Weights for tripod

paddler4

I have a very lightweight Bogen tripod that I bought because I don't want to lug a heavy one on difficult day hikes. It has been marginally adequate with my XTi, but I am upgrading to a Canon 50D, which weighs more. I have heard of people carrying nylon mesh bags that they can fill with rocks to weigh down a tripod. I could make one, but I figured someone might know of one manufactured for this. Id prefer to to hang it from the central shaft, not the legs. I'd drill that out to accommodate a hook.

Any suggestions of what/where to buy?

Thanks

catspaw

I just hang my camera bag from that hook on the center post and it weighs it down quite well!

Toshido

I have heard f people using shock cord (bungee cords). Never done it myself so some of this is speculation.

Make a loop of shock cord so that it hooks onto your hook and goes sorta close to the ground. Step in the loop and stretch it to the ground. This adds a downward force (weight) to the tripod and helps keep it steady.

Nice thing about this is that it is relatively clean, no rocks or sandbages. Quick, no need to gather rocks, no need to empty a bag when done. Compact, easily folds/coils to small package.

Shock cord is the way I would go if I used a tripod more then very occasionally. May still get some shock cord and store it with my tripods anyways....

Art Scott

Check out any hobby store for small canvas bags (look like the Wal mart(blk) sopping bag or the many grocery stores shopping bags.......also any theater supllu woill have heavy duty refillable sandbags...........but the bungee cord sounds real good also, except for truly high winds ifyou need to step away for a minute to get something from vehicle

Google photo sandbag....gets .......~~380,000 results

paddler4

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I had not thought of using my photo bag. A bungee does not work for me--I do some long-exposure work that requires that I get away from the camera and use a remote release. And sandbags are not useful if you are in a place where you should not disturb the soil. rocks are another matter. Art's link got me thinking of how I could locate a bag that is really lightweight and collapses to almost nothing. Here's a cheap solution:
http://www.rei.com/product/748176
They come in different sizes as well.

Scott_Quier

The DW and I do our grocery shopping at a store that also recycles the plastic bags. We collect these bags and, once in a while, deliver them to the grocery store for recycling. But, I also keep one or two of these bags with my tripod. When needed, take one out and fill it with the rocks/sand/whatever and hang that from the hook on the underside of the mounting plate. When I get back home, put that used bag in the recycle pile and replace it with a clean bag. In this manner, I don't have to worry about grit and gunk getting on my equipment. Another plus of doing this is that the bags are feather light.