Tripods + Pelican Case + Checked Luggage = Please Hope?
May 22, 2017 4:04 PM Subscribe
I need to take a domestic flight tomorrow morning with a Pelican 1510 case (carry-on roller bag dimensions) and two 30" light stands (think tripod, but taller and skinnier). I don't have a bag that fits the light stands. What is the easiest/safest/least-likely-to-get-broken-or-stolen way to make this happen?
I'm traveling to a conference and at the last minute was asked to bring a VR demo. I packed the HMD and support equipment in the Pelican 1510, but the smallest stands I have for the tracking equipment are a pair of 30" long light stands.
I'm on Alaska, so I will have to pay $25/ea for checked items.
In theory I'd like to attach the light stands to the side or top of the Pelican in such a way that they won't shift around too much and fall off, but also such that the Pelican can be opened for TSA inspection, and closed again in reasonably similar condition.
I could also just ziptie + packing tape the tripods into a blob and check them as an odd-sized item, but that's suboptimal for obvious reasons (least of all that I have to carry extra tape and zip ties to re-zip everything for transit again after the show).
Is there any (cheap) carry pouch or duffel bag or something of that size I could reasonably get my hands on after business hours in LA? I'm tempted to run to an athletic store but a ski bag would be excessive and expensive, and these crappy light stands aren't worth paying for an actual tripod bag.
I'm traveling to a conference and at the last minute was asked to bring a VR demo. I packed the HMD and support equipment in the Pelican 1510, but the smallest stands I have for the tracking equipment are a pair of 30" long light stands.
I'm on Alaska, so I will have to pay $25/ea for checked items.
In theory I'd like to attach the light stands to the side or top of the Pelican in such a way that they won't shift around too much and fall off, but also such that the Pelican can be opened for TSA inspection, and closed again in reasonably similar condition.
I could also just ziptie + packing tape the tripods into a blob and check them as an odd-sized item, but that's suboptimal for obvious reasons (least of all that I have to carry extra tape and zip ties to re-zip everything for transit again after the show).
Is there any (cheap) carry pouch or duffel bag or something of that size I could reasonably get my hands on after business hours in LA? I'm tempted to run to an athletic store but a ski bag would be excessive and expensive, and these crappy light stands aren't worth paying for an actual tripod bag.
Best answer: two 30" light stands (think tripod, but taller and skinnier). I don't have a bag that fits the light stands.
Do you have a 24 hour post and pack? They'd fit together or individually into mailing tubes. You can duct tape the tubes together to check them as a single item. I guess (?) you could try them as carry on; the tupes have caps at the end, the tripods would just slide out of TSA wanted to look at them.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:09 PM on May 22, 2017
Do you have a 24 hour post and pack? They'd fit together or individually into mailing tubes. You can duct tape the tubes together to check them as a single item. I guess (?) you could try them as carry on; the tupes have caps at the end, the tripods would just slide out of TSA wanted to look at them.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:09 PM on May 22, 2017
is there a Fedex nearby? Will they fit in a Fedex Tube (actually a long triangular box)? If not, maybe they have the Fedex golf club box?
Is there a grip or camera house nearby? Could you rent a tripod case for a couple of days?
posted by jindc at 4:14 PM on May 22, 2017
Is there a grip or camera house nearby? Could you rent a tripod case for a couple of days?
posted by jindc at 4:14 PM on May 22, 2017
Best answer: I'd definitely go to a FedEx location (inside a lot of Kinkos) or UPS Store and see what they've got in terms of packing materials.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:19 PM on May 22, 2017
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:19 PM on May 22, 2017
Best answer: on Alaska? Put 'em in packing tubes, but ask at the counter before you check them. They're used to taking fishing rods, so might let you do them as carry-on.
posted by straw at 4:54 PM on May 22, 2017
posted by straw at 4:54 PM on May 22, 2017
You could get a $20 Sterilite foot locker from Walmart -- it's the maximum dimensions for checked luggage on most airlines and your stands should fit. When you're done if you don't want it you could donate it to a scout troop or a church mission group, these lockers are really popular with them for packing stuff for their trips.
posted by katemonster at 6:24 PM on May 22, 2017
posted by katemonster at 6:24 PM on May 22, 2017
Best answer: I routinely fly Alaska (within the state of Alaska, natch) while carrying on a bag of camera equipment and a light stand bungeed to a 60" umbrella. I tuck the light stand at the back of the overhead compartment so it won't fall on anyone when opened; roller bags still fit just fine.
Only had an issue once when a TSA agent in Juneau asked me if it was a harpoon gun. Which. Yeah.
posted by rhapsodie at 7:44 PM on May 22, 2017
Only had an issue once when a TSA agent in Juneau asked me if it was a harpoon gun. Which. Yeah.
posted by rhapsodie at 7:44 PM on May 22, 2017
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posted by Mizu at 4:09 PM on May 22, 2017