I've got something similar to the one in the link below. It unbolts and fits into my carryon nicely. Will it make it through the checkpoint consistently?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029A7C0?...8RXT1X1BZJZ6P&

Well, if it fits into your carry-on, and the carry-on is within the size permitted by your airline, I don't see any problem with it getting stuck in the X-ray machine. The rollers on those machines are pretty good. So it should make it through the checkpoint.

Oh. You meant something else. Never mind.

You need to ask yourself why am I bringing it with me and is there another option. If your not sure if its going to get past the checkpoint you may have already answered the question.

I was hoping a screener might give me an idea of the odds of it being turned back.

"probably" "probably not" "maybe" that sorta thing.

If it looked more like a large gauge knitting needle they might let it through.

Consistently? Somehow I doubt it. Depends on just how anal the supervisor is.

Which just goes to show how stupid TSA procedures can be. A chin up bar is either a hazard to aviation safety, or it isn't.

Thanks, I think Ill take it on this next trip and see how it goes.

Which reminds me of something else I was pondering recently. If I (who fortunately can walk unassisted) pack a cane or walking stick in my carry-on, said cane, will not make it through the phalanx of fools that have taken over my local airport. If an elderly person walks up to the phalanx with a cane, they are permitted through with said cane. I know it's supposed to be the wielder not the weapon, but how does anyone know some wielder wouldn't grab that cane and do whatever is prevented by seizing my cane or walking stick?

And then I got to thinking about the prohibition on golf clubs, and how any member can get putters at the desks of some friendly airline clubs in the sterile area. How did these get here without the TSORon's of the phalanx going "Not at my check-point, not now, not ever"

Perhaps, just like the time I counted up a dozen exemptions to the liquid rule, which made the rule seem even more foolish than it already seems on its face, I'm just overanalyzing this.

The official answer from Ron's boss is: "That's for me to know..." - Janet Napolitano

Funny, when Comrade Daschle promised us nation-wide airport security consistency on fedarilizing (and so, professionalizing) the TSA, I don't recall that the committed consistency was going to be offset by a supervisor anality factor.

So did it work? I am planning on bringing a similar bar on my carry on.

Bump. I'm curious as well.

Ron's answer is fair.

Whenever I train supervisors, I tell them, "read the prohibited items list; do not read into the prohibited items list."

However, the list is not all inclusive (it can't be); so supervisors have some latitude. As for the chin-up bar, I don't see it as a problem. It should not be prohibited. I think in 99% of the cases, supervisors won't have a problem with it. But as Ron pointed out, there's always that 1% exception.

I'm curious how it turned out.

Any comment on tent poles? the skinny little aluminum ones in small backpacking tents? (I'm not asking about the stakes, just the poles!)

Seen the question asked multiple times here and elsewhere on the forum. AFAIK, everyone (including me) always chickens out because we can't get an answer.