rarespirit

Just bought a Tamron 18-270 and will be taken along with my Sigma 10-20 on my next trips, and that's 1 more than I ideally want to take on board!

Aperture priority for me most of the time, shooting Raw, at ISO100 but bumping it up when light is lacking.

It really does depend on what lenses you intend to use and how much shoulder ache you are prepared to endure.

I have had a Manfrotto tripod for several years and it allows great results but is bulky and heavy so I don't take it on air travel, merely car trips and shortish walks. I have just bought a Manfrotto monopod and intend to take it on an extended trip soon. It is great for providing reasonable support and allowing a slower shutter speed but of course has the drawback that it needs to be supported, unlike the tripod. It's much lighter but still solid.

My advice is to spend a little time at a camera shop, speak to the staff there and play with their stock, remembering that bulk and weight all have to be transported!

As previous posters have said, your needs now may well differ from the future but as tripods are (relatively) inexpensive purchases any future change in circumstances need not be too costly.

Pay by credit card to a US agent and get the same level of protection?