Overseas travel( Flights)

markyboy.1967

markyboy.1967

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Mark Molloy
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Over the next year I'm taking a few trips overseas to photograph wildlife. Now a few issues I need to resolve--

I need a bag which will hold a 600 f4 Nikon and still go in cabin luggage.im looking at the Kiboko 30L as its the lightest and depending on flights I'm allowed either 10 or 12kg allowance. I also have a smaller Sigma 120-300 to take.

The next issue is my big tripod. It's a Gitzo 5541LS and I need this to be safe no matter how I transport it.

Now for the cabin luggage I can buy the Kiboko 30L or Bataflae which suits but it would possible mean having the Sigma lens in my hold luggage which I'm not keen on doing.

How do others transport a decent sized tripod?
 
I don't know who you'll be traveling with, But some Airlines allow sport's gear to be taken on board. Might best be worth while calling the Airlines and explaining that it's expensive gear, Ideally you don't want it going in the hold. What can they do? They may make a few exceptions? Easy jet allowed my Giotto in the over head as I called a month in advance and asked. It was a Glasgow to Luton trip, So that might have been why.
 
The larger of the two think tank airport cases will fit your 600 f4 in, you might get the sigma in as well. Its within the size perameters for cabin luggage on scheduled airlines but you wouldnt stand a chance on budget carriers. As for the weight you'll have to chance it. Cant see a way around putting the tripod and gimbal in your hold luggage though. Buy a domke waistcoat, if weight becomes critical you can get 2 bodies and drives, flashes, smaller lenses and all sorts of crap in them, if you're wearing it it dosent count as cabin baggage. Once your through check in you can put everything back in the think tank and breath again. Best of luck, its a bloody nightmare whatever you do!
 
The only time I've taken a tripod it went in a case in the hold, likewise my mate takes his large Gitzo to India every year in the same way, he 's been doing it that way for 10 years without any problems. I'd chance the tripod in the hold but not glass, certainly not a lens like your 120-300, I've been behind the scenes at our local airport a time or two and seen the antics of baggage handlers. I'm taking my 500f4 in a Nikon duffel bag in a fortnight, comes in smack on 5kg which is all the allowance Thomas Cook will give for cabin baggage, in November the waistcoat weighed in at 9kg!
 
I have taken my large tripod abroad with me on numerous occasions - always wrap it up well with odd bits of clothing etc and then place it in the middle of a suitcase that has a hard protective shell. Make sure its well imbedded with loads of soft clothing etc around it. Never had a problem in at least a dozen flights with it.
James
 
Fortunately, most thieves completely undervalue tripods and heads, so there's less likelihood of either being stolen from your luggage, I suppose.
 
See if the support will fit inside a length of sewer pipe - that should be sturdy enough to protect it from all bar a truck driving over it! Personall, I've never had a problem with mine (a CF one) being packed in the hold baggage with just clothes and towels as padding. I use a fabric suitcase rather than a hard shell one too!
 
Hi Mark,

Have you thought about flying with BA? You get 2x carry ons. Weight limit is as much as you can lift into the compartment above your head. More than enough for those lenses plus more, including bodies etc. It's what I do (I don't have a 600mm but usually take 15kg carry on whenever I fly).

Tripod wise I'd advise clothes / towel wrapping and sticking it in the suitcase.

Last month consisted of six flights, my suitcase was broken beyond repair in two of the flights, yet my tripod, filters, laptop (stupid to be in the case I know) survived, probably due to wrapping them up well.

I didn't have anything as long as the 600mm, but that would still fit in a bag as your "main bag". The 120-300 might fit in the same bag at a squeeze, then other bodies and lenses as your 'personal item' weight.
 
Bubble wrap is easy to come by and could be wrapped around a small tripod in your cargo hold luggage.
 
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