Will I have a problem taking a small tripod (14" collapsed, about 3x that extended) in carryon? Putting it in checked luggage is not really an option (I don't check luggage).

Two years ago, there did not seem to be any consistent policy regarding tripods, according to the threads I found here. I can't find anything helpful that's more recent.

I've never had a problem with a camera tripod in my carry on luggage. This includes trips within the US as well as to/through Europe.

No problem. I'm not sure where or why a TSO would object, either, but I can state from experience that they are not a problem.

I've traveled with larger tripods and monopods in my carryon without even a hint of notice from the TSA.

There is a similar thread in Travel Technology in case you want to see what they are saying.

I could do a lot of damage to someone's skull with my carryon tripod, but it's never been an issue at the checkpoint.

Some potential weapons are more equal than others. That's how the TSA keeps the terrorists on their toes.

Answers seem divided between "I've never had a problem" and "it's within the TSA's discretion, so it's risky."

For those who haven't had a problem, how often do you travel with a tripod?

Has anyone been forced to check a tripod?

I'll join in on the never had a problem side. I did have a problem in AMS with a tightening device for my tripod. I forgot I had it in the side pocket of my camera roller bag. The guy searching the bag had a fit because I said there wasn't anything in the side pockets and there it was. I had simply forgotten it. He took it to his supervisor (it was about 5 inches long with a hole for a hex nut to fit in so a part of the tripod cold be tightened.) and the supervisor looked at him as if he were crazy.

I travel with a monopod almost every time I fly, as I usually work a day or so into business trips to do bird photography out in the wild (and my personal trips almost always have plenty of time for the same), and have yet to have a single problem. Last year, my monopod came on around 25 trips with me, and this year so far has flown around six or seven times so far.

I used to travel with an aluminum monopod, strapped underneath my camera bag since it was just a bit too long to fit inside my typical rollaboard. I recently upgraded to a 4-section carbon fiber monopod that does fit inside my rollaboards at around 20" when collapsed. Never got any guff from the TSA or airlines over it, though one TSA employee and several ID checkers did question the bag of camera gear (I always just point out that FAA rules allow for an extra carry-on for camera gear; I've never even had to show them the actual rules, which I carry as a printout both from the FAA and the TSA).

I travel with a tripod far less frequently, but as with the monopod, have never had a problem with it.

Discussed today here.