Hello,
I know this isn't a Nikon question but I have a question about air travel with a tripod. I will be taking my tripod with me along with my other equipment but do I strap to my carry-on camera bag or do I pack it in my checked luggage in my suitcase.
poisonpill wrote:
I've flown many times with my tripod strapped on my carry-on without any issues.
When you get on the flight can you unstrap it from your camera bag and put it up in the overhead and then stick the bag under the seat like your suppose to? I don't want to get caught up at security when they think a tripod is harmful.
Chris are you flying internationally or locally in the US? I've done a fair amount of travel and have always checked my tripod. Airlines are very flaky with regulations and can really hassel you about the size requirments. I would attempt to take the tripod with my carry ons (as long as it's not a huge Gitzo 15XX/13XX series pod) if i'am flying in the US but NEVER if i'am flying internationally. The best option would be to get a decent travel tripod that you can put in to your bag. Something like a Gitzo 10XX series legs+ RRS BH25 head (on the high end). I used a Slik sprint mini + Feisol CB30 head (with a RRS clamp) with great sucsess on a recent trip to san deigo. As long as your willing to not extend the whole thing it was able to support exposures in to the minutes.
I will be going locally in the US for a trip to Yosemite. I want to bring a good tripod since it will be going through alot of abuse in Yosemite. I can possibly take the thing apart and throw the head in my camera bag and then throw the actual tripod part into my suitcase. Both are big heavy Manfrotto type and I never thought about buying a small travel size tripod. I think for now I will try out different scenarios for my packing and figure which way is the best.
I think most people know what a tripod is. I carried it on the outside of my bag (it has the tripod straps) with no problem. I managed to fit it (barely) under my seat but I doubt they would have a problem with it in the overhead box.
Frankly I think it might be a bigger issue if it was sent in baggage. Those TSA knuckleheads might see it on the scanner as a missile or something.
Chris, I'd say pack the tripod in the suitcase with your clothes around it, if it's one that's light enough for hiking all day. When I flew back to Boston in March, I wound up on smaller commuter planes with very little overhead space which is very likely what you'll spend part of your journey as an aircraft. Keep the camera gear with you, I tucked barely got mine under the seat on one flight, check with your airline as to the size they allow for a carryon bag.
Don't take a chance. Get the airline regulations and ensure you are within those regulations. A tripod with a head mounted will most likely exceed the length regulation and sooner or later you'll get called out on it. I have always checked my tripod in without any problems. I have a large duffle bag that I use and the tripod fits quite nicely into the bag.
I picked up one of the smaller Gitzo tripods and found it even more stable than my heavy Manfrotto. It is great for travel, and I just unstrapped it when I got on the plane for easier fit into the luggage spaces. (The trip was from San Diego to Seattle.) My camera bag is rather large, so I didn't have a choice and I never got questioned about it. Of course, you never know at any given time what airline security is going to do. The light weight of the rather expensive (~$500) Gitzo carbon fiber tripod was worth it to me and instantly became my main tripod. I'm currently using this with the RRS BH-55 head, but there are a lot of smaller and cheaper heads that will work just as well, depending on what lenses you are planning on taking.
I always pack my with my luggage. I have a divided luggage bag that lets me keep my clothing at the top and my "junk" (tripods, boots, etc) in the bottom.
I got it from Cabela's:
I disassemble and pack mine in a luggage bag and check it .. but many times flying I see folks hand carrying them strapped to their camera / backpack ..
If it's big and heavy i wouldn't chance it. Especially if your flying in those tiny jets they'll want to gate check it at least. I would remove the head and pack it in your carry on, wrap the legs with your pants (jeans are good for this) and put it with checked bags.
I generally wrap mine in my coat and put it in a duffle bag. But I guess that second bit of luggage is going to cost something soon.
BTW I have a Gitzo Monopod and older Gitzo ball head. Got pulled out of line when they X-rayed my camera bag, thought it was some sort of gun. The x-ray image sure looked like something nasty. When they pulled it out everyone had a good laugh. But this was before 9/11.
tomm101 wrote:
I generally wrap mine in my coat and put it in a duffle bag. But I guess that second bit of luggage is going to cost something soon.
BTW I have a Gitzo Monopod and older Gitzo ball head. Got pulled out of line when they X-rayed my camera bag, thought it was some sort of gun. The x-ray image sure looked like something nasty. When they pulled it out everyone had a good laugh. But this was before 9/11.
Tom
I almost had the same issue with a razor in my carryon bag. I was in Switzerland and completely forgot I packed it in there and the Swiss guy pulled me aside and pointed to the screen and said I need to see this. It looked like a mini shotgun from what I saw and I pulled out my little bag full of toiletries and what do you find is a shaver. The guy smiled and said its fine to take on board. Of course this is the Swiss and I am sure the TSA would have a slightly different attitude. This was post 9/11 also.
Chris
PS: I decided to jsut take the head off and put it in my carry-on then put the legs in the suitcase. I am not worried about someone stealing it since I have not had problems with theft yet. I am worried about weight since I am packing for a week and half trip. I still feel hesitant about carrying the tripod on board. I feel the TSA would flag it and I would lose it.
Personally I only put things in baggage that I wouldn't mind losing. Baggage handlers can have their own personal "alone time" with bags and insurance companies don't cover stuff in baggage. That's a recipe for theft in my book.
May 13, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Last February I traveled from Maine to St. Louis with my Gitzo 1228 in my carry-on luggage and there was no issues at all. I bought the 1228 specifically because it was small enough to fit in carry-on luggage but still extends tall enough for my 6'2" of height. It's rated for 17lbs which is more than 2X the weight of my heaviest body/lens combo.
For non-travel situations I would like to get something heavier. If ever I rent a long telephoto the 1228 will not be enough. Also, micro/macro situations are particularly demanding and also require and extra-sturdy tripod that can hold 4x the weight of your gear. My long-term plan is the 3540XLS --- but that is not a travel tripod.
I packed my tripod in my suitcase for a wedding I did in Florida. When I got there, the tripod had been broken at the head mount. I would highly recommend taking the head off the tripod before packing. This may be a no-brainer to some of you already, but I didn't think of it. It was a giottos (sp?) tripod, so that may have had something to do with it. I have since bought a gitzo.
May 14, 2008 at 06:51 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
clew wrote:
I packed my tripod in my suitcase for a wedding I did in Florida. When I got there, the tripod had been broken at the head mount. I would highly recommend taking the head off the tripod before packing. This may be a no-brainer to some of you already, but I didn't think of it. It was a giottos (sp?) tripod, so that may have had something to do with it. I have since bought a gitzo.
Good advice. I always take my head off and pack it seperately to avoid damage.
