Sling Bag that can hold a tripod?

[redone]

Okay so does anyone out there have a sling bag that they attached a tripod to for quick little day hikes/walks. I used my little MEC slig bag and strapped my tripod into the water bottle holder yesterday and this worked okay but wondering if there are any better solutions as it wasn't exactly comfortable?

Thanks in advance!

[Jon]

That's pretty much going to be your experience with any tripod/bag combo. Because the tripods are longer than the bags, they'll hang over at both ends and get in the way. On a backpack, where they're vertical, it's much easier to get away with it. My original Domke F-2 had velcro on the strap so you could fasten a tripod or monopod to it and have it vertical, but they don't do that any more. You could do something similar if you needed to.

The only tripod I'll try to secure to a shoulder bag is my Slik 613 CF, which is not much longer than my Domke F-1; I slide it under the handle and use a couple of mini 'biners to secure the tripod case strap to the camera bag. But that's only while getting to the scene; once I'm there the tripod case goes over the shoulder on its own.

[MDJAK]

I have a Gitzo CF tripod which I hang with complete comfort from my Lowepro AW200 Slingshot. There's a strap on the side of the bag which faces down and one leg of the tripod goes in there. It's a perfect fit.

mark

[bigman606]

MDJAK - which Gitzo are you lugging around with the AW200 Slingshot? How's the added weight and balance of the bag? I'm planning on pairing it with a Gitzo G1258 and Acratech V2. Trying to determine if a new bag will be needed for the upcoming travel.

[MDJAK]

I'll have to check which model it is when I get home. Contrary to what Jon stated, the top of the tripod does not overshoot the bag. The bottom, of course, does, but it hangs at such an angle that it never hit the back of my legs and I didn't even know it was there.

That was when I had a four section Gitzo CF, which I sold and replaced with a three section Gitzo CF. I will say that it doesn't fit as well but is still okay. It is about six or so inches longer than the four section was. And I had my RRS 55 atop.

I'll post the model later.

mark

[MDJAK]

My tripod is the G 1157, 6X CF, three section.

It does not hang as well as the four section I had because it is longer.

Also, I'm obviously doing something wrong, but with my Lowepro Nature Trekker AWII, I can never get the tripod securely fastened to the rear, though it has a little pocket and bungies for that purpose.

mark

[bigman606]

mark, cool. I'll give mine a try when it arrives at the end of this week. I still may have to invest in a regular photo backpack to lash the tripod too when traveling. I'll just bring my gear I want to travel with to a few shops and see how things fit.

[MDJAK]

When I travel, as in airplane travel, I always put my tripod right in the middle of my luggage surrounded by my clothes. It fits perfectly and has never been damaged.

My wife often will take my slingbag and use it as her carryon for her books, etc.

This way, I can have my overstuffed photo backpack as a carryon and my computer in my other hand.

mark

[Lester Wareham]

I just carry the tripod in it's own bag (with kneeling mat and other bits and bobs) via it's own shoulder strap.

[MannP]

Originally Posted by Lester Wareham

I just carry the tripod in it's own bag (with kneeling mat and other bits and bobs) via it's own shoulder strap.

I do that too, but after a while it gets tiring- bag, camera, tripod and all. Moreso when I carry my slr-zoom combo. But that's MY case. It would indeed be nice to be able to hang a tripod to a sling/shoulder bag or backpack. I'm now torn between a sling/shoulder bag and a backpack. Again, that's me

[Lester Wareham]

Originally Posted by MannP

I do that too, but after a while it gets tiring- bag, camera, tripod and all. Moreso when I carry my slr-zoom combo. But that's MY case. It would indeed be nice to be able to hang a tripod to a sling/shoulder bag or backpack. I'm now torn between a sling/shoulder bag and a backpack. Again, that's me

It would be quite awkward to use a sling bag with a tripod attached I would think, a better option is to use a backpack.

I also have a Lowepro Rover Plus AW that has a tripod place. But I found with this the weight of the pod so far back made the pack seem a lot heavier dragging be backwards, and this pod' is a very light one; mind you I have an old back injury so I expect I am more sensitive than many.

A backpack that carries the tripod at the side might work better specially for a heavy one.

[MannP]

Originally Posted by Lester Wareham

It would be quite awkward to use a sling bag with a tripod attached I would think, a better option is to use a backpack.

Yeah I thought so too. It's just that the sling bag is more easily accessible. From the photos I can see you don't have to put down the bag in order to get to your gear. Still it would be awkward due to the weight (mine is the regular non CF manfrotto).

[Lester Wareham]

Originally Posted by MannP

Yeah I thought so too. It's just that the sling bag is more easily accessible. From the photos I can see you don't have to put down the bag in order to get to your gear. Still it would be awkward due to the weight (mine is the regular non CF manfrotto).

Not only that it would be quite fiddily to attach and detach I would assume. When my slingshot 200 was main main bag I sometimes carried my 300 f4L IS in a lens case attached to the sliplock loop on the side like below:



This worked but was quite akward to use in the sling position.

Now I have the slingshot 300 I can get the 300mm inside the bag, weightwise it is a lot easier with the new bag too.

Another advantage of carrying the tripod seperatly is it spreads the weight, wouldn't be good for rock scrambling but walking is fine.

[MannP]

Thanks for the good explanation and photo. That was really helpful. Even if I could somehow hang the tripod to the side where you've shown to hang your extra lens I could imagine weight shifting to that side.

I actually have a regular backpack that is quite comfortable and ok. Nowhere to hang my tripod though. Carrying it separately even with a strap is very cumbersome when I'm out with my heavy slr-zoom combo. Really, it's just me still trying to figure out the best way to carry my gear. Am not complaining at all because I really have a good time when I'm out shooting

[Lester Wareham]

Originally Posted by MannP

Really, it's just me still trying to figure out the best way to carry my gear.

This is a lifelong obsession for photographers I think; no such thing as the perfect bag.