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Rogier Willems
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p.1 #1 · Tripod Carry on?

I am flying from SFO to Las Vegas this weekend and want to take my Tripod and Pano backed with me.

My wife refuses to check luggage and insists in taking everything in our cary on luggage.

Can I take my (small) metal tripod and Swiss Arca pano head with me on board without getting in trouble

Jan 03, 2008 at 06:27 PM

invalid2
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p.1 #2 · Tripod Carry on?

How small is it? I have taken a Bogen 3007 in my carryon.

Jan 03, 2008 at 09:42 PM

Rogier Willems
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p.1 #3 · Tripod Carry on?

Its an older Gitzo. Colapsed it no more than 22 "

Jan 04, 2008 at 04:54 AM

Rogier Willems
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p.1 #4 · Tripod Carry on?

Its an older Gitzo. Collapsed it no more than 22 "

Jan 04, 2008 at 04:54 AM

Craig Gillette
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p.1 #5 · Tripod Carry on?

Current TSA guidelines don't speak to tripods and monopods. TSA regs do discuss bag limits for photographers. Inspectors have the latitude to judge individual items on their own merit. There have been few, if any, reports from people not being allowed to take them as carry-on.

Each airline also has it's own size/space rules and any flight specific issues might require rethinking the load situation.

So, you'll probably be able to but I'd check the airline first for their cabin carry-on rules, size restrictions, etc.

Jan 04, 2008 at 04:38 PM

mark maulden
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p.1 #6 · Tripod Carry on?

Personal experience: I traveled to Phoenix from Seattle during XMAS. No checked luggage. I called TSA about a tripod or monopod carried outside a carryon suitcase. No can do. You can't even put one inside a carryon. I inquired specifically about a monopod as the TSA website only discusses tripods. It is discussed on the TSA website and has to be in checked luggage. My carryon was full of camera, 3 lenses, flash, GPS, cell phone, digital voice recorder, IPOD, chargers for all above with wires running all around the "place". Never was questioned. and, there were a few clothes thrown in. Bottom line is check the TSA website closely. It is there...

Jan 05, 2008 at 06:33 AM

Craig Gillette
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p.1 #7 · Tripod Carry on?

Sorry. Can't find it. They have a list of prohibited items, also list items by carry-on versus checked, etc. Even a special discussion of photogrpahic equipment. A url would be very handy.

Jan 05, 2008 at 07:27 AM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #8 · Tripod Carry on?

mark maulden wrote:
Personal experience: I traveled to Phoenix from Seattle during XMAS. No checked luggage. I called TSA about a tripod or monopod carried outside a carryon suitcase. No can do. You can't even put one inside a carryon. I inquired specifically about a monopod as the TSA website only discusses tripods. It is discussed on the TSA website and has to be in checked luggage. My carryon was full of camera, 3 lenses, flash, GPS, cell phone, digital voice recorder, IPOD, chargers for all above with wires running all around the "place". Never was questioned. and, there were a few clothes thrown in. Bottom line is check the TSA website closely. It is there...

That's strange. I recently traveled through DFW, Vegas, and Phoenix with a camera backpack and Velbon tripod (with retractable spiked feet) in carry-on and wasn't even questioned. TSA didn't even ask to check the camera gear...I breezed right through each and every checkpoint.

Edited on Jan 05, 2008 at 01:43 PM

Jan 05, 2008 at 01:43 PM

eleff
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p.1 #9 · Tripod Carry on?

I have never had a problem with my tripod carried on the back of my lowepro. I have occasionally been asked to remove the ball head if that is attached to the tripod in whih case I just put it inside the backpack.

Jan 06, 2008 at 03:08 AM

mark maulden
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p.1 #10 · Tripod Carry on?

Craig, I think I may have lied. I went to the TSA website and it lists things like baseball bats etc so my wife reminded me that I called TSA and discussed monopods/tripods. Their answer was no for checked and OK for checked.

Jan 06, 2008 at 05:53 AM

Craig Gillette
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p.1 #11 · Tripod Carry on?

No problem, they've been known to change quickly and one never knows how closely things are checked for consistency across many pages. They do still depend on the individual inspector - most have been casual about tripods/monopods but I expect that would change if someone did something silly with one. As it is, one of my tripods is too big for me to want to fuss with it - and, my size 13s make me uncomfortable with under seat stuff, the hiking stick is too much like a ski pole to even try to bring it into the cabin.

We have a wedding coming up later this year and shudder to think about just getting clothing packed in good shape. Fortunately I'm going as an uncle and not as a photogrpaher - although we';ll be sightseeing for a week as well.

Jan 06, 2008 at 07:16 AM

KevinM
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p.1 #12 · Tripod Carry on?

Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, it just fits in my carry on (clothes, chargers, etc.) if I take the ballhead off, the other bag is a Lowepro Mini Trekker packed to the max with my camera, lenses and so forth. Most recently this December.

Never have had a problem,

Kevin

Jan 06, 2008 at 02:16 PM

mark maulden
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p.1 #13 · Tripod Carry on?

All it would take is one time and you lose it. While it's not that expensive, you won't have it at your destination. I'm going to my Brother's house in Boston in the fall. I think I'll UPS it to him as I'll have a tripod and monopod........

Jan 07, 2008 at 02:34 AM


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