buford1047 Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Hi, I'm leaving for Australia where I will be researching for a year and I am having a bit of trouble getting my gear under the 25lb carry on limit. Would it be advisable to pack my tripod, a Gitzo 1120 in my four foot duffel bag amongst all my clothing? I will be checking this bag, and will leave my ball head on the tripod. Any experiences doing this? Thanks in advance for any replies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buford1047 Posted August 10, 2004 Author Share Posted August 10, 2004 I'm also bringing a samsonite hard side rolling case with my suits and such in it; would putting the tripod in there be a better solution than the duffel bag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swenson Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Last time I flew I was told that I HAD to check it. I put it in a tripod bag wrapped in towels and yes it was opended, but my other checked bag was not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad_bell Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Rob, I travel with my Gitzo in my checked bag all the time. Sometimes a duffle, sometimes a regular suitcase. Should make no difference. Just don't pack anything breakable near the tripod. FYI, most US carriers don't check the weight of your carryon bag but a lot of European carriers do. I haven't flown Kwantis in a while so I don't know their practices. Happy travels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshall Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Just went to Africa and back with a tripod in the check-through duffel. Came through fine and there was no sign that anyone had investigated. It is a good point to keep it away from other stuff that might break, because it's probably the least likely thing to bend in the bag. I think checking the tripod is really standard practice at this point. For what it's worth, I pulled the ballhead off and packed it separately in the check-through as well. Have a great trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babette_ross Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 I've checked my tripod both with and without head in a duffle. No problems. I've got a huge duffle that i stuff my backpack into (so the straps dont get caught on anything and get ripped off) the tripod goes in nicely with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louie_powell1 Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 By all means pack the tripod in one of your carry-on bags, and anticipate that it will almost certainly be inspected after the x-ray inspectors see those long solid tubes that look like they could be gun barrels. Wrap some clothes around the tripod for protection. The tripod that I use for 35mm work has a crank elevator, and on a trip a couple of years ago the handle broke off when it shifted in the bag. I packed a tripod in a checked bag on a domestic US flight last month - carefully selected one larger suitcase that would hold the tripod rather that the two smaller matched bags that my wife and I have - and on the way home the 25 year old check-in wimp at United complained to his supervisor that the bag was too heavy for him to lift. The result was a overweight charge. But at least I got the tripod to California and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymond___k_osmotherly Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 I would suggest you pack your tripod in your check-in bag.If you intend flying within Australia to get to your final destination you will not be allowed to take it in your carry-on bag as it could be a weapon !! (even knitting needles and nail scissors are banned as these too could be weapons) If you front up with it in your carry-on luggage it could be confiscated. Ray (Canberra Australia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_whatling Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 Mine always goes as checked luggage in a rucksack. I pull out the centre column (with the head left on) and put that and the legs either side of the pack to balance the weight. Been doing this for years and never had any trouble. Caught a glimpse of it once on the x-ray scanner - the carbon fibre doesn't show up and the remaining metal bits look perfectly harmless. As for theft, I doubt if there are many crooked baggage checkers who know what a Gitzo's worth - they're looking for consumer electrical goods, not tripods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahams Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 Rob Check it in, but pack it in your duffel or any other bag, don't just wrap it and tag it. I tried to carry mine on at Sidney once, bound for Alice Springs, was made to go back to the check-in and consign it with the baggage, and it wound up in Perth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbert Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 I second Ray's reponse. Don't bother trying to carry it on either in or to Australia. Qantas, if that is who you are flying, will almost certainly check the weight of your gear, but near enough will probably be good enough. You domestic carry on allowance will be much smaller in Australia than in the US. I am amazed at the size of the luggage Americans are allowed to carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrik Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 For peace of mind, put it in the samsonite roller. Lock the case and enjoy the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 Are you ALLOWED to lock the case? I flew to the States from Canada twice this past year, was told NOT to lock the luggage, or they will break the locks on a random check to search through. On my return from the second trip, found a little love note from Customs notifying me that they had gone through my (unlocked) suitcase. Just glad I washed things before I went home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buford1047 Posted August 14, 2004 Author Share Posted August 14, 2004 Just an update; I put the tripod in my samsonite rolling case with head attached and wrapped in my heavy jacket. Went through with no problems, though I did get a love note from the TSA letting me know they had opened the case (I had not locked it). They did a very nice job of repacking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_lyric Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 i find it easy to strap my tripod to my rolling carry on case using a few shock cords. never had a problem all 'round the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin martin Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 I've flown with a tripod as hand luggage before - in a tripod bag. I was careful to remove the head, tool, etc first though. Best thing to do is call the airline beforehand to check with them as all airlines have a different policy on handluggage and what's allowed. All the best Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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