BOB Items Safe for Air Travel?

M

mtmith

Joined
Dec 23, 2009
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So I'm reading the list of prohibited items on the TSA website, and it looks like I'd be able to bring a lot of BOB-type items with me on an airplane. However, some, if not all of these items seem like they would be taken away by airport security even though they're not on the list. These items include:

  • Light My Fire Firesteel Scout
  • Spark-Lite Fire Starter
  • Tinder Quiks (for the Spark-Lite)
  • Coghlan's Emergency Tinder
  • Butter knife (hey, something's better than nothing :D)
  • Field sharpening stone of your choice (for the aforementioned knife should you want to turn it into something else)
  • Sewing/sail needles (for your repair kit)
  • Suture kit
  • Fish hooks
  • Safety Pins
  • Multi-tool without the blades (assuming you're willing to take them out)
  • CountyComm Pocket/Pico Widgy
  • Tweezers?

What do you guys think? Anything I'm missing? Anybody have any experience with bringing/not being able to bring these items on an airplane?

The purpose of bringing a BOB on an airplane, at least for me, is to have it with me at my intended destination. It's not so much for a plane crash scenario, though it could perform in that capacity (assuming you survive the crash).
 
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Fire and pointy stuff is not a great idea. Checked baggage, OK, not carryon, though.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Fire and pointy stuff is not a great idea. Checked baggage, OK, not carryon, though.
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Agreed, they're going to want to know why you need to start a fire on an airplane, and the knife (especially if you get someone who knows what a sharpening stone looks like/what it does) will send up red flags from here to China. The CountyComm might be ok, but I think that will depend on the TSA agent you get.
 
You're allowed one book of matches, because the tobacco industry thought it was a good idea. Also a common lighter appears to be able to be brought on board. Flashlights are fine, I've brought my Fenix E01 onboard lately.

I think that leatherman claims to make a TSA safe multitool.
If it has a metal file, that could double as a sharpening stone.
Though I don't know if it would fit in under the 7" or less rule.
 
jfn said:
You're allowed one book of matches, because the tobacco industry thought it was a good idea. Also a common lighter appears to be able to be brought on board. Flashlights are fine, I've brought my Fenix E01 onboard lately.

I think that leatherman claims to make a TSA safe multitool.
If it has a metal file, that could double as a sharpening stone.
Though I don't know if it would fit in under the 7" or less rule.
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That knife-less leatherman no longer passes TSA regs because it is indeed over the length limit. They have not made a smaller knife-less leatherman. However, I've taken a smaller leatherman apart, taken the knife blade out and put it back together. I've had no problem with TSA but you may have to explain it to them that there is no knife. Of course, make sure it's shorter than the limit.

If you're going to check luggage anyway, I'd put all the borderline stuff in the checked luggage so you don't risk losing it. But then again, you risk losing the luggage, so, it's a crapshoot either way.

Even if something passes TSA regs, the local TSA guys can take your stuff cause they don't know the regs.

I've gone strictly carryon and ship what I need ahead to the hotel, embassy, wherever. I've found fedex loses stuff less than american airlines and I make sure I have it when I arrive.
 
I've taken several lighters on the plane so that doesn't seem to be a problem. However, i wouldn't bring your fire starting stuff. Just sounds like bomb material.
 
OK, Ignorant Me is wondering what a BOB is. Does it mean Big Old Bag?

Hey, I know a few of those!
 
BOB means Bug Out Bag
It's whatever you'd want to have if the "Stuff" hits the Fan.

In general, I put knives and carryall kit into checked baggage.
The only "survival" situation that would occur would be if the plane crashes. If that happens, you have bigger things to worry about than safety pins and multitools :)
 
I've never had a problem with diamond hones and various sharpening stones bought in exotic locations being carried in my carry on luggage.
Matches and lighters are not allowed in your checked luggage. I have a feeling they would not be very happy about any fire starting items in your checked luggage if they know what they are.

And forget backpacking stoves of any kind.
 
One of the reasons I asked in the first place is because common lighters and one book of regular matches are allowed in your carry-on, so I don't see why you can't bring a spark-lite or a Swedish fire-steel on board (plus a small packet of tinder-quik)

Would their scanners/x-ray machines detect the composition of a ferro/misch-metal rod and red flag your items?

I usually travel really light (one small-medium sized backpack for carry-on), and I don't like checking in luggage if I don't have to. Airlines tend to lose your stuff. And I want to avoid spending extra money shipping a bunch of stuff to my destination (the one thing I do ship is a knife that's legal to carry wherever I'm going).
 
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Expatriated said:
However, I've taken a smaller leatherman apart, taken the knife blade out and put it back together. I've had no problem with TSA but you may have to explain it to them that there is no knife. Of course, make sure it's shorter than the limit.
Click to expand...

The Swiss Clipper should be okay for air travel as is, if you wanna go that route.

Expatriated said:
Even if something passes TSA regs, the local TSA guys can take your stuff cause they don't know the regs.
Click to expand...

Personally, I would print out a copy of the TSA prohibited items list that same morning and bring it with me. I could pull it out and show them that my "stuff" is airplane-safe.

But then again, I haven't flown with a modified version of my BOB yet, so it's more speculation than anything.
 
What I would take would be a tarp/space blanket, pre-cut paracord, metal cup and a lighter. That would take care of most things I would think. Of course a large jug of burn ointment for you third degree burns all over body would be good. ;)
 
jimdandy197647 said:
What about a write in the rain notebook and a good heavy duty pen, like one that bechmade or tops puts out?
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The notebook is okay, I've brought that on board before. Never had the money to spend on a "super pen" before, so I couldn't tell you about that.

Shotgun said:
What I would take would be a tarp/space blanket, pre-cut paracord, metal cup and a lighter
Click to expand...

Another thing I forgot to ask is about cups (for instance a GSI Stainless Steel Cup). Are those considered containers if they don't have enclosing lids?
 
I was reading that list--no snow globes!??! I bring my daughter one back from all my trips in my carry-on and no one's said a word.
 
The "tactical pens" have never been a problem in my experience, usually if it gets questioned you give them a weird look open it and write on your hand and be like "what? It's a pen"
 
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