Can I bring a tripod on a plane?
Dec 19, 2019, 5:31 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AS Million Miler, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Nexus / Global Entry
Posts: 844
Yep - it has served me well. Just got a new toy. Peak Design Travel Tripod in CF. Backed the Kickstarter a while back and it’s here. So far - I love it. Killer design and super compact. Works with all my plates and L brackets.
Will see how it fares in actual use shortly. It’ll easily work for carry on.
Will see how it fares in actual use shortly. It’ll easily work for carry on.
Dec 23, 2019, 7:04 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
It’s not a matter of what is legal to carry as much as what tsa / local security will allow. I travel with both monopods and tripods that fit completely inside a backpack. In the last four years I have been told to put a mephoto backpacker into check baggage and had a monopod confiscated in FRA because it was 2cn too long to carry on board even with a camera mount and camera.
Jan 11, 2020, 4:21 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
MeFoto (a Benro brand) tripods are small yet sturdy. They also take a standard Arca Swiss plate.
I've never had a problem, but I also usually don't bring my smaller tripod(s) unless I'm not checking a bag. I usually am able to get away with either strapping a monopod to my carryon (or I put it in the water bottle pocket) and/or bringing my smaller Manfrotto tripod as a personal item. I usually just throw my large Manfrotto tripod into a checked bag diagonally. You'll see plenty tripods as carry-on/personal items during events like solar eclipses.
I suppose TSA might take issue with your tripod if it has spike feet.
I've never had a problem, but I also usually don't bring my smaller tripod(s) unless I'm not checking a bag. I usually am able to get away with either strapping a monopod to my carryon (or I put it in the water bottle pocket) and/or bringing my smaller Manfrotto tripod as a personal item. I usually just throw my large Manfrotto tripod into a checked bag diagonally. You'll see plenty tripods as carry-on/personal items during events like solar eclipses.
I suppose TSA might take issue with your tripod if it has spike feet.
Jan 11, 2020, 5:13 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
MeFoto (a Benro brand) tripods are small yet sturdy. They also take a standard Arca Swiss plate.
I've never had a problem, but I also usually don't bring my smaller tripod(s) unless I'm not checking a bag. I usually am able to get away with either strapping a monopod to my carryon (or I put it in the water bottle pocket) and/or bringing my smaller Manfrotto tripod as a personal item. I usually just throw my large Manfrotto tripod into a checked bag diagonally. You'll see plenty tripods as carry-on/personal items during events like solar eclipses.
I suppose TSA might take issue with your tripod if it has spike feet.
I've never had a problem, but I also usually don't bring my smaller tripod(s) unless I'm not checking a bag. I usually am able to get away with either strapping a monopod to my carryon (or I put it in the water bottle pocket) and/or bringing my smaller Manfrotto tripod as a personal item. I usually just throw my large Manfrotto tripod into a checked bag diagonally. You'll see plenty tripods as carry-on/personal items during events like solar eclipses.
I suppose TSA might take issue with your tripod if it has spike feet.
Jul 5, 2020, 5:42 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: CONUS
Programs: HHonors, United, Delta
Posts: 828
Interestingly, I flew down to Cabo, MX recently. No problems with my tripod (brought a spotting scope to watch whales from my balcony at the Waldorf Pedregal) on the USA>MX legs in a carry on.
On the way BACK, Mexican airport authorities pulled it from my backpack and were like "nope."
I did the amateur "But they didn't have a problem coming IN..." excuse, even though - like scales lifted from my eyes - I now saw "NO TRIPODS" signs everywhere around security.
I even schmoozed the security person, who seemed like they could have wavered a waiver / it all seemed a little discretionary and laxidaiscal .
Then, I did the reasonable thing of trying again, at a different entrance. Because I'm a firm believer in "if at first you try and fail, try again".
No bueno. They gave me stinkeye and I had to check my bag with the tripod in it.
Anyway, just a datapoint.
Wasn't a large tripod: A super light carbon fiber one that has served me well for a couple years. Zomei 669c model. Worth checking out, especially in light of the Peak carbon prices. Extends really tall (60") for how small it compacts (15"), reasonably small diameter, sturdy, and inexpensive to boot! I've got a few massive ones from Xiletu that I wouldn't travel with unless I needed them. This is my "toss it in a backpack" sized one:
On the way BACK, Mexican airport authorities pulled it from my backpack and were like "nope."
I did the amateur "But they didn't have a problem coming IN..." excuse, even though - like scales lifted from my eyes - I now saw "NO TRIPODS" signs everywhere around security.
I even schmoozed the security person, who seemed like they could have wavered a waiver / it all seemed a little discretionary and laxidaiscal .
Then, I did the reasonable thing of trying again, at a different entrance. Because I'm a firm believer in "if at first you try and fail, try again".
No bueno. They gave me stinkeye and I had to check my bag with the tripod in it.
Anyway, just a datapoint.
Wasn't a large tripod: A super light carbon fiber one that has served me well for a couple years. Zomei 669c model. Worth checking out, especially in light of the Peak carbon prices. Extends really tall (60") for how small it compacts (15"), reasonably small diameter, sturdy, and inexpensive to boot! I've got a few massive ones from Xiletu that I wouldn't travel with unless I needed them. This is my "toss it in a backpack" sized one:
Dec 25, 2021, 5:49 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2020
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium; AS 100k; BA Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 442
For a tripod with a folded length exceeding carry-on dimensions (including diagonal), has anyone tried to bring it in a backpack not completely closed? So, the legs would stick out by another 1-3". Would that be a problem?
Dec 25, 2021, 7:39 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
I would think that would be considered oversize. That 1"-3" would occupy space either your feet or another bag should have.