Prop Guards: How Do We Feel About Them?

[~Remy]

So with my recent purchase of the Mavic Air 3S Fly More Combo, DJI has given me a $17 credit for their shop.

Im not really looking to make any big purchases in the near future. However I saw they have prop guards for basically what I have in credit.

Would these be worth it? Does anyone here use them? How useful would they be? Are they just for piece of mind?

Whats the consensus?

 

[GFields]

I never used them. When I first started with roof inspections I did, but haven't in years.

 

[mavic3usa]

So with my recent purchase of the Mavic Air 3S Fly More Combo, DJI has given me a $17 credit for their shop.

Im not really looking to make any big purchases in the near future. However I saw they have prop guards for basically what I have in credit.

Would these be worth it? Does anyone here use them? How useful would they be? Are they just for piece of mind?

Whats the consensus?

It has been my experience that you use them one or twice or three times and then never again.

 

[Jim Martin]

Prop guards can be good for giving you a little extra confidence when you are starting out.
I got them with my first drone, but I removed them after a few months and have never used them since.

 

[Cafguy]

If you are going to be filming Close to people I would use them, BUT only then.
I have some just in case, I think I have actually used them once.

 

[WShade]

I think the consensus is, use them or not they have them . That being said, I used my DJI credit and got a set. Free

 

[Felix le Chat]

So with my recent purchase of the Mavic Air 3S Fly More Combo, DJI has given me a $17 credit for their shop.

Im not really looking to make any big purchases in the near future. However I saw they have prop guards for basically what I have in credit.

Would these be worth it? Does anyone here use them? How useful would they be? Are they just for piece of mind?

Whats the consensus?

A lot of people sneer at the use of prop guards and reckon they're like training outrigger wheels on a kiddies bike, but if you need to operate in close proximity to buildings or objects, or for internal shoots they can save you the price (and embarrassment) of a mangled drone. It's basic hazard mitigation - I don't use them regularly but both my sets (Mavic 2 and mini 3 pro) have earned their keep.

 

[lensimages]

A lot of people sneer at the use of prop guards and reckon they're like training outrigger wheels on a kiddies bike, but if you need to operate in close proximity to buildings or objects, or for internal shoots they can save you the price (and embarrassment) of a mangled drone. It's basic hazard mitigation - I don't use them regularly but both my sets (Mavic 2 and mini 3 pro) have earned their keep.

I Regularly use my prop guards as I fly inside a Grade 1 and grade 2 building , I can almost rest my drone again the wall at the height of the ceiling to encompass all of the machinery inside these buildings to take photographs of them, cheers Len

 

[Meta4]

Would these be worth it? Does anyone here use them? How useful would they be? Are they just for piece of mind?

Only useful for indoors.
Outside, they are great for reducing the drone's speed and flying time, increasing surface area and drag so the drone will have trouble fighting winds etc.
Generally if you think that prop guards are the answer, a better answer would be to fly somewhere else where there's no need for them.

 

[Felix le Chat]

I Regularly use my prop guards as I fly inside a Grade 1 and grade 2 building , I can almost rest my drone again the wall at the height of the ceiling to encompass all of the machinery inside these buildings to take photographs of them, cheers Len

I do similar work where the last thing you want are the props coming into contact with fragile surfaces. The nearest I've come to ind. heritage was a Victorian Venetian gothic pumping station... talk about a cathedral to industry!

 

[Max Headroom]

I have never used them, having to put them on and take them off every time you fold the arms in or out must be a bit of an inconvenience .

 

[KB9Radio]

So with my recent purchase of the Mavic Air 3S Fly More Combo, DJI has given me a $17 credit for their shop.

Im not really looking to make any big purchases in the near future. However I saw they have prop guards for basically what I have in credit.

Would these be worth it? Does anyone here use them? How useful would they be? Are they just for piece of mind?

Whats the consensus?

For flying indoors I think they're great. For outdoor flying all they do is add unneeded weight and wind resistance. When flying outdoors a pilot shouldn't be anywhere near obstacles.

 

[Aerialskape]

I only use indoors. Very useful if flying in narrow spaces or close to fragile fixtures/fittings

 

[Erk1024]

On the Avata's and the NEO, they have full ducted fans (and the NEO has optional top prop guards). If you're going to fly down bushy bike paths, or slalom trees (who would do such a thing?) then those shrouds do a lot to protect the drone if you graze some shrubbery and end up tumbling into the undergrowth. Those drones are praised for their durability.

On my camera drones, except for takeoffs and landings they are usually hundreds of feet in the air and not close enough to hit anything.

 

[Wild Drone Pilot]

So with my recent purchase of the Mavic Air 3S Fly More Combo, DJI has given me a $17 credit for their shop.

Im not really looking to make any big purchases in the near future. However I saw they have prop guards for basically what I have in credit.

Would these be worth it? Does anyone here use them? How useful would they be? Are they just for piece of mind?

Whats the consensus?

If you plan on possibly hitting or being hit by something it could save your bird
Most of the time I do NOT use them. Only for real close up work.

 

[~Remy]

I want to thank all for the replies. I feel like the general consensus is that while not necessary all the time, and most of the time can be a hinderance to optimal flight performance. They are good to have on hand. Just incase a job calls for some close quarters operations.

Im leaning towards getting them just to have. I mean, i dunno what else id use my $17 dji credit for.

 

[Cafguy]

they are good to have in your kit. it will make some people feel safer at least PLUS I am surprised they are only 17 I didnt think 17 bucks in DJI credit would get you much..Maybe a prop LOL.

 

[~Remy]

they are good to have in your kit. it will make some people feel safer at least PLUS I am surprised they are only 17 I didnt think 17 bucks in DJI credit would get you much..Maybe a prop LOL.

Yep. Can confirm. Just pulled the trigger. My DJI credit was $17.88 and the Mavic Air 3 (3s compatible) prop guards were $17.

I figure in the end for something thats literally free. Its better to have and not need than to need and not have.

 

[jambros3]

It’s good to have a pair of prop guards just in case because you never know. I had the opportunity to fly my drone in my place of employment. They asked me to do a recruitment video inside the plant and it worked out wonderful I felt safe while flying the drone around And it just looks cool too. In the future, you never know when you may have to fly indoors, but it’s always good to have around.

 

[jambros3]

It’s good to have a pair of prop guards just in case because you never know. I had the opportunity to fly my drone in my place of employment. They asked me to do a recruitment video inside the plant and it worked out wonderful I felt safe while flying the drone around And it just looks cool too. In the future, you never know when you may have to fly indoors, but it’s always good to have around.