I have gear every vacation that I go on. They do allow most things in the cabin and pretty much anything in the hold. All my gear goes in the hold to save frustration and cost. You may check here
https://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/cib_home.aspx (for the US anyways, I don't know if the TSA rules apply to every country).
I wouldn't recommend bringing anything you'd be sad to lose so keep expensive things at home. I've never had any trouble myself but I don't want the TSA deciding something isn't allowed and taking it. They x-ray everything (cabin and hold luggage and your person) so don't try to hide anything. If you are unlucky (like I was once) they will hand search luggage (like at border zones) and you just tell them the gear is for sexy time and they are good. They see all kinds of weird things, you wouldn't be the first

Airport security won't care as long as you keep the quantity to a normal amount (you won't hijack with one pair of fuzzy handcuffs) but border agents are a different matter. Some countries have weird customs policies and ban "obscene material" leaving the definition of obscene to the agent.