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How to keep wind flag tripods from tipping over in wind

At BR matches I've seen guys use heavy chains around the top of tripod legs and also tent stakes to secure tripods to the ground to keep wind gusts from blowing over their wind flags. What are the lightest, easiest and most compact ways to keep wind flag tripods from tipping over in wind? All thoughts are welcome!
 
At BR matches I've seen guys use heavy chains around the top of tripod legs and also tent stakes to secure tripods to the ground to keep wind gusts from blowing over their wind flags. What are the lightest, easiest and most compact ways to keep wind flag tripods from tipping over in wind? All thoughts are welcome!
Ground (mostly rock) on our range is usually to hard to spike. I bought the heavy duty Gibraltar drum stands, pretty heavy, but they don’t blow over even in the Ione Triangle, (or Phoenix). I’ve seen guys mill slots in 2 1/2-5 lb dumbbell weights to slip over the bottom of the stands, again weight is your friend, unless you’re packing in!
YMMV
G
 
At BR matches I've seen guys use heavy chains around the top of tripod legs and also tent stakes to secure tripods to the ground to keep wind gusts from blowing over their wind flags. What are the lightest, easiest and most compact ways to keep wind flag tripods from tipping over in wind? All thoughts are welcome!
I use photographer's light stands and modify them so the legs can spread nearly flat on the ground. with the extra width of the legs being able to spread out I never had them blow over even in 50 mph gust.
my wind indicators are another story. since they can't pivot in the wind with those I use 5-lb. barbell weights from Walmart with cheap bungee cords and hook them on the legs.

Lee
 

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I've seen Little buckets with rock/sand, tent stakes, weights over the pole, bags with rock or sand.
I use stakes.
 
Dave...it's like you've actually done this! Like how many thousand times???!!!:oops::D

Frost on the roof tops here this morning...stay warm buddy. -Al

Al, I have enough weight to carry around, hence the stakes.

No frost here at the track. Just bought back in...he was at my door the whole way. Bad reaction time....20231007_141304.jpg
 
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Pole weight and stance width, as well as flag design all have a lot to do with it. Oh, and height has a HUGE amount to do with it. Probably more than anything.

I make some very good tripod bases that are way more stable than any camera stands I've seen. But frankly, they're not real cheap at a little over a benjamin each. I've tested them with my flags on them and they are stable at about 25+mph but leverage(height plays a huge role. That's at about 4.5ft tall plus the flag. You get what you pay for, often. The cheap stands are great until they're not, and they get your flags torn up and ruin your day.

Yes, you can stake or sandbag light stands down, if you choose to go that route. And yes, a cordless drill with a long masonry bit fixes most issues with hard ground...but not all. It's a personal choice, based a lot on your range requirements. I've had my spike poles standing in water at 15ft stand up to 25mph wind before, so that's a lot the most stable, when a spike base is feasible.
 
Al, I have enough weight to carry around, hence the stakes.

No frost here at the track. Just bought back in...he was at my door the while way. Bad reaction time....View attachment 1482228
Dave...that looks like a race that neither of you wanted to win. ;) Been there, done that...got the t-shirt.

This was my most memorable example. Heads up race and both of us were dead late with the same light (.072) My 60 ft. was was 1.39 to his 1.40 and that was the my win margin. Good thing those Corvettes aren't as slippery as they look!
APE8xB6h.jpg


I made it two in a row against him a couple weeks later. After that, he started calling my Chevy II 'The White Brick'. :)
O4vQ0Hjh.jpg


Best of luck, Dave!
 
I have these for the ranges I use tripods at. Fill them up at the range, dump them out before going home.

Anavim Heavy Duty Water Weight Bag Saddle Design 4 Pack Photo Video Studio Stand, Backyard, Outdoor Patio, Sports, RV Awning (Yellow) https://a.co/d/hiktS7T
 

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I use shot bags filled with sand. Tie it closed with heavy twine and put a loop in the end. Put the loop over the vertical rod of the stand. I do this at the car so there is only one piece to haul out.
 

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