Tripod Leg Wraps

I just thought I would share recent experience I had in looking for leg wraps.

My earlier Feisol 3401N (which will be going on sale soon) had foam tubes, so no wrap was necessary. My new Gitzo 2541L had no padding. Since when moving around, with camera mounted, I will often rest the extended 'pod on my shoulder....so some "softening" was needed.

I looked initially at the following alternatives:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ripod_Leg_Prote​ctors.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …2_1_Tripod_Leg_​Wraps.html

Either would have worked well. I would have gone with the Op/Tech, as I liked the look and finish. However, both of them made, because they a basically thick pipe insulation) my nice new tripod look like the "Pillsbury Dough Boy" (or the Michelin man)

However, I then came across this old artcle:
http://www.earthboundl​ight.com …ips/tripod-leg-wraps.html
Which talks about using bicycle cork wrap.

I ran out to my local Performance Bicycle shop and bought 2 packages (3 spools are needed) of this wrap.
http://www.performance​bike.com …trk=search&slis​earch=true

Took about 10 min. on the first leg and maybe 5 min. on the other two. I love the results. The padding is firm, yet resilient...actually just as softening to impact as the pipe insulation, which is designed to insulate, not cushion. Also, though CF is not as bad in cold as AL, I brought the tripod in from my car truck the other night, the CF tubes were *cold*, but the cork wrap did not feel at all cold to the touch.

Here is my "handy work":

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

This should also help protect the tripod from nicks and dings while packed for travel or tossed in the car trunk. I've read that tennis racket grip tape also works well.

...for the time being, it's cold enough here to require extra padding in the form of a Winter parka Come Spring, I'll look into your suggestion.