Hands Free Tripod Carry

If you're active, travel, or have a strap-phobia kinda like me - you're constantly looking for secure, convenient, trouble-reducing ways to carry your gear.

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With my upcoming UK epic journey - so was I. Found a decent budget carbon fiber tripod so I wouldn't be weighed down, but hanging it from a shoulder strap still allowed it to flop around too much for carrying into heritage sites, long journeys, etc.

Seems like a lot of tripods now-a-days have a hook under the center post to hang weight bags from for stability. I tried hanging the tripod from my belt with that, but the "hook" is too shallow to trust while climbing stairs or any real activity. Mine unscrewed right out, and with a common photography thread adapter, I was able to put a better hook on it and it's PERFECT!

I'll detail how it worked for me, and hopefully you will be able to adapt it to your model.

Step 1: Adapters and Assembly

After unscrewing the existing hook, I was fortunate to find the thread pattern on the tripod was 3/8-16. There are tons of 3/8-16 to 1/4-20 adapters on any auction or web sales sites. So my parts list is simply as follows:

• 3/8-16 to 1/4-20 Thread Adapter
• 1/4" U-Bolt
• 1/4" Heat Shrink Tubing

Step 1 is to determine your situation by unscrewing the hook assembly and determing for sure what the thread pattern is. Mine being the above, I screwed in the adapter, and then the U-Bolt.

I put the shrink tube over the exposed threads because I didn't really want my belt grated away from them chafing on the leather. A little flame action and it looks pretty factory. The hook is deep enough, and the heat shrink grippy enough to still stay secure.

Step 2: Finished and Thoughts

To me it's one of those slap-my-head projects (the simplest ones usually are, eh?). It's extremely stable on my belt and does not flap around a bit. It's all of 2lbs so it's not a burden but I'm glad I will be able to keep the tripod handy for the few times I'll need it while traveling.

The hook can still allow a weight bag, so I didn't lose that feature either. The U-Bolt doesn't stick past the collapsed legs, so it won't snag things during general transportation. Pretty much a win-win in my book.

Comments

[MillennialDIYer]

What tripod is that? I have a Mefoto that looks really similar. It still feels kinda silly to have a carbon fiber tripod that costs more than most people's cameras, but boy does it feel nice.

[sarawelder]

nice simple idea!

[3366carlos]

wow

[TheEncryptor]

Very practical. I love the ideea. Voted.