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Travelling with a tripod

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Dein Justin

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Hello,

Does anyone know if a tripod can be counted as a carry-on luggage if I am travelling by plane? I am planning to travel to Miami right after Christmas 'cuz I can't stand the Midwest weather, so I'm considering of buying a tripod to bring along with me to take some pictures of the coast at night time. Right now, I am thinking of bringing my Kata DB455 as my carry-on, but can the tripod be brought as well as free carry-on luggage?

Thanks.
 
GOOD LUCK, might be better of to place it in a very large mailing tube or some of tube and check it. But of course NW and a few others will probably charge you for it.
One other thought send it to your final address via FEDEX
 
Owh. So a tripod can't be brought as a carry-on? Shipping seems like so much hassle for a one week holiday in Miami. Guess I'd be bringing my gorillapod then, just in case. Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I'm better off investing for a flash unit at the moment. =)
 
Here's a tripod / clamp that I use. Since I got this, in the main, my regular tripod is now retired.

http://www.hoopercamera.com/product.aspx?pf_id=74158

See also:

http://www.promaster.com

And search for Proclamp

Built to last a lifetime.

Love mine. It's versatile as a small tripod or can be clamped to almost anything from your car window to a post, tree or railing several inches in diameter. Solid as a rock.
 
I have traveled on Delta, Southwest, and Northwest and have never had a problem carrying on my tripod. I take it on board along with my Tamrac bag and have never even been asked to open either of them.

I suggest you check with the airline ahead of time.
 
RayHff said:
Here's a tripod / clamp that I use. Since I got this, in the main, my regular tripod is now retired.
Click to expand...
That looks good - I have used the Ultrapod which is similar in principle, but far lighter (engineered plastics). It's OK for a single shot on selftimer with a shortish lens and a smallish SLR. Not sufficiently secure for (say) a pano bracket or a longer lens IMO.

My only worry on this Promaster one is - how heavy? Their site does not say AFAICT. Describes it as solid steel, but those clamp legs look more like diecast alu.

regards, RP
 
I don't have a small scale but I'd estimate it's weight under 2 pounds.

It's made of steel and a very solid plastic resin of some type (seems like the plastic used in old black bowling balls).
 
sweet. I'm still deciding on that though. I checked with American Airlines carry-on policy on their website yesterday, and it seems that I am able to carry one bag and a personal item (backpack etc.). Right now, I am aiming at a regular luggage bag to put all my one-week-holiday needs, and either my camera backpack or my camera messenger bag.

So, if I understand it right, I can probably get away with a tripod with my other bags, that would be neat. Otherwise, I might as well get a flash unit.
 
The TSA site is silent when it comes to tripods. There will be those who swear they've heard from agents that tripods are not allowed as carry-ons and then get plenty of comments from those who carry them on all the time. They obviously aren't banned formally or consistently as carry on. One might wonder why when considering the physical characteristics but that's a different question.

The other issue is actually having space or being allowed to carry it on. It's going to have to "fit" the airlines carry on size and item limits. Busy flight on a busy holiday travel period? If every passenger hits the limits on carry ons, some folks are going to get things gate checked. I put my tripod in checked baggage when I fly and minimize my carry on to those things I absolutely need or won't put in checked (like cameras, etc.). It's cramped enough without trying to put things under the seat, etc.
 
Craig Gillette said:
The other issue is actually having space or being allowed to carry it on. It's going to have to "fit" the airlines carry on size and item limits. Busy flight on a busy holiday travel period? If every passenger hits the limits on carry ons, some folks are going to get things gate checked. I put my tripod in checked baggage when I fly and minimize my carry on to those things I absolutely need or won't put in checked (like cameras, etc.). It's cramped enough without trying to put things under the seat, etc.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I guess that's true. Last year I went to New York by flight for the New Year, and it was kinda packed. There was also the incident at the Empire State Building where my rocket blower was taken into custody for a while due to its shaping kinda like a frag grenade (the rubber texture had square ribs, what was I suppose to do bout it? ")
 
The airline might not have much to say about it.

I just landed in the US yesterday, after a 12 hour delay in Frankfurt due to the FAA flight plan system crashing in the US. My tripod fits in my backpack as carry on but was stopped by security and I had to check it. I had its case but I was still concerned with it traveling by itself since my main checked bag was already in the cargo hold. But all arrived in San Francisco OK. This was a United flight.

I travel a lot and find that there is no consistency to the rules and there is a lot of variation in how rules are interpreted.
Next time I'll just put it in my checked bag.

I hope to buy some more gear while here until December 10 so the trip isn't a total waste of time and money.

The last time I flew out of the US my bags were opened and several small gifts stolen but the valuable items were hidden too well. As a result I only bring a camera/lenses if I can keep it in the cabin with me.

This time I am buying a new heavy duty suitcase to bring a valuable piece of electronic test gear that will take up my entire weight limit so any new camera gear will need to fit in my camera backpack. Flying is just such a hassle nowadays that I travel as little as I can get away with, and take a train for distances for up to 1000km where no one cares what you bring, or how much. Train travel in Europe and Russia is pretty pleasant, sort of a relaxing vacation in itself. Flying is actually cheaper however.

--
Stan
St Petersburg Russia
 
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