Airports have a way of turning basic needs into tiny logistical puzzles, especially when it comes to staying hydrated. With strict limits on liquids in carry on bags, plenty of travelers resign themselves to overpriced bottled water once they’re past security. Lately, though, a new workaround has been popping up in travel chatter and it’s as odd as it is simple. People are bringing an entire, unopened coconut onto the plane.
The idea took off online after an X user known as @solbrah shared a blunt tip that made people do a double take. You can’t carry a full bottle of water through security, he argued, but you can carry a full coconut and arrive “fully hydrated.” The replies ranged from amused approval to genuine curiosity, with some calling it an ingenious hack and others wondering how anyone would actually get into the coconut mid flight without creating chaos in their seat.
What surprises most people is that this is not automatically treated like a liquid at security. Coconuts fall under the category of solid food items, which means they can be allowed in carry on bags and in checked luggage depending on the route and local rules. That technical distinction is the whole point of the trend, because a coconut can hold far more than the standard liquid limit while still arriving sealed and untouched.
Flying ProTip: You cannot travel with full water bottles but you can travel with a full unopened coconut.
— ⚡️🌞 Sol Brah 🌞🐬 (@SolBrah) December 15, 2025
Arrive to your destination fully hydrated. pic.twitter.com/9MSGrMWXzq
The coconut carry on has also been promoted by nutritionist Dr. Paul Saldino, who has talked about relying on coconut water while traveling and even bringing multiple coconuts on flights. He highlights coconut water as a source of minerals such as magnesium and manganese, and he has also said he prefers avoiding drinks stored in plastic bottles. For some travelers, the appeal is as much about the feeling of choosing something natural as it is about skipping expensive airport drinks.
Of course, the practicality depends on whether you can actually open it. Dr. Saldino has described a method that focuses on the three “eyes” at the top of the coconut, where one is typically softer, and he’s suggested using a tool that can be permitted through security along with a metal straw to drink. Still, what looks clever online can turn awkward fast in a cramped cabin, especially if you are unprepared or seated next to someone who would rather not witness a coconut experiment at 35,000 feet.
Would you try the coconut carry on trick, or does it sound like more trouble than it’s worth? Share your thoughts in the comments.
