Carrying Tripods & Airport Security

Hi All,

I want to take my tripod as carry-on for an upcoming trip and I've read mixed reviews of success with airport

security.

 

My carry-on bag doesn't really allow for the tripod to be packed inside but it does attach easily to the outside

of the pack.

 

I was wondering, for those that have taken a tripod through security without any problems, how is your tripod packed?

 

I thought that it might appear less like a weapon if its packed inside a bag? or perhaps its better in plain sight?

 

Thanks for your help!

I just went to Panama this past month, and I carried on my tripod with no problems. I carried to in a soft tripod case that I

can sling around my shoulder. No one even asked about it.

It's hit or miss unfortunately, I've got to carry them and I've been told to check them. It's one of the major problems with air travel, no consistency. If you tell one security guy that the one before him let you do it they will pull you out of the line and beat you senseless.

Why waste a carry-on item or risk being sent back to the ticket counter. Put the tripod in your checked baggage (and the head in your camera bag).

Checked baggage in major airports. You can get way in smaller airport as carry-on.

Good advice, Edward.

Thanks all for your feedback!

 

I will actually be traveling to Tanzania for a safari and so I'd like to minimize the risk of arriving and being without a tripod due to lost luggage :)

If you are concerned about it, ship it prior to your arrival.

Bigger tripods are aheadache now with smaller carry on limits. 7 Kg is now becoming common with 5 kg on some budget airlines; who are likely to impose surcharges if it you are obviously carrying too much on board,

 

If you do decide to put tripod in hold baggage the safest option is to make sure it is well wrapped in the center of a rucksack or soft bag. Do not attach anything to the outside of the back pack in case it is pulled off on the conveyor.

In the United States, tripods are banned from carry on luggage since they are either weapons or tools greater than 7 inches long. They are subject to confiscation by TSA agents at US airports. Check them. Read the list of items allowed and disallowed at the TSA web site. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

 

Joe Smith

Just got back from a vacation in the Carribean and packed my tripod in the middle of a checked bag. The clothes protected it from damage. I also put a note with large letters inside the suitcase that my bag contained a camera tripod. No problems with this method.

Since X-rays would reveal the presence of your tripod in the checked bag, I'm not sure why you alerted every possible thief

that wasn't privy to the X-ray. Last month, I round tripped Maui, with my tripod and a ball head wrapped in a towel, and

packed in one of my pieces of checked luggage, with out incident.

I have a small Velbron Travel Tripod and have always put it in checked baggage. I used it last year when travelling through Singapore, Australia, Hawaii and back to UK. This year I have done the same just travelling to Hawaii and am glad I did place it in checked bags after reading Joe's message.

<p>I have had mixed experiences with carrying a tripod. When i flew to Washington DC last year, i had attached the tripod case to my checked in baggage. When i collected my bag upon arrival, the security guard came up to me and asked me what was in the bag. When I said it's a camera tripod, he let me go without me have to open it. On an international flight though, I was asked to put the tripod case inside my checked in baggage instead of attaching it to the outside.</p>

<p>Why take tripods on airplanes?</p>