My faithful walking stick/monopod with a tripod screw on top, made by Tracks, won't collapse short enough to fit in my luggage, and I didn't figure they would let me on the plane carrying it, after Tuesday's disaster. The camera store had a carbon fiber model that collapsed shorter, to around 26 or 28 inches--still not good enough. A trip to the local hiking supply store yielded a model that has three sections that fit together, and will fit in just about any luggage or bag. The sections are only about 14 inches or so. The brand? Tracks. Who else? I'll pack it in the check-in luggage, not the carry-on, and I expect it will pass inspection.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), September 17, 2001

Answers

Bob

I have a Gitzo carbon fiber monopod which so far has not given me any problem when checked in from Europe to the US and vice versa. Maybe these days are now over!

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), September 17, 2001.

I believe that Magellan's sells the collapsible hiking staff/monopod, thet's where I got mine. It has 3 sections held together by elastic shock cord. I do not believe that airlines can or will prohibit such items on board, as it would be tantamount to discrimination against the physically or sight-challenged who use them to get around. If anything, the flight crew might be required to store them in a cabin closet for the flight duration. However, the collapsing staff is a nice item, as it can be put into a backpack, or lashed onto a camera bag when not needed.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), September 17, 2001.

Jay, the one I got fits your description exactly. Probably the same thing. One advantage of my new one: the tigtening collar on my original Tracks can jam so tight that it takes a pair of pliers to loosen. This won't happen with the new one, thanks to a different design that doesn't need a threaded collar. It does snap together, the pieces being held together with shock cord, just like you described. Then there's an adjustable section which uses a spring- loaded metal button that snaps into any one of a series of holes, to set the final length.

Robin, I saw a carbon-fiber model in the photo store, and for the same price; but it doesn't fold down so nice and small. Whether they would have let me on with the old one, I don't know; but at least this one can be thrown into a bag, so it's one less thing to keep track of in the airport.

So, I'm looking forward to trying it out.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), September 17, 2001.

So happened that I bought a carbon monopod at lunch time. Its about 20 in long , 3 sections, light as a feather, Slik Pro Pod 380CF, costs approx US111- here .

Looking at the many models the shop had, decided on this one because:- -it is so light, I know I won't lug it around if it was heavy. -it folds down so small -when extended it is quite long. -with 3 sections it is easy /fast to set up -it is sturdy, I can put a lot of weight on it and it doesn't slip down. -can be a walking stick if I put a nice wood knob on it. -makes a nice weapon against terrorists !

That's all folks.

-- Yip (koklok@krdl.org.sg), September 18, 2001.