A couple of months ago I posted this question about Swiss Army Nail Clippers and whether you could get them on a plane. Apparently the post generated enough odd and controversial responses for it to be locked.

Although I caught some heat (uncharacteristic of this forum, I might add) for asking a question about clippers in a survival situation, the responses did prompt me to think about it a little more. Here is my rationale for the question, and my thought about the utility of the item.

I originally saw the suggestion in an Urban Survival DVD from Hoods Woods. The idea was to carry several small zip-ties with you, and use those to secure the zippers on luggage to make them more difficult for a thief to open. Nail clippers were the perfect tool to remove the zip ties when you were ready. I know that TSA regs have changed what you can and can't lock in checked and carry on bags, but IMO this remains a good way to secure items that you don't want people to be able to easily open. Since you can't carry a knife on a plane, nail clippers provide a good alternative for cutting the ties when you're ready.

In addition, I've found another use for them. I often seal both survival and food items in vacuum bags. When I have forethought, I cut a small notch in the bag to make them easier to open when needed, because I may not always have a knife available. Unfortunately, I don't always have forethought. On more than one occasion, trying to dig into something sealed in plastic from cramped confines of the middle seat, nail clippers have made for easier access.

Lastly, when stuck in a hotel without a proper multi-tool, I've used nail clippers to repair gear, strip wire, and perform a whole host of other small but important tasks.

My conclusion, therefore, is that nail clippers are far better than nothing when it comes to finding a tool that you can carry on a plane while travelling. True, they don't purify water or start a fire, but when I fly with only a carry-on, I'll take what I can get when it comes to tools. You just have to be adaptable and think a little outside the box. But then again, isn't that what this forum is all about?

Also, the Swiss Army clippers have been a bit sturdier, not to mention having a couple of other useful items (tweezers, screwdriver, etc.) attached. Oh, and I've flown about half a dozen times with them and never had a problem with TSA.

I fly a lot for work and this is exactly what I do with my checked luggage. All the zippers are ziptied shut and I carry a toenail clipper in my travel vest to cut the zipties when I arrive. I've never had the TSA or its equivelent in other countries question this process, cut the zipties or try to confiscate the clippers. Nor have I ever had anything stolen from my bags.

-Blast

You know that with most soft luggage, a thief can punch through the zipper with a ballpoint pen, open the suitcase, look inside, and close it back up in a matter of seconds? I tried it on my laptop case and was able to open it wide, take out my laptop, and close the case back up in about 10 seconds.

Do they need to be able to move the zipper to close it back up?

OIMO

We don't fly much, but when we did a couple of years ago, my two bags, and my wifes two, had all of the zipties removed by TSA. But only one of mine had the notice that they usually (or so I have heard) place in a bag that they have opened. I did have my toenail clippers in my pocket (the deadly hooked end on the file part removed), and it passed thru the checkpoint without incident. My wifes underwire bra was another thing tho...

True - far from perfect security, but any barrier is better than none. Plus, I've got to count on at least one or two would-be theives not being smart enough to know that trick, right?

Hi rasatter,

Good idea about using zip-ties on the luggage zippers when travelling, I will use that.

I think nail clippers are useful in the bush and carry a set in both my work truck and first aid kit. My hands/nails take a beating in the bush especially in the winter therefore I find nail clippers useful, they are also good for working on slivers and blisters.

I have damaged my teeth in the past biting through fishing line, I now attach nail clippers to my fishing vest to cut it.

Mike

Tweezerman makes a nice set of folding nail clippers. After a long search for a nice set of nail clippers I was finally given these as a gift. They work great and fold up to a small, flat size. Price is about $10.

I agree that nail clippers are useful in the bush. Once I wore thick merino wool socks (Smartwool) inside my shoes and I neglected to cut my toe nails. When I removed them, I found out a large blood stain, because my shoes where a little bit too tight fitting and my nails too long and one got crushed and somehow cut my neighboring toe.

Yeeeessss... but if you intended to use your toenails as weapons, why were you wearing shoes in the first place?

Professional Toenail Kung Fu....

Sue