Why do shoes set off metal detectors?
Nov 25, 2015, 6:22 am
#16
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In some Asian countries, the metal shank is widely viewed as a sign of high qualify expensive shoes. As a result, to save face, some businessmen will put a few coins in their shoes so that the metal detector goes off when traveling with a boss, subordinates, or colleagues.
The simple reason the metal detector goes off is that there is metal in your shoes! Wear some Nikes next time and it won't go off.
Nov 25, 2015, 6:59 am
#17
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I'm in love with them. 3 dark brown, 1 light brown (a mistake, since it's closer to freaking orange) and 1 black.
Best clothing decision of my life!
Nov 25, 2015, 7:30 am
#18
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If things are backed up and you put your shoes through the X-ray and scurry you can sometimes see them on the screen as they go through the belt. Darned if my shoes don't have the orange shank.
Nov 25, 2015, 9:07 am
#19
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My wife had a pair of shoes we thought didn't have a lick of metal in them. Very simple slip-on shoes. She specifically chose them to wear to an MRI for this reason. Afterwards I was handing her the shoes and I felt the magnet pulling at them--gently, but there was no doubt metal in there.
Flying was what taught me that Danskos (the old ones, made by Sanita) and of course Sanitas have a metal shank in them. I certainly wouldn't call them poorly made - my Sanitas are bulletproof.
Nov 25, 2015, 9:13 am
#20
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BTW I would never wear Nikes to travel.
Nov 25, 2015, 9:27 am
#21
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"What do you mean, my steel-toed boots set of the metal detector?"
I've seen TSA employees and their foreign near-equivalents say that the footwear set off the alarm even when metal in the footwear was highly unlikely to have been the cause of the WTMD alarm. Sometimes they just make it up as they go along.
I've seen TSA employees and their foreign near-equivalents say that the footwear set off the alarm even when metal in the footwear was highly unlikely to have been the cause of the WTMD alarm. Sometimes they just make it up as they go along.
Nov 25, 2015, 10:50 am
#22
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The most important criteria for me for travel shoes is shoes that I can run in, if need be.
I have sprinted for a gate in Birkenstocks and flipflops. Not fun.
Nov 25, 2015, 11:15 am
#23
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Nov 25, 2015, 11:47 am
#24
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Wow. I only wear the Fifth Avenues (small ankle, so Last 5 is great). My oldest pair is from 2008 when I first discovered them.
I'm in love with them. 3 dark brown, 1 light brown (a mistake, since it's closer to freaking orange) and 1 black.
Best clothing decision of my life!
I'm in love with them. 3 dark brown, 1 light brown (a mistake, since it's closer to freaking orange) and 1 black.
Best clothing decision of my life!
Nov 25, 2015, 12:50 pm
#25
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I can't believe they let her wear ANY shoes in an MRI. Not your wife's mistake, but certainly the mistake of the tech. Generally they won't even let you wear the simplest of house slippers, but they'll give you hospital disposable socks for the test.
Flying was what taught me that Danskos (the old ones, made by Sanita) and of course Sanitas have a metal shank in them. I certainly wouldn't call them poorly made - my Sanitas are bulletproof.
Flying was what taught me that Danskos (the old ones, made by Sanita) and of course Sanitas have a metal shank in them. I certainly wouldn't call them poorly made - my Sanitas are bulletproof.
They didn't care about the zipper on my jeans (I was in the room with her but not in the tube) and I had left my glasses outside--afterwards I found out they would have been acceptable (so I could read while I was waiting.)
Nov 25, 2015, 5:13 pm
#26
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Definitely the shank, and not random other metal. There isn't enough in the nails or lace grommets or anywhere else you might have metal in your shoes, unless the WTMD sensitivity is cranked insanely high.
I am fortunate that most of my shoes lack a shank and thus do not alarm. Given Pre these days sends you to the Nude-o-Scope when you alarm, that's a big deal.
My Allen Edmonds shoes don't set off the WTMD, FWIW.
I am fortunate that most of my shoes lack a shank and thus do not alarm. Given Pre these days sends you to the Nude-o-Scope when you alarm, that's a big deal.
Nails won't set them off, poorly made (sorry folks) dress shoes have a metal shank.
If you're in the US, consider buying shoes from www.allenedmonds.com - they will be the last pair you buy for the rest of your life. Proper hand made shoes, and when you wear out the sole, you can get them recrafted.
If you're in the US, consider buying shoes from www.allenedmonds.com - they will be the last pair you buy for the rest of your life. Proper hand made shoes, and when you wear out the sole, you can get them recrafted.
Nov 25, 2015, 11:08 pm
#27
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Surprisingly, I hit the most sensitive detector I have yet encountered inside the family court building here in town. I had to divest metal that has never tripped an airport detector.
Nov 26, 2015, 12:20 am
#28
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Definitely the shank, and not random other metal. There isn't enough in the nails or lace grommets or anywhere else you might have metal in your shoes, unless the WTMD sensitivity is cranked insanely high.
I am fortunate that most of my shoes lack a shank and thus do not alarm. Given Pre these days sends you to the Nude-o-Scope when you alarm, that's a big deal.
My Allen Edmonds shoes don't set off the WTMD, FWIW.
I am fortunate that most of my shoes lack a shank and thus do not alarm. Given Pre these days sends you to the Nude-o-Scope when you alarm, that's a big deal.
My Allen Edmonds shoes don't set off the WTMD, FWIW.
I always remove my shoes before I approach the TDC and when I randomly set off the WTMD, I get a grope. The question has never come up because I am already barefoot.
Nov 26, 2015, 2:53 pm
#29
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I always wear the same shoes that never trigger alarm : Clarks casual.
I have a metal bar in my right leg after a ski accident.
It triggered the alarm only once. At a minor Chinese airport. The guy tried desperately to find what was beeping his hand-held metal detector, didn't find out and gave up.
I didn't tell him I had a metal bar inside my body, as I knew that it was the best way to become suspicious and finish naked in front of four or five inspectors.
I have a metal bar in my right leg after a ski accident.
It triggered the alarm only once. At a minor Chinese airport. The guy tried desperately to find what was beeping his hand-held metal detector, didn't find out and gave up.
I didn't tell him I had a metal bar inside my body, as I knew that it was the best way to become suspicious and finish naked in front of four or five inspectors.
Nov 27, 2015, 11:41 pm
#30
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Why do shoes set off metal detectors?
Back before body scans I had a pair of shoes that would trip the WTMD. I learned (probably here) that shuffling through can keep the shank from being picked up.
Twice with pre check I have been the lucky recipient of the random beep and sent for the WBI. Shoes stayed in and didn't alarm the gumby figure, but I got random false positives both times elsewhere.
Twice with pre check I have been the lucky recipient of the random beep and sent for the WBI. Shoes stayed in and didn't alarm the gumby figure, but I got random false positives both times elsewhere.