Taking Tripod in Hand Luggage

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ManceRayder

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Hello,

Does anyone have any experience of taking a tripod through airport security as part of hand luggage?

I've always put it in my checked baggage before when travelling.

However i'm going to NZ for a year in November, flying to Denver via Reykjavik at first, then Denver to Auckland.

I worry that the TSA especially would have an issue with it, its a Red Snapper RSF-284 with the metal spikes in the foot, not sure whether they'd class it as a dangerous weapon?

Any ideas?
 
I always put my tripod in the hold but have seen others take theirs on as hand luggage. Not sure about the spikes but can't you unscrew them? I have never used a Red Snapper so am unfamiliar with it.
 
Hi, I've seen tripods taken on board as hand luggage, but I've also seen them refused at security.

To be safe I always put mine in checked luggage as it's a bit late to do anything about it if refused at security which is always a possibility.

Hope this helps.
 
:plusone:
 
If you've always put it in the checked luggage before, why are you thinking of taking it as hand luggage this time?
 
I'm trying to take it in hand luggage, attached to the back of my Lowepro backpack. I'm going for a year on a working visa and it takes up too much room in my rucksack.

I'm only allowed 1 item so camera backpack is it, I could not take it but i'd regret it
 
ManceRayder said:
I'm trying to take it in hand luggage, attached to the back of my Lowepro backpack. I'm going for a year on a working visa and it takes up too much room in my rucksack.

I'm only allowed 1 item so camera backpack is it, I could not take it but i'd regret it
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It's a hard one,but with it attached to the back of your Lowepro backpack there is a good chance they may not let you take aboard,and might ask you to put it in the cargo hole.
:)
 
ManceRayder said:
I'm trying to take it in hand luggage, attached to the back of my Lowepro backpack. I'm going for a year on a working visa and it takes up too much room in my rucksack.

I'm only allowed 1 item so camera backpack is it, I could not take it but i'd regret it
Click to expand...

Post it to your first destination in Australia before you leave or buy one on arrival or failing that don't bother you'll have such a great time meeting new people seeing and doing new things that you'll probably only use it twice so you might as well just take a gorillapod.
 
Are you taking all your camera gear with you, or just some smaller lenses? If the latter, do you need your current tripod or could you buy one out there? Alternatively, buy a cheap second hand one that you wouldn't be heart broken to see taken off you.
 
Taking my 60D, 70-200 & 15-85. I could buy one out there to be honest, the RS was only £90 so not a huge expense.

Cheers all, may just leave it at home
 
I've got a fairly compact Giotto tripod, which with the head removed, fits in my carry on holdall (Just within the size restrictions). I've not had a problem with it on Easyjet, Ryanair or Jet2.
Strapped to the outside of a camera bag may be a different matter though.
 
I do it all the time in the u.s. and abroad. I have never had a problem. I had a flight a couple of weeks ago and decided to read the rules. That was a mistake for sure. It said I couldn't take my batteries, what? What good is a camera without batteries? So I (forgive me) hid them and worried the whole time going through security. They didn't even open my case that held my backpack full of camera equipment. Needless to say that I didn't hide them on the way home.
 
I had security in the US tick me off for having a monopod in hand luggage (luckily it was after the flight so not a lot they could do). It was strapped to the outside of the bag, so probably drew attention.
Nothing had been said at the other end of the flight (also US), so it really depends if anyone spots it and what mood they're in.
If you can afford to lose/replace it, you could always take a chance. I wouldn't want to risk it with a £500 CF pod!
Also, check your baggage allowance - many carriers (BA for example) will let you have 2 checked bags on long haul. So you could still bung it in the hold without putting it in your rucksack. Lots of bubble wrap recommended though!
 
I took mine in hand baggage. Stupidly, I forgot about liquids etc and left them in my bag, so had my bag searched, took my tripod out, no problem.
 
Llamaman said:
I had security in the US tick me off for having a monopod in hand luggage (luckily it was after the flight so not a lot they could do). It was strapped to the outside of the bag, so probably drew attention.
Nothing had been said at the other end of the flight (also US), so it really depends if anyone spots it and what mood they're in.
If you can afford to lose/replace it, you could always take a chance. I wouldn't want to risk it with a £500 CF pod!
Also, check your baggage allowance - many carriers (BA for example) will let you have 2 checked bags on long haul. So you could still bung it in the hold without putting it in your rucksack. Lots of bubble wrap recommended though!
Click to expand...

Outside the bag anything will get you a hard time from what I have seen.
 
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