How to carry tripod

[billh101]

How do you carry a tripod with you when you travel?

1. In a tripod bag separate from camera.
2. Strapped to bottom of camera bag/backpack.
3. Strapped vertically on back of camera backpack.
4. Other.

I'm taking a 10 day trip to Spain next month and would like to take a tripod along to shoot some nice landscapes. But, I'm not sure what the easiest way to do it would be. I'm thinking about getting a small backpack with the tripod straps on the bottom. But, the big, serious backpacks seem to have the straps on the back. I'm not sure what the advantage is.

Thanks,
Bill

[Michael]

I use a Tamrac Expedition 7 Backpack, which has straps to attach a tripod vertically. It takes the weight very well, and is easy to attach.

[Jon]

Separate - it's less trouble to leave it behind when you go somewhere you can't use it that way.

[Maurice A]

I put my tripod inside my camera bag. I bought a Velbon Ultra Maxi tripod as its compact and is ideal for low level shots.

[runninmann]

I put it in my checked luggage for flights and strap it to my Tamrac backpack for transporting during outings.

[Lightstream]

Do you guys find any issue with the tripod announcing who you are when you strap it to a pack? ie. the tripod says "Photographer on board, potentially expensive gear nearby"?

I was thinking of carrying my new Gitzo on the back of my Orion Trekker II, but it tells everybody within range that I am a photog, so I decided to buy a tripod bag. Turns out the bag was a little too big but what can I do..

[bigman606]

Lightstream: did you buy a Gitzo bag or another brand? If it's a Gitzo bag, from what I've seen, the ones recommended by Gitzo to pair with their legs tend to run bigger than you need. Check B&H's site for the recommended bags that they find work with the Gitzo legs.

[Lightstream]

I bought a Giottos (note spelling difference :D) bag because it was 1/4 the price of the Gitzo ;) paid all of $25 for it, but it is a nice bag if a little big.

I checked the dimensions of the Giottos, the next size down is an inch too short, so I had no choice.

[DavidEB]

hiking: Lowepro rover plus aw. has excellent tripod carry system

around town, more casual use: the cover from one of >>these<< (http://www.epromos.com/product/8816889.html) -- I cut off the bottom half of a 1-liter coke bottle to fit over the ballhead for protection, inside the bag.