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.
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...
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.
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......Show more →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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........
