Many are worried about getting shoes with metal shanks – the reinforcement in the arch – due to them not want to have issues at the metal detectors at airport security. In almost all cases there’s no problems to have shoes with metal shanks though, and you won’t have to take your shoes off in the security control. Here’s why.
What are metal shanks in shoes?
First of all, shanks are the reinforcement used in a lot of shoes in the arch area, to stabilise shoes and prevent feet from become tired after long days walking and standing. They can be made of thick leather, plastic, glass fibre, or metal. Materials that all have their different pros and cons. Plastic and metal is the most common nowadays, for quality footwear metal is most common looking at it worldwide. This goes for everything from Blake stitched light loafers to the finest handmade bespoke shoes.
A metal shank being attached directly to the insole on a bespoke shoe. Picture: Bespoke Shoes Unlaced
Why do people don’t want to have metal in their shoes?
A common question from customers looking for new shoes is if they are using metal shanks, since a lot of people don’t want to buy shoes with this. People are afraid of having metal in their shoes. The reason is that they don’t want to risk issues at airport security with metal detectors, having to take their shoes off there and wait for a new scan and so on.
I can understand that taking the shoes of at airports would be seen as a hassle. If one regularly travel and go through airport security, of course one want to make that as smooth as possible. But I don’t really know where the scare comes from, cause I’m quite certain quite few have actual experience of this themselves.
Airport security. Picture: Garrett
Why it’s no problem to use shoes with metal in them at airport security
Metal detectors at airports can vary a bit in how they work, but to generalise and summarise, they create a pulsating electro magnetic field, and if metal are placed in this they affect this magnetic field and the detector sense the difference. However, these machines are set to not react to smaller metal objects, like zippers, buttons, buckles, or shanks. And especially if you make it a habit to always remove a potential watch and / or belt, which are easier to remove, the total amount of metal that can affect the magnetic field is so small that few metal detectors will alarm on it (often keeping metal parts apart, so for example lifting your arm with a watch on it further away from the shoes, are even enough).
Some rare exceptions may occur, shoes with unusually large metal shanks, extra sensitive detectors (which are used occasionally), etc. And then of course in some airports one always have to remove ones shoes no matter metal shanks or not. But in general, you don’t have to worry about using shoes with metal shanks at all when going through airport security.
One want to avoid having to remove shoes at airport security, understandably.
Alden shoes always set off the metal detector. I’ve had 6 pairs of Alden shoes and travel to about 80 US cities a year. Every pair sets off the metal detector in every airport. I have many other pairs with metal shanks and it’s very hit or miss, mostly miss, but Alden is consistent. I also happen to be the outlier who travels enough that I pay for advanced screening so I don’t have to remove my shoes for travel usually, so I notice this more than an infrequent traveler placing shoes or boots in the bin.
John: Yeah guess Alden is one of those exceptions then 🙂 Here in Europe plus Japan where I travel the most I’ve not even once had to remove my shoes with metal shanks, from loads of different brands and makers. Talked to airport security staff about why and they explained sort of what the article says.
I’m not sure which airports you travel through, but it seems like TSA metal detectors will pick up steel shanked shoes. These detectors are set to standard metal density amounts across the country. Alden’s and paraboots always set off metal detectors for me. Both steel shanked. I never buy shoes or boots with steel shanks anymore. Viberg, C&J, JM Weston, RM Williams are all metal shank free so I’ll stick to those brands. And for those that have shanks, I’ll get the shanks swapped with leather/fiberglass when they are due for a resole.
For context I fly about 120 days a year. Down with steel shanks!
Jonathan: As I write, there are exceptions and US airports may have set machines to higher sensitivities to a larger degree (though I’ve never experienced it, and I’ve heard conflicting from others where some say it often happens in the US some says it doesn’t). But when you have shoes with metal shanks that set the detectors off, have you removed belt, watches etc already? Cause as I write, it’s about lowering the amount of metal, and in most cases (looking at it globally) it lets through if only metal shanks (in most cases, as also discussed above, some have larger shanks that do cause problem more often).
My Mephistos set iff aalrms
Yep. I’m typically traveling for work with beltless trousers and a timex Ironman. So unless my pants side adjusters and my wedding band are filled with lead it seems the shanks are culprit.
Shame considering how lovely Alden’s are. But unfortunately won’t be buying any more until they upgrade their shank choice.