Flying through the U.S....carbon fibre tripod in carry-on okay??

Hi guys,

I know this question has been asked a few times, but I searched and haven't really found any recent answers...

I'm going to be flying through the US (twice, actually, once through San Francisco, then two weeks later through Seattle)...I'm planning on carrying my gear on board with me, but that includes a full-size (though compact...folded up it's like 20" or something) CF tripod.

Is that going to be an issue? I doubt it matters, but I won't be leaving the airports, I'm merely transferring in the US.

Should I be ready for some BS or will it be fine? I've flown with this tripod in my bag to China and back and had no issues at all.

Thanks,
T

Depends totally on TSA and their moods.
Most of the time its ok but not worth the chance ... check it to be sure.

Should be fine unless you have one of those with a spiked foot. A monopod with a spiked foot can really raise some red flags because it can be easily weaponized.

EL_PIC wrote in post #15455940
Depends totally on TSA and their moods.
Most of the time its ok but not worth the chance ... check it to be sure.

Thanks! What happens if I get "busted" with it?

I've been flying all over the world with an Optex T25 mini tabletop tripod...never had an issue. Then in the Philippines I got flown around by a crappy airline, bounced from airport to airport without an issue, until one of the security guys decided to exercise his mad power and prohibited me from carrying it on. Thankfully, they just gave it to one of the flight attendants who stowed it with their stuff and I got to grab it on my way off the airplane...so, really, I didn't mind it all that much, in the end...

kfreels wrote in post #15456035
Should be fine unless you have one of those with a spiked foot. A monopod with a spiked foot can really raise some red flags because it can be easily weaponized.

It has a very, very dull spike at the end of the feet, however, it does have the rubber feet that can be screwed down over the spikes to cover them...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #15456045
It has a very, very dull spike at the end of the feet, however, it does have the rubber feet that can be screwed down over the spikes to cover them...

Might be a cause for concern. In other words, it has a hidden spike that can be revealed by screwing a rubber foot up. The metal will show up on the xray as a solid metal pointy object. You may want to look deeper into your tripod and see how long the spike itself it.

Not that this is a sensible weapon by the way, but this may cross the line on some inspectors that otherwise may not have said anything.

kfreels wrote in post #15456097
Might be a cause for concern. In other words, it has a hidden spike that can be revealed by screwing a rubber foot up. The metal will show up on the xray as a solid metal pointy object. You may want to look deeper into your tripod and see how long the spike itself it.

Not that this is a sensible weapon by the way, but this may cross the line on some inspectors that otherwise may not have said anything.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was thinking...hmm...on the one hand, I'm nervous about packing a somewhat expensive piece of my gear in my checked luggage (mostly worried about theft)...

On the other hand, I really don't want to have it confiscated. So what happens if they tell me at security that I'm not allowed to carry it on? At that point, do I have a chance to have it put into the belly of the plane, or is it too late by then, and I basically have to leave my tripod behind?

LowriderS10 wrote in post #15456042
Thanks! What happens if I get "busted" with it?

I've been flying all over the world with an Optex T25 mini tabletop tripod...never had an issue. Then in the Philippines I got flown around by a crappy airline, bounced from airport to airport without an issue, until one of the security guys decided to exercise his mad power and prohibited me from carrying it on. Thankfully, they just gave it to one of the flight attendants who stowed it with their stuff and I got to grab it on my way off the airplane...so, really, I didn't mind it all that much, in the end...

Normally they just say go back check it.
The big thing is wasted time as you wait in line.
But they can and do take it -
esp if you raise red flags or the agents want it for their own.
They do take items - esp booze and guess who drinks it at end of shift ..
I dont know why but this old peaceful man with a wooden cane had it taken from him
as he entered the x ray machine before me on a US Domestic flight <???>
They said he could not take it and it was left in the confiscated item box.
I had my long Rifle MonoPod checked in as over sized luggage that day.

I've never had any issues but mine is a little travel one that folds all up. The more it looks like a "club" the more likely it is that you'll get it taken. Safer to check it.

TSA here at portland oregon is absolutely fantastic bunch of folks. Hilarious and never had any issues.

TSA in spokane WA on the other hand...rofl...it's like the smaller the airport, people for some reason get some weird ego trip so they feel important or something. lol. (Then again, TSA in alaska is also fine, slow, but that's not their fault that they only have one lane in most places).

TSA really isn't that bad most places, the key is to give yourself enough TIME that you aren't stressed if something happens. That's the key right there.

woos wrote in post #15456331
TSA in spokane WA on the other hand...rofl...it's like the smaller the airport, people for some reason get some weird ego trip so they feel important or something. lol. (Then again, TSA in alaska is also fine, slow, but that's not their fault that they only have one lane in most places).

TSA really isn't that bad most places, the key is to give yourself enough TIME that you aren't stressed if something happens. That's the key right there.

If you've got a checked bag, I'd put it in the checked bag. I fly out of Spokane all the time, never had a problem with them. Friendly, very professional and reasonably efficient.

woos wrote in post #15456331
I've never had any issues but mine is a little travel one that folds all up. The more it looks like a "club" the more likely it is that you'll get it taken. Safer to check it.

TSA here at portland oregon is absolutely fantastic bunch of folks. Hilarious and never had any issues.

TSA in spokane WA on the other hand...rofl...it's like the smaller the airport, people for some reason get some weird ego trip so they feel important or something. lol. (Then again, TSA in alaska is also fine, slow, but that's not their fault that they only have one lane in most places).

TSA really isn't that bad most places, the key is to give yourself enough TIME that you aren't stressed if something happens. That's the key right there.

Right. And really, I would worry less about it getting stolen. A tripod is a bulky item and most baggage handlers probably don't know the difference from a $300 tripod and a $12 one. Usually when something is stolen it is something that is easy to sneak out of the building, of an obvious dollar value, and easy to convert to cash later; Jewelry and electronics mostly. You can reduce that risk by using a little metal ring like you use for your keys to lock the zipper shut. Locks are a bad idea because if they need to inspect your bag they will be cut off, but a ring like this is easy enough for security to remove for legit inspection while still increasing the difficulty level for a baggage handler who's time to go through your bag is limited. It also will keep the bag from accidentally coming open which I suspect is a primary opportunity for someone to steal......while picking up your things and putting them back in the bag.

I didnt have an issue last month leaving out of BOS and BWI. Manfrotto 190CXPRO3.

If the spikes on the legs are removeable (many are), unscrew them and throw them into your checked luggage. That would avoid any concern by TSA. Some objects are treated as weapons, as unlikely as they might be...pool cue is one very specific example of an item not to be in carryon; seems odd until you understand that someone poked someone in the eye with a pool cue on board once!

Thanks guys...hmmm...I'm really not sure what to do...the "spikes" are incredibly rounded...it's more of a half circle than a spike, really...

They may be removable, though...but I don't have the tools...*sigh* might just check it...

Great idea on the key ring, btw! I'll see if I have any kicking around at home...I usually use locks, which is never an issue outside of the States. I usually try to avoid flying through the States for all these reasons...but this time around I'm flying quite a bit in a short time (Korea to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Canada, then back to Korea), so I wanted the cheapest possible flights...