Yep, my dessicant gets zapped in the microwave every few months as well, but I am sort of looking into a type of box they have in the US, a box that controls humidity as it is humidity that is the problem.
When I am out and about, my kind of photography calls for the Lowepro photo harness and belt and Lowepro cases adapted so they are more rigid.
Invariably I take Manfroto monopod, but sometimes the tripod despite it's weight, but I really do mourn the loss of my old Uni Loc tripod, I stupidly gave it away when I was not into photography. Yeah, I know they can still be got, but boy they are expensive now.