Folding walking poles may fit neatly inside a cabin bag, but packed size is only one part of the travel question. Security rules, airline baggage conditions and the design of the poles can all affect the plan.
Check the official security guidance for each departure airport or country and the airline’s current conditions. For journeys involving the United States, the TSA’s hiking-pole listing is a relevant place to check. Do not treat an old forum answer as a current worldwide rule.
Describe the actual item
If asking an airline or airport, provide the pole type, packed length and tip design. A general question about a walking stick may receive an answer intended for a different item. If the equipment is a mobility aid, explain that through the appropriate assistance channel rather than assuming ordinary sports-equipment guidance covers it.
Check the return journey as well as the outward flight. A successful screening at one airport does not guarantee the same outcome elsewhere, and a connection can introduce another screening point.
Have a workable alternative
Consider whether checked baggage, authorised local rental or another arrangement fits your trip. Confirm the details before relying on an option. Protect tips and packed components according to the manufacturer and carrier’s instructions, without concealing the nature of the item.
Keep the relevant official information accessible, but remember that presenting a saved page does not remove the screening authority’s responsibility to assess the item. Allow time to ask staff and avoid arriving with a plan that depends on an exception.
The aim is to reach the trail with suitable equipment and no surprise at security. A compact pole solves a storage problem; a checked travel plan solves the separate question of how it gets there.