Last year at Mexico City Airport I could not pass security with Hex Key for may RRS ball head and L Bracket * it was confiscated
( Never have problem there before )
After talking to Head of Security I did ask him if I could carry on Tripod in my carry on luggage - he was not able to give me an answer YES or NO
I always carry my ball head but check my Tripod Legs
Stupid rules in many different airports _ Its more like one person working at the moment may let it go or stop you
PIOK wrote:
Last year at Mexico City Airport I could not pass security with Hex Key for may RRS ball head and L Bracket * it was confiscated
( Never have problem there before )
After talking to Head of Security I did ask him if I could carry on Tripod in my carry on luggage - he was not able to give me an answer YES or NO
I always carry my ball head but check my Tripod Legs
Stupid rules in many different airports _ Its more like one person working at the moment may let it go or stop you
For reasons unknown hex keys, AKA Allen wrenches, are contraband in many airports. I had several of different sizes to fit various brackets and whatnot in my backpack on a trip to Australia. On the way there everything was fine. On the way back they were flagged by the person looking at the X-ray in security. She lifted the bag over the little partition that keeps things from falling off the side of the conveyor and literally dropped it on the floor. I felt the thud through my shoes. All but one of the hex keys were confiscated, and I got to choose which one to keep.
dmcphoto wrote:
For reasons unknown hex keys, AKA Allen wrenches, are contraband in many airports. I had several of different sizes to fit various brackets and whatnot in my backpack on a trip to Australia. On the way there everything was fine. On the way back they were flagged by the person looking at the X-ray in security. She lifted the bag over the little partition that keeps things from falling off the side of the conveyor and literally dropped it on the floor. I felt the thud through my shoes. All but one of the hex keys were confiscated, and I got to choose which one to keep. ...Show more →
They are classified as tools and tools are prohibited in carry-on luggage.
I forgot about that! You could use those hex 4/5 tools to unscrew the wings mid flight. Scary world we live in indeed. Or at least in the days when there still was passenger flight travel.
Actually most tools less than 7" are allowed in the US. Search the TSA site - look up screw drivers, etc. I've had my hex wrenches measured at the security station a couple of times and they were all under 7". Of course, it still depends on if the TSA agent is having a bad day.....
TSA goes after any "TOOL" which is what a hex key is. From personal experience, it does not matter what it is or whether it poses a real threat, it is confiscated.
Beni wrote:
I forgot about that! You could use those hex 4/5 tools to unscrew the wings mid flight. Scary world we live in indeed. Or at least in the days when there still was passenger flight travel.
It just takes the judgement out of individual security agents. No tools period. Makes life simpler for both the agents and the passengers when they know the rules.
EGrav wrote:
Actually most tools less than 7" are allowed in the US. Search the TSA site - look up screw drivers, etc. I've had my hex wrenches measured at the security station a couple of times and they were all under 7". Of course, it still depends on if the TSA agent is having a bad day.....
And here we have a problem. Not very strong international rules. When I said to the Agents I travel with this to many different airports with not issue, all I get was stupid answer: "This is Mexico and you are not allowed to carry this with you ".... even if I pass with hex and small screwdriver many times before
So I don't want to loose my tripod legs next time - so I always put to check in baggage
I was talking about tools - not tripods ( and specifically in the US). I always put my tripod in checked bags. Read more carefully!
The first time my hex wrenches were measured was in Canada and later, twice in the US.
I sold my RRS tripod as it only collapsed down to 23 inches in length and I replaced it with the Feisol CT-3472 for myself and a Feisol CT-3441T for my wife with her MFT kit. The CT-3472 is far superior to the RRS tripod it replaced. It collapses down to 22.1 inches and has a working height of 58 inches and there are three top mount options, a standard flat plate for attaching a head, a quick level head, and a center column kit that adds 3" of height before being extended. The Feisol center column kit has a center shaft that is 50% larger in diameter than others and so if very rigid and there is zero play even when it it raised 7 inches which is very handy when photographing animals high up in the trees.
The CT-3441T has a working height of 57" without extending its center column and collapses down to 18.9 inches in length. It supports a load of 44 lbs quite well with no flexing of the legs when they are fully extended. At 2.63 lbs it is also very light and Feisol, as with all its tripods, provides an excellent carry case as compared to RRS and Gitzo that sell for 50% more and all one gets is a cardboard box.
For air travel I find that if the tripod is 22" or shorter it can go into the overhead bin perpendicular to the aisle and so with both our tripods stacked they only take up 4" of bin space and we put our jackets on top of them.
I have had too many bad experiences with luggage by manglers and lost luggage with the airlines to check anything that I absolutely need at my destination. On the return flight if my luggage does not arrive I am out the cost to replace it but it has not screwed up my trip.
RRS, Feisol, and Gitzo are the only legs I have bought where their load rating was accurate and reflected the load they could support without flexing of fully extended legs. Gitzo, at least with the 3 series is poorly made and parts break off and I would not trust them for travel use. Feisol products are made in Taiwan and so very high quality in every respect and they have support based in the USA.
I used to be a fan of RRS but when the Mormon owner moved the business from California to the Utah so he could pay his employees less I stopped buying his products.
elkhornsun wrote:
I sold my RRS tripod as it only collapsed down to 23 inches in length and I replaced it with the Feisol CT-3472 for myself and a Feisol CT-3441T for my wife with her MFT kit. The CT-3472 is far superior to the RRS tripod it replaced. It collapses down to 22.1 inches and has a working height of 58 inches and there are three top mount options, a standard flat plate for attaching a head, a quick level head, and a center column kit that adds 3" of height before being extended. The Feisol center column kit has a center shaft that is 50% larger in diameter than others and so if very rigid and there is zero play even when it it raised 7 inches which is very handy when photographing animals high up in the trees.
The CT-3441T has a working height of 57" without extending its center column and collapses down to 18.9 inches in length. It supports a load of 44 lbs quite well with no flexing of the legs when they are fully extended. At 2.63 lbs it is also very light and Feisol, as with all its tripods, provides an excellent carry case as compared to RRS and Gitzo that sell for 50% more and all one gets is a cardboard box.
For air travel I find that if the tripod is 22" or shorter it can go into the overhead bin perpendicular to the aisle and so with both our tripods stacked they only take up 4" of bin space and we put our jackets on top of them.
I have had too many bad experiences with luggage by manglers and lost luggage with the airlines to check anything that I absolutely need at my destination. On the return flight if my luggage does not arrive I am out the cost to replace it but it has not screwed up my trip.
RRS, Feisol, and Gitzo are the only legs I have bought where their load rating was accurate and reflected the load they could support without flexing of fully extended legs. Gitzo, at least with the 3 series is poorly made and parts break off and I would not trust them for travel use. Feisol products are made in Taiwan and so very high quality in every respect and they have support based in the USA.
I used to be a fan of RRS but when the Mormon owner moved the business from California to the Utah so he could pay his employees less I stopped buying his products. ...Show more →
You're on just about every photo forum writing this. Why are you so concerned with convincing people that Feisol is on par with RRS, and Gitzo? We all know they aren't.
