Rick, since my stroke, Toni has had to carry the tripod whenever we need to 
walk any significant distance.  Because she is a lot smaller than I am, we 
bought a Tripack for her to use, and it makes it a lot easier for her.  The 
down side is that it takes a little longer to get the scope set up when the 
final destination has been reached, and longer to get ready to move on.  I 
doubt that this will be as much of a problem for you - much of it is due to 
the fact that she's not a lot taller than the scope.

We also have one of the "golf-bag" things, which we have used extensively, 
even before the stroke,  to check the tripod (but not the scope - we hand 
carry that) on airplanes.  You would not want to use that on field trips - 
it takes much longer to get the scope packed and unpacked.

    Bob Hartman
    Colesville


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Sussman" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 7:59 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Tripod carry options


> Hi all,
> Since getting the new tripod I have been considering what different
> alternatives I have for lugging this contraption around in the field. My 
> old  tripod
> had padded sleeves along the top sections of legs, which worked well 
> enough
> but doesn't work with the new tripod. The new tripod has legs which 
> extend
> sort of the reverse of normal tripods. The larger sections pull down 
> first and
> become the bottom section, while the smaller inner legs become  the  top
> section, so padded leg wraps would end up near the ground with the  legs 
> extended.
> So this is a potential problem with this new tripod design (at  least for
> birders).
>
> There are a couple of other options available; ABA carries the TRIPACK,
> which is what I am looking into now. Does anyone out there use one of 
> these
> devises, which is a backpack sort-of-thing with straps that attach to the 
> tripod,
> allowing you to carry it on your back with the legs either extended or
> collapsed? Their price is $45 which is cheap enough if it works with this 
> tripod.
>
> The other carrier is a sort of golf-bag looking thing, and I don't even 
> know
> if its still available. It looks rather heavy and awkward too, but if 
> anyone
> out there uses one please let me know how it works for you.
>
> Any other ideas would also be welcomed. Thanks in advance...
>
> Rick Sussman
> Ashton,MD
> 
>