Security and shoes
 

Im in the market for a new pair of size 11's.

Does anyone know of any particular brands/models that DONT have any metal in them ??

Im sick of taking my hush puppies off every time I go to work !

Cheers

Just go to your local shoe shop and ask for "airport friendly" shoes.
They will know what they are.

Try looking for a pair of Airflex Everlite - I got mine from Betts in Darwin so you should have no trouble finding a pair.

They're designed with very little metal precisely for the reasons you gave - I've not had to take off my shoes for security since I got them and they're comfortable enough to wear all day.

It might be all about the size. I've never had a pair of shoes that set off the detectors, but then my dainty size sixes don't really need the stiffening that is provided by the metal reinforcement. Perhaps you should try the Japanese geisha technique of binding your feet so you can fit into something several sizes smaller!

Mind you, there is the problem of what they say about blokes with small feet....

Get a pair of elastic sided Blundstones. Travelled all over the world with mine and never had a problem.:ok:

Agree with Darwinism, Airflex are great. :)

When I bought mine, I told the girl I needed to go through airport security everyday, and she guaranteed me that Airflex have no (or minimal) metal in them. And boy she was right!! Never once beeped!

And they are soooo comfortable too!:ok:

Goose-step one foot through at a time.

That will do it.

Mate I suggest that at some ports, they don't give a damn whether your footware has metals in it or not - you take it off and put it through the X-rayer anyway. It wasn't metal in Richard Reid's trainers which led to his present incarceration.

In which case, either Islander Jock's Blundies :ok: or my RM's :ok::ok: are the way forward.

My Blundies are about to do 4 months on the road between Dakar and Addis... :bored: I shall look forward to updating Prooners about their adventures. The RM's will be shipped.

Never had trouble with RM's.

Go to Bunnings and get some Rossi's.....just make sure you can still use the brakes properly:}

Fly out through Terminal 5 at London Heathrow only.
Best security system I have been through.

My Tony Lama boots don't ring the bells!
My belt continues to keep my pants up!
And the laptop gets to stay in the bag!

Dr :8

PS: Flying Townsville to Sydley this weekend! Now I just gotta figure out how to do that through Terminal 5 and LHR !!??

Doc Martens don't have any metal in them.

I wear RM 'Tambo' boots and have never had a problem

Rivers shoes have no metal.

A shoe shop will know which have metal and which don't. They call them airport friendly for a reason.

You walk in, look at the options, try them on and see which is most comfortable for your foot, check the price, go to the counter and pay the nice lady/man who helped you. Maybe look at the price first.

It really is pretty simple.

Then you will not have to take your shoes off again at the security check points, in Australia at least.

Re laptops. If you buy a slim line bag, the computer goes in without all the associated cords etc. (put them in your overnight bag) then you will not be asked to take your computer out of its case every time. again its easy and practical. You don't need all the cords on board. Well they can still be onboard just not inside your computer bag.

Dr Martens are a good shoe, will last, NEVER been required to remove for security, and can be had at a good price if you stay away from the chain stores/franchises.

RM's Craftsman
 

I've had a pair of very comfortable RM's Craftsman boots for 7 years and have never had a problem with them through security.

They get worn for probably a minimum of 20-30 hours/week and apart from new heels and soles, will still be in use in another 5 years.

Highly recommended.

Was given such advice by a friendly (forgive the oxymoron) security guy at DRW. Applied it next screening at ASP and the not so friendly folk there wrote a letter of complaint to my employer accusing me of a Monty Python silly walk through the metal detector. I kid you not. :zzz:

Blundstones (or Rossi's) and RM's are the go :ok:

CC,
That's discrimination, considering that you walk like that all the time. :}:E

I have the RM Tambo's too, and have been pulled up at some ports and not the others.
At least with the "laughing sided" boots, you don't need to join the queue of people doing up laces, they're on in a flash and you're on your way.:ok:

Airflex, you will come unstuck with all the others eventually.

Thanks all - will check out the airflex, not really a boots kinda guy. (Many moons ago a "special" kid at my school had them casue he couldnt do up laces. Ever since, theyve always carried a stigma in my mind!)

Oh an RENNURP, you may be surprised how many pimpley 16 year olds that work in shoe shops have absolutely no idea what is in the shoes they are selling.

No, i'm not supprised, I just wouldn't use that shoe store or any other store UNLESS the person serving me appeared to have a clue about the item they were ATTEMPTING to sell me.

If you walk in and ask for some "airport friendly" shoes and they look at you with a blank look, walk out and try the next store.

If they appear to know and your still not sure, ask "what is the difference between "aiport frinedly" and a normal shoe. :hmm:

Its definately the way you walk thru the scanner. One foot at a time as Jed said!

I was sick of making the Capt. wait each time i had to go thru. I'd empty my life (everything in all pockets) out into the tray. Arrgghhh. Just to have the shoes go off. Bugger!

...and then you would take the shoes off and realise you picked the holy socks that morning at 5am. Doh!

Rockport shoes with the Vibram rubber soles. Used them for years and no trouble in OZ or S.E. Asia.

I wear RMs. Despite the metal in them they don't set off the detector provided you -

a. attempt to get 1 foot through before the other and;
b. walk through quickly.

Both a & b were ''suggested'' to me by a more rational/realistic security operator who is only too aware that it wasn't crew that caused 911.

M

And I was once told by the same type of security person as spoke to mmmbop that you should also try to walk through the middle of the scanner.

So what happened as a result of the letter Clarrie? I trust that it was treated with the contempt it deserved!

Crocs.
No metal, made entirely of some allegedly techo rubber stuff.
Very comfy, wear 'em all day.
Go with anything - shorts & t-shirt or business suit!:cool:

Any of these Rockport shoes, containing non-metallic Fiberlon shanks, work brilliantly. Mine have never, ever, set off the nazis' machines. Put the shoes through the X-ray machines once just to prove with my own eyes they contain no metal. Outstanding, and very comfortable also.

Rockport | Shoes, Boots, Dress Shoes, Sandals & Shoe Accessories

If it's any consilation, even the security guys have to screen before they work in the sterile area.

The best way I found was to not step in the middle of the machine and keep moving through reasonably quickly.
It doesn't matter if you have shoes with a reduced metal content if you are carrying a pack of smokes, huge belt buckle and $7.40 in loose change. The detectors read the total metal content on your person. (I wear "SWAT Originals" - zip sides so if I do have to take them off it only takes 5 seconds)

The number of female pax who I have seen complaining their bangles were gold......
Bangles, no matter how thin, tend to concentrate a magnetic field and will trip 99% of the time on their own.