Looking for design inspiration?   Browse our curated collections!

Return to Main Discussion Page
Discussion Quote Icon

Discussion

Main Menu | Search Discussions

Search Discussions
 
 

TL Mair

9 Years Ago

Need A Travel Tripod...help!

I have a couple of tripods, but they are behemoths and sadly won't fit in a carry on suitcase, can some one guide me to what would be, in their opinion, the most sturdy tripod that would fit in a carry suitcase? I like sturdy, not necessarily lightweight.
Thanks in advance!!

Terry
tlmair.com

Reply Order

Post Reply
 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Terry,

Like everything connected to photography, it all comes down to budget! My all time favorite and the one that travel with me, is the old Manfrotto 3221WN which now is a new model number. It's very sturdy and when I travel, I take the ball head off and it fits in my wheeled suitcase. The ballhead itself is the 496RC2 and handles all my lenses on my big 1DsMKIII. It has sponge sleeves on the upper legs, so it's easy to carry,with the camera on it and not wear down the shoulders.

Check it out,

Rich

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Helps to know what you will be putting on it.

 

TL Mair

9 Years Ago

Rich will it fit in a carry on bag/suitcase?

Edward good question, my gear Canon EOS 1DS MkII, Canon 7D, and my new favorite Sony A7R with canon lenses, I am anticipating mostly using the Sony on it, but it may be called upon to hold up my 7D with 100-400L canon lens.

Edited to add: When traveling in the car I will still use one of my standby tripods, I will be using the new one when I hike into fishing places with my son, and when I fly, hence the need for one that will fit in a carry on, we don't check no luggage!!

Thanks again
Terry
tlmair.com

 

Murray Bloom

9 Years Ago

My smallest tripod is a ProMaster XC526 Professional. Fully collapsed, it's only a bit over 16" high, so it will fit almost anywhere; but will extend to about 63" and is extremely stable. The largest of their XC series, it comes with a locking, panning (indexed) fluid ball head and built-in monopod. At 3.7 lbs., it's not as light as carbon fiber, but is a lot less costly; and, it will support 26 lbs. It has three bubble levels and an invertible center column. The leg locks are very well engineered and easy to use. I have owned numerous tripods over the past 40+ years, but this one represents the best value, ever. I got mine for about $200.


http://www.promaster.com/products.asp?product=2717




 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

LOVE my MePhoto tripod: http://www.mefoto.com/products/help-me-choose.aspx The backpacker folds to 12.6". I have the Roadtrip, which folds to 15.4" and has a maximum height of 61". It can also become a monopod.

 

Murray Bloom

9 Years Ago

I looked at MePhoto's line when I bought the ProMaster. I chose the latter because it appeared to be more solidly constructed. By comparison, while somewhat similar in design, the MePhoto seemed a bit toy-like and the leg adjusters were much more solid and intuitive on the ProMaster.

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

This is mine: http://www.mefoto.com/products/help-me-choose.aspx

The legs have points for ground stability; it's not really light and holds about 17 lbs. Very quick set up and take down and has a carrying bag.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

i have a velbon something, small and light. i think they make others now because they don't make mine again. there is another model that folds flat. personally i find them all a pain to take and usually pack it in the luggage and never bring it out.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Joy Bradley

9 Years Ago


BENRO Tripod Kit

5 sections, max height 63.39",folded 17.13", weight 3.15 lbs. loaded 17.6 lbs.
Black Fiber Carbon.
I can carry it on my backpack camera bag, easy to use.

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Last year for a trip to Maui I got the:

Dolica TX570B150SL Ultra Compact Tripod with Professional Ball Head (Black)

I was anticipating blurring water and night time shots.

The Good: Very compact. Sort of doubles up. Lightweight. Cheap.

The Bad: So many sections it takes forever to set up. Lightweight - probably ok for a small camera.

Next time I'm just traveling with a smaller camera, less equipment and just a little table top tripod that I can set up on a wall or bench.



 

JC Findley

9 Years Ago

Another vote for promaster. I have the 525. Best tripod I have owned and fits in my backpack.

 

Norman Pogson

9 Years Ago

Hi Terry, I bought a Dolica Proline carbon fibre tripod with a ball head from Costco, it was around a $120 and came with a carrying bag, it's a full size three section tripod and lightweight. I use it for travel as my other tripods are too heavy for my Wife to carry :D What I have found is that in it's carry bag which has a shoulder strap I can carry it on a plane without question, whereas before I use to pack tripods in my checked luggage. The bag is 24 inches long and I have taken my pan tilt head and replaced the ball head for travel as I do a lot of video, the pan tilt still fits in the tripod carrying bag.

 

Toby McGuire

9 Years Ago

I have a Dolica TX570B150SL ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YE462G/ )... Obviously not as pro as other tripods mentioned in here but it's light, sturdy and fits in my backpack - and it's $64. It's worked perfectly for me.

 

Mark Blauhoefer

9 Years Ago

I bought a Joby Gorilla Pod, which is great for close to the ground, or wrapped to a branch or a pole for higher up, but honestly I rarely use it. I bring it out, attach it, play with the legs a bit, and then put it away again. Good if it's really windy though.

 

Loree Johnson

9 Years Ago

I also have a Dolica for travel. Not sure of the model number as it's packed away right now. But, they have many models, very compact and reasonably priced.

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Murray: It's no less sturdy than my Sunray or Slik tripods, but it does fold up much smaller (even if it is a few ounces heavier) and setup is stupid-easy and quick.It took me some getting used to with the ball head is about the worst I can say about it. Also, with my back the way it is, I love that it doesn't have clips for extending, it has wheels (they are plenty "solid"). Just because it comes in colors doesn't make it a "toy". But it does make it easier to know it's mine!

 

JC Findley

9 Years Ago

A little story about Dolica

I bought one and it was OK especially for the price. For the record, I am rough on my equipment but various things started having issues with that tripod. Stuff got loose and some things fell off. Hey, for 50 bucks what do you expect.

What I didn't expect was the bolt that held the camera to the tripod mount broke in half while shooting a creek and in went the 5D. I will NOT skimp on tripods ever again.

 

TL Mair

9 Years Ago

Thanks for all of the replies!!!
As I mentioned I am not really concerned with it being light, I just need it to be compact, and sturdy, I read the reviews on the Dolica on Amazon, most of them were the same as JC's, the last thing I want is a $2K camera, not to mention the lens sitting at the bottom of some canyon, or the bottom of the bay/lake I would love to just take my Induro on planes, but it is just to big for that.
Thanks again for all of the replies!!!

Terry
tlmair.com

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Terry,

Yes my tripod will fit in my carry-on wheeled suitcase and is about 25", without the ball head,which I unscrew,no big deal. This tripod has been in salt and fresh water and is probably 15-20 years old and still looks new-ish.

Here is a shot of it,next to my "large" tripod..........

Art Prints

http://www.manfrotto.us/tripods

BUT, tripods today are much better than 20 years ago,so I would do some research and see what the "guys" are talking about. I would also, not hesitate to buy one from eBay. The head I now have came from eBay and was a real bargin!

Happy Trails,

Rich

 

Loree Johnson

9 Years Ago

Yikes JC! Thanks for sharing your story. I hardly ever use the Dolica, but I will be very wary of using it at all now. Good thing it didn't cost much.

After typing this, I realized that I don't really like the ball head that came with it, so when I do use it, I put my Manfrotto ball head on it. Was the bolt that broke on the quick mount plate, or the bolt that attaches the head?

 

Adam Jewell

9 Years Ago

Get another Induro that is smaller. I just have one and I use it for hiking, traveling and everything.

I got one of these for someone else.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ANK9ZA/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's very small folded and pretty stable but doesn't hold a candle to the Induro.

 

Toby McGuire

9 Years Ago

Sorry to hear that JC! My Dolica has been very sturdy so far (it's about a year old) but I will definitely keep an eye on it. I usually have my light 40mm prime lens attached to my camera so that has probably helped.

 

TL Mair

9 Years Ago

Ok thanks again everyone!!
Based on two votes for the Promaster, and what I have read about all of the suggestions, along with the fact that I will be using it on a limited basis, I would have gotten the induro otherwise but for half the price I went with the Promaster 525.
Thanks again to all.
Terry
tlmair.com

 

This discussion is closed.