iron weights around seems like an unnecessary marginal waste of jet fuel.

Enjoy the trip!