Travelling with tripods

Prenderb

Hi folks,

I'm heading to Californ-eye-a for a couple of weeks soon, and having just seen Mjollnir's excellent Yosemite pics I'm tempted to bring my tripod. We'll be in Yosemite for a few nights as well as San Fran, LA, San Diego, and Vegas. Travelling by car, of course.

Is a tripod (manfrotto xprob) something silly to bring on an aeroplane? I think we fly with Continental, if anyone knows does that make a difference.

Heebie

I have a special bag for my tripod, so I can check it.. but I also usually travel with a large duffel back as my checked luggage, and put the tripod bag in there among my clothes etc.. I've not had any problems with it.

Slidinginfinity

If you are checking a bag it's no problem. I have hauled mine all over.

Carry-on is usually not a problem either but I have had a couple of near problems with security at Heathrow while carrying it on and with the new US security checks they might give you a hassle when flying back.

I usually pack mine in checked in the middle of the bag and pack clothes around it. Only problem I have had checking it was when I opted for a smaller bag and had to remove the head to make it fit.

I am always glad I have have but never seem to use it as much as I think I will.

dave66

I have brought my manfrotto to a number of countries, I pack it in suitcase. When I travelled to Italy with Ryan Air and their luggage weight restrictions, I disassembled it and spread weight (legs, head etc) between 3-4 cases.

Also had my tripod in my checked baggage with no issue. I usually stick it to one side of the suitcase, and use the rest for my clothes and such.


I'd have assumed you wouldn't be allowed to bring one on the plane? As it's clearly able to be used as a weapon?

baby and crumble

I always pack mine in my rucksack with clothes around it. I'm heading to NYC for 2 weeks at the end of the month, was planning to get a gorillapod rather than bring the full thing. I know I'll want some stability, esp for night shots, but I think bringing a tripod in with me every day is just going to do my head in.

that was only vaguely related to your OP, but basically I've flown with a tripod in my checked luggage before no hassles.

101001

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd have assumed you wouldn't be allowed to bring one on the plane? As it's clearly able to be used as a weapon?

Ive recently just wondered about this... I assume there is no way ryanair will allow me bring a monopod on board? There is a small spike on the bottom. I will only be travelling with carry in luggage.

soccerc

101001 wrote: »

Ive recently just wondered about this... I assume there is no way ryanair will allow me bring a monopod on board? There is a small spike on the bottom. I will only be travelling with carry in luggage.

Never had any problems with Ryanair or indeed any airline bringing monopod on as hand baggage nor from airport security including Heathrow.

thatsnotmyname

soccerc wrote: »

Never had any problems with Ryanair or indeed any airline bringing monopod on as hand baggage nor from airport security including Heathrow.

I brought a Manfrotto Tripod in my hand luggage recently to Liverpool and had no problems
I was pretty nervous as last year in Berlin the security did a lot of looking at it before they eventually waved me through!:)

101001

so are people saying that they've never had issues bringing tripods etc on planes? I was just going to give it a go if it was taking off me (one of the fastening clasps is snapped) so be it. No horror stories... interesting. Another potential weapon to ad to the list

sunny2004

The short answer is NO, dont carry it on, pack it...
Based on 5 years of travelling to about 50 countries.. you are looking for trouble as you will be forced to return to the checkin and as your luggage will have already gone you will have to pay as if its an additional bag...

soccerc

sunny2004 wrote: »

The short answer is NO, dont carry it on, pack it...
Based on 5 years of travelling to about 50 countries.. you are looking for trouble as you will be forced to return to the checkin and as your luggage will have already gone you will have to pay as if its an additional bag...

As I posted above I've never had a problem with bringing monopod as hand luggage either from the airlines or airport security.

I've been through, Dublin, Manchester, Prestwick, Manchester, Liverpool Birmingham, Heathrow Terminals 1, 3, 4 and 5. Berlin, Riga, Malta, Bucharest, Fuertevetura, Lanzorote, Tenerife, Yerevan and Paris.

sunny2004

Is this a competition ? lmao....

Heathrow, terminal 2 and 5 he wont get through.. if he does, then well done..
The American side, Vagas airport, well he can play slots in the airport, I kid you not but he would be gambling (no pun intended) trying to get anywhere air-side with a tripod or monopod..
The list for credibility, almost ALL UK and Irish Airports, France, Italy 3 points of entry, 38 states of America, China, Vietnam, South africa..

O, and India, Napel, London, Miami, and St Martens in the Caribbean.. those last few were in the last 4 weeks..

MY point is simple, you can advice him based in your trips if you like, but he is heading to the states, and my experience is based on 20 trips into the good old USA, and my Advice is to save himself the grief and pack it in his suitcase.. Or better still, pick up a cheap one over there..

My list is only locations I have visited since 9-11.. its also not the full list, I am a professional travel photographer, I have experience it all when it comes to airports and the changes in security, and I dont care if the OP travels with or without his tripod, I am only giving him advice based on my experiences, and hopefully save him some hassle.. In addition I had a minature socket from a wrench taken off me at Dublin airport last month, it was used to tighten my tripod... A quipped, did they think I was going to rob the seat from the plane
I wish the OP all the best on his journey..

soccerc

Slightly OT

gotglasses

sunny2004 wrote: »

Is this a competition ? lmao....

Heathrow, terminal 2 and 5 he wont get through.. if he does, then well done..
The American side, Vagas airport, well he can play slots in the airport, I kid you not but he would be gambling (no pun intended) trying to get anywhere air-side with a tripod or monopod..
The list for credibility, almost ALL UK and Irish Airports, France, Italy 3 points of entry, 38 states of America, China, Vietnam, South africa..

O, and India, Napel, London, Miami, and St Martens in the Caribbean.. those last few were in the last 4 weeks..

MY point is simple, you can advice him based in your trips if you like, but he is heading to the states, and my experience is based on 20 trips into the good old USA, and my Advice is to save himself the grief and pack it in his suitcase.. Or better still, pick up a cheap one over there..

My list is only locations I have visited since 9-11.. its also not the full list, I am a professional travel photographer, I have experience it all when it comes to airports and the changes in security, and I dont care if the OP travels with or without his tripod, I am only giving him advice based on my experiences, and hopefully save him some hassle.. In addition I had a minature socket from a wrench taken off me at Dublin airport last month, it was used to tighten my tripod... A quipped, did they think I was going to rob the seat from the plane
I wish the OP all the best on his journey..

I totally agree!

Since these Boards are International there are conflicting experiences depending how concerned your government is with anti-terrorism.

I'm an American and have never been able to leave a US airport without a hassle over carry on tripods. Coming back from Europe has not been a problem in general. It does depend on the airline and changes with policy depending on the terror alert. Even before 9/11 and the TSA airlines were cautious about heavy metal objects. Tools are banned. They are afraid you may assemble something deadly out of the gear. Certainly a tripod could be converted into a weapon. How often do you carry your tripod in precisely this way in dangerous locales? Those spikes are very comforting at 3 in the morning in Naples, or for that matter Paris on the Nocturne Bus. I do enjoy my night photography and while digital cameras have made that a lot better for me I still need my tripod in most situations.

Generally I have had to put a tripod in my checked luggage, then no problem. Attempting to sneak it past security is dumb. They will make you go back to check it in and you may end up missing your flight. On the way home to the USA I can carry it in my hand with no problem so long as it does not look like customs bait.

I have not had a carry on problem with my Leica table top tripods and heads which work fine for me as a daytime brace for long lenses. Put the long legs in checked luggage if you value them. On an overseas flight you probably will be checking bags anyway. Since my luggage always grows during the trip, it is a nice benefit to be able to pull a few pounds of tripod out of an overweight bag and onto my carry on!

peckerhead

Get this, and limp.

It'll be a lot handier to tote with you; you're not going to be taking photos from the car window.

gotglasses

Cute. I have a Camcane 36" long has to be carried. Works well as hiking stick. Security made me check . Ticks me off as I see people carrying golf umbrellas onto the plane and they are just as dangerous potentially. What we need is an umbrella tripod cane pod. Someone must make one.

The monopod makes a nice rest for a heavy camera, but only stabilizes the shot slightly. Still, for sports it helps a lot. Tripods are for night work and landscapes. A big suction cup with a ball head works too if you can find a spot where you need it.