How to Fly with Camping + Hiking Gear

Everything you need to know about what gear can go in your carry-on, what has to be checked, and what you should leave at home or buy/rent when you get to your destination.

Living in Northwest Montana provides huge opportunities to recreate outside as a family, but there are so many beautiful places all over the country that we want to see and experience firsthand too. Flying to destinations for camping trips in the great outdoors helps save accommodation costs and doubles as a unique opportunity to experience vast wilderness areas beyond our front door.

If you’ve flown with camping and hiking gear, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. You can join the conversation on Instagram too.

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I’m working on a companion blog post about how we pack for a camping trip that involves flying to the destination. You can subscribe to receive e-mail notifications when new blogs are published by adding your email below and clicking Subscribe. Thanks for being here!

To keep things quasi-organized, I’ve alphabetized popular camping and hiking gear below. A great resource for up-to-date information is available from AskTSA on Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting the “What Can I Bring?” page on the TSA website. Remember, the TSA agents at the airport always have final discretion and say on what items are permitted through the checkpoint.

Bear spray. 
❌ carry-on
❌ checked luggage

This is an extremely hazardous material that you are not permitted to fly with in your carry-on or checked bag due to its potency. We have to evacuate the entire airport terminal at least once a summer due to a tourist testing out the product inside the 60,000 square foot building (true story). So, as you can imagine, not an ideal material to fly with and comes with a hefty $10,000 fine if found in your checked bag.

FYI: If you’re visiting Glacier National Park, you can rent bear spray from Glacier Outfitters directly across from baggage claim, for about half the price of buying your own. 

Bug repellant.
⚠️ carry-on: permitted in quantity equal to or less than 3.4 ounces/100mL
⚠️ checked luggage: permitted in quantity equal to or less than 68 fluid ounces per person, with capacity per container not to exceed 17 fluid ounces, per the FAA

Yikes with the red tape on insect repellant. Who knew. Our camping trips are typically only two or three nights, so I am personally comfortable bringing travel-sizes in my carry-on, or full-size in my checked bag. This item is also readily available practically everywhere, even in gas stations, so if you don’t want to deal with the hassle (or potential spillage of stinky bug spray in your luggage), just buy it at your destination.

Camp fuel. 
❌ carry-on
❌ checked luggage

If you’re visiting a popular outdoor spot, chances are you’ll find an outdoor retailer nearby. Do your research before your trip so you don’t waste precious vacation time running around for fuel. Rest assured, most big-box stores like Target and Wal-Mart sell camping stove fuels as well. 

Camp stoves. 
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

A quick word about this one. Yes, camp stoves can be in either your carry-on or checked luggage, but must be completely empty of all fuel. I travel regularly with my Jetboil Flash and am yet to have any issues at TSA. I’m always sure to leave the fuel at home and remove the device from my bag for the screening process. If you’re thinking about packing a single or double-burner stove, I recommend renting one locally when you get to your destination. They tend to be pretty bulky, fragile, and expensive to bring your own from home. 

Camping tools.
❌ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

This one is a little broad. Think hammers, mallets, knives, scissors, Swiss Army knives, axes, hatchets, etc., are not permitted through the checkpoint, but are welcome to be placed in your checked luggage. Any multitool that doesn’t have a blade is permitted in your carry on.

Cast iron cookware/dishes.
❌ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

Listen, cast iron is so freaking heavy, I wouldn’t even bother traveling with it. If I don’t have the space in my checked bag for a lightweight pot or pan, I just make a pitstop at a thrift store at my destination for what I need. When my trip concludes and after washing it thoroughly, I’ll re-donate to the thrift store.

Child carrier backpacks.
⚠️ carry-on: depends on the airline’s size requirements; can be gate checked for free in lieu of a stroller on most airlines
✅ checked luggage

We’ve traveled many times with our Osprey Poco AG Plus child carrier and always opt to check it at the ticket counter so it was one less thing to carry. We do use a large plastic garbage bag to help keep the straps secure from getting caught in airport equipment. Some airlines will waive the checked bag fee, as child hiking carriers are technically a child mobility device, just don’t have other items packed inside the carrier.

Crampons
⚠️ carry-on is permitted only at TSA officer’s discretion
✅ checked luggage

Like tent accessories, crampons come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials that TSA Officers may deem as dangerous and not permit through the checkpoint. Use the aforementioned AskTSA resources and submit a photo if you’re feeling unsure. I’ve had no issue (so far) with YakTrax, as they are essentially a small chain without protruding spikes or blades. 

Firearms and ammunition.
❌ carry-on
⚠️ checked luggage: requirements vary by airline and local/state/international governments

Firearms and/or ammunition must be in your checked bag and declared with your airline at the time of check-in. You typically have to sign a declaration that states the firearm is not loaded, any ammunition is in its original packaging or a hard-sided case, and that the firearm itself is in a locked, hard sided case. Note that not all U.S. carriers permit firearms in checked baggage and that certain local/state/international governments may not permit firearms in checked baggage. Use this link for all up-to-date information about traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Flares/Flare guns.
❌ carry-on
❌ checked luggage

Flashlights.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

If you use rechargeable batteries to power your flashlight, please pack extra batteries in their original packaging or within the charger itself, in your carry-on bag.

Handwarmers.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

Headlamps.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

If you use rechargeable batteries to power your headlamp, please pack extra batteries in their original packaging or within the charger itself, in your carry-on bag.

Helmets.
✅ carry-on, provided it fits within your airline’s measurement requirements
✅ checked luggage

Skiing, snowboarding, climbing, cycling, and beyond, you can protect your noggin even while in-flight. 

Hiking/Ski/Trekking Poles.
❌ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

Sad but true, unless your poles are used for legitimate mobility assistance for your day-to-day life, poles must be in your checked luggage.

Hot plates.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

A great alternative to the single- or double-burner camp stove is a battery-powered hot plate. If you use rechargeable batteries to power your hot plate, please pack extra batteries in their original packaging or within the charger itself, and place in your carry-on bag.

Knives.
❌ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

A little redundancy here. Any and all knives must be in your checked luggage only and will not be permitted through TSA. The exception is only for round-edged butter knives and plastic butter knives that are permitted in your carry-on.

Lighters.
✅ carry-on
❌ checked luggage

This always make me scratch my head, but it’s true. Lighters are permitted in your carry-on only, unless you have a DOT-approved container to put the lighter in your checked luggage. 

Matches.
✅ carry-on, only one book of matches permitted
❌ checked luggage

Pots and pans.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

In general, pots and pans are permitted for either transport method, with the exception of cast-iron and other heavyweight materials.

Paracord or Rope.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

Sleeping bag.
✅ carry-on, provided it fits within your airline’s baggage size limits
✅ checked luggage

Sleeping mat.
✅ carry-on, provided it fits within your airline’s baggage size limits
✅ checked luggage

Snowboard.
✅ carry-on, provided it fits within your airline’s measurement requirements
✅ checked luggage

Snowshoes.
✅ carry-on, provided it fits within your airline’s measurement requirements
✅ checked luggage

Snow spikes or shoe spikes.
⚠️ carry-on is permitted only at TSA officer’s discretion
✅ checked luggage

Again I say, I’ve had no problem with YakTrax. I imagine anything that has an actual protruding spike/spear/razor/etc. should go in your checked bag to be safe.

Solar lanterns.
✅ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

We always fly with LuminAID lanterns, whether we’re camping or not, and have never had a problem at the checkpoint.

Strike-anywhere matches.
❌ carry-on
❌ checked luggage

We don’t want these accidentally lighting and catching fire, thanks though! Try a single book of matches instead, as those are permitted in your carry-on.

Sunscreen.
⚠️ carry-on: permitted in quantity equal to or less than 3.4 ounces/100mL
✅ checked luggage

A quick word about INFANT sunscreen. I’m yet to find infant sunscreen in travel-sizes. All medications for infants are exempt from liquid rules at TSA, with infant sunscreen being one of those exempt items. Place the sunscreen in your bag with other infant items (breastmilk/medicine/food/etc) so it can be screened together and not cause confusion.

Tent poles.
⚠️ carry-on is permitted only at TSA officer’s discretion
✅ checked luggage

The one time I had my tent in my carry-on, I didn’t have any problem getting through the checkpoint. I had my Marmot Tungsten 2P tent, which has three lightweight poles that come apart, but are held together with durable elastic. I removed them from my carry-on for screening just in case.

This is one of many “gray area” TSA rules because there are so many different types of tent poles. If you’re trying to squeak by for your trip without checking a bag, this may or may not work in your favor. The TSA officers at the airport will have the final say on whether or not your poles will be permitted. To be safe, I usually just check the tent to my final destination.

Tent spikes.
❌ carry-on
✅ checked luggage

Doesn’t matter if they’re metal or plastic, these can be considered a weapon and are only permitted in your checked luggage.

Are there any items I missed or items you still have questions about? Let me know in the comments!