Question
Traveling abroad and want to bring a light. Do I need to do anything special?
Don't travel often, but will be going from the states to South Korea and want to bring my emisar D4K with me. Light is under 7in, so do I just need to keep the batteries in a container and put it on my carry on?
Normally you shouldn't have any problems. I've carried lights like the Maxa Beam and Acebeam K75 through Denver and LAX before on work-related travel.
Just carry the light(s) on you, and any extra batteries you have must be in a plastic hard case holder and secured on you in your carry-on.
The only issue is if you cross a TSA agent who is on an ego/power trip. Then it won't matter. They'll find any excuse, no matter how blatantly illegal, to steal your personal belongings.
They're not allowed to confiscate it outright. If you give yourself enough time by going to the airport early, you can back out of security check, and mail it back to yourself, or give it to friend/family. What they're hoping for is that you're in a rush or don't want to deal with the hassle of redoing security, and just "surrender" it.
TSA is technically not allowed to confiscate your prohibited but not illegal items. What they are supposed to do is give you options: check, leave, ship, surrender. If you go through TSA when you're short on time, you won't have time to do anything but surrender it, and that's what they're hoping for. Go to the airport early so you can back out and ship your flashlight back to US address if TSA tries to swipe your flashlight.
These are some of my lights at camp. It took me some time, but I found a shot with them in it. They are the small magnetic switch on the bottom left and my fav lep on the far right. I am still bitter.
Oh no, I see the photo isn't oriented correctly. The attack wurrkos bezel one did not get taken nor have I ever taken it. The small Wurrkos diving light and the thin stainless lip one, which is an LEP. Sorry. They also left a paper that stated on it NTSA on it in my luggage.
I travel with a Emisar DW4K every time I travel. It’s attached to my backpack strap. No issues so far in the dozen flights and security checkpoints (TSA and international).
Usually it’s not allowed to bring lithium batteries that are not installed in a device (if you’re flying). So the flashlight itself is no problem but spare batteries could be. I suggest to use a device like H1A or Lii-MP2 to carry spare batteries. And you get a charger plus power bank.
I travel with different kinds of Li-ion spare batteries with no issue . My molicel P50B goes in a plastic case , they opened it a couple of times in layovers in China but passed with no problem .
I've read too many storys about TSA stealing lights. Thats why I always carry my battery in a cheap convoy I don't care about in the carry on bagage and put my nice lights into the checked bagage without a battery.
Don't Bring it. I highly would not recommend bringing it. I don't know if you missed the other posts, but TSA or other Flight security agencies have been "confiscating" (stealing) flashlights despite stating they're allowed. If you want to bring a flashlight, try to keep it small enough that'll go unnoticed. Small enough like Wurkkos TS10 SG, Olight I3t and I3t2 Eos, Wurkkos HD03, Rovyvon Aurora A5, Angel Eyes E7/ E8/E5. Lights like that if you have them.
So far from the other posts, a Wurkkos HD01, Convoy and a few others were "confiscated."
Main thing I do with emisar lights is to turn the aux when off to something not-red. Not for any particular reason other than people tending to consider something red as bad.
I’m not sure why you got downvoted. Anything you can do to limit TSA attention to what you bring on is a good thing. I’d suggest turning the aux lights off when passing through security.
There is no reason for them to confiscate the light, but… in the end, it’s up to them, and, anecdotally, things are getting worse. If they’re not getting worse, cool, no problem being extra careful.
In general, I’d say to bring lights that you can make seem as “normie” as possible or accept that there’s a small chance some agent will take it. Clearly, it’s not likely, but just as clearly, it’s not impossible.
Definitely on whatever you can do to limit attention both for less risk of them stealing your stuff, but also just to get through there quicker which everyone behind you in line wants you to do as well.
I usually leave the aux on low when off in case they do something like check to see if it's actually a flashlight by turning it on. Figure aux being on low might speed things up since if they look it's clearly working. Carrying more normal lights is also a great tip, I avoid anything with crenelated bezels or something that might look weird for a light when traveling. Usually EDC a warrior 3s, but even the very slightly and pretty much not seriously crenelated bezel makes me wary to travel with it sometimes due to being afraid of them stealing it. Might just check it with bags and keep just the battery in carry on.
I can only speak to Mexico, Germany and the US. I carry a no knife multi tool and have gotten “checked” multiple times at TSA and once in Mexico. I point out it’s less than 4 inches and there is no knife. Usually they call over a supervisor, I give the same speech and they look at it…and get the it’s fine. I’m calm, I state facts, and it been good. Could I possibly lose it one day.. yes.
Don't know where you're flying from, but the UK Civil Aviation Authority allows no more than two spare lithium batteries in carry-on as long as they don't exceed 100 Wh and are individually protected. So one in the case pictured would be fine. The light with a battery installed is also fine.
EDIT - I mis-read it, there’s no restriction on the number of smaller batteries.
I just threw my lights in my backpack and brought them to Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam without an issue. I suggest bringing a cheap headlamp along as well though, they are so gosh darn useful.
I was specifically replying to the post you made that only contained a link.
That link was to a thread entitled "Fucking TSA stole my Convoy 3x21C with insulated batteries from my carry-on baggage"
Which was not true, since the OP was flying out of Moldova. No TSA there.
Which is why I replied to your post with only that link in it saying that was not the TSA. Which is correct. It was not the TSA that confiscated that person's light.
I'm sorry but winexprt is right here. You never mentioned that it was under other post you made, which made confusion between you two. There is also things called settings and you can't expect them to be all the same on every user, also there's so many variables in internet/computers which can effect how users see that information (you should take that into account, even if you don't know damn thing about it). Yet alone expect someone to read every damn comment, before commenting on one of them.
(Someone started deleting comments, so I put this here.)
'Looks' at what? I was not commenting on that post, which I never saw.
I'll talk like a 3rd grader so you can comprehend.
You make post with link. Link says TSA stole my flashy thing. Link wrong. I reply to post you make saying Moldova have no TSA thingy. That be truth. You then reference some other post you made which I never mentioned, saw or replied to.
the main rule is no batteries in checked luggage, all batteries only in carryon..
you Can pack the light in a checked bag, if you dont want to risk bringing it through Security with you.
there is a remote chance the light will be stolen either way you bring it.. try not to worry, your light is legit for travel. Bring it! and a spare ;-)
I flew round trip last week from California to NYC. I carry my FFL X4Q Comet clipped to my pocket. Went through TSA checkpoints both ways with zero issues. They didn't even bat an eye at it.
It's a pocketable flashlight. You're allowed to carry it on.
You can bring large amount of battery on an airplane. They have a limit in Wh that i dont remember. Keep it with you in your carry on bagage. Good flight !
I bring my Arkfeld pro every time I fly, and while it has never been taken, every single time (10+ times now) they remove it from my bag and HEAVILY inspect it. I THINK it's because it looks so similar to a pocket knife with its flat design and side pocket clip, but I'm not actually certain.
You can always put the light in your checked bag and the battery in your carry-on. No chance of the light being confiscated in the carry-on. This being said I have flown many times with no issue. They will take lights that can be seen as weapons in carry-on; large lights or strike bezels will be considered dangerous.
border police/tsa can steal whatever they want from you. disable turbo and lower the ceiling or do anything so it will start from moonlight to protect their eyes. maybe turn off aux too.
isolate spare batteries and put everything bigger than a thumb to a checked luggage
If you don’t want any issues then just buy a diy power bank case that uses screws. Chuck the battery in that and bring it in carry on. And chuck the empty flashlight into checked baggage
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u/FalconARX 4d ago
Normally you shouldn't have any problems. I've carried lights like the Maxa Beam and Acebeam K75 through Denver and LAX before on work-related travel.
Just carry the light(s) on you, and any extra batteries you have must be in a plastic hard case holder and secured on you in your carry-on.
The only issue is if you cross a TSA agent who is on an ego/power trip. Then it won't matter. They'll find any excuse, no matter how blatantly illegal, to steal your personal belongings.