Airport Security and Mono / Tri -pods

leinsterman

I'm travelling to Lusaka tomorrow to start a little adventure ...

I am having problems packing a monopod in my checked in luggage and may be forced to hand carry it ...

Does anyone have any experience carrying gear like this through the Security Nazi's at Dublin and Heathrow ?

The_Conductor

leinsterman wrote:

I'm travelling to Lusaka tomorrow to start a little adventure ...

I am having problems packing a monopod in my checked in luggage and may be forced to hand carry it ...

Does anyone have any experience carrying gear like this through the Security Nazi's at Dublin and Heathrow ?

Dublin just whack them through the metal detector- they might ask you what its for- but you shouldn't have any probs. I haven't been through Heathrow with a mono/tripod though.....

Calina

Dublin are okay (strangely enough) although Rennes made me check in the monopod as luggage (label is still attached to it now).

RoryW

leinsterman wrote: »

I'm travelling to Lusaka tomorrow to start a little adventure ...

enjoy and look forward to seeing a few pictures online

leinsterman

Thanks everyone ...

soccerc

Calina wrote: »

Dublin are okay (strangely enough) although Rennes made me check in the monopod as luggage (label is still attached to it now).

Unlike Calinia, I was forced to put my monopod through Dublin as checked luggage and having to pay a certain airline more when the guy at the security gate before the metal detectors refused to let me through.

Same coming back via Doncaster!

WexCan

For some reason tripods are more likely to get through than monopods.

leinsterman

Guess I should not take any risks ... so I have a manfrotto 190PROB tripod packed inside the main back pack in two pieces (with a joystick head) and a monopod strapped on to the outside ... total weight of my pack is about 24KG ... baggage allowance is 23KG!!! :eek:

I'm seriously thinking of getting a 4 segment carbon fibre tripod for future trips ...

It is a hell of a lot weight I know ... especially for overlanding ... I did an unpack and got rid of a portable hard drive, some sundries and some clothes ... to shed a bit of weight .... bringing the total back to 24KG from 30KG!!!

I'm a bit nervous only having 1 back up drive ... and that is only 80GB ... but I'll have to make do ...

The expedition truck is picking me up directly at my hotel in Lusaka and the only other time I'll be on foot is for two days in Cape Town ... the truck has lockable storage for camera gear ... so carrying two heavy bags is not such a big problem ... plus there are consumables in the pack ...

... my day pack has all my lenses and 2 bodies ... this must be about 15KG also ... lets hope the security Nazi's don't give me any hassle ...

For those that are curious I'm packing -

EOS 1D MKiii
EOS 5D
Speedlite 580 EX II
EF100-400 F4-5.6L IS
EF70-200 F2.8L IS
EF24-105 F4L IS
EF50 F1.4
TC's - 2X & 1.4X

All packed very tightly into a Lowepro Rover AW II ...

Thinking of taking the Sigma 12-24 F4.5-5.6EX ... may have to wear it through customs in a photo vest ... looking like a complete dork

Checked in for my flight .... leaving at 2pm from Dublin to LHR on Monday ... getting the travel buzz now ... will probably be a sleepless night

leinsterman

Forgot to add ... will be keeping a blog if anyone is interested -

Leinsterman's Travelpod

Fenster

I usually check mine in. A tripod isn't the most obvious item to steal, and I don't carry anything like a Manfrotto..

oshead

Good luck on the trip..

theburi

Heathrow refused to let me carry tripod as it was second item in a hand bagage. So I had to check it in. (that was this May)
Also Milan airport didn't let me through for security reasons. Had to check it in. (September)