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The Best Travel Tripod, Part 2
July 3rd, 2008A while ago I posted a short article about “the best travel tripods.” I knew when I did it that the quest was quixotic at best, but I’ve never shied away from the impossible. I’m reckless that way.
The thing is, when people google “what’s the best travel tripod” they’re asking others to find the perfect compromise between weight, size, price, and usefulness in any number of scenarios. For you the perfect one might still weigh 4lbs. For me, I don’t care so much that the max. height is 22 inches, as long as it’s light and will hold my camera stlll for a few evening shots. What perfectly meets my needs might not meet any of yours, so the best I can do is a grown-up show-and-tell and show you some possibilities.
So, here’s a couple more I’m looking at through the lens of “make it as light as possible, even it’s really short and I have to sit on the ground to use it.
Really Right Stuff’s Ground Pod - Man this is a sexy little thing. It’s the same size as the Kirk MLB, but where the MLB is a girl who’s your best friend and wears sensible footwear, the Ground Pod is Charlize Theron in the movie Aeon Flux. Or Trinity from the Matrix. Hard-core, built like a tank (sexy, sexy tank), and, uh, dressed in black (I need to start thinking about these metaphors before I commit to them…)
Specs: 2.6 lbs, max heigh 16.9″, max load 50lbs, Shekels Required: $375, no head.
Gitzo’s GT-921 Basalt Table Tripod - Not as sexy, but Carbon Fibre always gets points and Gitzo has never let me down yet. And weight? 1lb without the head. My boots weigh more. If I can set this on a table or on the ground and get those few crucial shots I need a tripod for, this one might be worth it’s salt.
Specs: 1 lb, max height 33.5″, max load 8.8 lbs, Shekels Required: $200, no head.
Neither of these might be your ultimate sticks for traveling. It’s a shame the Gitzo Basalt G1298 was discontinued. I’ve traveled around the world with mine and while I am now looking to shed some weight for the ultra-light trips, it’s a really great tripod and I will continue to take it on trips where I know I want a larger tripod. It’s like a slimmed down, sexy Manfrotto 190 in size, but lighter, and sturdier. I’ve seen them on eBay and that ought to save you a few bucks.
Got a tripod that you won’t leave home without? Leave a comment, share the love.
I read an article a while ago that said buy a good tripod once, and it’s the last tripod you’ll ever need. I followed that intention with a Manfrotto 055 and their nifty joystick head. It isn’t what you would call a ‘travel tripod’, but that doesn’t stop me from carting it along anywhere I think I might need it. Besides, there’s a certain confidence it instills (especially when approaching, for example, a growling dog) that a lighter tripod just can’t match.
Oh, one tip: I’ve added foam tubes (~$1.50/ea at Princess Auto, of all places), and that makes carrying it by hand or on shoulder much more comfortable. Especially helps on chilly nights when the legs are frosting up. (Hey man, I’ve suffered for my art!)
Good wisdom Brad. I have two tripods I love - both pricey Gitzos. Buy quality once instead of junk three or four times and then caving in and buying quality anyways, that’s my motto (it’s a long one, I know)
But for travel - particularily this round-the-world, 7-countries-in-30-days trip, well, to be honest I just don’t want to lug a tripod I know I will only use a couple times.
Both sets of sticks I own are composite - one Carbon, the other Basalt - so the foam tubes are less needed - and as for carrying it around - one word: strap.
Any thoughts on the Giottos GB-1060?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=418177&is=REG
It’s half the price of the Gitzo, weighs a bit more and only extends to 23″ but it can collapse to a folded length of 13″
Stephen - I think it depends what your priorities are - my current Gitzo (the G1298) weighs less than 3.5 lbs, but goes to 58 inches with the centre column in use. So the Giotto you suggest is heavier by a pound, and shorter by more than half. The only advantage is the price - $90 is pretty cheap. So cheap, in fact, that I’d worry about the quality. But I have no experience with Giotto, so I couldn’t really say.
The Manfrotto 190 is 3.5 lbs, extends to 57″ with the centre column, and costs $98 dollars. Seems a better bet to me. It’s not as compact, but I worry more about weight than I do about inches.
Heavier by a pound? Isn’t it 1.5lbs?
I actually have the Manfrotto 190Pro and it works good until it’s time to travel light (almost 4lbs and folds to 22″). My priorities then switch to folded length. 1.5lbs and 13″ seems pretty good if I can live with the shorter maximum height.
I have never used a Giottos either.
You’re right - I read 5.5 lbs. Clearly I need a break, a coffee, or a smack on the head. Possibly all three. You’re right 1.5 lbs is much lighter. Have to go brush up on my reading skills now…
Ok, I took a better look - 5.5lbs is the max load. You know, for the money I think I’d still rather shell out $200 and get the Gitzo tabletop tripod, which has a max load of 8.8 lbs and gives me a little more confidence in it’s beefiness. I’d happily spend the extra $100, not for the half-pound weight difference but for the sturdiness.
Still, thanks for pointing this one out Stephen - it’s worth a look for the budget-conscious, for sure.
No worries, I was actually just curious if any of the readers had experience with one.
I would rather the Gitzo as well but as I’m currently planning a trip to Vancouver, I usually leave the tripod home because I like to travel really light. (I do pack a gorillapod but it only goes so far)
I’m currently hung up on the folded length to fit it in my carry on luggage. The Gitzo is 17″ which is pretty good, but the Giottos is impressive at 13″
When will you be in Vancouver? I’d love to have a coffee or a pint of beer if I’m home when you visit.
August 21-26
First time in BC (currently living in PEI), so we’re going to be true tourist and attempt to see as much as possible and hopefully get some good photo opportunities.