How to Pack a Vibrator for a Flight, According to an Expert

A question that pops up on Reddit often is: How do I pack my vibrator when I travel? Sometimes, the question is a privacy concern. Can the TSA see it? Sometimes, it is more of a logistics concern. Does your vibrator have a battery you can't have in your checked luggage? Going to the TSA website isn't much help—it simply says yes, you can bring adult toys in your checked and carry-on bags. So it's good to know that you can bring them, but it doesn't answer any questions about battery types and TSA being able to see your personal pleasure devices.

So, to answer these questions and several others, Thrillist spoke to Lisa Finn, Babeland's sex educator. Finn explained why you shouldn't feel embarrassed to pack a vibrator, which vibrators are designed to be travel-friendly, and which toys go in the checked luggage and which go into your carry-on.

It all depends on the kind of toy you are planning to bring. "For motorized toys, I'd advise popping those in your carry-on, especially if yours has a lithium-ion battery (which are prohibited for checked luggage)," Finn says. "If your toy has removable batteries, take those out and store them separately. If your toy is rechargeable and has a travel lock, use that, or run the toy out of charge before you fly (just don't forget to pack your charger!)."

If you aren't sure what type of battery your vibe has, you can always search the item online to figure out the battery specs.

As much as you may want to hide your toys, it will actually be a more seamless process if you don't try to conceal the item(s) in your luggage.

"My recommendation is actually not to go discreet and instead to put your toys in a clear bag on top of clothes and other items—this way, if they come up on the scanner, TSA doesn't have to go digging through your stuff," Finn advises. "Having a container where the agent can see all of the contents without opening it can prevent direct handling of your precious bedside friends. A simple open-close of the suitcase will reveal what's inside."

There are some ways you can add some discretion, though, if you aren't ready for the TSA to be aware of this particular intimacy. "But, if you don't want your toy immediately visible, you should still avoid hard cases or locking cases, as these can make the process of seeing what that mystery shape from the scanner is even more difficult. Grab a silicone or cloth toy bag instead, like this adorable Uterus Clutch that gives a portion of proceeds from each purchase to support reproductive healthcare."

There's a lot of unfair shame around sex and pleasure. That can easily make the idea of packing a vibrator in your luggage, which will be scanned by other people, incredibly daunting. What if they see? What if they judge? It can be enough to scare some people away from packing a vibrator altogether. Finn has some very practical thoughts on the matter.

"TSA agents see the insides of a lot of luggage, and the chance of you being the first-ever person to bring a sex toy through that line is extremely slim to none," Finn says. "If you get questioned about the more personal contents of your bag, don't freak! Be chill, be honest, and own it. There's no shame in self-care and self-love."

At the end of the day, the TSA isn't trying to root out people's personal items and embarrass them. "Remember, TSA agents are on guard to protect travelers and staff, not to assess your choice of personal massager," Finns says. "These agents are on the lookout for anything dangerous, and are trained to pick out travelers that seem extra anxious during screening, as this can be a red flag of a passenger trying to hide something. So, take a deep breath and don't stress about a stranger you'll likely never see again seeing your sex toy alongside the hundreds of others they've likely seen or will see in the course of their career."

Ultimately, the only person who can determine that for you is yourself. But there's data to support taking your vibrator on your next trip.

"A survey of 2,000 sexually active adults by luxury sex toy brand LELO found that over half of the participants said that the best sex of their life was on vacation," Finn explains. "For partnered sex, new environments encourage new exploration. Paired with the excitement of a getaway, this can be a really great time to break out of routines and introduce something new like a toy into your relationship. For masturbation and solo play, vacation is perfect for giving yourself the space to really take time with your own body and explore. We tend to be more relaxed on vacation, which can help our bodies be more receptive to pleasure."

"There are some features that make a toy more travel-friendly than others," Finn says. "The most popular travel toys are discreet toys that aren't obvious sex toys at first sight, like ones that are disguised as other items like the Hide & Play Lipstick Vibe or the Crave Vesper Necklace Vibe, or small toys that hide in travel cases like the Arcwave Ghost Pocket Stroker masturbation sleeve or the Satisfyer Pro Traveler clitoral suction toy."

Some toys are even designed for the frequent traveler; some toys have travel locks that will prevent them from turning on in their suitcase. Finn's last tip is for those traveling with toys that could potentially be confused as weapons or other banned items.

"For traveling with kink toys, make sure that your gear can't be mistaken for a weapon and confiscated for safety, which could potentially compromise your travel plans," Finn advises. "Opt instead for BDSM items like smaller impact toys like the travel-sized Strict Pleather Pleasure Mini Flogger and cuffs with velcro closures instead of hardware like the Kinklab Neoprene Bondage Cuffs."

Whether you need help sneaking weed onto a plane, the best travel pillow to bring on long flights, finding an airport where you can sign up for PreCheck without an appointment, or making sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to when your flight is canceled, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for up-to-date travel hacks and all the travel news you need to help you plan your next big adventure.

Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.