Camera Tripod for Easy Air Travel

[LEMJMcC]

I'm looking for recommendations and suggestions for a decent camera tripod or monopod that can be easily packed for air travel and carrying around in a small backpack on hiking & biking excursions in Alaska.  I've seen some online, but I rather not spend as much on the tripod as I did on the camera!

 

Any suggestions?  What have you used that you'd recommend?

 

Thanks.

Edited August 8, 2023 by LEMJMcC

[Heidi13]

In addition to a heavy Manfrotto tripod, I also have a lighter and compact carbon fibre - Promaster XC525 Black 

 

Easily packed in a suitcase, or attached to my camera backpack.

 

[Floater67]

I’m a huge fane of the Peak Design travel tripod. I have the carbon fiber, but they also have an aluminum version. https://www.peakdesign.com/pages/travel-tripod
 

They have a number of really helpful videos on YouTube that illustrate use, maintenance, and the various features of the tripod. Its light weight makes traveling or hiking easy. 
 

Let me know if you have any questions. 
 

ron

[LEMJMcC]

22 hours ago, Floater67 said:

I’m a huge fane of the Peak Design travel tripod. I have the carbon fiber, but they also have an aluminum version. https://www.peakdesign.com/pages/travel-tripod
 

They have a number of really helpful videos on YouTube that illustrate use, maintenance, and the various features of the tripod. Its light weight makes traveling or hiking easy. 
 

Let me know if you have any questions. 
 

ron

Thanks, but those are a bit out of my budget...

[pierces]

I have stopped carrying a tripod while traveling and only occasionally take a monopod. In-body and optical stabilization have nearly eliminated their value to me. That said, when I do travel with a tripod, I carry a tabletop version that works quite well if you're creative with finding something to rest it on. 

 

https://a.co/d/9jiZDMy

https://a.co/d/14vZ57F

 

Sometimes I pack a Velbon Ultra-Stick monopod if I think a monopod will be needed. Very compact and unless you are quite tall, it's long enough.

https://a.co/d/0YsM1Pq

 

Dave

[Hezu]

On 8/9/2023 at 7:59 PM, Floater67 said:

I’m a huge fane of the Peak Design travel tripod. I have the carbon fiber, but they also have an aluminum version. https://www.peakdesign.com/pages/travel-tripod

Peak Design Travel Tripod is ok, but the legs are tad flimsy. My current favourite is Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod, which is bit more sturdy and the construction with a mini tripod as the central column is quite innovative. It is available at https://heipivision.com/products/heipi-3-in-1-travel-tripod 

[Floater67]

4 minutes ago, Hezu said:

Peak Design Travel Tripod is ok, but the legs are tad flimsy. My current favourite is Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod, which is bit more sturdy and the construction with a mini tripod as the central column is quite innovative. It is available at https://heipivision.com/products/heipi-3-in-1-travel-tripod 

With serious respect, I’d love to know what you base that on. Looking at the Heipi, I’ll agree the ‘center column’ is different. I personally avoid using a center column if possible. IMO, they are prone to vibrations from wind. However, I really disagree about the legs. I don’t know if you’ve used a PD tripod, but I find the carbon version very stiff and dependable. The PD website includes a report from an engineer comparing many different tripods for a variety of characteristics. Worth a read at a minimum. I’ve used mine in 40+ mph winds in Iceland with no complaints. Plus, the product and customer support are US made. You certainly may have different experiences, but I’m very happy with the results using substantial equipment. All the best.

 

ron

[Hezu]

On 8/10/2023 at 10:56 PM, Floater67 said:

With serious respect, I’d love to know what you base that on. Looking at the Heipi, I’ll agree the ‘center column’ is different. I personally avoid using a center column if possible. IMO, they are prone to vibrations from wind. However, I really disagree about the legs. I don’t know if you’ve used a PD tripod, but I find the carbon version very stiff and dependable. The PD website includes a report from an engineer comparing many different tripods for a variety of characteristics. Worth a read at a minimum. I’ve used mine in 40+ mph winds in Iceland with no complaints. Plus, the product and customer support are US made. You certainly may have different experiences, but I’m very happy with the results using substantial equipment. All the best.

I own both Peak Design and Heipi travel tripods (bought both from their Kickstarter campaigns) and certainly PD tripod has its advantages (like low weight and compact packed size) and is not a bad tripod and it can keep light camera gear stable enough, the thinnest leg sections look somewhat less convincing.

Heipi 3-in-1 tripod is then certainly sturdier, the mini tripod is useful addition (especially for low level shooting needs), changing the included ball head to something else is very easy and ice spikes are stored inside the tripod legs and included in the price, which is significantly lower than what PD travel tripod retails. And size and weight are still quite tolerarable.

[eileeshb]

Manfrotto do a range of monopods that I’ve used pitchside for sports photography and generally work well for most scenarios unless I’m dealing with a very long lens and/or very strong wind. The specific monopod to pick will depend on the weight of the camera +body you will be bringing. Personally I’d avoid their lightest/cheapest one as the clips on the extensions are not the sturdiest. They also have one that is specifically designed to use as a selfie stick too with attachments at both ends depending on the use case. I’ve also used a couple of joby gorilla pods which work for tabletop or to wrap around a railing, they also have some phone accessories to connect to tripods/monopods. 

[azappraiser]

Peak Design has some great gear; love their camera straps.  DW gave me this Travel Tripod, from B&H Photo Video for Christmas.  Oben is B&H's "house" brand.

 

Comes in it's own travel bag, the ball head has an Arca-Swiss compatible plate, detach one of the legs and connect to the center column for the monopod.

 

Lightweight, yet sturdy... ball head stays put too.

[kbnovak]

I have the Ulanzi Zero-Y CF travel tripod and it is great for lightweight travel, lightweight use.