Security proof shoes and belts?

[Mal P]

Hi everyone,

I must admit, I tire of having to remove my shoes and belt everytime I fly so I don't set off the metal detectors. Does anyone know of any proper work shoes and belts that won't set off even the most sensitive detectors, i.e. doesn't contain any metal? I tell you what, it would be a heaven sent relief!

Now, if only I didn't have to take my laptop out of my carry case

Thanks,
Mal

 

[Evan]

By work shoes you mean office shoes i assume, hardly likely to get steel caps without metal are we

My CAT shoes would need to come off always, but my windsor smith ones don't and my belt's must not have enough metal to set the detectors off.

Have you noticed sydney is more sensitive than melbourne ?

As you say i hate the notebook removal !!!

E

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

My belts and shoes never set off metal detectors. However in some places (like USA for example) I still need to remove them

 

[cssaus]

These days when I fly, I wear slip-on shoes and a pair of cargo pants that have elasticised waist and doesn't require a belt. Worst case is that if I'm asked to remove my shoes it only take a few seconds to put them on again.

 

[Dave Noble]

My belts and shoes never set off metal detectors. However in some places (like USA for example) I still need to remove them

You do not have to remove your shoes in the USA. They may act like you have to , but you can legitimately decline to do so ( as I have done when passing through ORD ).

Dave

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

You have to take off your shoes in the US, better not to argue with the TSA

From the TSA website :

You are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. All types of footwear must be placed on the X-ray machine to be screened. If you do not comply with Security Officers, you will not be allowed to board your flight.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[Dave Noble]

Hi there

You have to take off your shoes in the US, better not to argue with the TSA

From the TSA website :

You are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. All types of footwear must be placed on the X-ray machine to be screened. If you do not comply with Security Officers, you will not be allowed to board your flight.

Cheers
DJ737

This is a recentish change to the regulations then

Dave

 

[Evan]

The way i read that is in the US every single passanger must remove there shoes for screening now that would take forever !

I had to remove my shoes in Frankfurt as well last year. Not sure if its normal but they did it to everybody i think, don't travel a lot there so couldn't say how common it is.

I hate slip on shoes !!! i just dont like them, i don't know why, maybe its the feeling they are falling off but i just hate them, which is a problem given how often i visit Japan where they are really useful. (removing shoes to enter rooms in some cases and most places you eat.

E

 

[Mal P]

Thanks guys, yeah, office shoes is what I meant Hey Kiwi Flyer, which type of shoes / belt do you wear?

Phew, that really is quite an annoyance having to remove any type of shoe in the U.S. One would wear comfortable old sneakers for such a long trip!

Sincerely,
Mal

 

[cssaus]

I try not to create any bother going thru US security screening and comply with all requests. The last thing you want is to undergo a fully detailed personal screening experience that could include checking into places where the sun don't shine

 

[pauly7]

Actually you do have to take off your shoes on request, as of last year in the states...

I have to say I'm a big fan of slip ons, I don't have any laceup shoes at all any more except my gym sneakers!

To the person who says they feel like they are going to slip off, go to HYPE and check out their range, they are fantastic.

Back on topic, I much prefer the Thai security style if processing PAX, you walk through with eveything on - beep (if you are like me!) then go and quickly stand on one of usually 3 stools, they sweep you - obviously determining that the amounts are too small in shoes/belt locations to be of any danger at all, maybe get you to take coin out of pocket to show them - then let you pass.

I find it gets through the PAX much faster than Aus, where you have to (if not a regular traveller and don't know the drill) stumble back through, take things off and slow everyone else down...

 

[codash1099]

By work shoes you mean office shoes i assume, hardly likely to get steel caps without metal are we

My CAT shoes would need to come off always, but my windsor smith ones don't and my belt's must not have enough metal to set the detectors off.

Have you noticed sydney is more sensitive than melbourne ?

As you say i hate the notebook removal !!!

E

I've been told that some shoes have a metal reinforcement inside the sole. Belts will differ in reaction depending on the size of the buckle - I don't think there are many with no metallic buckle at all.

My biggest problem has been the variation in sensitivity of the detectors - Perth seems particularly bad (or good, depending on your outlook).

 

[Soundguy]

I buy most of my clothes in the USA and many brands of shoes there are prominently labelled as 'Airport friendly' or something like that, meaning you can waltz through a metal detector without a problem. And it works; I never take off my shoes or belt in Australia. The belts I bought here, mine have a smallish buckle & I don't recall this being a problem. There again I often find coins in my pockets after I have gone though which never triggered the machine. I always move very quickly through the detector, pausing first to allow a small space behind the person in front who invarably moves slower, then scooting through (but not fast enough to arouse suspicion of course).

Lets hope the Aussie shoe sellers start to offer shoes with no metal parts and labelled accrdingly as they do in the US. Maybe there with be a new line of belts with carbon fibre buckles or similar soon......

 

[acampbel]

.... I always move very quickly through the detector, pausing first to allow a small space behind the person in front who invarably moves slower, then scooting through (but not fast enough to arouse suspicion of course)......

I thought that the induction metal detectors used at airports would be triggered more readily if metal passed through them quickly. I tend to stroll through as slowly as I can, and it seems to work for me. I haven't had to remove my shoes in Oz for over a year, though maybe they have dialled the machines down a bit and I am fooling myself with schoolboy physics.


Cheers,


Andrew

.

 

[Altair]

I usually wear my heavy hiking boots on the plane, saves checking them in and weight restrictions. My first pair had the metal reinforcing strips in the soles and steel cap, they always set the the WTMD off and forced me to take them of etc. Note always wear clean socks without holes, especially on those rare occasions you fly with your mother. The new pair, which co-incidently were a gift from my mother after our short holiday together, does not have the metal strips or steel cap, ceramic instead, and have never set them off.

 

[straitman]

I thought that the induction metal detectors used at airports would be triggered more readily if metal passed through them quickly. I tend to stroll through as slowly as I can, and it seems to work for me. I haven't had to remove my shoes in Oz for over a year, though maybe they have dialled the machines down a bit and I am fooling myself with schoolboy physics.


Cheers,


Andrew

.

Another clue that helps is to separate metal items. Don't wander through with your watch at belt buckle level as the combined metal will set off the detector where as if you hold you watch up higher and away from your belt buckle then the detector will often not be triggered.

 

[Love2Fly]

Lets hope the Aussie shoe sellers start to offer shoes with no metal parts and labelled accrdingly as they do in the US. Maybe there with be a new line of belts with carbon fibre buckles or similar soon......

I bought shoes labelled "Airport Friendly" from Betts. No probs now at all the AUS Airports I been through since purchase.

 

[jaxjax]

Another tip is to cross your hands in front of you and over your belt buckle as you walk through the detector. If you're without a watch this usually stops the belt buckle being picked up. The only place this hasn't worked was DXB, which seems to have unusally sensitive detectors.

Cheers,

jaX

 

[Soundguy]

I thought that the induction metal detectors used at airports would be triggered more readily if metal passed through them quickly.

I don't know enough about the detectors used in the airports to comment specifically but I know for a fact that the best metal detectors for gold prospecting which work on the 'Pulse Induction' principal are actually much more sensitive when the movement is slow (obviously up to a point - I'm not talking snails pace). Sweep too fast and you will miss all the small targets; it has to do with the way the processor analyses the signals it recieves. Other than the fact that the same companies make both units I don't know how closely they are comparable, but I suggest they are going to be less sensitive at the extremes (very fast or very slow movement) and optimal sensitivity would probably be around your typical slowish walk (stagger?) such as when boarding a 6am flight. Everyone (except me) seems to pass through the things reverently like they are treading on eggs or something.

But someone with direct experience with the airport units could throw some more light on how they are tuned.

 

[Shano]

For those of us that wear steel cap safety shoes / boots, there is a company called Steel Blue that manufacture safety footwear using what they term a high impact polymer alloy that will not set of metal detectors / x-rays see this link to their website.

I am looking to purchase a pair shortly so will post on if this claim is true.