I like camping and recently got upgraded to ultralight gear. This means my entire gear for a camping trip fits into carry on size.

Obviously to go hiking/camping you usually fly somewhere out of NL. But I always checked in my backpack.

I prefer to bring it as a carry on to not get my gear lost or damaged, and to avoid extra costs.

Now I am wondering how is the experience at NL airports with carry on items.

I understand knife and gas can wont be possible.

What about practice on trowel, tent poles, tent stakes. trekking poles?

What do you do if you cant bring them?

  • you dont have to worry only about the dutch aeroports, but about the return too.

    parent

  • I've searched for this many times for similar reasons. A lot of posts are US focused, some EU. My takeaways, and it is far from conclusive.

    - Most EU airline sites I've found say they won't allow trekking poles
    - Some people try to mask them as walking sticks for disabilities, so you just walk on them with you with the plane -> make sure you have the rubber tips
    - I've seen people disguise them as a tripod, with some neoprene sock on top of it to make it seem like camera gear with 2 poles
    - Throwel don't know
    - Some people just buy new ones at a Decathlon for 50 and donate them to some place or local that could use them.
    - Tent poles I've found mostly US websites saying they don't allow it, EU airlines bit vaguer.
    - Some people just do it and don't get caught. Other's do.

    parent

    I am not sure how does the airline affect this? Since the stuff is checked by neutral staff right? In practice the airline has no control of what you brought, or do you have a different experience?

    parent root

    That's true, it's just that the airline's website at the time I searched had more information than Schiphol's, but maybe I misremember.

    parent root

  • Gas canisters are also not allowed in the hold. Trekking poles were a no for KLM. And as I want to bring my own, I check them in, with the knife (and, should I carry one), the tent. I would not want to risk them to be confiscated when checking in.

    parent

  • Hiker here. Trekking poles can be chosen to be carried as “special luggage”, which means it cannot be taken in the plane as a carry-on item. This is due to the fact that the rubber ends can be detached and the trekking pole transforms into a “dangerous” weapon.

    parent

  • I have never had a problem carrying on my hiking poles on KLM. I have flown with Black Diamond Z-poles and Durston Icelines.

    parent

    Did you put them in your side pocket? All compact? Or what did you do?

    parent root

    I packed them inside my backpack, which I put into a ZPacks airplane sack and carried on the plane.

    I use the airplane sack to keep the straps and buckles contained. Then I use it inside my pack while hiking for rain protection.

    parent root

    Adding that I am in Sweden now with my Durston Icelines, carried on KLM in my backpack.

    parent root
    parent root

    Yes! If you’re in the EU, Outdoorline carries it.

    parent root

  • Every airline and airport security will say no to trekking poles. And I have chanced it on 6 trips (so 12 flights total) and been successful each time. That experience is reflected in my friend group as well as we all travel for ultramarathons. Perhaps it makes a difference that they are carbon Z frames, but I will keep doing it until my luck runs out eventually.

    parent

  • You can contact the airport on WhatsApp and ask about allowed items. I’ve inquired in the past about bringing a stove, without a gas canister, and was informed that it is not allowed.

    I haven’t tried bringing trekking poles into the carry-on from Schiphol, but I have successfully done it on returns trips from other airports. Next time I will try it from Schiphol, with the risk of having them confiscated.

    But I understand your apprehension about checking your expensive gear. I’ve checked my wrapped backpack in at the odd size baggage counter, but still picked it up from the baggage belt at the destination. Nothing was damaged though, so that worked out well enough.

    parent

  • So you're one of those people who like eating up overhead bin space as if they are alone on the plane?

    parent

    My whole carry fits into a 30l school size backpack :D thanks for your contribution

    parent root

  • The airport doesn't care, it is the airline who has the final say, and that really depends on route and carrier.

    A "premium" airline is often more accommodating than a budget airline.

    But in the end they have the final say. Just insure it properly and put it in checked luggage.

    parent