Boom pole for carry on

[osa]

I’m prepping for a job that involves a lot of flying packing light with no checked bags. My smallest boom is a ktek travel aluminum That I rarely use and it fits perfect but the collars  are the worst of all the boom poles I own. Curious to know if anyone might recommend out of what’s currently available a better solution for the most compact size for carry on bag but max length fully extendable. Uncabled, would be great to be able to pull through an XLR cable if possible in the field (like psc if i am not mistaken?)

[Shastapete]

VdB Small is the best short pole (in my opinion) It fits perfectly in a carry on sized pelican. I've flown all over the states with it – easy to change XLRs in the field, I go between mono, stereo, and no cable regularly

[Axel Mishael]

Gotta agree with Shastapete, the vdb small has great size...

[Trey LaCroix CAS]

Vdb medium fits nicely In a 1510. I usually carry a Vdb large in a versa flex case and attach it to my backpack.

[Axel Mishael]

Trey, do you know if the 1510 is a carry on as well?

[Johnny Karlsson]

13 minutes ago, Axel Mishael said:

Trey, do you know if the 1510 is a carry on as well?

AFAIK, the 1510 was designed specifically to meet the max size for carry-on luggage. It fits in the overhead storage on *most* regular sized planes, but if you travel on smaller planes, this may not be guaranteed so I would recommend you check to make sure with your airline.

[Axel Mishael]

Thanks Johnny!

[Tim Norris]

Since you can't check any bags, you might consider traveling with your favorite boom pole and favorite mic and just carry it on as a separate piece. I've been doing this for 35 years, though I seldom fly any longer. Sometimes I put my KTEK 152 and Schoeps in a fly rod case for extra protection in the cabin. It fits nearly anywhere in the cabin and I don't feel compromised with gear I don't love. I have never had damage or loss.

 

*Recent trips on sold out flights to San Juan PR and Uvalde TX (San Antonio) presented no problems.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Tim

[osa]

1 hour ago, Tim Norris said:

Since you can't check any bags, you might consider traveling with your favorite boom pole and favorite mic and just carry it on as a separate piece. I've been doing this for 35 years, though I seldom fly any longer. Sometimes I put my KTEK 152 and Schoeps in a fly rod case for extra protection in the cabin. It fits nearly anywhere in the cabin and I don't feel compromised with gear I don't love. I have never had damage or loss.

 

*Recent trips on sold out flights to San Juan PR and Uvalde TX (San Antonio) presented no problems.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Tim

This is interesting as i had assumed under current flying conditions i was limited to overhead bag 22x14x9 

and backpack under seat in front of me  and all fitting in those sizes. Is what you may be saying a “fly rod” is the personal item i.e boom pole n mic combo in a longer slim case? Where would they stow such an item? This is interesting as i had never witnessed anything unusual carried on

 

i do own a vdb tho it is a larger size too big for overhead carryon and i love the collars much better than this ktek i will check out a smaller version

7 hours ago, Trey LaCroix said:

Vdb medium fits nicely In a 1510. I usually carry a Vdb large in a versa flex case and attach it to my backpack.

This too is interesting - stowing above in overhead or under seat in front of you?  I recall but been years they want things to fit/stow securely. Possibly i could take my vdb if they will allow me to stow up top outside my carryon? I have a loon travel bag to fit it nicely. Been a while since i have flown with gear but i did tsa precheck recently since i know i will be air traveling a bunch

[Trey LaCroix CAS]

1 hour ago, osa said:

This too is interesting - stowing above in overhead or under seat in front of you?  I recall but been years they want things to fit/stow securely. Possibly i could take my vdb if they will allow me to stow up top outside my carryon? I have a loon travel bag to fit it nicely. Been a while since i have flown with gear but i did tsa precheck recently since i know i will be air traveling a bunch

I put it in the overhead along with my carry on and have never been questioned about it.

 

TSA Pre is amazing. Totally with it if you constantly fly with gear.

 

 

[henrimic]

You guys never experienced a refusal from security to bring the boom in the cabin ?

 

I was told a few years ago that it was forbidden like golf sticks on carry on. 
 

Since then, I always have two booms with me, one in the luggage and a smaller one with me in case the bags are delayed or missing. 

[EnotsMedia]

I fly a lot with gear and it’s not fun. Actually gear or no gear flying isn’t fun. You have to remember that airports (U.S.) are just like the States in which they operate-completely UN-United. Meaning what one airport (TSA) says is okay to carry on another will say the opposite. There is no reason, there is no justification, it just is. If the answer is “No” it’s game over, there is no discussion that will change the outcome. Move along. Over the years I’ve seen some pretty interesting items brought onto a plane that were clearly not allowed but “somehow” there they are. 
(Btw I have a great idea for a game show called “Will it Fly” if anyone is interested in a pitch!) 

For carry on only flights, I use a fly fishing rod tube (30” in length I believe) and it’s been “mostly” ok. I’ll give it a 85-90% success rate.  No matter how full the overhead bin is it will ALWAYS fit. One key I believe is to not make the tube stand out (IE: DIY / PVC pipe) and this should go without saying- be kind and respectful towards others (as we always should be doing) …especially at the airport.  Also make the tube “look” like it’s part of your mixer bag/ carry on somehow, meaning don’t have the tube in one hand and the mixer in the other. With the tube resting on top of the mixer it’s clearly “one” carry on and if asked I NEVER say the word BOOM pole- it’s always a FISHpole…and if pushed …Fishpole….for sound. I know this all sounds so ridiculous but so is the TSA and flying commercial of late. 
 

(Fly) Fishing rods have been carried on (in tubes) for many years so they usually don’t raise an eye with TSA / Gate Agents seeing the tubes. I know there’s a variety of boom pole holders/ cases, but this Mfg I found randomly on Amazon of all places,  makes custom length cases, and colors - (usually the off the rack fishing rod holders are not the exact length you really want- ) for a very respectable rate. Bonus points, made in the USA.  https://mtncork.com

 

I have been toying with the idea of a Peli 1510 for carrying on only shoots and I’d love to see some pics of anyone’s setup like this- with a traveler pole stuffed inside. I don’t think anyone enjoys the smaller traveler boom poles but sometimes it’s the sacrifices we have to make. 

Sorry for the rant but TSA pre check does nothing for you when traveling with gear.  Unless you mean getting to keep your shoes on through security. And now that  there’s like 50 different “brands” of “pre check providers” it’s clearly a cash grab. I personally avoid supporting any Pre Check  program as it’s an absolute scam in my eyes….. Just my 2¢. 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

14 hours ago, Tim Norris said:

Since you can't check any bags, you might consider traveling with your favorite boom pole and favorite mic and just carry it on as a separate piece.

I did this for years until one security agent decided I couldn't do it, and I had to come up with a quick way to protect the boom as a piece of checked luggage at the last minute.  It was that or abandon it.  But I flew at least a dozen times with the boom as carry on and nobody batted an eye.

[Tim Norris]

On 4/14/2023 at 10:05 PM, osa said:

This is interesting as i had assumed under current flying conditions i was limited to overhead bag 22x14x9 

and backpack under seat in front of me  and all fitting in those sizes. Is what you may be saying a “fly rod” is the personal item i.e boom pole n mic combo in a longer slim case? Where would they stow such an item? This is interesting as i had never witnessed anything unusual carried on

 

I currently carry onboard the plane my 30# mixer bag (not in a case), a small bag with with all of my lithium batteries, my boom/mic and whatever wearable personal stuff I need. I did not have a problem on any of the six flights I took last year. The boom usually sits on top of the camera and mixer in the overhead bin. I stuff any soft things (jackets) I have in as cushioning. The battery bag fits under the seat back in front of me. The boom can also go in a flight attendants closet or some other place up front in a pinch - mine rode in the cockpit once long ago. Flight attendants are always very helpful when needed.

 

Perhaps I've been lucky. Or it's my smile and disarming nature. Maybe it's a News thing.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Tim

[Valentine]

I travel a lot and always want a longer pole that doesn't even fit into my checked bag. I usually unscrew the pole in the middle to make it shorter and reassemble it when I arrive. I protect the threads because I guess they "could" get damaged but it's never happened to me.

[Derek H]

I fly with a large Versaflex light stand padded soft bag checked which carries a normal sized (12’ ktek) boom pole and a full size C-stand with turtle base. I manage to cram all sorts of stuff in there as well. Cables, backup gear, small hard cases with IFBs or whatever non essential stuff I have to bring. 
 

I carry on a 1510 and my mixer bag that has all the essentials to go to work if the luggage is lost. 

[Lachlan Coles]

For local flights within Australia when I’m working the same day, I always take my boom/mic assembled as carry on - it’s a five stage Ambient and used to be listed as suitable for overhead plane compartments on their website. I generally carry that, my kit (833 + SL2 with Lectros) and a small backpack with batteries and other stuff. Most sound recordists I know do the same thing. For airport scans I send the boom mic first, then my kit, then my backpack - batteries all out in the tray. That generally seems to work the best as the boom mic prepares the scanner operator for what is to follow. Last flight I took, I forgot to remove my scissors from my kit but they had slid down the side of my stingray bag and weren’t noticed by security as their head was exploding from all the other stuff …

[stef]

On 4/14/2023 at 9:05 PM, osa said:

This is interesting as i had assumed under current flying conditions i was limited to overhead bag 22x14x9 

and backpack under seat in front of me  and all fitting in those sizes. Is what you may be saying a “fly rod” is the personal item i.e boom pole n mic combo in a longer slim case? Where would they stow such an item? This is interesting as i had never witnessed anything unusual carried on

It's certainly easier if your boompole fits in a bag, but no guarantee it'll be allowed. Some things are allowed to be carried on as an extra, like an umbrella.

 

I just carried on a larger boom pole (QP480) in a soft case. Keep the mic separate and packed in a bag. You want the TSA person to think "fly fishing rod" and not "baseball bat". Tell him it's a boom pole, sometimes called a fish pole (and it is), and the closest thing to it in the TSA lists are fishing pole. You can also compare it to an umbrella, which it's about the size of, if size is an issue. Fishing poles and umbrellas are allowed.

Just make sure it doesn't "feel" like a baseball bat. (Actually, maybe you do want the mic attached, but remove it and pack in bag before getting on plane.)

 

Also, make sure you don't have any loose batteries. All terminals should be covered, and max 100Wh LI-ion batteries. Don't forget a charger.

 

So if you don't check bags, what are you going to wear? Equipment in a pelican for overhead, recorder in a bag for under seat... are you able to get your recorder into the overhead with all your equipment?

[Rick Reineke]

I have a (Green River?) fly fishing rod case that fits my K-Tek Avalon 100 boom perfectly. I even has a shoulder strap.

 

[Fred Salles]

I used to be able to carry on my VDB size L in its pvc case, but that was... before 9/11. It was blocked several times at security in this era so since then I never tried again (I am talking about international flights). It fits in my peli air 1615 nowadays but without its cover unfortunately.

For your request I guess the VDB size M would be the best choice... if it passes security.

But check their full range to get a better idea as they have smaller ones. As you know they are 6 sections by design so that is what makes them the best ratio collapsed vs full size length in the market, but not everyone likes this design.

https://vdbboompoles.com/boompoles/vdb-qt-range/

[JonG]

I used to do a lot of jobs that would fly me all over the place until about 2015, and then it all stopped for whatever reason. Back then I used an Alpha tube, which is basically a PVC tube with an attached lid and latch. Well one day I arrived at my destination airport, and the latch and lid had been torn off by other luggage (probably my own productions Pelican cases), and the boom had slid out and was snapped in half at one of the top lengths. It was a K-Tek Avalon 12’ aluminum pole. Production replaced it, no questions ansked, and I got me a graphite version in the process. K-Tek was good enough to repair my broken pole free of charge too!

 

Anyways, fast forward to today, and it’s been years since I’ve flown with a boom pole. I’ve also switched to Loon boom poles. I did have the foresight to buy a traveler pole, but I had Don custom make me a 10” instead of the usual 7” traveler. This, plus my SGS quick lock, and the wing at the base, means that it won’t fit inside a Pelican 1510. I have a job coming up with some flying and after scratching my head for a minute, and reading through this thread, I realized that I can just take my pole apart and stick it in my suitcase. Just cover the ends with some plastic bags and tie them up to keep grime from getting in the collars and grease, and I’m good to go. 
 

I realize other brands and models might not come apart so easily, but if yours does, you may consider this option, or getting a traveler pole that does, and avoid any stress about whether or not your pole will make it past TSA.