Cable ties on luggage?

[Snurk71]

Where do you buy the cable ties to "secure" luggage? Can you get them at Walmart?

Thanks!

 

[RoutemanDan]

Not sure about walmart but any auto parts or hardware store should have them.

 

[mom_rules]

Walmart, Home Depots, Garden supply places, and almost any hardware store. They come in various sizes and colours. If you want to make you luggage easier to find buy coloured cable ties (most are clear or white).

 

[Mark P.]

Even the thinnest of ties will work fine.
They are tough to break, making them perfect for holding suitcase zippers together, yet easy to cut through with nail clippers(which are permitted on carry-ons).

 

[Snurk71]

Thanks for replies. I hadn't even considered what I was going to use to cut them off once I reached my destination (since scissors would be packed inside)!!! I thought that even nail clippers weren't allowed anymore? So, those are ok to have on carryon?

 

[prncess674]

Instead of putting nail clippers or safety scissors in my carry on bag I always just put a cheap pair of nail clippers in the side pocket of my checked bag. This saves me from the additional screening "penalty box" at security. Even though nail clippers are approved carry on there are still many security screeners who want to "make sure" they are the appropriate kind thus causing you a delay at security.

Another good tip is to put anything that may seem suspicious to a secuirty screener right on top in your bag. Once they find the offending item they stop digging through your personal items and you are on your merry way faster.

 

[mom_rules]

Good info to know-thanks.

 

[Mark P.]

I copied the below list from the TSA site. Sorry that it's a little jumbled, but as it reads, nail clippers are permitted in both carry-on and checked luggage.

We're packing a small pair clippers in our carry-on. The clippers had a small file that I snapped off.
The cable ties that I'm using are thin (thin but tough!), making it easy for the small clippers to cut.


Can I take it? Carry-on Checked
Personal Items
Cigar Cutters Yes Yes
Corkscrews Yes Yes
Cuticle Cutters Yes Yes
Eyeglass Repair Tools (including screwdrivers) Yes Yes
Eyelash Curlers Yes Yes
Knitting and Crochet Needles Yes Yes
Knives, round-bladed butter or plastic Yes Yes
Nail Clippers Yes Yes
Nail Files Yes Yes
Personal care or toiletries with aerosols, in limited quantities (such as hairsprays, deodorants) Yes Yes
Safety Razors (including disposable razors) Yes Yes
Scissors-plastic or metal with blunt tips Yes Yes
Scissors-metal with pointed tips No Yes
Toy Transformer Robots Yes Yes
Toy Weapons (if not realistic replicas) Yes Yes
Tweezers Yes Yes
Umbrellas (allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed) Yes Yes

 

[prncess674]

I have no doubt that nail clippers are approved carry on item the problem is being sent for additional "penalty box" screening. I personally hate the additional screening and do everything to avoid it. Nail clippers are approved but if a screener spots them in the carry on through their screen they still may want to check to make sure they are approved. They may want to check that there is no attached file or knife. Another sugestion if you want to carry on the nail clippers is to get the type on a key chain and attach to your keys. Put your keys with attached clippers in one of the small provided buckets at security and send through like that. This way they won't have to go through your entire roll a board carry on to look for a pair of clippers. This is just my $0.02. YMMV.

 

[Music Mole]

Instead of putting nail clippers or safety scissors in my carry on bag I always just put a cheap pair of nail clippers in the side pocket of my checked bag.

Prncess674 - great idea - i've been wondering how to handle this and like you - I'm for one less thing that has to be evaluated as I go through the security.

Thanks for posting this

 

[*Belle*]

At my local market I found nylon cable ties by Helping Hands. They came in flourecent colars (green, pink,yellow and red). 15-8" ties per pkg. Attach cable ties as you normally would, and to release simply pinch the cable tie as shown in the diagram. I was happy with my purchase and no longer have to worry about cutting them off.

 

[NancyinCt]

Cable Ties,

Sorry, what are they? Is this used in place of locks? Or just put around handles etc... to ID luggage? (like colored luggage straps that buckle like seat belts?

Thanks

 

[Mark P.]

Hi NancyinCT,
Cable ties can be used in place of locks.
If a TSA agent needs to open your luggage, it's much easier for them to cut the tie rather than a lock, and potentially breaking your suitcase.

Found this picture on Home Depot's site:

 

[RobinLyn]

I purchased the luggage straps for our up coming trip, neon green color, at Office Max. We usually lock our luggage but since that's a no no these days I thought I would feel better if we used something to help keep them closed during transport. They are the reusable kind, about $6 each.

 

[mattman2k]

The luggage starps work great. And they make it easier to find your bags on the baggage belt! Though I'm guessing there will a lot more being used this year than the last time we went.

I bought some online several weeks ago for $4.95 each. Then my wife saw them at the local Dollar Tree!

 

[prncess674]

Luggage straps are fine for identifying luggage but they will not let you know if your bags have been tampered with. The same thing goes for the reusable zip ties. If they can be undone you have no idea if someone has been through your luggage.

I am sticking with my zip ties.

Also another good tip if you are travelling with hard sided luggage is to get strapping tape (the tape that looks like it has string in it) to hold your luggage closed in place of zip ties on soft sided luggage. This will help prevent bag pilfering since you are no longer supposed to use luggage locks. And it also prevents your luggage from accidental openings.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by prncess674
Also another good tip if you are travelling with hard sided luggage is to get strapping tape (the tape that looks like it has string in it) to hold your luggage closed in place of zip ties on soft sided luggage. This will help prevent bag pilfering since you are no longer supposed to use luggage locks. And it also prevents your luggage from accidental openings.

It's a good tip except when they inspect the luggage. They cut the tape. Would they replace it?

Every piece of hard sided luggage I have has had a latch that popped open at one time or other when it wasn't locked. Luckily there are two latches.

 

[RobinLyn]

I prefer the straps and can't worry about whether or not they open it, there is a good chance they will and that's fine with me. Our luggage is the hard shell stuff and as long as I don't over stuff, I think it will be ok. We don't put anything in our luggage that can't be replaced anyway. Two days and counting!!!!

 

[NJmouse]

I purchased a pack of neon cable ties at the Dollar Tree. There were green neon ties in the package. That is what I am going to use.

 

[mom_rules]

No lime green in mine-mine are neon yellow though (close).

NJMouse-we'll see you down there! Have a great trip!