OK (true confessions of a cycling geek here)......
I'm getting ready for a cycling tour in a few weeks. I need to pack light and I'm thinking of wearing my MTB shoes with SPD cleats while traveling to the tour start. Anyone have any experience or insight into whether I'll get through airport security with them (on the conveyor, not on my feet.)?

doubtful

you can't even take friggin water onboard... you think you'll get a hunk of metal through a rent-a-cop guard who probably can't even spell bike?

Should be no more of a problem than a belt buckle. You will be able to show them the cleats without having to undress.

I think you will get through without any problems.

But try getting through wearing a prosthetic and they treat you like a criminal. Three body searches, a chemical test, and went through my carry on all because of having a prosthetic foot.

It was not much better for the person in a whelchair either.

I've worn my cycling shoes, with cleats, onto the plane on quite a number of occasions, and I know lots of others who have as well. Sometimes they set off beeping when I went through, sometimes they didn't (scary thought!). When they did, I just told the person with the wand that I was wearing cycling shoes with cleats, and they sent me on my way.

A friend of mine had his trigger the sensors in Singapore, and he had a few rather frightening moments trying to explain his cleats to them ... but after a few minutes, they seemed to understand and let him through.

For some reason, the officials have seemed much more concerned when I inadvertently tried to board with a rat-tail comb, and a teensy little eyeglass screwdriver that was 75% flimsy plastic.

Even a steel shank in a normal dress shoe will set off most magnetometers in airports these days. Just take your shoes off and put them in a tray with your keys, change, beltbuckle etc. Since you have a few weeks, why not call the TSA at your airport?

Hi All-

Who wants to walk around in cycling shoes? Save 'em for the bike to preserve their stiffness and just wear slides or other similar low-profile footwear. That would only add a couple ounces to carried luggage.

~ Blue Jays ~

I'm not talking about roadie shoes, I'm talking about my Lake mtn bike shoes. I walk everywhere in them when I'm on a tour.

Hi Machka-

Yep, definitely know the type of footwear you're talking about. Cycling shoes are critical to the tour to which the original poster is flying. My feeling is rather than "beating" on them by walking around and using them as street shoes it would be more efficient to wear lightweight slides on the plane and just keep the cycling shoes packed in carryon luggage.

~ Blue Jays ~

Hi Blue Jays--
Actually..slides is the back up plan. I was just thinking that my MTB shoes are comfortable and serve multiple purposes. I may end up with the slides anyway.
Thanks.
Dewbert

Is not the critical question can a shank of metal be used as a weapon. ? Seems mtn shoes would be ok. Machka does not have to encounter the US style TSA types. Canada does have professionals instead of our Rent a cop types.
PS. I read a couple airports in the US will soon install those scanners that show your gentalia and all. You will have the right to avoid this invasion of your privacy by choosing a pat down. Wonder if you wear lycra under street clothes how it might compress stuff? On a couple ocassions I have seen cyclists about to hit the road at airport baggage claim. Looked like stressful conditions for reassemblying a bike.

I would just avoid the situation all together. Security can be a pain. My friend had traveled a month or two ago when they had just enacted the new liquids ban. She had a full tube of toothpaste in her carry on bag. When they saw it on X-ray the guard began screaming "stand down, stand down." My friend of course had no idea what that even meant. She just stood there as this security guard screamed at her on her little power trip. In the end she was searched, they confiscated the toothpaste and she went on her merry way.

If you are worried about it, why not take the cleats off at home before you leave, pack them in a checked bag and then put them back on when you arrive?

One year ago I went thru many airport securities with SPD Sandals with cleats installed. I haven't since the liquid crackdown.

The first time I too wondered if the cleat was OK. I brought the correct sized allen wrench with me just in case. Of course the cleats caused no problem, but the allen wrench was confisticated.

Al

+1 If you get a curious X-ray reader, you could be in for some delay until they figure things out. We travel with lots of odd stuff, and there's really not much uniformity on how you'll be treated. Although an allen wrench will definitely send TSA on a pit bull like search through your stuff.

I've gone through wearing mtb shoes w/cleats, both domestic & international. Just have them off & ready for the scans, if anyone asked say with 2 words what they are & wait expectantly while they examine. If you're nice you'll be fine.

I don't put them back on after security scans, past security most terminals are moderately clean & carpeted & I take my shoes off on a log flight anyway. I'd advise leaving them in your usual configuration. Many shoes have steel/metal shims/hardware where the cleat is attached, so they're likely to get an extra look regardless of any attempt to make them less conspicuous.

Flew to PA last August, with my Sidi shoes (Look cleats), pedals, tri-spoke hex wrench, stem, and saddle in my carry on. No worries or even second glances from the security when it went through the machine....

hex wrench. Reallly? They confiscated mine. I think they have no uniform policy.

Someone probably needed a hex wrench.

If a tool doesn't look like a tool they may not take it.
Al

I travel a good bit for work. If something is even slightly suspect (and that's a hell of a broad definition)it's going to be confiscated if you try to take it on the plane. We've had a shoe bomber remember, and over reaction is the norm now. Better to check them in your luggage and wear some other shoes on the plane.

Get some flip flops. I travel all the time, and trust me it isn't worth it.

I think it's an evolving policy...and the changes move slowly through the TSA, depending on your location and/or when this was.

Two weeks ago my wife's multitool in her carry-on bag set off a major freak-out at the Tucson AZ airport...took 3 TSA agents to stare at it through 3 different machines before they finally took it out, showed it to my wife, & asked "What is this?" When she told them it was for making emergency repairs on her bicycle -- and when they had confirmed that none of the implements on the tool were longer than 3" -- they let her keep it.

Contrast this with the first business trip I took after 9/11, when I had a little greenie (the Xcelite miniature screwdriver or "tweaker" used for adjusting tiny trim pots on electronics, with a business end that's all of about 1.75" long) in my briefcase. There was no way in hell they were gonna let me take that on the plane.

They did however say I could leave it with them & pick it up on my return. Which I did..so upon returning to the airport of origin, they lead me to a room where they have three large cardboard cartons filled with all manner of confiscated tools. They said "find your tool and take it" and then left. If I had been an unscrupulous individual I could have pocketed half a dozen Leatherman tools, along with some seriously Toby Hooper-esque garden sheers. I found my little greenie & left.

BTW, I can think of NOTHING more uncomfortable than walking through an airport in cycling shoes (MTB *or* road). Plus, they make you take your shoes off at every US airport security checkpoint anyway, might as well carry them & wear flipflops or bedroom slippers or mocassins or sneakers or...ANYTHING else!

Thats why I wore my comfotable SPD Shimano Sandals when traveling.

Amazing that you could find your tool.

Al

Yet you can carry knitting needles or crochet hooks...go figure My wife is a 23 year flight attendant. She was told she could not bring her can opener with her when she went thru security at BWI one time. Now the fun part was she was on a 4 day trip and this was the last check point of the trip. She picked it up, put in her bag and told them "it's not on your list" and walked off to board her plane. I agree TSA is hit or miss. I had a small swiss army knife in my one of my bags. I made at least 5 trips and on the 6th TSA found the knife and confiscated it. I wondered where it had gone prior to that. As far as the cycling shoes, I would be more prone to pack them and wear something easy to get on and off.

Aaron