written by reprint on 23/11/2012
This tripod (Velbon Sherpa 600A), as part of it's features, has no lower stabilizer. The lack of this mass allows the legs to fold in at the bottom to the point where the top of each leg can be brought against and also bent over a 54mm in diameter structure that is part of the center of the tripod. The resulting damage prevents the legs from ever being extended again, destroying the tripod. I put it in a trunk with luggage once and was never able to use it again.
When the tripod is removed from its box there is a small bit of cardboard in place to prevent the kind of damage I am talking about, useful while its shipped or shelved at the store. But that bit of cardboard is not sufficient for on-going use. This tripod needs to come with a substantial piece of foam rubber with a hole at the center so it can slide over the center shaft and with slots on its outside in which the legs could be retracted into. Then the tripod would survive a vacation in the trunk with luggage.
With out a manufacturer supplied accessory, the best I can recommend is that you take a short length of a circular "pool noodle", the kind with a center hole, and then cut slots in the outside of it to fit the legs.