16 Surprising Items You Are Not Allowed To Bring in Your Carry-on Bag
Newsflash, travelers: You may have to put your souvenir or gift-giving dreams on hold. Or, at the very least, in a checked bag.
There are some odd items that are forbidden in carry-on luggage.
First Things First
This isn’t a complete list of the bizarre items you can’t bring in a checked and/or carry-on bag. Always verify with TSA’s website before arriving at the airport to see if you’re permitted to bring any given item, as they’re constantly updating their policies.
1: Baseball Bats
Baseball fans eagerly looking to perfect their batting skills and travel light may need to think again. TSA doesn’t permit baseball bats in the cabin to reduce the risk of them being used as weapons.
2: Foam Toy Sword
Though toys in carry-on bags are generally allowed, a foam toy sword is not. The silver lining for kids? They can pack foam toy swords in their checked bags.
3: Gel Candles
TSA allows passengers to bring solid candles in both carry-on and checked luggage. However, gel candles aren’t permitted in carry-on bags.
4: Bowling Pins
Want to take home a bowling pin after a win? You’ll need a checked bag for that. TSA prohibits bowling pins in your carry-on bag to prevent them from becoming a weapon.
5: Magic 8 Ball
Like some snow globes, Magic 8 Balls are not allowed in carry-on bags. The liquid inside the ball doesn’t meet TSA regulations. Travelers wanting to bring home a Magic 8 Ball must pack it in their checked bag.
6: Samsung Galaxy Note7
It’s prohibited to bring a Samsung Galaxy Note7 in any piece of luggage on or beneath a plane. The Department of Transportation banned the device due to it being a fire hazard.
7: Sling Shots
Passengers contemplating packing their slingshots in their carry-on bags must stop the urge. TSA only permits slingshots and catapult-like items in checked bags.
8: Spray Paint
Spray paint is a hard no for TSA due to a flammable propellant that makes them hazardous. So, you’ll need to buy your spray paint at your final destination, given that it isn’t permitted in checked or carry-on bags.
9: Lacrosse Sticks
Aside from the fact that lacrosse sticks may be used as a weapon, the item is too large to fit comfortably on most plane cabins. Lacrosse sticks typically range from 37 to 72 inches.
10: Gel Heating Pads
Tell your back pain it’ll have to wait until your final destination; gel products of most kinds are a no-go in carry-on bags. The reason? Gel is too similar to a liquid.
11: Medical-Clinical Thermometer
Medical-clinical thermometers are only allowed in a passenger’s checked bag. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows one medical-clinical thermometer per person. Due to the mercury found within the thermometer, the item must be in a protective case.
12: Liquid Bleach
Passengers who want to clean while traveling may find it wise to purchase liquid bleach at their destination rather than bring it with them. Regardless of TSA’s fluid sizing parameters, liquid bleach is prohibited in both checked and carry-on bags.
13: Rocket Launcher
Though some people have tried, rocket launchers aren’t allowed on planes… or near them, for that matter. That’s about as common sense as it gets for this list.
14: Cattle Prod
A cattle prod is a handheld device used to get livestock to move. Cattle prods are allowed in checked bags, but travelers can’t bring them in carry-on bags (and why would you want to?).
15: Vehicle Airbags
As disappointing as it may be, TSA doesn’t allow vehicle airbags on planes. They’re banned from both checked and carry-on luggage.
16: Tactical Pen
Tactical pens serve as self-defense weapons, as they have sharp tips. Naturally, passengers aren’t allowed to bring them in their carry-on bags. However, the TSA has no issue with travelers carrying tactical pens in their checked bags.
A Laundry List of Rules
TSA’s website lists more than 490 items that passengers may or may not bring in their luggage. The objects are divided into checked-in and carry-on rules, with explanations for special cases.
Pulled Aside
Since the development of TSA, the number of illegal items identified has risen more than ever. In 2022 alone, TSA intercepted 18 guns per day, a record high.
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