An odd, but simple problem.

OK, so I primarily shoot birds and wildlife. I'm in Southwest Florida, so I need to travel light as possible due to the extreme heat we deal with most of the year. My problem is with transporting both my tripod and monopod at the same time. My tripod case holds both, but I don't like the idea of them rattling around in there together while I'm hiking or transporting in the trunk of my car. The solution seems simple: Just slip the monopod into a protective sleeve of some sort (preferably Neoprene or a soft, somewhat padded material), and then put it in the tripod case and go for it. Problem is, I can't find a protective sleeve of any kind for the monopod. Has anyone ever heard of such a sleeve or case? Am I the first one to have this issue?

I am not a golfer, but how about one of those plastic golf club tubes I see in sporting goods stores?

...or.... you could get 2 really long tube socks, and put one on either end of the monopod. Or wrap one of the items in bubble wrap and keep it tight with velcro straps?

sapearl wrote in post #2490713
I am not a golfer, but how about one of those plastic golf club tubes I see in sporting goods stores?

Never thought of that, and you inspired another thought with that idea: Perhaps the neoprene insulation used to wrap pipes in the winter (used to see it in Home Depot when I lived up north)?

That pipe wrap is actually better than my suggestion! And really cheap too. They come in several diameters, to accomodate varying sizes of pipe. Excellent thinking.

I do a lot of hiking and like to travel as light as possible so I just carry a tripod. You can use a tripod as a monopod by just leaveing the legs folded together.

gjl711 wrote in post #2490760
I do a lot of hiking and like to travel as light as possible so I just carry a tripod. You can use a tripod as a monopod by just leaveing the legs folded together.

Unfortunately, I've tried that approach. The 1DSMII with a 100-400 L lens is just too big of a beast to try and maneuver with a tripod hanging off it. I use the monopod most of the time, and the tripod when I'm looking for absolute stillness on slower shots and static subjects. Both must make the trip with me.

I think we found the solution above. Thanks! And thank you sapearl! Just needed a bit of "outside the box" inspiration.

You're very welcome . Glad I could help. I'm constantly walking the aisles of kitchen accessories, hardware stores, and Bed-Bath-And-Beyond looking for alternative "photo gear."

Stu Pearl
Cleveland, Ohio

Canon_Bob wrote in post #2490824
.........I think we found the solution above. Thanks! And thank you sapearl! Just needed a bit of "outside the box" inspiration.

Hey Stu, You're going to laugh at this once you read it:

I went to Home Depot today to buy the insulation. the only kind they had used a "sticky" substance on the edge that I didn't want to have to trim off, so I decided to keep looking for a different type. I was carrying the monopod with me to make sure I got the right size. Anyway, I go back to my car, open the trunk to toss the monopod back in the tripod bag, and I notice my golf umbrella laying in there. You guessed it......The protective sleeve from the golf umbrella works like a charm!