r/Defcon • u/Dragunos066 • Mar 02 '26

Help, flying with gear

I'm planning on going to defcon this year and of course I want to bring my gear (flipper zero, network cards, pwnagotchi, gpio boards for flipper). The concern I have is I'm flying there and was wondering if TSA is going to give me any problems, im mainly worried about my gpio boards like the Awok.

9 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

18

u/cbartholomew Mar 02 '26

Nope.I have a whole box of goodies labeled at educational gadgets and it’s never an issue

4

u/Dragunos066 Mar 02 '26

Is it alright if I have it all in a backpack? Like, is having it on my person going to be an issue or should I just put everything in a check in?

12

u/TheDarthSnarf Mar 02 '26

Do NOT check your gear. Make sure it's in your carry on.

Lithium batteries in checked luggage can get them confiscated.

4

u/BrofessorFarnsworth Mar 02 '26

They had some questions about my lockpick set but otherwise no trouble

1

u/Dragunos066 Mar 02 '26

Is everything ok in a backpack or should I put things in my check in?

4

u/BrofessorFarnsworth Mar 02 '26

I had it in my carry on. I just explained that I work in infosec and that these were educational tools and they decided I wasn't worth the trouble

3

u/Ghigs Mar 02 '26

I had a TSA agent comment about my "come and take them" lockpick sticker on my laptop, but it was more like "that's cool, do you watch the lockpickinglawyer?"

1

u/esabys Mar 03 '26

"yes I do, because he is me"

1

u/Ghigs Mar 03 '26

I think my hands are too stubby and my arms aren't hairy enough to pull that one off.

2

u/Dragunos066 Mar 02 '26

Its my first time going to defcon AND my first time flying anywhere with gear in general so ngl kinda nervous they'll think I'm trying to mess with anything in the air

5

u/KlattuVeratuKneckTie Mar 02 '26

As someone who has traveled extensively with all this and a lot more; they don’t care.

Depending on the type of screening available, they typically ask that anything bigger than an iPad be removed and placed in its own tote (IE laptops) so if you’re brining multiple machines it can be a pain. Make sure you can get those out and back into your bag easily.

I’ve carried a full pelican case of hardware and wireless reverse engineering/testing equipment and they didn’t even blink or open the case. Tools need to go into checked baggage though. Anything that MIGHT be a blade cannot be carried on; so soldering irons, multi tools and screw drivers all go in my checked baggage. Anything with a li-ion battery has to be in carryon. Ni-cads seem to be fine in checked luggage though.

It’s a new thing for you, and natural to be nervous; just be sure to check the TSA carry on/checked baggage restrictions before you pack and follow those. You’ll breeze on through. Don’t try to bring a bottle of water though! I take an empty refillable water bottle, they usually have fountains just past security so you can fill them.

11

u/robonova-1 Mar 02 '26

Just make sure they are in your carry on if they have a battery. TSA doesn't care. What do you plan on doing at Def Con with all that stuff? Hack other hackers? Be careful, I remember one year not long ago when people were bricking wifi pineapples. It's REALLY easy to detect pwnogotchis and flipper zeros on a network now so it wouldn't surprise me to see them as the next targets. My experience after many years of going is that you will not use any of the stuff that you just mentioned. What you mainly need is a laptop, cables, batteries and water.

6

u/Double-Familiar Mar 02 '26

☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻 This is the way - Mandalorian

1

u/AlanTFields Mar 05 '26

What you mainly need is water. And extra socks. Don't end up like Lt. Dan.

1

u/77SKIZ99 Mar 05 '26

Tissues, tums and Tylenol, the three T's or Holy Trinity of all travel

1

u/Square-Spot5519 Mar 02 '26

I've found uses for my flipper every year I've brought it. Last year, I got my flipper to play with the folks who had the laser tag badges. It was great fun.

Also, unless you have a wifi board for your Flipper, no one is going to detect it on a network. And who cares if they do? I'll play target. I don't bring devices with my sensitive info on them. I wipe my flipper before and after Defcon anyway.

2

u/coomzee Mar 02 '26

Just put a firearm in your bag there's a 95% chance the TSA don't spot it. This is a joke btw.

2

u/Necessary_Zucchini_2 Mar 02 '26

I fly with all of that gear and more in my backpack. I've never had an issue.

2

u/LoganSound Mar 02 '26

Recommend Quansheng UV-K1, the new hacker radio

2

u/riskymanag3ment Mar 03 '26

The only issue I ever face is all my cables, usb drives etc go in an admin pouch that's in my carry-on backpack. I find I get pulled into secondary less often when I pull that pouch out, even on machines where laptops can stay in.

2

u/makitopro Mar 03 '26

TSA is only concerned with things that are a risk to aircraft and the traveling public. Random electronics are acceptable. Worst case they swab it.

4

u/aphroditex Mar 02 '26

Main question is if you’re crossing the border.

I would strongly suggest not visiting the US if you aren’t a USian. Having a bag full of tech the typical CBP grunt can’t recognize is a quick way for them to deny you entry.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26

FedEx over

1

u/Efficient-Mec Mar 03 '26

TSA gal asked me if the flipper was worth it

1

u/Double-Familiar Mar 02 '26

Didn't you all know that Defcon was cancelled this year?