How do you folks pack large tripods for plane travel

Just curious as to you folks pack a 3530 LSV tripod and wimberley II head for airplane travel.

with all the new surcharges for excess weight and extra bags, as well as safety of the gear how do you do it?

I've only traveled equipped for landscape so I typically have a mountaineer pod and RRS head which I remove. both fit in a normal backpack. I know I couldn't do the same if I thought of taking my 500 and the big tripod with me.

I'd be afraid to pack it in a suitcase which I would have to check in. I've seen several tripod cases to take, but having the camera gear and a backpack with personal items, I wouldn't be able to bring on plane and would be forced to check it.

Dazed and Confused in Florida
:eek:

Michael I have always packed it in my checked luggage in the middle of the clothes, but I do take the wimberley head off and pack it separately among the clothes. So far no problems.

I've packed my Gitzo and Wimberley in a suitcase many times without a problem; I pad the gear with clothing. But I typically fly Southwest domestically and they don't charge for checked baggage. I fly American to Costa Rica and can check two bags for free.

I also pack my tripod and separated head in checked luggage. I pack the tripod next to the metal rails on the bottom of the suitcase where the pull out handles are stored when retracted, this means there is no possibility of the suitcase bending where the tripod is even if/when miss handled :)

Incidentally I watched baggage handlers at Denver load quite a few cases, they threw them a few feet onto the conveyor belt, but interestingly they always threw them so they landed upside down. I think this was so they didnt throw them so the wheels and retractable handle side didnt hit as these would not 'give' like the top does.

Tell

Michael, Always pack my tripod in my luggage between my clothes and take the Wimberly in a separate carry on.Logic being if my tripod gets stolen I can always buy another but would have to get the Wimberly shipped. If it doesn't get shipped to your home address you have a problem. So far no problems...

I have put my Gitzo 1548 (which is heavier than the 3530) into checked luggage along with a Wimberly for years w/o a problem. If I have to pay for a bag or an extra bag I just pay.

For most trips over the years I have carried two tripods each in a separate bag--I do the same for chargers and cords that are critical. I line everything up Noah's ark style and each side of the line goes into a different bag...

Michael, weight? Who worries about weight? ;)

We are so overweight for our upcoming trip to SA that I figure overweight charges have become a line item budget entry! :o

Some of the internal flights we are taking have a 15kg limit - HA!

For seven months we are each carrying 30kg total between three bags. And, that doesn't include my 15kg camera bag which will be emptied into my vest.

Tripod - carbon fiber and one of the lighter items I am carrying. I will put it into the baggage amongst the clothes since I haven't figured out how to carry it in my hand along with wearing my vest and my ThinkTank backpack and probably carrying one of the cameras with the 300 mounted!

It is going to be hysterical. :eek:

Just having a bit of fun! :D

I have a hard sided suitcase.

Head comes off the tripod, both are wrapped in clothes.

Plenty of trips - no problems so far.