Help with flying with travel/photography vest: I will be traveling to Sicily. A year ago some on UHH recommended a travel vest for photography. It was mostly mesh with multiple...

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

I will be traveling to Sicily. A year ago some on UHH recommended a travel vest for photography. It was mostly mesh with multiple pockets. I love it and can stuff a few lenses and a flash in the pockets and grab a tripod and go out to take pictures.
Have any to you used such a vest to carry additional equipment on an airline to add to what you can carry on? Have the airport/airline officials questioned you?
Thank for any advice or opinions.

choward_ab Loc: Alberta, Canada

I wore one on our trip to Africa and had it jammed with all kinds of stuff (looked like the Mchelin man). No one ever questioned me about it.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Thank you!

jliane Loc: Washington state

also traveled to Africa with one small suitcase and a birding vest stuffed with a bag of toiletries, my camera and related items, the usual "purse" items, lumbar pillow, water bottle,and managed to fill every pocket with something.

le boecere

latebloomer wrote:

I will be traveling to Sicily. A year ago some on UHH recommended a travel vest for photography. It was mostly mesh with multiple pockets. I love it and can stuff a few lenses and a flash in the pockets and grab a tripod and go out to take pictures.
Have any to you used such a vest to carry additional equipment on an airline to add to what you can carry on? Have the airport/airline officials questioned you?
Thank for any advice or opinions.

I own 3 of these* (have worn one out). I'm old and I'm on SS, so this IS my "carry-on", along with my small Tenba "Switch 10" camera bag (with meds, main mirrorless camera, lenses, laptop, and other "possibles"). My kids laugh when I get off the airplane, but I save enough money to buy them dinner.

Yes, people look at me, but so what? (all my travel has been CONUS).

At the security check point, the vest and the camera bag go into the bin and through the x-ray. Nothing in my clothing pockets, until I get through that check. Then the vest goes on, and the camera bag goes over the shoulder. (watch back on wrist, belt on pants, keys stay clipped in the upper vest pocket, wallet stays zipped in vest, along with pocket camera, cell-phone, Advil, etc.)

* http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-80s-BANANA-REPUBLIC-Photography-Vest-M-Safari-Travel-Khaki-Nice-/331934446834?hash=item4d48d5b4f2:g:oqwAAOSw65FXqkMW

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

jliane wrote:

also traveled to Africa with one small suitcase and a birding vest stuffed with a bag of toiletries, my camera and related items, the usual "purse" items, lumbar pillow, water bottle,and managed to fill every pocket with something.

I am leaving today for 2 weeks in Africa. A vest was recommended because the carry-on weight limit on our charter flights in Botswana is 5kg. I will report on the success of the vest when we return, but I am hoping for a positive. My loaded camera bag weighs 12kg, so the vest was NOT an option, it is a necessity! Our first stop is Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, so I don't have to repack my camera bag until we are in Botswana. Body and 300mm f/4 goes on the strap on my shoulder, batteries, CF cards, cloths, TC, etc all go into the vest. Hoping for no hassles.....

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

latebloomer wrote:

I will be traveling to Sicily. A year ago some on UHH recommended a travel vest for photography. It was mostly mesh with multiple pockets. I love it and can stuff a few lenses and a flash in the pockets and grab a tripod and go out to take pictures.
Have any to you used such a vest to carry additional equipment on an airline to add to what you can carry on? Have the airport/airline officials questioned you?
Thank for any advice or opinions.

I use one of these, the problem I find is that with so many pockets it can be difficult to find smaller items.
The main advantage to me is that when proceeding through airport security, I can put every single item you have my various trouser pockets etc into the vest.
I can then proceed though the scanner without the bells going off, I have never been questioned by airport officials.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

Also look at a fly fishing vest Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop etc

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Great for carrying stuff through the airport. Great for African Safari. Possibly a BAD idea for going to Europe where other people's hands can now get to your stuff as easily as you can...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

latebloomer wrote:

I will be traveling to Sicily. A year ago some on UHH recommended a travel vest for photography. It was mostly mesh with multiple pockets. I love it and can stuff a few lenses and a flash in the pockets and grab a tripod and go out to take pictures.
Have any to you used such a vest to carry additional equipment on an airline to add to what you can carry on? Have the airport/airline officials questioned you?
Thank for any advice or opinions.

I have a good alternative - the ScotteVest. It has loads of pockets, but wearing it won't cause people to stare at you.
http://thehdrimage.com/hdr-how-many-exposures-are-enough/

pelha Loc: middlle of nowhere NY

the main problem i found with that vintage banana republic vest is the weight. it's vintage cotton & is heavy when dry. when it gets wet, it is really heavy & takes forever to dry out. also the plastic in that top pocket cracks & breaks apart after a few uses (and or washing cycles.) i'm presently trying out the new Travel Smith version. the pockets are smaller, but the fabric is comfortable.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I have both a regular photo vest and a ScotteVest. The advantage of the ScotteVest is that it looks just like a regular jacket. No one pays any attention to it. It is heavy for what it looks like though and if you aren't careful taking it off it will come apart. One advantage is that if you are on a cruise, with all the magnets, you can back up to your cabin wall, slip out of it and it will hang there all by itself. I have passed close to metal objects and had it "snap" at them. It is really a good combination of vest and jacket.

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

Depending on what you put in it and whether it is deemed to infringe the volumes of rules from 'elf 'n' safety you should be OK. Key points are whether it is so loaded you will impose on your neighbours seats and whether you have any illegal carryons in it. I did get accused once of looking like a bomber wearing mine but that was going into Chicago OHare where they are even more manic than usual.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

sb wrote:

Great for carrying stuff through the airport. Great for African Safari. Possibly a BAD idea for going to Europe where other people's hands can now get to your stuff as easily as you can...

And you will stand out in a crowd.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Fotomacher wrote:

I am leaving today for 2 weeks in Africa. A vest ... (show quote)

I would be very interested in how this turns out for you. We will be doing a similar trip next year and I'm concerned about weight limits. Have a great trip.