Small Tripod (< 16") As Carry On

Rory,

I've heard that airline authorities (TSA & others) will allow shorter carbon-fiber Tripods, but metallic Tripods still have to be checked. Unfortunately, I've never been able to verify that.

If you have a fairly short Tripod in a Leather or Nylon case, you might be fine just taking it as your second carry-on item?

Let us know what you find, as I'm sure the information will be useful to others here.

Good luck!

I always check my bag when I carry a tripod. I had TSA tell me that that it had to be checked. I know that there are others with different experiences, but I would be prepared to check it if I were you. I got a small duffle that it would fit in, and packed it in that with some extra clothing. I think it's the size and the fact that they have very pointy feet. Pam

From my experience, it's a hit and miss. I have see people take larger Manfrotto tripods on while other get stopped with even the little Silk ones. I think there is a high level of agent discretion involved.

Pete

Rory, as Ken says, do let us know. I'm planning to put my Gitzo basalt (like carbon) tripod in my carry-on this fall, so I'd like to hear what you find. I'm planning to separate the ball head from the tripod and carry than in the bag I'll put under the seat.

My tiny plastic tripod is okay for carry-on but anything metal will need to be checked because it can conceivably be turned into a weapon.

this is not a tripod by any means but I was looking at a gorilla pod which could solve some issues.
I have been reasearching it to see what people think of it

I like the Gorilla Pod and plan to look into the SLR version, but I think I might still have a hard time using it to take a nice landscape shot on the moors of Skye. ; ) But for city travel or other places where you have something other than heather to wrap those legs around it sure is a nice solution. Pam

ya the gorillapod does not really solve the tripod issue...I have a monopod as well but it is the same issue about bringing it with you on the plane and also traveling light

Of course this is one experience, but I have traveled to England once, and several other places in North America with a carbon monopod. It was checked only one time (oddly, in my "home" airport.) No one else gave it a second glance.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I guess the bottom line is, due to total inconsistency/(incompetency?) within the TSA system, there seems to be no single 'right' answer. I'll have my wife get a letter from her orthopedic surgeon stating that she is required to carry a walking stick and I'll pick up a carbon fiber Gitzo Monopod ;)

Official Vagueness From TSA (specifically asking about small carbon fiber Tripod or Monopod):

Thank you for your e-mail.

The Transportation Security Administration's current security screening procedures require all carry-on luggage and accessible property be screened before passengers take them onboard an aircraft. Regardless of whether an item is on the prohibited or permitted items list, the Transportation Security Officers (TSO's) have discretion to prohibit an individual from carrying an item through the screening checkpoint or onboard an aircraft if the item poses a security threat.

Therefore, TSA security screening personnel make the final decision on whether to permit items into the sterile area of the airport.

Please visit our website at www.tsa.gov for additional information about TSA. We continue to add new information and encourage you to check the website frequently for updated information.

We hope this information is helpful.

TSA Contact Center

TSA Vagueness: Which is why I always plan to check it. ; ) Pam

Kim,
I respect your opinion. In my opinion, vague answers to specific questions do not correlate. Certainly TSO's have the 'authority' to make decisions affecting safety. However, they clearly do not have specific enough guidelines so that I as a traveler don't have to second guess which officer I will encounter. I asked a very specific question and got an answer that was completely non committal. No harm, no foul, just not an answer. We know 3.5 ounces of toothpaste is taboo, but I asked specifically if my collapsable carbon fiber monopod was prohibited as a carry on.

Rory,

When I was researching Tripods last year (prior to purchasing one), I recall reading somewhere that the TSA would allow carbon fibre models. However aluminum (or other metals) would still be prohibited for carry-on, due to their potential as weapons (not sure whether the Basalt models are considered metal or fibre?).

I can't remember where I saw this, however the evaluation still comes down to the evalutation of the screening officer that you happen to get.

On a related note, I asked our airport screeners here in Canada about Tripods on my last visit to through the local international airport, and they didn't seem to have any problems with either metal or carbon fibre. However, I wasn't carrying a Tripod on that occasion, so the situation could certainly be different if I was actually taking one on a trip.

Unfortunately this doesn't answer your question, but if I can find any further information, I'll post another note.

Cheers!

Ken good to ask them about it.
I am not sure if I want to risk taking a monopod or a small tripod or something since I am going carry on only.

Final outcome. Since it's a roll of the dice to carry on anything longer than 7" and depending on what TSA screener you get, it could go either way. So to altogether avoid being kicked out of line and headed back to check in just to put a dinky little tripod in a crate to tumble around and ultimately get lost on it's journey to France, I'll ship it UPS/FedEx. $100 to get it to my first hotel, and $100 to get it home from my last hotel is cheaper than buying one over there (if you can find one). Chalk it up to the new joy of traveling (a good book title if you ask me).

The TST has listed several martial arts stuff that cannot be carried on board. Is it possible that they might consider a tripod as a weapon? Is there an option to hand it over to the steward/stewardess

Below is a list of items listed on their website.

Billy Clubs
Black Jacks
Brass Knuckles
Kubatons
Mace/Pepper Spray
Martial Arts Weapons
Night Sticks
Nunchakus
Stun Guns/Shocking Devices
Throwing Stars