I have a weakness for fun polls that can elicit unexpected, useful replies.
Maybe this one will work, too.
It’s about tripod transport – an issue I’ve never considered too deeply. Yet, the necessity of hiking with it is what limits me the most (in landscape photography) when deciding where I can go, how far I can go, or where I can set-up for a shot.
Is this your experience, too?
Me, I almost always carry my Ries J600 legs (w/ J250 head) in hand, no matter the distance, unless heavy brush or slippery terrain makes disassembling it into its compact “backpacker” form a better idea. (In this case, I’ll store it inside Ries’ soft case, and strap the case vertically to the outside of my pack.) It works very well in the local mountains, but if I lived in Kansas – or worked mostly in the studio – I would own a different tripod, and my habits would be different. (If I’m walking only a short distance w/ camera on top, my shoulders feel the load.)
If the hiking terrain is easy & I carry it assembled, its extended legs are locked-down so that its three feet are touching. In this configuration, I can use it as a heavy walking stick, helpful on rock-strewn trails. This works surprisingly well when crossing streams. Once, however, in the Smoky Mountains – when crossing Eagle Creek in swollen, waist-high current – I made several back-and-forth trips, carrying the tripod in pieces inside my pack. That time, I used a regular walking stick to negotiate the slippery rocks. Recently, I’ve been using bicycle gloves (w/ rubberized palms) for longer hiking distances. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner.
So tell us about carrying your tripod – any useful secrets to share?
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