As the title says, how do you carry your tripod? Do you carry it on your backpack ? Do you use some sort of quick access sling? Or maybe a simple tripod bag? Or perhaps you carry it by hand?

I'm just wondering about how people usually carry their tripod and perhaps figure out the most efficient way to carry a tripod for myself as well. Right now I just carry it by hand.

Over the shoulder with camera and lens attached. Tripod legs are padded. Camera bag on opposite shoulder balances the load nicely.

I used Gitzo 1xxx series tripod and I carry it in the tripod holder from my backpack.

One option to consider is the Think Tank series of bags for tripods. They are padded, and they adjust to the actual length of the tripod. I put an even better and well padded shoulder strap on the bag, and can carry it like a slinged rifle, either low to one side, or in back and fairly upright. I can put it on the same side as my sholder bag or the other side.

For when I have a backpack, I either use the Think Tank bag, or attach the tripod to the backpack, or hand carry the tripod with no camera attached, all depending on the distance and the nature of the trail.

Roland W wrote:
One option to consider is the Think Tank series of bags for tripods. They are padded, and they adjust to the actual length of the tripod. I put an even better and well padded shoulder strap on the bag, and can carry it like a slinged rifle, either low to one side, or in back and fairly upright. I can put it on the same side as my sholder bag or the other side.

For when I have a backpack, I either use the Think Tank bag, or attach the tripod to the backpack, or hand carry the tripod with no camera attached, all depending on the distance and the nature of the trail.

+1, this is exactly what I do

I use a carpenter's work belt with a large hammer ring; it's easy on the shoulders and leges, and it aint gonna fall off!!

Larry

Jeff Donald wrote:
Over the shoulder with camera and lens attached. Tripod legs are padded. Camera bag on opposite shoulder balances the load nicely.

Ditto...though with the Sigmonster I have to switch shoulders every now and then!

I let my wife carry it...

Travel: stuffed into TT Bazooka tripod bags. Awesome for transporting light stands & tripods.
Long lens shooting: folded legs, over one shoulder. Often switch shoulders with the 400/2.8.
Landscape shooting / hiking: strapped to the backpack.

Sometimes, if walking for longer distances, I'll carry it with the legs collapsed and carried like a rifle with the head cradled in the crook of my arm, lens and camera dangling over the side.

What size tripod and what kind of gear are you asking about?

RafalA wrote:
What size tripod and what kind of gear are you asking about?
+1. Also, you asking about local walk around, crowded sidewalks of Europe, trail hiking, etc? dave

For moving between locations, or when hiking and I haven't used it yet, I carry it INSIDE a non-photo backpack.

If I'm hiking or walking around an area where I will be using the tripod a lot-- and I have already set it up once for a shot-- I leave the camera attached, and carry the whole thing over my shoulder. I do, however, always have the neck strap still attached to the camera, and make sure it's somehow secured to the hand carrying the tripod.

My tripod folds to 14 inches collapsed, and weights ~ 2 lbs w/ ball head, and is CF; I use it primarily for travel, editorial assignments, and hiking.

I usually carry my heavy 550GS to the photo site using a shoulder strap. While I'm on site, with the camera and lens attached, I usually carry it over my shoulder.

I use a normal Recon II daypack for travel. I attach my GT-0540 CF to the hand strap at the top of the bag using a short loop of cord and gear mini carabiner. The tripod legs hang down inside the pack strap - between my waist and the bottom section of the strap.

My most commonly used pod is almost always attached to the camera. It contracts to 19cm and extends to 100cm so when collapsed it's not much longer than my camera is wide. So it just follows along for the ride - usually hanging off my shoulder from a camera-strap.

surfnron wrote:
I let my wife carry it...

I asked a girlfriend to carry the tripod for me. She said something about being fed intravenously for the rest of my life.

Usually I carry a tripod by hand, but I have a sling strap and also a bag for bad weather. Sometimes I strap a tripod to my backpack for short periods if the terrain is difficult.

EBH

Thanks for the input guys. Now, you wouldn't happen to know what a nice bag is for Manfrotto 055CXPRO4, would you?

A tent bag from an Australian outfitter like Canada's www.mec.ca does the trick for me. It keeps the tripod & head clean and from getting tangled up with other stuff in the trunk, but it's not padded.

Jeff Donald wrote:
Over the shoulder with camera and lens attached. Tripod legs are padded. Camera bag on opposite shoulder balances the load nicely.
+1, or simply hold it in my hand.

I used to use a Manfrotto strap for my Bogen 3221. Now I use a LowePro Super Classic strap with binocular ends to carry my Gitzo 2530.

I was clued into a great idea by an elderly gent at the local zoo - he (and now I) bought a baby buggy with large wheels, and carry all our photo gear in that! The large wheels allow us to even take the gear over uneven terrain, and is great for walking around town, around large zoos and in parks and nature preserves. Throw a blanket over your stuff and people don't even know you have valuable photo gear. My wife actually enjoys pushing the buggy, as she has arthritis, and it acts as a support on our photo outings (and is easier on her than carrying HER camera and tripod).