Lightweight and sturdy tripod for mountains

IanC

IanC

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Hi all,

Yet another tripod thread

By back (which I fractured a year ago) is telling me I need a lightweight tripod option and my red snapper with manfrotto ball head Frankenstein is just killing me.

I need something light but strong, most travel tripod seem to weak for mountain weather conditions. Is there anything out there, reasonably priced?

I'm looking at the 3lt brian, the vanguard VEO 2 travel tripod or the peak design aluminium tripod so far (the carbon is a ridiculous price)

Grateful for any recommendations :)
 
I bought the 3lt brian last year after accidentally leaving my old tripod somewhere. It's a good tripod, lightweight and very portable, however it isn't as sturdy as my old carbon manfrotto 190. It seems to take a few seconds to stabilise, not uncommon I know, but it is more obvious than it was with my old one. I am considering keeping it for proper walking days and holidays, but getting something a bit more substantial for when i am out for a few hours locally
 
keeweeman said:
I bought the 3lt brian last year after accidentally leaving my old tripod somewhere. It's a good tripod, lightweight and very portable, however it isn't as sturdy as my old carbon manfrotto 190. It seems to take a few seconds to stabilise, not uncommon I know, but it is more obvious than it was with my old one. I am considering keeping it for proper walking days and holidays, but getting something a bit more substantial for when i am out for a few hours locally
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Thank you :) I get the feeling that's what I will end up doing too, I think sacrifices have to be made somewhere
 
I'm a big Vanguard fan and use the VEO2 265CB for hiking.
Great for the days that I use the a6600 or a7c kit.
It also slips into the tripod compartment of my Vanguard Discover 38 messenger bag as well for everyday use.
For my a7R3 kit I use the Vanguard AltaPro 2+ 264CT
 
Last edited:
IanC said:
Hi all,

Yet another tripod thread

By back (which I fractured a year ago) is telling me I need a lightweight tripod option and my red snapper with manfrotto ball head Frankenstein is just killing me.

I need something light but strong, most travel tripod seem to weak for mountain weather conditions. Is there anything out there, reasonably priced?

I'm looking at the 3lt brian, the vanguard VEO 2 travel tripod or the peak design aluminium tripod so far (the carbon is a ridiculous price)

Grateful for any recommendations :)
Click to expand...

I've been using the Travis for over a year. More than adequate enough unless you are using big long lenses imo

Less of a lump than my Redsnapper too.
 
I’ve got a 3lt brian which i use(d!) asa travel tripod. Not as stiff as the big gitzo but plenty stable enough in teasonable conditions incl long exposures
 
Feisol CT3442 or CT3342. Hard to source now in the UK and I recently sold one of these but if can find one I don't think there is better tripod that gives a perfect balance between weight, height and stability.
 
nandbytes said:
Feisol CT3442 or CT3342. Hard to source now in the UK and I recently sold one of these but if can find one I don't think there is better tripod that gives a perfect balance between weight, height and stability.
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Thank you, I was tempted by yours when I saw it advertised actually
 
How about this one, seems to get good reviews?

uk.sirui.com

SIRUI AM2-Series AM-225 ProfiLegs Carbon Fiber Small Tripod with B-00K Ball Head (Black)

The extreme lightness and very high stability combined in the AM2 series tripods The tripods of the SIRUI AM2 series with their full equipment and compact dimensions are the ideal introduction to professional photography. Here innovative design meets ergonomic functionality. They are always a...
uk.sirui.com uk.sirui.com
 
Heavier larger tripods are generally more stable but the issue here is we want to limit the weight and size as much as possible... So you end up having to stabilise all the other variables as well as possible.
5 lens sections will not help stability, neither does the last leg section being tiny.
Without centre column the height of the tripod is only 127cm, add the centre column and you again sacrifice stability.

Personally I would stay away from it. That's my 2p on such tripods.

IanC said:
Thank you, I was tempted by yours when I saw it advertised actually
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I really hoped someone on this forum would take it and I really did wait as long as I could. Was really sad to see it go especially to a stranger.
 
IMO you can have light or sturdy. Never the two together . . . :muted: :schtum:
 
tijuana taxi said:
At least one person on here wasn't entirely happy with the Carbon model, camera droop.
Which version do you have?
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I wasn't happy with the peak design :ROFLMAO:
Possibly the only peak design product I think is bad.
According to their website carbon fibre version has +20% stability over the aluminium version.

Sky said:
IMO you can have light or sturdy. Never the two together . . . :muted: :schtum:
Click to expand...

its definitely a trade off and just depends on far you are willing to go in either direction.
 
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Tringa said:
I know nothing about this tripod other than reviews which seem pretty positive-

www.photoreview.com.au

Sirui T-025X Carbon Fibre Tripod Kit - Photo Review

A compact and lightweight carbon fibre tripod that is ideal for travelling photographers with CSC cameras or smaller DSLRs.
www.photoreview.com.au www.photoreview.com.au

Dave
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I have the same tripod, It has been to Cuba, America, Cape Verde & Europe over the last 4 years. Love it as a travel tripod, use my Gitzo for all other times.
 
I have a 3LT tripod that stays in the car, its an aluminium Punks Corey.
Only used it twice and it seems ok, folds up small, reasonably stable and lightweight.
Also bought a larger 3LT tripod to try, that one was a Punks Billy

It looks and feels like a well made tripod, but all that is ruined by one big flaw.
The leg locks rubber grip moves independently of the actual lock ring.
When you are tightening the lock its very hard to tell if its the actual lock turning or the rubber grip.
No confidence that the leg was actually locked and the tripod was returned.
 
nandbytes said:
Heavier larger tripods are generally more stable but the issue here is we want to limit the weight and size as much as possible... So you end up having to stabilise all the other variables as well as possible.
5 lens sections will not help stability, neither does the last leg section being tiny.
Without centre column the height of the tripod is only 127cm, add the centre column and you again sacrifice stability.

Personally I would stay away from it. That's my 2p on such tripods.
Click to expand...

My VEO 265 has 5 sections but I rarely use the last section.
If I need to use all sections then I widen the spread of the legs and this makes it stable
 
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