Originally Posted by
CDTraveler
My son would like to take his hockey skates with us on an upcoming trip. These skates have about an 11 inch long rather sharp blade on them. To me, they're sporting equipment; will the TSA see them as weapons?
Now let's not over-inflate things. While there have been times when skates have been banned, it is not because TSA perceived them to be weapons, but rather because they saw an object, which could be used as a weapon. I don't think they ever denied that the primary purpose of skates was skating. Fortunately, for athletes everywhere, it seems like you can carry them on, now.
I've always found it rather perverse that they would ban items like hockey skates but continue to allow wine bottles, either by the crew or via duty free, which could serve as both a cosh and a cutting instrument.
Originally Posted by
CDTraveler
We'd rather not put them in checked luggage because they were a rather expensive custom order, and my son has them nicely broken in now, so would be extremely upset to have them stolen by the luggage gremlins.
Again, despite the fact that the skates were expensive, skates really aren't the target of thieves. They want things that are easily sellable - electronics and jewelry - or of course, cash! The real risk is not that they will be stolen, but that they will be lost. Taking into account both the cost of the skates and the cost (in time and blisters) of breaking in new ones, you definitely want to carry them on.