Why Some Shoes Still Set Off TSA Scanners

The TSA made a lot of buzz recently by eliminating its 20-year-old rule requiring airline passengers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints. But the screening process since then hasn’t been as simple as some travelers may have hoped. Interestingly, some flyers are still being told to remove their shoes, leaving them confused and curious as to why. Well, it turns out that not all shoes are created equal, and some types of footwear continue to trigger alarms. Here’s a closer look at why certain shoes set off TSA scanners so you know what to avoid wearing (or if you might want to remove yours preemptively).

Different Styles, Different Results

The decision to end TSA’s “Shoes-Off” policy was based, in part, on recent advances in imaging technology. But while these high-tech airport scanners are better than ever, they’re not perfect, and certain accessories may interfere with their ability to function.

According to travel expert Caleb Harmon-Marshall, airport scanners are particularly sensitive to metal, which means that steel-toed boots, loafers with metallic buckles, or metal-tipped high heels may raise some red flags. That list is far from exhaustive, but it goes to show the types of commonly worn footwear that might cause a false alarm. While travelers aren’t prohibited from wearing these styles, they should be aware that if they do wear them, they may still be asked to temporarily remove them for security reasons. (If you know from experience that your shoes set off the alarm, you can flag this to the TSA officer and preemptively remove them to avoid having to go through the scanner twice.)

There’s also a potential issue in wearing shoes made from bulky material, as dense materials can obscure body scanners. When it comes to footwear, thick hiking or work boots may do just that, preventing a detailed scan of the area around your feet. TSA agents might ask you to remove your shoes so they can investigate the matter further. The same concern goes for thick orthotics and platform lifts, both of which could be dense enough to obscure the scanner.

Even if you’re not wearing bulky or metal footwear, officers can still request that travelers remove their shoes for additional screening. Thankfully, it should take only a few moments more for agents to inspect your shoes and confirm there are no issues.

Best Clothing To Wear for Faster TSA Screening

Most travelers hope to make it through TSA security screening as quickly and efficiently as possible. In that case, we’d recommend steering clear of large boots and anything metallic. Instead, consider slip-on flats, a comfortable pair of athletic shoes, or any other basic footwear less likely to trigger the scanner. The simpler and thinner your footwear is, the likelier it is that you’ll be allowed to keep it on while passing through airport security.

However, if you’re trying to free up luggage space so you can stick to a carry-on and avoid checking a bag, we’ve also recommended wearing your bulkiest shoes on the plane. At the end of the day, it comes down to what’s more valuable to each passenger — additional baggage space or a more efficient security screening process, keeping in mind that not every bulky shoe will set off airport scanners.