🥾 Hiking boots

Hiking boots are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage, and you can also wear them through the checkpoint — which many travellers do. If you wear them, you will need to remove them at US airport security checkpoints (TSA requires shoes to go through the X-ray), so be prepared to take them off and place them in a bin.

Hiking boots are permitted worldwide with no regional restrictions. The main variation is in whether you need to remove your shoes at the checkpoint — TSA requires shoe removal in the United States, while many European and Asian airports do not, though officers retain the discretion to ask. Wearing or packing boots is equally valid in all regions.

Wearing hiking boots through security is common among backpackers and trekkers — it saves luggage space and weight. The main thing to be aware of is that some boots have thick rubber soles or steel reinforcement that can trigger the metal detector or body scanner, which may lead to a brief secondary pat-down on the feet. Mentioning this to the screener before you walk through can set expectations and speed up the process.

Wearing heavy hiking boots on the plane saves significant luggage weight and protects them from rough baggage handling, making it the preferred choice for most serious hikers. If your boots are muddy from a previous hike, clean them thoroughly before travelling — arriving at security with heavily soiled boots can attract extra attention and may cause issues at customs in countries with strict biosecurity rules, such as Australia and New Zealand.