In photography, a tripod is a three-legged device used to stabilize and elevate a camera, a flash unit, or other photographic equipment. It is usually made from light-weight and sturdy material such as aluminum, carbon fiber, steel or plastic.
Tripods are typically comprised of a central post, with three collapsible telescoping legs and a head at the top that attaches to the camera. Travel tripods are specially designed to be compact, portable and light-weight to give the photographer the freedom to travel and carry his tripod for extended periods.
When shipping tripods, proper packing is a must to ensure that the item arrives in its destination in excellent shape and in good working condition. Here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship a camera tripod.
Collapse the tripod into its smallest size possible by contracting its telescopic legs and center post. Depending on the model, you may need to unlock the legs for them to contract. Align the legs perpendicularly to each other and lock. Make sure that the head is securely attached to the tripod and any tilting or rolling features are locked so that no part is moving.
Wrap the entire tripod in several layers of bubble wrap, paying close attention to protruding parts that may puncture the shipping box. Use tape to secure the wrap in place.
Line the bottom of a sturdy shipping box with packing materials. The box should be large enough to accommodate the tripod and provide a couple inches of extra space on all sides for cushioning and fillers. Place the tripod on top of the packing materials and fill the remaining empty space with more fillers. The tripod should not shift or move when the box is closed.
Close and seal the package with heavy duty packaging tape. All seams should be reinforced with tape to prevent the package from bursting open during transit. Address and label the package and take to the post office or shipping company.