I have the Op-Tech tripod strap, use it every time with my tripod, could do with being a drop longer for fat people like me and the shoulder pad could be better placed but otherwise, best strap on the market for a tripod IMO.
Beni wrote:
I have the Op-Tech tripod strap, use it every time with my tripod, could do with being a drop longer for fat people like me and the shoulder pad could be better placed but otherwise, best strap on the market for a tripod IMO.
I have one too. I hate it. It constantly slides off my shoulder, and it's not long enough to comfortably wear it bandolier style (across my chest). It stays at home now that I got my Tenba Shootout backpack, which has the best designed tripod carrier I have found yet.
My camera pack has nice attachments for the tripod. I would never think of hand carrying the tripod as my hands usually have trekking poles in them or I need them to scramble up sone scree. I guess everyone's view of trekking is different, but if you venture out for more than say 5km, a pack that allows you to mount tripod so your hands are free is the way to go. Right now I am using F-Stop bags, but am also looking into general hiking packs that have back side openings.
I mount the tripod on my backpack for longer walks/hikes, i have an optech on it that I use for shorter walks. Drawback of the optech is that it slides off the shoulder unless one holds on to the strap with the fist of the carrying arm.
Another vote for the Op-tech tripod strap. No problems with it sliding off at all. When I'm not using the Op-tech my pods in a TT bazooka. Backpacks are cumbersome compared to tripod straps IMO but it all depends on how much gear you need to tote and how far.
For fairly smooth terrain a good ole radio flyer wagon with over size tires and wood rails.
I continue to be amazed how pathetically inadequate the tripod straps are on ALL Lowepro products. I have looked at a few TTs and they seem a bit better but also woefully inadequate for anything but a Gitzo ultralight. God forbid you should need to secure a Gitzo 3...
Take a look at the tripod strap arrangement of the F-stop mountain series. It is extremely simple, but very effective. The F-stops are nice but rather expensive. However, you can reproduce the arrangement on almost any normal backpack with a couple of webbing straps that you sew in yourself. Or solid bungee cords if you have the loops to attach them to, not the stupid tiny strings Lowepro provides on the classic backpacks they sell.
I believe that the Dakine photo packs use a similar strap arrangement as the F-stops and are considerably more reasonably priced.
