Sandbag or other weighted items for Tripod stability

Carlh

Carlh

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Carl
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Hi,

I've look online at ebay, amazon and B&Q but can't seem to find some sandbags (small), just to weigh down the tripod.

Any ideas or where I may purchase or even another weighting option for me to consider?

Ta :)
 
Do you want to be carrying extra weight with you? Reason I ask that is that I take an empty bag with me (any bag really - even a carrier bag!) and fill it up on site as it were - I've always been able to find something that would work, be it stones, sand, soil etc ... saves lugging an extra load of weight!
 
I'd agree - fill a strong carrier bag on site or use your rucksack.

Failing that a heavy duty tent peg / screw and a strong bungy to pull the tripod down :)
 
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I usually just hang the camera bag off the hook.
 
Guy rope and threaded screw in tent peg works for me, bag can act like a pendulum
 
Likewise, a guy rope can "thrum" like a piano/guitar string.
 
There are plenty sandbags around the south and west coasts at the moment. Should be easy to pick one up...

I've never found the need, to be honest. Lots of people talk about doing it but the weather would have to be pretty bad to go to this length.
If it was that bad, I wouldn't be out - especially with my cameras.
 
I usually carry a ulta lightweight nylon net - bought full of oranges! win-win! - and just hook it under the centerplate.

Easy to find stones on site...

oranges-net-22230635.jpg
 
I hang my camera bag off the manfrotto to add mass. There is no way I'm going to take another load of with around just to add mass to my tripod.
 
brilliant answers - I'll just take spare carriers with me, got a cupboard full of them, though they will be charging 5p for them in england soon(ish) so might have to look at sandbags again.

Will try the camera bag on the tripod, though my bag might not be heavy enough once i have taken out the camera and lens (I can get two lenses in the bag plus smaller items). Thanks again everyone, I missed the blindingly obvious!
 
Another thing to mention is I don't always, hang the bag(s) from the hook on the 'pod, often I'll lay them on the legs of the 'pod - really depends on circumstances.
 
I'd go with hanging your own camera bag or carrier full of whatever you can find, but a couple of extra tips...

Assuming this is just wind you're concerned about - if you have a camera strap it will blow about causing vibration, so wrap it around the tripod to stop it moving or better yet, take it off the camera

Also, stand close to your camera/tripod but upwind of it, you'll act as a huge windbreak too which all helps

Dave
 
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