Recent TSA experience with solid lead weights in carry-on? (Only 8 pounds)

[JimQPublic]

I'm taking a direct flight to Hawaii from Los Angeles, CA tomorrow for a week of freediving. I'll bring 8 pounds of hard lead weights (Sea Pearls 2's and 1's). Has anyone had a problem with TSA and hard weights lately? It's been a couple years since I carried lead on and I know TSA is always fickle.

Normally with the family we check a sturdy soft-side cooler with our weights. Whatever the weights are packed in, TSA always opens to inspect and doesn't take a lot of care to put the weights back in carefully. On this trip I'm just checking a single bag and would prefer to not have the lead dropped on my fiberglass fins, so I'd rather carry them on (only 8 pounds total). I could rent, but at $5 per day I'd pay as much to rent as the weights are worth.

 

[Scared Silly]

Carry them on and separately place them in the bin. No other other items in that bin. That way when TSA freaks out only that bin is sidelined for additional inspection. Place everything else in a separate bin.

 

[JimQPublic]

Carry them on and separately place them in the bin. No other other items in that bin. That way when TSA freaks out only that bin is sidelined for additional inspection. Place everything else in a separate bin.

Thanks. That was my thought. I was even going to put them on the weight belt so there's no question about their purpose.

 

[BRT]

Thanks. That was my thought. I was even going to put them on the weight belt so there's no question about their purpose.

Fist Flail - Chain Mace Weapon - Medieval Morning Star

 

[Badger7]

Carry them on and separately place them in the bin. No other other items in that bin. That way when TSA freaks out only that bin is sidelined for additional inspection. Place everything else in a separate bin.

This is what I'm doing with my regs now too. See-through mesh bag containing just my regs and anything else with a decent amount of metal, I'll pull them from my carryon and bin separately so my personal item bag sails right through the scan and they don't have to re-run the whole bag after pulling out regs and inspecting.

edit - flashlight too

 

[mar2112]

I would put them in a separate bin outside of any container so TSA can see exactly what it is. I just did that with camera lenes and that was the first time I got thru inspection without TSA needing a closer look at my camera gear.

 

[JimQPublic]

Two weeks ago I carried them on going LAX to Kona and put them in a separate bin, no problem. Coming home I checked them and found the TSA note.

This week I checked them going Long Beach CA to New York. Bag wasn’t inspected. Then flew JFK to Bonaire and the bag was opened but no TSA note. Internal and external compression straps weren’t reattached so the weights were able to shift around in the duffel.

I’m going back to either carrying the weights on or packing them in a small checked bag that only has soft, non-fragile items (clothes, towel, etc).

 

[rongoodman]

Or just put them in a checked bag and don't worry about it.

 

[broncobowsher]

I would put it with other non-fragile dive gear (booties for example). Have them threaded to a weight belt. It does a better job of telling the story that you are diving instead of some wacko with lead weights trying to get on a plane. Not saying you are not a wacko, that has yet to be proven.

All depends on the TSA agent.

I've gone through with scuba tanks multiple times. Generally a quick inspection. Surprised the one time they didn't question a thing. Had one that was in training where the super was showing him how to inspect a tank for carry on.

 

[hilljo88]

Most folks would just rent the lead. Years ago, I worked in an office with a work out room for staff. One guy was going on a business trip from the office. When he left his carry on luggage unattended, we put a 25 pound weight plate in as a gag. He didn't notice it until TSA questioned him.