tripod carry cases/straps?

[troypiggo]

I have a Manfrotto 055PROB Tripod + 488RC2 Ball Head, and a Tamrac Adventure 9 backpack. Travelling overseas in March and this time thinking about taking my tripod. It's a little heavy, but I love it :)

Just wondering about recommended options for bags and/or straps to carry the tripod.

Interested in options for attaching it to the backpack as well as separately.

Any suggestions?

[troypiggo]

Just looking at Adoroma and came across this case :
http://www.adorama.com/BG3280B.html

[ed rader]

I have a Manfrotto 055PROB Tripod + 488RC2 Ball Head, and a Tamrac Adventure 9 backpack. Travelling overseas in March and this time thinking about taking my tripod. It's a little heavy, but I love it :)

Just wondering about recommended options for bags and/or straps to carry the tripod.

Interested in options for attaching it to the backpack as well as separately.

Any suggestions?


i use a manfrotto strap, which is convenient for carrying a tripod and stays attached to the pod when i am shooting. the bag is something that i probably would use a few times and then stop because of the hassle.

ed rader

[troypiggo]

Thanks Ed. I was thinking that too. By the same token, I don't use my tripod extensively day to day, so I thought a case could double as storage and protection, and would certainly help on a plane flight.

I'll look at those straps, though. If cheap enough I'll get both.

[troypiggo]

i use a manfrotto strap, which is convenient for carrying a tripod and stays attached to the pod when i am shooting. the bag is something that i probably would use a few times and then stop because of the hassle.

ed rader

Just reading some reviews on the strap http://www.adorama.com/BG3044.html

Reads like there might not be enough padding on the strap. Is that the strap you have? Is your tripod similar weight to mine? How does it go for hiking?

[jhom]

You might consider the Think Tank Bazooka http://thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_Bzka.php. It is probably the best designed tripod bag available.

[ed rader]

Just reading some reviews on the strap http://www.adorama.com/BG3044.html

Reads like there might not be enough padding on the strap. Is that the strap you have? Is your tripod similar weight to mine? How does it go for hiking?


troy -- i just bought two new tripods and i've received neither. i got the slik 614 and i'll be using it for travel with the 486 rc head. weight is at 3 lbs. i may get a lightweight bag for this one tho when i travel it will be stowed in my check in luggage and be padded with clothes :D.

i have an ebay auction closing in less than 10 minutes for a Manfrotto 055MF3. i'll use it with the 488RC head. weight will be about 6 lbs.

this tripod will stay in my truck. i usually don't venture too far from my truck and if i do i have the same strap that you linked too.

so for travel tripod a bag makes sense. but for my big tripod i'll use a strap.

EDIT: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150205450237&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=005

ed rader

[SkipD]

I also use the 3280 bag. I store my 3021BPro/488RC2 and my monopod in it and use it for transport on trips.

In the field, however, I use a Manfrotto 3044 Long Strap (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5285-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3044_3044_Long_Tripod_Carrying.htm l) for carrying the tripod across my back. It is very comfortable that way with the "leg warmers" providing some needed padding.

[troypiggo]

You might consider the Think Tank Bazooka http://thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_Bzka.php. It is probably the best designed tripod bag available.

Thanks. I'll look into that one.

troy -- i just bought two new tripods and i've received neither. i got the slik 614 and i'll be using it for travel with the 486 rc head. weight is at 3 lbs. i may get a lightweight bag for this one tho when i travel it will be stowed in my check in luggage and be padded with clothes :D.

i have an ebay auction closing in less than 10 minutes for a Manfrotto 055MF3. i'll use it with the 488RC head. weight will be about 6 lbs.

this tripod will stay in my truck. i usually don't venture too far from my truck and if i do i have the same strap that you linked too.

so for travel tripod a bag makes sense. but for my big tripod i'll use a strap.

EDIT: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150205450237&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=005

ed rader

Thanks Ed.

I also use the 3280 bag. I store my 3021BPro/488RC2 and my monopod in it and use it for transport on trips.

In the field, however, I use a Manfrotto 3044 Long Strap (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5285-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3044_3044_Long_Tripod_Carrying.htm l) for carrying the tripod across my back. It is very comfortable that way with the "leg warmers" providing some needed padding.

The fact that you can fit a monopod in it as well as the 3021/488 combo - does that mean it is too big and/or wasted space?

[tjrenegade]

Think Tank makes great stuff...I am thinking about that case myself

[pmk]

I also was looking for a quality case that had lots of attaching options. I ended up getting one from Kinesis (http://www.kgear.com (http://www.kgear.com/)). It's got more ways to attach to a backpack than I know what to do with.

Quality bag, IMO.

pmk

[troypiggo]

Thanks for that. Another one to add to the growing list O.o

[SkipD]

The fact that you can fit a monopod in it as well as the 3021/488 combo - does that mean it is too big and/or wasted space?Not at all. There's a lot of volume between the legs of a tripod when folded up and in a bag.

[troypiggo]

Aah, I see. Thanks for clarifying that.

[pixel_junkie]

I'm on the market for a tripod bag myself and was looking at the Manfrotto 35" bag that was mentioned above, but have a hard time forking out $50 for it. If anyone knows of a cheaper alternative, please do share. I could care less if it was made by Manfrotto. If I could make one myself, I would. Some things are just not worth spending much money on.

[troypiggo]

All the options above we at least that in US$ IIRC. I don't mind paying that when it's protecting hundreds of dollars worth of tripod/head.

Have a look at Adorama - they had some cheaper brand ones. In fact they had an "Adorama" brand one that was under US$50. Think you can get foam inserts for it also.

[pixel_junkie]

All the options above we at least that in US$ IIRC. I don't mind paying that when it's protecting hundreds of dollars worth of tripod/head.

Have a look at Adorama - they had some cheaper brand ones. In fact they had an "Adorama" brand one that was under US$50. Think you can get foam inserts for it also.

I get ya but tripods aren't like cameras, they are designed to be strong and stirdy. The one I have is built like a tank, not sure that it needs padding so much. The only thing it needs protection from is scratches, dust, dirt, moisture. I need something like a right sized duffle bag and then can get a something like a fast CF card with the rest of the money. I'm just trying to be rational about it.

[pmk]

If anyone knows of a cheaper alternative, please do share.

Go to Walmart, buy a folding camp chair for $7. Sit in chair while loading your tripod into the camp chair case! They usually come with a (non-adjustable) shoulder strap. I used this for a while before getting a dedicated one from Kinesis that has an adjustable strap.

pmk

[pixel_junkie]

Go to Walmart, buy a folding camp chair for $7. Sit in chair while loading your tripod into the camp chair case! They usually come with a (non-adjustable) shoulder strap. I used this for a while before getting a dedicated one from Kinesis that has an adjustable strap.

pmk

Genius! I think I'll do just that. Thanks

[alt4852]

i didn't want to start a new thread about this, but i was wondering for people who have the manfrotto 055xprob:

if i want a strap instead of a tripod bag, but i don't want to buy the manfrotto branded one (i can't stand the massive "MANFROTTO" that inks across the length of it), is there anything that i can attach generic straps to? i'm thinking about just purchasing a domke gripper strap (i love the one that i use with my bag) http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=domke&itemnum=745-1BK but i'm having severe doubts that i'll be able to properly attach it to my tripod. does anyone know if there are hooks or looks i can attach it to?

[ed rader]

i didn't want to start a new thread about this, but i was wondering for people who have the manfrotto 055xprob:

if i want a strap instead of a tripod bag, but i don't want to buy the manfrotto branded one (i can't stand the massive "MANFROTTO" that inks across the length of it), is there anything that i can attach generic straps to? i'm thinking about just purchasing a domke gripper strap (i love the one that i use with my bag) http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=domke&itemnum=745-1BK but i'm having severe doubts that i'll be able to properly attach it to my tripod. does anyone know if there are hooks or looks i can attach it to?

the manfrotto strap that you dislike is also the gripper type -- it has two rows of three rubber threads running the length.

it has a hook on one end and the other end attaches around the feet of the tripod like a lasso.

ed rader

[troypiggo]

i didn't want to start a new thread about this, but i was wondering for people who have the manfrotto 055xprob:

if i want a strap instead of a tripod bag, but i don't want to buy the manfrotto branded one (i can't stand the massive "MANFROTTO" that inks across the length of it), is there anything that i can attach generic straps to? i'm thinking about just purchasing a domke gripper strap (i love the one that i use with my bag) http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=domke&itemnum=745-1BK but i'm having severe doubts that i'll be able to properly attach it to my tripod. does anyone know if there are hooks or looks i can attach it to?

The 055xprob has a loop for attaching a strap to at the top, and also another one at the bottom.

The manfrotto strap has a spring clip that attaches at the top, and as Ed says there is a loop that goes over the legs at the bottom.

By the way, I ended up buying the strap and the case from bogen/manfrotto. The bazooka and the other suggestion were too expensive, I got them both for similar price and have the best of both worlds.

[amironsi]

i have the Manfrotto Fast Action strap 401N
http://www.adorama.com/BG401N.html?searchinfo=401n&item_no=1
i like it cause it is comfortabel and looks gr8 and really protects my tripod
so easy to cary too

[alt4852]

the manfrotto strap that you dislike is also the gripper type -- it has two rows of three rubber threads running the length.

it has a hook on one end and the other end attaches around the feet of the tripod like a lasso.

ed rader

thanks to everyone for their input. as for the actual manfrotto strap, the only gripe i have with it is the color/brand name.. it seems like it just draws a lot more attention than i'd like. i was just hoping i could get a nice minimalistic strap that won't stand out too much. from what you're saying, do you think i'd be able to just attach the domke to the top of the tripod, and fashion my own loop to use at the bottom? i'm just unclear on how proprietary the attachment ends are. thanks in advance for the help. =)

[ed rader]

thanks to everyone for their input. as for the actual manfrotto strap, the only gripe i have with it is the color/brand name.. it seems like it just draws a lot more attention than i'd like. i was just hoping i could get a nice minimalistic strap that won't stand out too much. from what you're saying, do you think i'd be able to just attach the domke to the top of the tripod, and fashion my own loop to use at the bottom? i'm just unclear on how proprietary the attachment ends are. thanks in advance for the help. =)


i'll bet it attracts alot less attention than you think :D.

without seeing the other end of the domke strap it's hard to say how it attaches.

but the one thing you've got to consider is manfrotto tripods are the most common so i'd suspect the domke strap will work.

ed rader

[Jon]

thanks to everyone for their input. as for the actual manfrotto strap, the only gripe i have with it is the color/brand name.. it seems like it just draws a lot more attention than i'd like. i was just hoping i could get a nice minimalistic strap that won't stand out too much. from what you're saying, do you think i'd be able to just attach the domke to the top of the tripod, and fashion my own loop to use at the bottom? i'm just unclear on how proprietary the attachment ends are. thanks in advance for the help. =)Fasten the lower end of the Domke strap to a D-ring with some Velcro run through it. Then Velcro the legs together. Been using that for years.

[msuben]

I got a Tamrac bag recently from B&H and I like it. Fits my tripod and has an adjustable strap. This thing was made to last.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/153017-REG/Tamrac_32601_326_Tripod_Bag_Large.html

[Kent Clark]

I came across this bag while doing some searching, haven't bought one yet but it has some good Amazon reviews, padding and a low price:

http://www.amazon.com/Davis-Sanford-Carrying-Bogen-Manfrotto-Vanguard/dp/B000R3XD5Y/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1201283942&sr=1-32

[amfoto1]

Hi Troy,

You're asking specifically about overseas and air travel (I have to presume), so perhaps a tripod strap will do for you. Personally, I've used several in the past and found them uncomfortable to use lugging the tripod any great distance. I now use a tripod bag Its a Tamrac, but I don't know the model name or anything.

When traveling by air, my tripod gets broken down and packed into my checked baggage (along with it's bag). I reserve carry-on for more fragile cameras, lenses, flashes, laptop, etc.

A bag keeps dirt and rain off my tripod, and I think makes it more comfortable to carry for any significant distance. Plus, the bag has a side pocket that holds a Wimberley Sidekick, Allen wrenches, and other spares I like to keep with the tripod (a Gitzo 1325 CF).

[RPCrowe]

I use the best equipment "L" lenses, etc. However, I cannot see sinking a small fortune into a tripod case. As long as it is padded and it is well sewn; that is all that counts for me.

However, if you plan on traveling on planes with your tripod shipped as baggage, I would suggest that you get a hard sided tripod case.

When I had a Manfrotto tripod, I used a case from these folks.

http://stores.ebay.com/SoBeFOTO_Bags-BackPacks-Cases_Accessories_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZ131477 6QQftidZ2QQtZkm

It was fine and did what it needed to; protect the tripod when traveling and when I was not using it.

I don't need one that connects to a backpack. I like a strap for walking around with the tripod. Again, the strap is not nuclear physics and shouldn't cost as much as the Space Shuttle.

I now use a Giottos MT-8180 tripod which came with a strap and a case.

[troypiggo]

Thanks Alan and RPCrowe.

I have bought the Manfrotto strap and also the bag. Reason is I get the best of both worlds. Most of the time I leave tripod in the boot of my car. The bag will protect it there from dust and scratches. And also will help for travel. Don't have room in my backpack.

Thanks for everyone's input.