tripod sleeves

[Josh Z.]

Mmm, chill Lee.

Anyways... I've wraped bike tubes around tripod legs and it helps to protect them plus keeps your hands a bit warmer. But I haven't found that they offer much padding. It is cheap though, especially if you happen to ride a bicycle often and have heaps of old tubes... What I do is take a 26" mountain bike tube and cut out the valve. Then I take the rest, try to avoid any large holes (it is a used tube afterall) and cut it open so the tube then lays flat. Then on a seam I will cut the now flat piece in half length wise. Then I simply wrap one of those long pieces around the tripod leg nice and tight and overlaping a bit as I go, and secure it with electrical tape at the ends. You also will want to wash the piece though, it usually has a powder on it which prevents it from sticking. If you want it to really stick to the tripod leg, you can also try a little hairspray. I think I used one tube to wrap maybe 2 of the legs on a Bogen 3021.

I would imagine the more you overlap on the wrapping the more padding you will get, but I don't think it will make much difference overall. On the plus side, it is very weather resistant.

[Caroline Matthews]

I think OpTech makes the "padded leg socks" and that they are available from B&H. I have a Gitzo set, but I don't think they are available anymore. The inside is just the Home Depot/Lowes type of foam insulation. The socks dress them up a bit. I especially appreciate them when it very cold.

[Dan V]

Yup, foam pipe insulation for under $2 from Home Depot did the trick for me too; fits perfectly, no need for tape.

If you want to pinch a few more pennies on a cheap but handy tripod strap, try the 99 cent store for two nylon-mesh band dog collars and a leash.

[Richard Schlesinger]

Many thanks to all! However I am a bit puzzled by the gentleman requesting I use my REAL name instead of the pseudonym I have earned through much dilligence and effort over many long years. It hasn't been easy, and I would give it up grudgingly, not to say grumpily. If I have the pucks? Anyone for hockey?

[John Kasaian]

Get a Ries or Berlebach and enjoy yer splinters, lads---this ain't a game fer wimps! ;-)

[tim atherton]

god - I hate those naff wooden tripods - complete pita

[paulr]

funny ... i love my wood tripod. it's not a precious one--it's the "my kid made it in shop class" looking zone VI. what i like is that there's nothing to bind or jam, it's easy to handle in cold weather, with or without gloves, never pinches me, and is more comfortable to carry than a similar sized metal one.

i prefer metal cameras to wood ones, though, and have noticed that my industrial looking toyo looks a little odd perched on wooden legs. but i'm prefer not looking like i bought everything as a kit from a catalog. that's part of why the duct tape and pipe insulation appeals to me.

[Steve Feldman]

Yo, Grump. I've worked hard for my moniker also. And well deserved too. Was going to be "haim yankle" but too hard to explain to non-Yiddish speakers.