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Ive got a quick query about tripods with retractable spikes. Has any one taken this on board an airplane??

I've recently acquired the Sirui N2204 and wondered whether there'd be any trouble.

Thanks.

I believe your result might vary. It will very much depend on the security people (probably more so than the cabin crew) and whether they deem it as a weapon.

I had the customs/security person take a double-ended ring spanner from my carry on because it was deemed to be a "tool". There's no way it was dangerous at all. Two of the people I was traveling with had screwdrivers in their carry on and were allowed on to multiple flights without question.

Suren,

as a rule, I never take a tripod as carry-on. As Andrew says, it tends to be up to the security staff as to how they feel on the potential threat of the tripod. Having the spikes would increase that possibility I would imagine. Once security decides not to let it on, you would have great difficulty in convincing them otherwise, so why take the chance.

On a recent trip, I had a small allen key taken away The security in one airport let it thru but on the connecting flight where I had to go through security again decided that it was very dangerous!!! I had forgotten to put it in my check-in luggage.

cheers,

André

As mentioned, retractable spikes or not, there is always a chance you will get stung differently at different airports. The classic example is the differences between sydney and Melbourne, having travelled with various implements I can safely say, always have a backup plan (which is check in luggage).

for the tripod specific issue, a quick trip to bunnings to make a case may solve your problem, this also means it should be fairly safe from damage due to baggage handling....

here's one i prepared earlier (btw you more than welcome to borrow it if ya want)

What a great idea Gerry, will have to visit my plumber neighbour and raid his off cuts

radar wrote:will have to visit my plumber neighbour and raid his off cuts

Not something you read everyday

Great idea Gerry, I like it. I've tried as a general rule not to take on tripods just so I don't run the risk. That said I've had one ruined in my check luggage, so I don't feel overly safe anything in there either. But I noticed on my last trip about 3 different people with LARGE tripods strapped to their backpacks getting them into the carryon bins on the airline.

I think as always your mileage will vary depending on the people you get on the day.

The times I have flown with a tripod (and gee, doesn't it make it hard to flap holding a tripod! boom tish - I will be here all week), I have simply packed it into my large, check-in back pack with no problems. I have always assumed that security will take a dim view of it as carry-on.

radar wrote:What a great idea Gerry, will have to visit my plumber neighbour and raid his off cuts

Alpha_7 wrote:Great idea Gerry, I like it.

pretty straight forward, cost about 20 bucks in bits from ur local hardware store, prolly might be a good idea rather than tampering with a potentially large burly plumbers bits after a hard day pushing shit down pipes..

Before 9/11 I used to take mine as hand luggage and never copped a second look. Post 9/11 I wouldn't even try - reality is its a total PITA to have to return and add things to checked luggage (and these days, probably expensive) You might get through if you're lucky, but then again you probably won't.

I just chuck mine in the duffle bag or suitcase. Its tougher than anything the handlers are going to do to it. Yes, I'm sure of this as its been on plenty of trips and if I couldn't break it dropping it down a waterfall I don't think a bit of rough handling is going to phase it.

Michael

photohiker wrote:Its tougher than anything the handlers are going to do to it. Yes, I'm sure of this as its been on plenty of trips and if I couldn't break it dropping it down a waterfall I don't think a bit of rough handling is going to phase it.

Wow, that's impressive. What is it made of? Carbon fibre tripods are expected to shatter on impact. In fact, one of reasons I bought an RRS instead of a Gitzo tripod recently was that it is supposedly more shatter-proof.

Cheers
Steffen.

Carbon fibre

Its very strong, and while it is possible to shatter it, but that's not the sort of impact its going to get when being rough handled inside your baggage and insulated by your clothing.

It takes a hard knock or crushing force to fracture carbon fibre in my experience, and this isn't thin wall carbon fibre like an arrow shaft or something...

Thanks boys. I'd like to avoid trouble so will check it in.

Gerry, thanks. I will think about the tube idea. I'd rather it was lockable etc... I am not really planning on taking much in my suitcase but bringing it back would be a PITA. Maybe I will make do with my plastic-fantastic for this trip.

photohiker wrote:Before 9/11 I used to take mine as hand luggage and never copped a second look. Post 9/11 I wouldn't even try - reality is its a total PITA to have to return and add things to checked luggage (and these days, probably expensive) You might get through if you're lucky, but then again you probably won't.

Even in the pre-11/9/2001 period, I still had to check in a 30cm Mexican war knife I was trying to take on board a flight from LAX to SYD. Paranoid bastards!

surenj wrote: I will think about the tube idea. I'd rather it was lockable etc.

It's got me beat why people lock their luggage. It is easy to take as a complete bag/tube after all. And it just advertises that there is something worth stealing inside. And unless you are going to to blow your weight limit with a serious lock, a pair of nail clippers or a hairpin will defeat it. The closest I have come to locking my bag in the last few years was putting a cable tie through the lock holes on a toolbox, mainly to stop it coming open. I put some spares inside at the top so security could "relock" it after checking it & sure enough they did. (I put a different colour inside!)

I have never tried, but I do know that most customers come in looking for something that they will be able to get into their checked luggage. Your N2204 should get into your checked luggage....

I packed my Sirui in my checked suitcase both ways on our recent trip to Cairns with no problems.