Pre-shaped foam tubes used to insulate water pipes fit snugly on a tripod's legs, helping to keep your hands warmer in winter and providing padding when carrying a tripod on your shoulder.
Formed, rounded foam that is used to insulate water pipes can also serve the photographer in winter, and can protect equipment such as your lenses.
MAKE YOUR TRIPOD COMFORTABLE TO HOLD AND CARRY
If you have a metal tripod and you find your hands become cold after handling it in chilly weather, bring it to your local building supply or hardware store and find the right size of foam pipe insulation needed to fit snugly around the top section of the tripod’s legs. (We found that the one-inch diameter size was a good fit for our standard tripods.)
Purchase a sufficient length to cut to size to cover all three legs, and you will not only have warmer hands when you handle your tripod outdoors, but your shoulder will thank you for the extra padding when you carry it from place to place.
A little duct tape or masking tape will keep the insulation in place.
DO YOU SOMETIMES SHOOT FROM YOUR CAR OR TRUCK?
If you sometimes shoot wildlife or other subjects from your car through a partially-open window, a one-foot length of foam pipe insulation fitted over the top edge of the window makes a soft but effective camera support that is easy to install and remove.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR LENSES
Foam pipe insulation is also handy in protecting lenses, and the one-inch diameter size opens nicely to accommodate a slim lens. Wrap it around two or three lenses that are carried together in one bag.
Or, simply place two or three small sections of foam pipe insulation between the lenses in your camera bag to keep them from knocking into each other.
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The foam cuts easily with a sharp pair of scissors. A 14 1/2" length was just right for this tripod leg.
Surprisingly, many lenses fit snugly in a one-inch diameter length of pipe-wrap. The foam protects lenses from knocks and bumps in your camera bag.
Tripod leg wrapping is also available commercially, or you can cover your home-made version with material such as foam pipe insulation.
A small length of foam pipe insulation slips easily over the edge of a car window, providing a soft support for your lens.
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