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Lithium battery-powered gear like power banks, backup batteries, and some electronics must now travel in your carry-on bag. TSA regulations prohibit these items in checked luggage due to fire safety risks. The following is a list of photography gear and travel tech commonly carried by photographers:
Photography & Video Equipment
Camera Bodies & Accessories
DSLR or mirrorless cameras (internal batteries or removable lithium-ion packs)
Battery grips (often hold 2+ lithium batteries)
Hot shoe flashes / Speedlights with lithium-ion battery packs
Flash triggers and wireless remotes (rechargeable models)
Camera Power & Charging
Spare camera batteries (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.)
Dual/triple battery chargers
USB battery charging docks
Portable AC/DC camera battery chargers
Lighting & Power Gear
LED video lights or panels (e.g., Aputure, Godox, Lume Cube)
Ring lights with built-in lithium batteries
On-camera lights (battery-powered or USB-C rechargeable)
Drone Gear
Drones (DJI Mini, Mavic, Air series, etc.)
Drone batteries (each one is lithium polymer or lithium-ion)
Drone controller (if it has a built-in rechargeable battery)
Video Gear
Gimbals/stabilizers (DJI Ronin, Zhiyun Crane, etc.)
Field monitors with built-in or NP-F batteries
Audio recorders (Zoom H6, Tascam) with rechargeable lithium packs
Wireless microphones (Rode Wireless GO, DJI Mic, etc.)
Charging & Power
Power banks / portable chargers
Charging cases for phones or cameras
Multi-device USB hubs with built-in batteries
Travel routers (with internal batteries)
Computing Devices
Laptops (MacBook, Surface, etc.)
Tablets (iPad, Galaxy Tab, etc.)
External SSDs or HDDs (if battery-powered)
Portable backup devices (e.g., GNARBOX)
Audio / Communication
Noise-canceling headphones (Sony, Bose, etc.)
Wireless earbuds (AirPods, Galaxy Buds)
Bluetooth speakers (if carried for personal use)
Wearables
Smartwatches (Apple Watch, Garmin, etc.)
Fitness bands (Fitbit, Whoop, etc.)
Other / Niche
Portable gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck)
E-Readers (Kindle, Kobo)
TSA/FAA Reminders:
- Battery limit: Each lithium battery must be under 100 Wh unless you have airline approval (some professional video batteries exceed this)
- Tape terminals: Spare batteries should have terminals taped or be in a battery case to prevent short circuits.
You can find comprehensive information about this policy on the TSA “What Can I Bring?” page.
