Tripods on Planes?

Khrest · 13 Jun 2014 at 12:43

Anybody had recent experience of taking small tripods in had baggage trans-atlantic? We are going from Gatwick to LAX next month and I dont want to trust my Vitruvian to check baggage. Will security allow such an obviously dangerous

item through?

I have already checked with Gatwick via email, but I know the Nazi's at Security can make the rules up as they go along depending whether they got any last night, so I'm more interested in personal experiences.

Raymond Lin · 13 Jun 2014 at 13:17

I wouldn't risk it. Just put it in the hold.

I put my carbon fibre one in the hold in the last trip. It survived and if anything, out of all the gear, the tripod is the safest one to check in.

PU7E · 13 Jun 2014 at 13:23

Raymond Lin said:
I wouldn't risk it. Just put it in the hold.

I put my carbon fibre one in the hold in the last trip. It survived and if anything, out of all the gear, the tripod is the safest one to check in.

Was that your Redged?

Raymond Lin · 13 Jun 2014 at 13:29

PU7E said:
Was that your Redged?

Yup, it's tiny and even that i didn't take it on hand luggage.

Janesy B · 13 Jun 2014 at 14:19

I chucked a redsnapper in my suitcase and it was fine.

Russinating · 13 Jun 2014 at 18:19

I've taken a pretty large fluid head Manfrotto in my hold luggage to Cyprus with Pegasus and it was fine.

My sun tan lotion exploded everywhere though...

a1ex2001 · 14 Jun 2014 at 08:04

I took my manfrotto befree in hand luggage to iceland without issue they were more worried about my empty stainless steel flask! I only did it that way as we didn't have hold luggage otherwise I would always check it in.

Khrest · 14 Jun 2014 at 09:45

Thanks guys, sounds like better safe than sorry so checked is the way to go.

xaldub · 14 Jun 2014 at 09:55

I've always put my tripod in the hold. Some airlines consider them as potential weapons if taken onboard as carry-on luggage.

Marzipanogram · 14 Jun 2014 at 10:26

Put it in your main luggage diagonally, and pack around it with clothing.
This will help when the "throwers" get their hands on it.

And don't lock your suitcase, otherwise you might have broken locks when you get to the New World.
This type of case strap should be fine TSA Case Strap

Raymond Lin · 14 Jun 2014 at 11:05

Marzipanogram said:
Put it in your main luggage diagonally, and pack around it with clothing.
This will help when the "throwers" get their hands on it.

And don't lock your suitcase, otherwise you might have broken locks when you get to the New World.
This type of case strap should be fine TSA Case Strap

Cable ties !

They can cut it if they want and if they do, you know they've opened it because it's now gone !

Nexus · 14 Jun 2014 at 12:02

I had a retractable monopod in my hand luggage (used for my GoPro) when I last went over to Europe. Security at Heathrow had a look through my bag but didn't really pay it too much attention.

When I flew back through Geneva, after having the bag scanned it was the item they pulled me up for a search for. After the customs officer took a good look at it, he called over a supervisor to inspect it also. Luckily they let me have it back, but I really thought I was going to lose it. I personally wouldn't travel with tripod equipment as a carry on again.

Also worth pointing out with travel to the US, if they open your bag, they leave a note to say they did so. I recently flew back and they unlocked my TSA padlocks, left a note and then reattached it.

abbotsmike · 14 Jun 2014 at 14:50

Raymond Lin said:
Cable ties !

They can cut it if they want and if they do, you know they've opened it because it's now gone !

I know of cases where american customs have crowbarred off butterfly latches that weren't locked, just closed....

However I use cable ties too, cheap and obvious if they've been tampered with, and no lock provide any security anyway. Just don't use anything too beefy, you need to get them off at the other end!!

Raymond Lin · 14 Jun 2014 at 14:52

FYI, for TSA locks, I like these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...sfl_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Khrest · 14 Jun 2014 at 16:42

We've previously used cable ties, and they've not been removed on half a dozen trips. Obviously putting a pair of scissors in the hand luggage to get them off at the other end kinda defeats the objective :-)

Raymond Lin · 14 Jun 2014 at 17:11

Khrest said:
We've previously used cable ties, and they've not been removed on half a dozen trips. Obviously putting a pair of scissors in the hand luggage to get them off at the other end kinda defeats the objective

On one of the outer pockets of the hold luggage, which I only put in a magazine at most, I put in a nail clipper.

Job done.

PU7E · 15 Jun 2014 at 22:16

Raymond Lin said:
Yup, it's tiny and even that i didn't take it on hand luggage.

How did it hold up on a long outing?

Not really used mine much yet but thinking of giving it a little outing when I pop over the pond again in a few weeks.

Raymond Lin · 15 Jun 2014 at 22:22

PU7E said:
How did it hold up on a long outing?

Not really used mine much yet but thinking of giving it a little outing when I pop over the pond again in a few weeks.

It's good, took it to Prague too. So light in weightI forget it is in my bag and got these shots with it.

It's not without faults though, due to the 1.1m max height, I had to do this

I like it so much I am thinking about getting their larger version.