Questions for the seasoned and experienced travellers amongst you

[Donald]

I've written before about going to Malaysia in January 2016 and then to Yosemite in September. This discussion is about getting the camera gear there.

For Yosemite, because it's a photographic holiday/vacation, then everything will be coming. But for Malaysia I'm cutting back a bit. For example, I'm not going to take the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS MkII. But I am taking my two bodies. Anyway the precise question is about taking a tripod.

My standard Manfrotto tripod will not fit in to any of my bags (I would put this in to checked baggage, whereas the cameras, lenses, filters, etc will be with me in the cabin). I've been looking at the Manfrotto Befree Travel Tripod. And although it looks like a good product and the reviews are very positive, there is still the downside of it being so light in comparison. Indeed, the reviewers who seem to know what they're talking about, are saying they wouldn't use it for long exposure work ... which is one of the things I may very well want to do (I'm taking the NDs with me).

So, I'm trying to work my way through this dilemma. Do I go for the travel tripod and accept it's a compromise. Or do I strap the MT055CXPRO3 to the outside of the backpack and check it in, hoping it gets to the other end? Even then, will the airline let me carry it that way?

Just for your added information - Thanks to a colleague on here, I got the idea for how to travel with the camera gear in the cabin when my camera backpack is too big for checked on luggage. You buy some upholstery foam. Line your normal take-on bag. Take out the dividers from your backpack. Load up the gear you're taking into your carry on bag using the dividers from your backpack. Now fill up your backpack with all your clothes, etc. When you get to the other end, put the dividers back into your backpack and away you go!! Brilliant!!

So, how do you folks that do a lot of travelling deal with this dilemma?

[Shadowman]

Have you considered renting a tripod and having it shipped to your destination?

[Mike Buckley]

Or do I strap the MT055CXPRO3 to the outside of the backpack and check it in, hoping it gets to the other end? Even then, will the airline let me carry it that way?

I'm confused about your intention but I'm reasonably confident that you won't be allowed to take the tripod into the cabin of the plane if you're flying to or from the U.S. That's because its shape and size can be used as a weapon.

In fact, the National Park Service won't allow visitors of the monuments in Washington, D.C. to use a tripod because the officials can mistake at a distance a tripod for a gun. I used to think that was odd until recently I read that a terrorist's gun was mistaken for a tripod and that allowed him to get closer to his intended victims than would have otherwise happened.

[Donald]

Have you considered renting a tripod and having it shipped to your destination?

I have not. Good idea.

Okay, Californians - Where could I rent a tripod for use in Yosemite? Probably need to be Manfrotto so that I can use the RC2 Quick release plates that I have on my cameras and larger lenses?

[Mike Buckley]

Try LensRentals.com. Extremely reliable firm. They rent accessories, not just bodies and lenses.

[Donald]

I'm confused about your intention but I'm reasonably confident that you won't be allowed to take the tripod into the cabin of the plane if you're flying to or from the U.S. That's because its shape and size can be used as a weapon.

Apologies for the lack of clarity, Mike. No, I don't intend to take the tripod as carry-on. I would check it in. But I don't have a separate case for it and it won't fit into my backpack (in which I will have my clothes). So, could I strap it to the outside of the backpack and check it in?

[Shadowman]

I have not. Good idea.

Okay, Californians - Where could I rent a tripod for sue in Yosemite? Probably need to be Manfrotto so that I can use the RC2 Quick release plates that I have on my cameras and larger lenses?

Linked company has two California pickup locations and shipping details.

http://www.borrowlenses.com/content/pickuplocations

http://www.borrowlenses.com/content/...owLenses_Works

Inventory
http://www.borrowlenses.com/category/tripods

[Mike Buckley]

I would be wary of strapping it to your backpack and checking it. That's because the particular agent checking in your luggage might deny it even though another agent might allow it. There are a lot of inconsistencies of that sort going on at least with the larger American airlines.

Consider buying a separate bag for your tripod, knowing of course that you can add other items to it. I always add my hiking sticks to my tripod bag and hope for the best that the bag doesn't get lost.

Considering how important the tripod is to you, I strongly recommend that you rent one and make delivery the responsibility of the company. However, also make sure the delivery service the rental company uses will pick up from your hotel, as you will be in a very rural area at Yosemite. Alternatively, make sure the city you are flying from has an office of the delivery service and that you have time to get to it during its operating hours before taking your return flight home.

[Shadowman]

I would be wary of strapping it to your backpack and checking it. That's because the particular agent checking in your luggage might deny it even though another agent might allow it. There are a lot of inconsistencies of that sort going on at least with the larger American airlines.

Consider buying a separate bag for your tripod, knowing of course that you can add other items to it. I always add my hiking sticks to my tripod bag and hope for the best that the bag doesn't get lost.

Considering how important the tripod is to you, I strongly recommend that you rent one and make delivery the responsibility of the company. However, also make sure the delivery service the rental company uses will pick up from your hotel, as you will be in a very rural area at Yosemite. Alternatively, make sure the city you are flying from has an office of the delivery service and that you have time to get to it during its operating hours before taking your return flight home.

And if you have web access during travel to Yosemite get tracking number so you can follow the movement of the package.

[Saorsa]

I have a lightweight travel tripod that works just fine with my D300 and 70-200mm so long as I hang some extra weight from the bottom hook. You can carry an empty bag and pick up a few rocks or sand to fill for weight. I also carry a length of crab line (now more fashionably called paracord and hand braided by Bear Gryllis) which I can use to make a stirrup if necessary.

[davidedric]

Are you just taking the single international flight? If so, I would check with the airline. Most have provision for unusually shaped luggage (I am thinking of push chairs, golf bags, skis and so on) and a separate place to check them in so that they don't go bumping down the chute with the rest of the luggage. As on off-the-wall idea, how about an inexpensive golf bag to provide extra protection?

Dave

[tbob]

I have traveled in and out of the USA with my tripod as carry on, A Really Right Stuff TVC 34 plus ballhead, on at least three different airlines and ten planes (with changes) in the last three years. No problems. I queried the USA security staff several times at first and was told tripods are not problem as they are xrayed.

[Polar01]

When I travelled by air and had a Manfrotto I would take the head off, then either reverse the centre column or remove it, then in my largest bag, place it on some clothes diagionally in the bag then add the other parts and more clothes to protect it on the journey. Today I just remove the ballhead on my Feisol and do the same. One problem you have is that 3 section legs are overall longer than 4 section legs.

Cheers: Allan

[Mike Buckley]

Trevor's experiences of being allowed to carry a tripod into the airplane cabin is an example of the inconsistencies I mentioned. Even though tripods are not listed among the restricted items by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), I was told awhile back by an airline that a tripod could not be carried into the cabin for the same reasons that baseball bats and hockey sticks aren't allowed by the TSA.

Regardless of what anyone tells you in advance and whatever experiences you have had in the past, consider the following from the TSA website: "The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint."

[Manfred M]

Donald - I find that photography is very much an equipment sport and I prefer having my own gear along, just because I can literally used it with my eyes closed. This means I do travel with all of my own gear, including my large, sturdy tripods, if I feel I will need them. If I am going to do a lot of walking, the smaller and lighter tripod comes along. If I will be driving, I will haul the heavy duty one along. I've had the heavy duty ones along on flights on trips to Africa, Central America and some very remote parts of Canada.

The video tripod goes in its own bag and has to be checked in the hold. My large Feisol still tripod fits in one of my suitcases so long as I remove the head and centre column and put it into the suitcase diagonally. I have a case for it and have checked it on flights too. My tripod decision is based more on my available transport on the ground and anticipated shooting conditions that how I transport it. The only concession I might make is to remove the large and heavy RRS BH-55 ball head and replace it with a somewhat smaller but much lighter Benro B1 ball head. As long as I keep the exposure to seconds, rather than minutes, the Benro is good enough.

While I have not rented photography equipment, I have rented scuba gear and video gear and frankly find that it isn't always as well maintained as it should be and I have had some unpleasant surprises in the field.

As for Malaysia; I can't comment on the mainland part, as I have not been there (Singapore is as close as I got to it), the part on Borneo, where I spent a couple of weeks is absolutely fantastic for wildlife shooting, so the long lens is a must. Orangutan, proboscis monkeys and the rare Borneo pigmy elephants all deserve a long lens.

[Donald]

Thank you all for your very quick and very helpful responses. Lots of good ideas in there ... one of which (don't which one yet) will be my chosen solution.

[Clactonian]

I have a Manfotto Befree aluminium tripod Donald which I bought just for travel. The tripod and head are quite adequate for my D750 with relatively short lenses but I wouldn't trust them for my old D2Xs.

[Donald]

I have a Manfotto Befree aluminium tripod Donald which I bought just for travel. The tripod and head are quite adequate for my D750 with relatively short lenses but I wouldn't trust them for my old D2Xs.

That is really, really helpful and provides an answer to one of my questions.

Having watched my Canon 5DS and 11-24 f4L lens crash to the ground once already, I don't think we'll take the risk of a repeat. Thanks, Mike.

[Bobobird]

Have you considered one of those big gorillapods? Obviously much shorter than a trippd but can be very useful in all sorts of situations. The large one takes pretty heavy stuff and wont budge.

[NorthernFocus]

Donald, when I travel I always put my tripod in checked baggage. Being that you are checking your backpack, another relatively inexpensive possibility to consider is to purchase a simple, low cost duffle bag that your camera backpack will fit within. The tripod can then fit in the duffle, even attached to the backpack if you prefer. Paige and I often use this method when traveling with cycling equipment, camera gear, etc.

If you do decide to rent, I've used Borrowlenses.com and was very pleased with them.

Yet another option is to use a lighter tripod and hang a weight under the legs. A gallon of water weighs nearly four kg. It's easy to carry along a gallon sized Ziploc bag and a nylon/mesh bag to hang the Ziploc full of water under the tripod. Doesn't work too well if it gets too windy. But there's only so much one can do....

I'd thought of using roll-on luggage with foam inserts as you describe but it never occurred to me to also use the camera backpack as luggage. That's brilliant. The best of both worlds.