DIY $4.50 Tripod Leg Wraps

[@draxe9121]

Hi Nick. Thanks for another great video. I picked up a few tips even though I've been using pipe insulation as leg wraps for about 30 years, and many of my friends make use of it as well. In northern climates such as up here in Canada, it also serves to keep your hands from losing heat in winter. Having said that, I have to admit that I have never seen a finer example than yours. Your wrap technique is outstanding. Well done!

[@draxe9121]

Just an additional note. After years of wrapping all three legs of a tripod, I now normally only do two. It reduces the bulk of the padded tripod, gives you a solid grip on the one leg when you need it often when carrying the tripod by itself, and gives you the two padded legs across the shoulder when carrying a load.

[@nickcarverphoto]

That's a good tip. Wrapping all 3 legs can definitely be overkill. Thank you for watching and for the compliments!

[@johnkraemer5505]

Dr

[@fotoresearch]

First of all, great idea and good advice. By the way, I have a question, what version of Gitzo do you use and the head? //Best Lukas

[@joshneill7695]

Łukasz Majewski Gitzo Systematic 6x tripod and a Really Right Stuff ballhead 😊

[@pixiedixie3682]

I love your sense of humour! As a cyclist I will try that with handlebar tape, Fizick ones made very durable swede ones I have on my bike for years ! Good video Nick And now, going to London streets to do some photography....

[@BenHorne]

Very Cool!! Of course there is only one way to achieve one level beyond certified badass.... you need to tear off those sleeves so your shirt is thoroughly useless, then over compensate by putting on a cowboy hat to shade your shoulders.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha! Exactly. But I'd have to be an award-winning photographer in order to pull that off.

[@AvanPatel]

jeez I wonder who you're talking about haha!!!

[@gstandaert]

Hey Nick, great tip! I'll remember it when mine need to be replaced. I actually did buy those $60 pre-made leg wraps. They actually do come with an adhesive strip on the inside, so they don't rotate or shift up/downwards on the tripod leg. The only downside I found (apart from the price) is that they use a neoprene cover which goes over the insulation using velcro. Now, the cover itself is fine, but the velcro is only attached to the cover and not to the insulation. So the cover tends to shift up/downwards over the insulation. Using athletic tape instead of this neoprene cover seems like a better solution :)

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thanks for the info about the store bought ones. That's good they have the adhesive tape on the inside but weird the cover can move freely over the insulation.

[@biffyeager611]

Love your attention to detail! Sign of a good photographer! That is what we told each other while working in the catalog industry back in the late 80's and early 90's! Thanks for the great video!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thank you!

[@GirdHerd]

Nick, I'm watching a ton of your old videos like this one and am really enjoying them. Wish I had seen this one before I ordered the leg wraps you showed as an example.

[@dkchristopher8889]

quick question, when removing and re-tapping the wrap ... did you ever try to remove the residue left by the old wrap? was it hard to remove the discoloration? etc.

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Haha. You just described my last thumbnail 😂

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha! That's because you're a certified badass, my friend.

[@fantomfoto]

Holy crap! two of my favorite landscape photographers chatting!

[@GINZO4849]

I have that tripod and you just fixed an issue. Thanks!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Glad to hear that. Thanks for watching.

[@dcarsondavis]

What type of tripod is that?

[@duujo]

I love the brevity of your editing and your presentation style. We shall be wed on the eve of the coming full moon.

[@nickcarverphoto]

I do.

[@bibber514]

Great video. I just started watching your material. You've got me seriously interested in printing my work. You should post more!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Glad to hear that! Thank you!

[@ElectricDanno]

Thanks for this Nick. I have the exact same tripod and have been mulling over how to do this.

[@GreggObst]

I've had a set of LensCoat wraps on my Gitzo since 2008 and they are starting to really frey and won't last another year in the field so I'm totally going to do this. Thanks for the tip.

[@paulweijenberg5237]

Great info again! Did my Gitzo the same way and loving it!

[@Mark_R_Tho]

Nick!!!! 16K subscribers!!!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thank you, sir!

[@eddiekytia]

Thanks for this! Great idea... so let me have your opinion. I just bought the canon r6 mark ii and a large innorel rt90c tripod I'm new to photography and I need a recommendation for a tripod head for wildlife and landscape photography. I'd like to stay around 200 to 300 dollars and don't care if it's a ball head or fluid head just a solid recommendation. I do have a leveling bowl already. By the way I did subscribe to your channel.... thanks

[@mihailfridljand8977]

I must honestly admit, I just wanted to appear in the comment section right just after Thomas H. :-) But it is and very useful practical tutorial (with very funny opening). Thanks for sharing!

[@JDubyafoto]

Great idea! Great instructional video too! Thanks Nick! I've been waiting for another video from you and I was thinking you were on vacation or something. What tripod do you use? Looks like maybe a Gitzo.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thanks, John! Yeah it's a Gitzo Systematic 6x tripod with a Really Right Stuff ballhead.

[@luiscpedro]

Hi Nick, a sugestion. If you use a bycicle bar tape it's prettier and i can choose colors as well.

[@Vaibhav_Shah]

Hi buddy! Any tips to protect the bottoms of your tripod from sand and salty water? I ruined one of my tripods when the sand got stuck and the legs wont slide smoothly. :'(

[@nickcarverphoto]

Yes - always extend the bottom-most leg sections at least 6". This will ensure the leg locks are always safely out of the sand and water.

[@bnrynlds]

What tripod is that Nick? Loving the office window!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thanks! It's a Gitzo Systematic tripod (can't remember exactly which model number, though).

[@RewDowns]

I have an aluminum tripod and the legs get extremely hot to hold in the summer so this was very handy. Thanks!

[@Shawn-dg8ow]

I just added padding to my tripod legs last night. Wish I would have seen this before

[@michaelinman1967]

Thanx for the hot tip!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@fabienpics]

I do the same to my gitzo but i use ty rap for secure the foam .. 3 ty rap .. one up .. middle and one down ... not problem every thing are tight

[@Gintarasphotographer]

Great idea. Thanks!

[@Googolplex6]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing

[@ronaldquint]

Nice. Thanks for the tip. I will use that because I go to Home Depot a lot.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha - something relaxing about wandering through Home Depot.

[@NancyTroutman]

Simple but brilliant! Doing it to my telescope tri-pod.

[@keyoflife24]

Try gaffers tape as well

[@Stop-All-War]

Cool video Nick.

[@nickcarverphoto]

G C thank you

[@alex0589]

Thanks for this, will try when i redo my tripod legs

[@dbdors]

Would gaffer’s tape be better?

[@4rsxh]

Cheers for the tutorial, really handy.

[@geethadhina9460]

Good tip. Is the foam tube wide enough to enclose the leg completely or is there a gap at the seam of the foam tube? Thanks

[@nomadben]

I wonder if a nice soft bicycle handlebar tape would work well also.

[@fantomfoto]

For a split second, I thought you were going to use a pool noodle. Neon pink or green would look cool. lol

[@nickcarverphoto]

Ha! That would be a fat tripod wrap. And so festive...

[@fantomfoto]

Great for taking the tripod into a lake for extra stability lol

[@iamentropy5093]

now that i have bought my $4.50 tripod leg wraps and save some money, next i will go and purchase a $2000 carbon fiber tripod.... :D

[@nickcarverphoto]

Ha! Gotta save every penny when your tripod is that expensive.

[@mitchsgarage800]

Great video!

[@veganryan]

I think handlebar tape could work well here too.

[@nickcarverphoto]

That's a really good idea.

[@franztrischberger8023]

I actually use one :) For a heavy duty 8kg Gitzo metal monster. No issues, even in freezing snow storm. The tape doesn't move/rotate/... which was especially important to me (tripod weight...) - and still (after 15 years!) sticks perfectly to the legs. Didn't expect that, I thought I had to renew it after some years. I also tested with a small piece if I can remove it again - no issues. So IMO this is the cheapest, easiest and best solution! At least for a metal tripod, for carbon better test it on a small part before wrapping the whole leg.

[@ivangenasi3721]

Fantastic Nick!!! Thanks a lot for this suggestion!!! I have a Linhof Super TechnikaV, I'm looking for a tele lens, can you suggest me something? I mostly do Mountains Landscape Photography. Thanks! ( I live in Italy )

[@adammaraschky3845]

Anyone try using bicycle handle bar tape? This looks good, but very bulky for travel tripods. Also, I just want to point out that redoing $5 tripod legs every year quickly adds up to more than $60 when you include the value of your time. Now if you enjoy the process of making, that's another thing! ;)

[@melcal42]

Did you try bar tape? My partner also suggested it but I'm unconvinced...

[@adammaraschky3845]

@@melcal42 I have been using it for a while now, actually. Works fine for me!

[@williamgardner2739]

Nick i tried it on my leg`s and i like it, now i`m going to try it on my tripod`s legs. lol.

[@JungleJimAB9AB]

Hey, really nice tip.

[@stephenlloydco]

Good idea. I wonder how tennis racquet grip tape would go?

[@nickcarverphoto]

That's a good idea.

[@homesickphotographycomau4107]

You are a superstar I'm gonna call Nick the builder,,,,,, Carter can fix it. yes he can!...I'm going to use that. yes yes yes very nice.... You need to add a cigar when saying that line.... Winston Churchill would say it the same manor.

[@winheiMR]

Wofür ist eigentlich die Beinisolierung wichtig? Habt ihr keine Handschuhe für den Winter? Ich habe aber auch kein so langes Stativ

[@beverleyforbes9029]

Brilliant thank you x

[@fabienpics]

THANK'S for all the info... About you r headball... look like the RRS BH55.... If it is this one ... you like? I just order (22 sept 2020) this model RRS BH55 whit lever release ..

[@Francisco-ri3mg]

What is the exact diameter of the foam? I could not catch it on the video! Thank you, love your channel!

[@andrewt3593]

Internal diameter is 7/8"

[@Francisco-ri3mg]

@@andrewt3593 Thank you 🙏🏻

[@45Blackjack]

McNett Camo wrap ;)

[@canturgan]

I've never heard of athletic tape. I don't think it exists in the UK. Nice humour. that's how we spell it.

[@wgsmcw2012]

need tips on cheap acrylic prints, hee :)

[@nickcarverphoto]

haha - I need that tip too.

[@canturgan]

There are cars driving around in the photograph behind you.

[@jacobwaller92]

He's that good! Lol

[@monmioamio]

Hi Nick, what are those pictures in the background ? Film over a window ?

[@nickcarverphoto]

It's a glossy print reflecting the window on the opposite side of the room.

[@kzl303syko]

What is the brand of tripod you use?

[@kimmurphy5032]

Pretty sure that I could never get badass certified. Haha!

[@nickcarverphoto]

The certification requirements are very strict. I haven't yet received my certification.

[@MrCouvade]

Go to a bicycle shop and get handle bar foam... then soak in dawn detergent and water..and slide on .... rinse the soap off and you have a "manfroto pro job"

[@eddybax1]

Can’t wait to pimp my Manfrotto Befree Advanced😃!

[@juanpatricio9204]

Seems like I've seen some tripods with padding on only one leg, Some sort of hierarchy towards official Certified Badass credentials? :-) Thanks Nick

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha! Yeah exactly. 1 leg wrap is like having a white belt in Karate. 3 leg wraps = black belt.

[@scottbowen6514]

Nick, I wish you lived closer so could hang out on a shoot. I could absorb your knowledge. Next time In FL... please message me.

[@RobertBergan]

So how did this peter lik thing start?

[@blackpanda7612]

6:00 - 😂😂😂

[@FriendK9]

Wondering about the ID size of insulation. My legs are 1.25" diameter. yours look to be about that size. doesn't 7/8" leave a gap? Also wondering if anyone had tried adhesive gauze tape?

[@andrewt3593]

7/8" < 1.25"

[@harris-design]

Spends $1,500 on tripod & head. Can't spend $50 on leg wraps. haha! Actually I had pipe insulation on my Manfrotto for about a decade. It worked great. Subscribed! Tip: WD40 works great for removing the glue residue.

[@totoroutes5389]

Exciting. Another infomercial selfie.

[@carson294]

You need to get back out shooting. How about some snow scenes????

[@xXUnrulyXx]

6 years later.. our economy tanked.. that 3 pack tape is $21 on amazon alone...

[@heresmyurl]

This one video a "whenever nick wants" just isn't cutting it!

[@rjlundeen]

It's a "razor blade", not a razor.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Nothing gets by you.

[@Mark_R_Tho]

Nick Carver 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@KC-in9px]

.....or you could buy a decent tripod that includes a carry strap.

[@robertgrenader858]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh. I just spent $50 on leg wraps.. It sucks to be me.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha! Yeah well they probably look a lot better than my DIY wraps.

[@AdamWilkoszarski]

$4,5 Leg wraps on milion dollar tripod.

[@chokey8412]

Bicycle handlebar tape, easier better and cheaper.

[@robertburke516]

Great tip Nick, Thanks