Lightstand in Carry-On?

I've done a quick search of the forums and found nothing that could answer my question. I'm going to be traveling to Cleveland in a few days and intended on bringing a light-stand in my carry-on (I'm only bringing a small carry-on suitcase and camera bag), and the stand fits comfortably inside my small suitcase. I see nothing about tripods or light-stands on the TSA's list of prohibited items, but I dont want to get stuck at security and have to give up my $100 light-stand.

Thanks a bunch...
~Jonathan

This thread may help: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=531804

See Fishfoto's post and pics.

Get a Bogen nano 001b. Its small enough to fit in a suit case that you can check in.

I carry the Manfrotto 3373 light stands in my carry on all the time. I often have 1 or 2 of these stands attached to the exterior of the Mountainsmith Day Pack, Mountainsmith Parallax, North Face Borealis and North Face Surge backpacks.

No problems for US Domestic travel.

My 'go kit' is the Think Tank Bazooka sleeve. In there I can stuff two Manfrotto 3373 light stands, two Nikon SB-28dx speedights, two Pocket Wizard Receivers, one Pocket Wizard Transmitter, two Calumet Calumet Swivel Adapters and this all is easily allowable as carry on.

Fantastic.

EORI, thanks for the link, appreciated.

ben, thanks for the product suggestion, also appreciated.

fish, I was hoping you would reply, although I've never seen you around the forums. I searched your blog top to bottom and read an argument between you and another flyer on FM. It still left me a little weary, but I warned my stepmom (whom I'm visiting and shooting her friend's granddaughter) that if I'm forced to dispose of it at the airport, then I expect her to buy me a new one once I get there, then ship it home to me.

Any additional suggestions for my trip through BWI to Cleveland (CLE)? I've noticed that the TSO's at CLE are a bit more restricting.

Thanks again everyone...

Jonathan,


CLE-BWI, I assume you're on Southwest Airlines, non-stop,rather than a Continental regional jet flight?

holy crap you're good...

that's very correct

Jonathan,

Yea, I have some routes memorized (like 40% of SWA's route system, it's a curse)

The ThinkTank Bazooka is fine if you're looking into a new bag. If not, a tripod standing around 22" or less is fine. If you're to tall take the head off, it can add a few inches. If it is still to tall, yank out the center post and duct tape it to a leg upside down and between the three legs, then secure it to the outside of your bag, staying under the 45 linear inches rule (not that I might have done this before)

haha, keep in mind that we're talking about a lightstand here, not a tripod.

definitely not looking for a new bag, just got my Stealth Reporter 550 for my laptop and I'm good to go.

Then go find a Manfrotto 3373 and stuff it in your LowePro Stealth.

you can find them very inexpensively on ebay. I think I have 8 of them around here somewhere.............​.

That model has been discontinued, but ben_r_ has suggested the identical model. If I can make it over to Ace today, I'll see if they have any.

Also, a little off topic, but I was looking through your portfolio on your website, and you have a photo of the Dyscern Executive Team in Sterling, Virginia. If you notice my location, I'm in Sterling as well. It was quite a shock just flipping through and noticing that you were right here in my relatively small hometown. Planning anymore trips to the area?

My flight is tomorrow at 3:05, wish me luck through security and I'll keep you posted, hopefully as soon as I get to my gate.

everything went smoothly, except for the 4 hour delay due to a humongous storm front...