best gitzo travel tripod

A Gitzo Traveler Tripod: Is It Worth the Money?

I have a large and relatively heavy Gitzo tripod that can carry as much as a small elephant. But I also bought an expensive Gitzo traveler tripod because sometimes I want to travel light. The question is, was it worth the money?

I love using a tripod. It brings a lot of fun and makes photography relaxed and flexible. I can take time to look at the landscape and wait for the right light situation . I can use any shutter time I like, without worrying about camera movement. There are a ton of reasons why a tripod is a good investment. That is why I have a large and relatively heavy Gitzo Systematic Series 3 GT3542LS tripod, fitted with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head . It is a combination that will last a life time.

My work horse: the Gitzo Systematic Series 3 tripod. It is a sturdy tripod, perfect for rough situations. I find it a tripod to rely on. But it is heavy and large, something to take into account when hiking.

Sometimes I like to go out light weight. For that I have a small Fujifilm X100t camera, which I find a wonderful camera. It is very versatile and easy to take with me. I use this small camera also for landscape photography. The build in three stop neutral density filter allows me to take long exposure photos. But I need a tripod for that. Fitting the X100t onto the large Gitzo is possible, but it looks a bit weird. More important, taking that large tripod on a hike is far from traveling light, even with the X100t.

When I like to travel light, I take my Fujifilm X100t camera. The It looks a bit funny when I mount it onto the Gitzo Systematic Series 3. Although I don't have to worry about stability, the Gitzo is really oversized for this small camera. That is why I bought a small travel tripod.

That is the moment I decided to buy a small and cheap traveler tripod. A friend of mine was very positive about 3 Legged Thing , and after looking into it I bought a 3LT aluminum traveler tripod from the PUNKS series , called VYV (I do like the names of the 3LT tripods). It is small and light. It can carry about 12 kilograms of equipment, and it has a lot of features that makes it fun to use. Now I had a perfect combination when traveling light.

My first choice was the 3LT VYV from the PUNK series. An aluminium tripod, small and light weight. Perfect for the Fujifilm X100t. But also my large dslr can be used with this tripod. Perfect, isn't?

The 3LT VYV can carry a large DSLR, even with a 100-400mm lens. I must admit, it is far from ideal, but it is possible. I also started to use the 3LT more often as a second tripod for my astrophotography. At the same time I got more and more irritated by the downsides of this tripod. The nuts and bolts are of a lesser quality, the twist locks have to be tightened very firm to lock the legs, and the overall quality is not what I wanted in a tripod. These are small things that doesn’t make the 3LT a bad one, and you can live with it. Nevertheless it became too annoying. That is when I started to look for an alternative. Since I really like the quality of the Gitzo Systematic Series 3, I decided to invest in an expensive Gitzo GT1555T traveler tripod.

After careful consideration I decided to buy another Gitzo tripod; the GT1555T. It is expensive, but the quality is so much better compared to the 3LT. The question is; is it worth the money. I used it for over a year now, and it is time to make a judgement.

When I say it is expensive, I really mean expensive. It costs more than my large Gitzo, although it comes with a tripod head. But it is also five times as expensive as the 3LT VYV. Comparing these two traveler tripods is not really fair; you cannot expect a € 200 tripod has the same quality as a € 1000 tripod. But the difference is very large and you may wonder if its worth the extra money.

An impression of the Gitzo GT1555T. It is versatile, but not as much as the 3LT. Nevertheless, the build quality is so much better, especially the twist lock mechanism; you only need a twist to lock it, or unlock it.

First of all, it is made from carbon, which has its effect on the prize. The overall quality is almost perfect, and everything works very smooth. It can carry a lot of weight and the stiffness of the carbon makes it possible to use my large dslr with 100-400mm lens with less problems than on the 3LT. But most of all, the twist locks have the quality for which the Gitzo is famous about. A simple twist is enough to lock or unlock the legs. I don't need to use force. It is a world of difference compared to the 3LT.

The real life; hiking and using the Gitzo. On the left: the tripod connected on a D-ring with a carabiner, for easy access. In the middle: the Gitzo attached to my daypack, with the Fujifilm X100t attached to the belt. On the right: setting up the tripod. (pictures by Hetwie - www.hetwie.nl)

These benefits do not completely justify the prize difference, I think. And you don’t get a nice carrying bag with the Gitzo for that prize either, which is a shame if you ask me. I would almost say the Gitzo is not worth the extra money, until you start using it. That is when the real difference becomes clear. It is very lightweight. It is easy to set up. You don’t have to worry about nuts and bolts becoming loose over time. The twist locks only need a twist to lock or unlock the legs, and they can be dismantled very easy for cleaning. It is fun to use with the small Fujifilm X100t, and very useable for a large DSLR with a tele lens. After one year of use, during different photo trips, vacations, and masterclasses, I definitely can say it was one of the best investments I made for a tripod. Next to the large Gitzo of course, which I find unbeatable.

A couple of impressions, most of them from our trip to the Faroe Islands in 2018, and one from the last trip to Germany. The tripod is very versatile because it can be uses for my lightweight camera, and my dslr as well.

Looking back on this story, I think I fell into the tripod trap of buying a cheap tripod, because I thought it was for only a few occasions. I could have saved the money, to invest it directly in a tripod that would fit my needs. I am sure this Gitzo will also last a life time.

Of course there are alternatives available on the market. Other manufactures also have wonderful traveler tripods, like the Manfrotto BeFree GT and the new Peak Design Travel Tripod . Although these are also expensive, they are not as expensive as the Gitzo. But I choose the latter because I have a good experience with it. And I think it was worth the investment. 

What do you think? Do you find the quality of a tripod more important than its prize, or would you have kept the cheaper version and saved the money for other purposes? I love to hear your opinion in the comments below.

Nando Harmsen is a Dutch photographer that is specialized in wedding and landscape photography. With his roots in the analog photo age he gained an extensive knowledge about photography techniques and equipment, and shares this through his personal blog and many workshops.

I have tripods from Miller, 3LT and Manfrotto. What I pack depends on multiple factors but weight is always a major one. So carbon used to be the priority for travel but not any more.

My 3 Legged Thing Corey is lighter than most carbon legs of that height and folds up really small. Yes it takes about 10 seconds longer to set up but I can buy a pretty decent lens for the amount I save. Oh and 3LT service is great.

Did you need service for your 3LT. What happened?

I just bought a 3LT Leo Eclipse Pro for a travel tripod. I'll be putting it to the test in a few weeks when I head out west on vacation. $1000 just seems like an awful lot for a travel tripod.

I looking forward to your experience with it. And yes, $1000 is a lot :)

Perhaps that is a good idea. I will look into it

Got the exact same last year and have not regretted the decision one bit.

It got me scared at first also. :D

Gitzo tripods are expensive but absolutely worth it. I have had a 3 series for 6 years now and it is still the best tripod I have ever owned.

You keep saying "prize" when you mean price.

You are correct. Or perhaps.... ;)

Can you remove the center column for ground-level work? That is essential for me. I can do that with my Gitzo GT0531. And it only weighs 2 lbs including a RRS ball head.

By the way, you keep saying "prize" when you mean price.

Yes, it comes with a piece that let's you use the tripod without the center column. I can never seem to get my head detached from the column so I never end up using it. Just flip the column upside down and you can put your camera in the dirt if needed.

Prize, price... Yes, I noticed. My mistake. And yes, the centre column can be removed, or placed upside down.

"First of all, it is made from carbon, which has its effect on the prize."

"These benefits do not completely justify the prize difference"

"And you don’t get a nice carrying bag with the Gitzo for that prize"

"Do you find the quality of a tripod more important than its prize"

You cant be serious... Price. Prize and price are two entirely different words for a reason.

You (and others) should be directing your comments at the editors of FStoppers. It's a shame and an embarrassment that the editors don't correct such mistakes. But then they don't seem to catch the grammatical errors of their English speaking writers either. I'd call that either sloppy or lazy. Or maybe their understanding of proper English is is limited as well.

The last time I directed my comments at the "Editor in Chief" of this site, he went on a tirade about how I just dont like him, because I pointed out his incredibly sloppy journalism (see the article about the photographer knocking out the pilot).

He has no professionalism, and I would argue, has likely never had any job in journalism before, but I dont know his qualifications, if he has any.

Yes, yes... I made that mistake. Sorry.

An old saying that I find very salient in my work is.... "A poor man can afford nothing but the best" I think we all know someone that will buy, buy again and again something just because they are intent on saving money. In the long run they actually spend more, both in terms of time AND money, than if they had just sucked it up and went the the right kit in the first place. One thing about great gear that does not get mentioned much is just how forgettable it can be. It works, it always works, it works easily and quickly, and it lets you put your attention on crafting the image. Not on fussing around with the kit. Just for the sake of perspective... Assuming you use the Gitzo 100 times a year and you keep it for 5 years (I have an old Gitzo tripod that is over 20 years old and still works perfectly!) the "cost" per use is only € 2. Now what price is your time worth when factoring in all the fiddling, fussing, missed images due to the poor performance of a less than great (insert any bit of kit here) worth? I am not saying that 3LT makes inferior tripods. Not at all! What I am saying applies to any tool needed to craft images. How much are you really "saving"? It all comes down to.... where do you want to "save" your money. In crafting images or in fiddling with kit. Long long after you've forgotten about the price, good equipement just keeps on delivering. Good article Nando.

Thanks, Julian

"In the long run they actually spend more, both in terms of time AND money, than if they had just sucked it up and went the the right kit in the first place."

Tried telling my co worker this when she was trying to buy some video lights. I told her several times not to go cheap on the lights as you will absolutely get what you pay for. She got 2 cow boy studio lights for like $150. We got them in and guess what. they sucked. They really are only useful for tight shots and vlogging. She acted like she had no idea who ordered them. " Who ordered these?" is what she said word for word. I said "ooohhh i dunnoooooo i wonder". buy it right the first time. I learned that the hard way.

I was going to link to an old Cracked article by John Cheese about exactly that subject, but apparently he's been accused of sexual harrasment and all his articles have been pulled from the site. 4 years after he sent a crude text message. Wow.

Buy once, cry once. Quality gear just gets out of your way and lets you shoot.....for years!

Perfectly said!

I’ve got a Slik Pro 724cf with 3LT airhed 360 as my main tripod, the legs are around 7 years old and still going strong. Cost me a fraction of the price of a Gitzo.

For travel I use the Sirui T-2005x which again cost less than 1/5th the price of that Gitzo travel pod, if people want to justify forking out thousands of pounds on overpriced gear with marginal benefits by using stupid phrases that don’t mean anything that’s fine with me.

I’ll stick with the Sirui and Fujifilm 16-55 f2.8 that I bought with the change.

During my masterclass a participant used a Sirui travel tripod. I never seen such a bad one; the legs, the head, the twist locks... and terrible to use. That is why she never wanted to use a tripod. Perhaps it was that particular tripod, and I am glad I hear Sirui has also good ones.

I’ve literally never heard a bad thing said about them, all over Internet forums, YouTube, photography magazines (where one won a group test) so not sure where your comment about ‘I never seen such a bad one’ is fabricated from, sounds like more internet grandstanding to me I’m sorry.

It is from my experience, from my own observations.

But you have to realise why it would be questioned when countless other photographers give favourable reviews of the brand. Also you have to understand why somebody would be suspicious of your opinion coming off the back of a whole article that’s based around justifying your purchase.

My view is, if you had write this article about it, you know in your own mind that Gitzo and RRS are just two more of those vastly overpriced photography products that people buy because surely more money = quality.

Yeah because singling out one race of people for making an educated guess on the reasoning behind creating a ‘click bait’ article on a photography website is a clever thing to do.

How about the people reviewing just saw a good quality piece of kit and decided to review it as such, is that so hard to believe?

I’ll keep using good quality equipment that doesn’t cost the earth, you keep living in your little fantasy that spending a fortune = the best.

I respect your opinion. I gave my opinion, based on my experience with many different brand of tripods.

Clearly you've not had enough experience with Sirui, Nando. I've had Sirui tripods for the past 3 years and my travel version has been with me everywhere from a month in Kyrgyzstan to my recent trip in Nepal to Annapurna Base Camp. I love Sirui tripods and ballheads. LeoFoto make excellent gear too and I've no complaints towards my largest, a Manfrotto.

For me a tripod is a simple thing, do my photos ever show signs of shake ? No. Even my 2-3 minute long exposures. So I don't need a Rolls Royce to drive to the local shop, my Ford will do just fine. I feel people buying Gitzo/RRS are of that ilk, they love and appreciate the quality but it's not a necessity.

So I'll take my Sirui or Manfrotto or Leofoto (all different sizes) over a US$1,000 Gitzo (or RRS) any day .. and put the many dollars I saved towards something that really does make a difference, a nice shiny new lens ;)

Can't comment on the tripods, altough they look and feel quite similar to their Gitzo counterparts. And I also never used their ultralight travel tripods But I my swapped my 400 euro Gitzo ballhead for my Gitzo 3-series for a Sirui K-30x (which is a thrid of the price) The friction control dial on the Gitzo ballhead was a nightmare (almost inevitably moving with the tightening knob), and the panning was way less smooth then the silky movement of the Sirui. The K-40x feels even better but is too big for my tripod and needs. It still amazes me that Gitzo (as a premium brand) hasn't been able to release a decent ballhead that justifies it's price, especially since they teamed up with Manfrotto, which has a great variaty of good heads at affordable prices.

Although the Gitzo ball head is okay, I would never advise a Gitzo ball head. I think there are far better ball heads on the market. But concerning tripods, I think Gitzo is one of best.

MeFoto forever!

Forever what?

https://www.mefoto.com

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forever

A friend of mine bought a MeFoto, and he is happy about it. I cannot say anything about MeFoto, since I never used one. Have you ever used other tripods to make a good comparison?

I have 2 Cambo columns, 1 Manfrotto, 1 Gitzo, 1 Alta pro and 1 MeFoto. I love them all, and frankly the biggest difference I find is the price difference. For me the head is much more important than the tripod itself. For the last 40 years, I have mainly used Cambo and Gitzo. I'm not really a fan of comparisons. Edit: I forgot the Foba tripod, with Sinar head, for my Sinar P2 and P3

I got the exact same tripod. Besides the weight, I love how short and compact it folds in. In general while hiking I find the folded size a bigger issue then a few 100 grams of weight. Ok, it has 5 sections which means a bit more work setting up and the lowest section looks thin as a needle. Yet even when completely folded out ,it remains remarkably strong and stable. About the price, and this question has been raised before; why is a 1000 euro tripod considered ridiculously expensive while a quality prime lens at this price point is a bargain. And I bet many photographers (including me) have at least one or 2 of these lenses that are used less often or being an absolute necessity for certain situations then the tripod.

You have a good point, Jaap. When it comes to lenses, it is of no issue, but if it comes to the thing that will carry that equipment it is too expensive. I read the same things about camera bags.

It’s fairly simple, the craftsmanship and technology that goes into creating a lens is far greater than it is to assemble some carbon tubes and aluminium with some bolts.

Hardly a fair nor realistic comparison. Lenses are made up of glass, bits of aluminum, steel, bolts, glues, cheap to expensive plastics and occasionaly-cornflakes.

If the same attention to craftsmanship and quality materials inherent to the Gitzo Traveler where applied to camera lenses, manufacturing sample variation would be virtually non existent.Then we’d all be complaining about how expensive glass is (kit to quality primes).

Oh, and just in case you where thinking I’m a Gitzo fanboy. I’m not, That expensive Gitzo Safari I purchased in the 90s was a dud and it still irks me.

My main issue is the way a certain type of photographer behaves when it comes to these brands, it’s like a cult where you can only have a full frame camera, trinity of f2.8 lenses, Gitzo, RRS, Lee filters, Billingham bag etc etc and no other brand/equipment can compete when in honesty it’s utter rubbish.

It’s not about being a fanboy it’s about people believing that paying more money = best quality.

I’ve just watched a documentary about the process involved in making a Barbour wax jacket, absolutely outstanding, yet they are still cheaper than most designer jackets. For me the same logic applies with this camera gear, people are paying for names.

Utter rubbish is vast overstatement in my opinion. If you really need these brands, formats etc is a personal choice and so are the prices you're willing to pay. But also consider that because these brands have a solid reputation, if you buy a Gitzo or RSS and it you don't like it, it's way easier to sell off at a good price then cheaper, lesser known brands, which you have to practically give away to get rid of.

There are brands that have existed for decades, and even more. These brands have had a kind of market monopoly for years and so, with the quality of their products helping, they have made a name for themselves among professional photographers, a name certainly deserved, I do not question it. However, this does not mean that other, more recent brands that have not had time to make themselves known and become famous, are not just as valid, or even better. More reputable brands often take advantage of their dominant position in the market to propose prices that are often much higher than those of less well-known (and equally valid) brands. Let's tell us the truth... a tripod is a tripod (a few pieces of metal and rubber assembled), not a nuclear power plant...

I do not agree about a tripod is a tripod. If you think of it this way, you can also say that about a camera or a lens. And I think you will agree, there is a lot of difference between these.

The best travel tripod for 2024: finest lightweight tripods for your camera

Super-portable, sturdy and innovative camera supports

• Best overall
• Best for budget
• Best Premium
• Best Modern
• Best Versatility
• Best Lightweight
• Best Design

How to choose the best travel tripod for you

How we test travel tripods.

1. The list in brief 2. Best overall 3. Best budget 4. Best premium 5. Best modern 6. Best for versatility 7. Best lightweight 8. Best design 8. How to choose 9. How we test

Travel tripods are compact and lightweight and a great choice for outdoors adventures and smaller camera gear, unlike the best tripods which can be sturdier but also very heavy and unwieldy. 

You might think today's best cameras give plenty of reasons to leave the tripod at home . However, excellent high ISO performance and in-body image stablization doesn't cover all scenarios: all of the models in this guide stand firm for long exposure photography, sharp high-resolution photos and hands-free video and photos. Our overall top pick is the 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 which is strong, versatile and offers best-in-class max height. 

Small enough to be stowed in your camera bag , most travel tripods included here are available in aluminium and pricier carbon fiber versions. However, because travel tripods are quite small already, the minimal weight saved by using carbon fiber might not be worth the extra outlay of their aluminium counterparts. 

We've tested more than our share of tripods over the years, utilizing them while we're testing cameras and lenses – so we know if one offers incredibly stable shooting and decent value for money. Within this guide, we have gathered the best travel tripod you can buy right now and included further buying advice at the end of the guide.

Tim is TechRadar's Cameras editor, with over 15 years in the photo video industry and most of those in the world of tech journalism, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with all things camera related. He's reviewed a wide number of tripods and notes: "I like to keep my kit bag light, but because I enjoy landscape photography especially long exposures, and shooting video, a tripod is a key accessory. Travel tripods help keep the wait down."

The quick list

Short on time? Use our quick round-up below to find the best travel tripod for you. Use the links to jump to our full write-ups for more in-depth coverage.

The best travel tripod overall

The 3-Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 boasts a full height of 73.2 inches / 1.86m and a stylish design. A truly impressive specification for the price.

Read more below

The best travel tripod for a budget

If you're looking for your first ever tripod, Manfrotto's budget friendly offering ticks all the boxes when it comes to delivering the basics at a good price.

The best premium travel tripod

Smooth operation and build quality that will last a lifetime make this the best option for those who are happy to pay for the best. 

The best lightweight travel tripod

A basic offering from Manfrotto that is incredibly lightweight and therefore perfect for taking on your travels.

The best travel tripod for versatility

With an articulating center column, this heavy travel tripod is able to capture unique angles while providing great stability.

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The best travel tripod design

As one of the most compact travel tripods around, the Peak Design makes for a great travel companion, albeit at quite a high cost. 

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The best Travel Tripods in 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below, you'll find full write-ups for each of the best travel tripods in our list and a link to a full review. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

1. 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

When it comes to price and quality, the 3-Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 is hard to beat. For the price, you get an incredible level of versatility with the Brian 2.0, which can transform into a standard tripod, a tall monopod, or even a tabletop tripod when combined with the separately sold Vanz footwear.

The carbon fiber frame is lightweight at 3.70lbs / 1.68kg and provides a maximum height of 73.2 inches / 1.86m. This might be too tall for some, but it's always good to have the option – you don't need to use all the leg sections. Folding away to 16.5-inches / 42cm makes it easy to attach to a bag or throw in a suitcase.

As is custom in the Punks Brian 2.0 range, the tripod is available in either orange, blue, or black, depending on how much you want to stand out.

• Read our 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 review

2. Manfrotto Element MII

The Manfrotto Element MII is a fantastic budget option that does all the basics really well. At only $155 / £109 / AU$259 you're guaranteed to get everything that Manfrotto is known for, including great build quality and a well engineered head. 

The Element MII has replaced the Element Big, a change that sees a reduction in leg sections from five to four. These changes make it easier to set up and pack down. Unfortunately, it's only available in aluminum, which makes for a heavy package considering it's such a compact design.

By offering a fairly basic specification, Manfrotto is delivering simple tripod technology at a great price. Through the Element range of tripods, Manfrotto is trying to appeal to beginners and those on a budget. 

• Read our Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium review

3. Gitzo Traveler Series 1

Professional users looking for one of the best travel tripods should look no further than the Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1. All the boxes are ticked with a lightweight and excellent build, with an impressive extended height.

Oftentimes, with travel tripods, the parts don't function as smoothly as their larger counterparts. This is not the case for the Gitzo Traveler Series 1. Moving from folded to extended is a breeze, and the head is as strong and reliable as you'll ever need it to be. The ball head features separate pan locking, and its 32mm ball diameter is just about large enough to support a full-frame DSLR.

All of this premium quality comes at a price. The Traveler Series 1 costs $680 / £539 / AU$1,154 . 95. If you're in the market for a travel tripod that will last a lifetime and you're prepared to pay for it, then the Traveler Series 1 is a great choice.

• Read our Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 review

The best modern travel tripod

4. Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod

We hadn't heard of Heipi before, but were pleasantly surprised by its 3-in-1 Travel Tripod that ranks as the most modern tripod available today. It functions superbly as a regular travel tripod; it's lightweight, packs down small and provides a sturdy support for heavy gear. But it's unique 3-in-1 design is what helps Heipi's tripod stand out. 

The curious center column is in fact a table top tripod, and a sizeable one at that. It slots inside the main tripod and when fully extended it increases the max height of the tripod to 59 / 150cm, but it can also be fully removed to be placed on a raised surface, for instance for home vlogs. That's not all. Remove the tripod plate from the ball head and you'll find a mobile phone clamp tucked away that can be pulled out, transforming the tripod into a mobile phone support, large enough for phones like an  iPhone 15 Pro Max  in horizontal format.

Tripod design has remained largely the same for decades, but Heipi has created an innovative tripod for the modern user who mixes up their camera gear and shoot scenarios. The Heipi 3-in-1 isn't perfect: the center column's ingenuity comes at the cost of outright functionality, while the leg locks clamps are fiddly. However, we think the Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod is arguably the most relevant tripod in 2024 and overall it betters the pricier Peak Design, though availability is currently restricted to Heipi's own website. 

• Read our Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod review

5. Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB

The Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB is heavier and bigger than most of its competitors, something that will put a lot of people off, especially if they're doing a lot of travelling by foot. But with this weight and size comes a high level of stability that is ideal if you're shooting long exposures or time lapses.

One of the main things we love about this travel tripod is the articulating arm , which makes it possible to shoot at ground level. This is great for capturing unique and creative camera angles that would otherwise be impossible without defaulting to handheld.

Thanks to the ability to unscrew one of the legs, this travel tripod is also a very capable monopod, making it a highly versatile offering.

• Read our Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB travel tripod review 

6. Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber

At 1.25kg, this carbon fiber travel tripod is as lightweight as it gets, perfect for taking with you on your travels. It can also fit into small spaces, with a foldable length of just 41cm. If you're after a tripod that blends into the background and doesn't bother you on long journeys, then Manfrotto Befree Advanced will be great.

The lack of weight and size usually results in poor stability, something that isn't the case with this tripod. The legs are rigid and robust, which is not always guaranteed on a travel tripod.

There is no getting around it; this is a basic tripod with limited features. With no monopog leg option and a limited maximum height, it might be worth going for the slightly heavier 3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0 Travel Tripod. But if all simply need a basic support, which is true for most photographers moist the time, then this is a great option.

• Read our Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod review

7. Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Peak Design oozes a unique design that results in it being one of the most compact and lightweight options on the market. Thanks to the shape, the legs fold neatly into each other, which provides a super slim overall diameter.

The head is integral to the tripod, which takes a little bit of getting used to, and it lacks functionality. However, ultra-low-level and tabletop shooting is possible thanks to the centre column design, so although it isn't in the 'best for versatility' category, it would easily be competing for the top overall spot.

With great design comes a high price, especially if you opt for the lighter carbon fiber frame rather than the aluminium alternative. The 5 sectioned legs are strong, delivering all the stability you could need as you're out and about.

• Read our Peak Design Travel Tripod review

What to look for in a travel tripod

Choosing the best travel tripod isn't just about selecting the smallest and lightest model. Indeed, picking the lightest legs isn't always the best plan. Marginally heavier alternatives won't be a noticeable burden, but they can provide much more rigidity and versatility. 

Most of these tripods use a carbon fiber construction to save weight, but this ups the price. Some models also have aluminum counterparts. Each includes a compact ball head, but check carefully: a ball that's too small for a larger DSLR will become a precarious balancing act.

What makes a travel tripod

A neat trick shared by the vast majority of current tripods is that the legs swing fully upwards for stowage. The idea is that you first extend the centre column, then swing the legs up, so that the tripod’s feet end up encircling the head. This reduces the overall carrying length by up to 10cm or 4 inches. Indeed, many of the best travel tripods shrink down to about 30-40cm, making them small enough to fit inside a camera bag or rucksack, rather than needing to be tethered to the outside causing your bag to be unbalanced.

To give them a useful operating height, despite their small carrying size, most travel tripods feature four or even five telescopic sections per leg. Some go further still, with a two-section extending centre column. This naturally enables a greater maximum operating height, so you can be sure no matter how high your camera needs to be it will be able to get the shot you want.

The drawbacks are that each telescoping joint is an area of potential weakness, reducing rigidity, and the bottom leg sections are likely to be quite thin and spindly. A large number of twist or clip locks for all the sections also demands more time for setting up the tripod and folding it down again. 

Do I even need a tripod?

Today's very best mirrorless cameras and computational photography modes especially in smartphones and the OM System OM-1 that go a long way to eliminating the need for a tripod. We list 5 reasons why photographers no longer need a tripod that includes super-effective in-body image stablization for handheld shooting even with professional high-resolution cameras, in-camera HDR modes so you no longer need to do multi-shot exposure stacking, plus improved image quality at high ISOs. 

However, there are times and photography effects that still require a tripod. Tripods can be crucial for studio photography and for video work in general where you can lock off the camera in position for long periods and free up your hands. The same goes for long exposure photography, staging group photos, plus the times you need free hands to attach or remove accessories from your camera, like lens filters and mics. 

Significant advances in camera tech have put the once necessary photography accessory under threat, but there will still be a place for tripods for a long time yet. 

Tripods only have a fairly limited number of features. Despite that, we like to make sure we've tested every single part and compared them to others to see where each one stands apart from the rest.

We make sure to test our travel tripods over a period of time using a range of different cameras and lens combinations. Some tripods will be fine with specific cameras, but not others. By testing multiple types, we're able to see how ubiquitous each one is.

The process of folding and unfolding travel tripods is something that travellers have to do all the time. We therefore go through this process numerous times to see how each one feels and functions. 

Some tripods have features that are truly unique, such as the articulating center column on the Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB. Whatever the feature, we put it through its paces to see if it puts it above its competitors.

We do all of this while travelling around and thinking like photographers on the go. This helps us to make comments that are helpful for making informed buying decisions.

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Tim is the Cameras editor at TechRadar. He has enjoyed more than 15 years in the photo video industry with most of those in the world of tech journalism. During his time as Deputy Technical Editor with Amateur Photographer, as a freelancer and consequently editor at Tech Radar, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with cameras, educating others through news, reviews and features. He’s also worked in video production for Studio 44 with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi. Tim is curious, a keen creative, avid footballer and runner, and moderate flat white drinker who has lived in Kenya and believes we have much to enjoy and learn from each other. 

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The 10 BEST Travel Tripods – Ultimate Photo Guide [2024]

• Last Updated: February 2, 2024

If you’re in the market to buy the best travel tripod then we’ve got you covered! Working as professional travel photographers we have personally tried and tested countless products on the market, and now are ready to share our expert guide to the best tripods for travel in 2024!

Having spent almost a decade travelling the world on various photography assignments, from Antarctica to the Arctic and everywhere in between, it’s safe to say when it comes to gear, we know what works and what doesn’t.

While some accessories are a bit more generic than others, what we’ve found over the years is that selecting something as important as tripods is not so straightforward as one would think.

We’ve bought, tested, and eventually ditched, dozens of travel tripods since we first got into photography, and are always on the hunt for the best deals.

Editors Choice: Peak Design Travel Tripod

We’ve tested everything and officially declared this Peak Design product as our top selection for best travel tripods. It’s lightweight, reaches eye level, durable and packs down to the size of a water bottle. You can save a few bucks with the aluminium version or choose carbon fiber for the best in travel photography technology.

Table of Contents

Peak Design Travel Tripod

Punks travis system  , manfrotto befree, vanguard veo 2 go, joby gorillapod 3k pro, zomei iphone tripod, benro systemgo, gitzo traveler series 1, sirui t-005x, mefoto backpacker s , portability , best professional tripod: gitzo traveler series 1, most portable tripod: joby gorillapod 3k.

These days we have finally narrowed it down to our favourite few products, based on features, durability, portability and price, and after thousands of questions from friends and readers we have finally sat down to share our top recommendations from our experience.

But do you really need a tripod for travel photography?

You might think it’s a bit unnecessary, but truth is the travel photography you can create is going to be so much higher quality thanks to one of these essential tools.

Even the steadiest hands give off some shake, and the second you start diving into the world of long exposures, you’re going to need to keep your camera perfectly still.

Speaking of cameras, make sure you check out legendary guide to travel cameras here !

A lightweight travel tripod will provide crystal clear shots, time-lapse video, panoramas, and long-exposure looks at the night sky.

Besides helping create beautiful images, a tripod also comes in handy if you want to setup the camera to take a photo of yourself when no one else is around.

So why talk about the best travel tripods specifically, rather than just camera tripods in general?

Before you can set up your tripod and start shooting, you’ll have to haul your gear to the location.

Any traditional camera tripod may be capable of capturing the shot, but might be too heavy to carry with you.

Remember, you’ll have to carry every piece of gear you take on your hike and back every step of the way.

Photography equipment built for travel has one primary objective: be light weight.

Great travel tripods are small enough to slip into a daypack and strong enough to withstand a grouchy luggage handler to bring a quick and easy setup on the move. 

Even a professional travel tripod will compromise some operating features to be more portable.

Whether it’s a lower peak height or wobbly legs, a tripod built for travel won’t have the same comfort levels as a traditional tripod, but packability is priceless. 

The good news is, there are plenty of travel tripods that provide enough creature comforts and extra features that allow them to serve your needs beautifully, and we’re here to show you what the best options have to offer. 

This epic buying guide will cover everything you need to know to feel confident in your purchase.

READ MORE: Keen to become a better creator? Check out our expert guide to our best travel photography tips !

Whether your valuable equipment needs a strong max load, your far-reaching panorama requires great maximum height or your extreme adventures require durable carbon fiber construction, we’ve got the sturdy travel tripod for your next adventure.

There are loads of different components that make up a tripod kit, and no one secret formula to success. Tripod manufacturers and models all have different strengths and weaknesses that allow them to function in different scenarios.

In addition to showcasing the best-in-class tripods, we’ll examine some key points to consider when choosing the best travel tripods for you. So take a look, get your batteries charged, and start shooting with the best tripod for your needs.

The Best Travel Tripods 

We’re on our way to the mountaintop just before sunrise to grab an epic shot. And we’re not going to take just any old tripod with us.

To qualify for this buying guide, the tripods on our list offer the best overall value and utility.

Starting at the pinkies of the interchangeable rubber feet up to maximum height with a ball head attached, we expanded and compacted the leading lightweight travel tripods.

Whether you’re looking for something petite for a compact camera or a full-sized unit, read on to find the best travel tripod for your trip.

Peak Design isn’t just a company name – it’s a brand legacy. After revolutionising the industry with their Capture Clips and backpacks, their award-winning travel tripod was crowdfunded thanks to its smattering of unique design features that make it fit uniquely in every camera bag.

Peak Design spent four years working on this aluminium and carbon fiber travel tripod. An included ball head design that works with unique leg locks to reduce the mini tripod to the diameter of a can of tomato sauce and extend out to a maximum height at eye level. 

The ball-head of such a compact tripod may look funky, but the potential is there, and the ARCA -compatible camera plate works with most DSLRs.

You may feel a bit awkward swinging your camera around the first few shots, but this center ball-head is also one of the biggest reasons this tripod is so packable. Once you get the hang of operation, you may never switch back.  

It’s not the most affordable tripod out there, but any passionate photographer will tell you not to skimp on key camera accessories .

Don’t trust a cheap plastic base to protect your DSLR camera; trust in this sturdy aluminium version (or pay extra for the carbon fiber tripod, which we did ) backed up by a lifetime guarantee. 

• Packs down to the size of a water bottle
• Lifetime warranty
• Light, durable and versatile

If it wasn’t for the incredible product design at Peak Design, this Travis system would be the clear-cut champ of the travel tripod market – despite not even being created for travel first. 

At $100 less than their rival and with loads of valuable features, this three-legged thing is an excellent addition to any camera kit. 

While it doesn’t pack down to the same compact folded length as our editor’s choice tripod above, Travis has its own strengths. It’s not just trying to be the best travel tripod, it wants to be the only tripod you own. Whether you’re into standard travel photos, astrophotography or waterfall photography , this unit has you covered.

It’s tough to argue with some of its specs. With a great maximum heigh, durability, and strong tripod legs, there aren’t many shots you can’t capture with this tool. 

What we love most about this tripod is the number of professional features the photography-focused 3 Legged Thing brand brought to the little guy.

This system features extra foot options, a quick-release plate, and extension accessories normally reserved for professional tripods that cost hundreds more than this affordable option. You can build out your tripod any way you see fit.  

• Loads of customization options
• 11:1 load to weight ratio
• Ships with its own carrying bag
• Not a travel tripod first

Manfrotto’s BeFree line of travel tripods can be hard to navigate. The Befree tripods come at a variety of costs supporting loads of different features. 

While any model will give you a sturdy camera stand, our favourite BeFree tripod is the 2N1 model , which comes with monopod options.

Detach the center leg, and you’ve got the perfect selfie stick!

You won’t have to lug the entire tripod around when a monopod will do the trick. Put it all back together and you’ll have 4 different leg sections that help you get the shot at all levels.

That’s a great feature, and this robust travel tripod is way more than a one-trick pony. Twist locks clamp across the ball head and each leg allows plenty of height adjustment up to eye level. We love the simple brilliance of a good twist and lock tripod. 

No need to reinvent the wheel; Manfrotto instead took quality features and built them into a lightweight travel tripod affordable to photographers of all levels. 

They also have other models that are worth a look, such as the Manfrotto Befree Advanced.

• Can also be used as a monopod
• Wide selection of tripod models for various features
• Click or twist-lock options
• Doesn’t pack down as low as other models
• No carbon fibre models

Right away, we couldn’t believe that this affordably priced travel tripod comes with carbon fibre construction.

The ultralight and durable material carbon fiber is usually reserved for the most expensive travel tripod options, but Vanguard has made carbon fiber available at a fraction of the cost. 

If materials are the number one concern on your list, but price is a close second, this tripod makes the decision easy.

Set up requires five flip locks that allow the tool to reduce to a tiny size and expand up to eye level, all at less than three pounds. 

Shop around to find a VEO 2 Go package that includes a bubble level, cell phone mount and Bluetooth remote or whatever customisation options you want to bring along with you. One thing for sure, this bad boy is all about traveling light. 

• Packs down very small
• Carbon fibre at an affordable price
• Reversible centre column
• No carbon fibre option

There’s light, and then there’s this. A vlogger and amateur camera-man special, the slingy arms of the Joby GorillaPod 3k is always a go-to for travel photographers where space and flexibility are of the utmost importance.

This is not a full size tripod, as it won’t extend much higher than one foot, but it can be used just about anywhere and the 3k version is perfect for point-and-shoot or mid-sized mirrorless camera setup.

They’re so good, we have two!

The GorillaPod travel tripod can be wrapped around trees, poles or mounted easily to ledges, walls, and car hoods for quick and beautiful shots.

The larger 5K tripod has a larger max load that can support DSLR cameras, but this slim 3K tool supports smartphones and go pros and fits into any daypack. 

The legs of this Joby tripod are flexible, allowing you to find stability and center the horizon on all sorts of uneven surfaces. Above all else, this aluminum tripod is one of the more affordable options on our list. 

If you’re not shopping for a full size best travel tripod, look towards this GorillaPod to fit into every luggage and balance on every surface. 

• Super flexible legs
• Works in places where full-size tripods are banned
• Only extends 16 inches
• Won’t support a larger camera

For the travel photographer that prefers to leave their big DSLR or mirrorless cameras at home and stick to their favourite smartphone, the ZOMEi iPhone Tripod is the one for you.

For less than 20 bucks, you can secure your phone for stable action shots and easy selfies.

If you just want a few memories to send to the folks at home, you can casually throw this ZOMEi lighter tripod in your day pack and start exploring. 

It’s so light you won’t even notice it in your luggage, and once it’s time to shoot, you can take advantage of the three-legged tripod and remote control to capture yourself in motion just as easily as others. 

You can easily sling this tripod to whatever angle you need, making it a perfect option for capturing backyard skateparks and backflips. It’s also a great choice for budding vloggers who haven’t started raking in the ad revenue.

Remote shutter features allow you to stop and start live streams without walking up to the camera.

The affordability, remote start, and iPhone functionality make this a great first tripod, so you can see what a great set of three legs can do for your photography. 

• Most affordable tripod on our list
• Comes with a remote shutter
• Built to work with iPhones
• Can’t support a dSLR
• Five leg sections to clip through

The SystemGo gets a huge boost by Benro’s additional range of accessories.

It’s a tabletop tripod that can double as a mobile work or photo editing station with the GoPlatform that allows you to mount your laptop with the same protection and versatility as your camera.

Even without this fancy feature, this tripod would be worth a second look .

Benro’s center column helps expand your field of view, although unfortunately, you’ll have to supply your own ball head. 

Its affordability takes a hit because of all these additional purchases, but camera operators who want more choice will love this system.

The built-in monopod attachment grants you further control over your kit. You can detach the center leg and use the travel tripod as an arm-extending monopod if you don’t feel like lugging the entire arsenal. 

Look past all these extra features, and you’ll see a great, folding, sturdy tripod with a heavy operating capacity at a modest weight. 

• Doubles as a mobile workstation
• Can be used as a monopo d
• Includes a padded soft case
• Ball head sold separately
• Larger than other options on our list

Trust this piece of gear to be ready to roll before sunrise. Carbon fibre can sometimes sacrifice durability in the name of lightweight, but not this Gitzo .

Gitzo tripods are no less than three pounds of the best tripod functionality whittled down to travel size. 

This series is the closest thing to a professional-grade carbon fiber travel tripod on our list, and it still fits in overhead flight storage.

A Swiss Arca quick release ball head and reverse folding leg design allow you to stow this carbon fiber tripod and quickly expand the leg sections when it’s time to shoot. 

Five twist-lock sections are user-friendly and easy to activate to make getting the perfect height even easier. I feel further responsibility to nitpick ultra-expensive options, and we do wish the legs would extend to a bit higher than 58 inches, but overall this series is well worth the high price. 

Gitzo is arguably the number one name in tripods, and with their Traveler series, you can expect nothing less but the best stability and user-friendly features from this model. 

However, for most amateur and even professional photographers, we feel that other tripods can perform the same functions at a fraction of the cost.

The major exception to this is any travel photographers planning to shoot in extreme weather. You won’t find anything more storm-ready than this Gitzo.  

• Respected tripod brand
• Very durable
• High max load weight
• Quite expensive

Sirui’s aluminum travel tripod cemented its place on our list thanks to its incredibly low price point and high quality build.

If you’re not shopping for a cheap plastic iPhone only tripod, this is the most affordable travel tripod you can find that still offers the stability and performance to be worth bringing along. 

Don’t expect this tripod to rock a heavy load capacity; it’s simply a cheaper aluminum version of the best models on the market.

We love how lightweight it is, and the number of leg sections fold up nicely to stow the tripod in about a foot of space. 

We didn’t love the fact that twist locks split into five different leg sections even though the tripod head won’t reach near 5 feet high.

Oh well, they are what they are, the best budget travel tripods on our list. If you’re looking for no more than three legs and a high build quality ball head, look no further. 

• Very affordable
• Really lightweight
• Carbon fibre and aluminium hybrid
• Centre column doesn’t compact

To round out our best travel tripod list, we present another sturdy option that saves you a bit of money.

The Backpacker S doesn’t pump out eye-popping specs, but it does stay incredibly affordable and lightweight.

And most of us won’t need anything more than this sturdy tripod with Swiss Arca ball plates – no need for a hex key!

The ball-head allows complete 180-degree rotations of your camera, perfect for panoramas. You can have your choice of several bright colors, all with great functionality at an affordable price. 

It’s another high-quality aluminum tripod that isn’t trying to reinvent the industry.

Instead, Mefoto has presented affordable and lightweight travel tripods that prove you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to shoot with stability. 

• Can be converted into a monopod
• Additional mount available for phones and cameras
• Affordable and customisable
• Not built for all-weather
• Decent across the board but doesn’t have any exceptional features

How to Choose the Best Tripods for Travel

As you can see, there’s a lot of great options when it comes to selecting the best travel tripod!

By definition, tripods often look pretty similar – Three legs with varying degrees of leg locks come together at a ball-head camera mount, maybe with a quick release plate.

With so much standardisation in construction, how can one tripod be considered better than the rest?

While loads of budget tripods can provide a capable camera stand, there are only a few products that seriously consider each of the following factors.

To choose the best travel tripod for your next adventures, take a look at these factors and decide which ones are most important for your needs. 

Ask yourself how you’ll be travelling to your photoshoots. If you’re travelling with an entire car full of room, you won’t have to worry as much about tripod weight as you will if you’re looking for a compact travel tripod that is also a hiking companion. 

Long-term travellers living out of a backpack may not feel the difference in a pound or two, but should emphasise buying a tripod that compacts to a small size.

And, of course, we have to be able to afford the dang thing! 

READ MORE: Make sure you have a good way to carry your tripod by diving deep into our ultimate guide to the best camera backpacks !

Without portability, your travel tripod is just a tripod. Your tripod’s portability will be a combination of its weight and folding size. 

Weight is a straightforward factor to consider – less is more! However, a lightweight tripod may sacrifice a bit of durability to weigh next to nothing, and lightweight tripods are generally more expensive, such. asthe

Ask yourself how many miles you plan on walking with your entire load capacity on your back, and let that answer define how lightweight your travel tripod will be. The lightest options on our list weigh between 2-4 pounds.

The folded length is just as important as weight. The Peak Design Travel Tripod ’s ability to condense down to the size of a water bottle is what earned its title of the best travel tripod.  

We want the number of leg sections to fold down and fit inside our travel bag, but some ultra-folding travel tripods may sacrifice maximum load capacity and durability to bend further.

Visualise how you will be transporting your tripod weight and decide how important folded length is to keep everything inside your backpack.

Aha! The reason why tripods aren’t more portable across the board. I like my tripods to reach as close to eye level as possible, about 5 feet at maximum height. Anything more is a bonus, but anything less will start to lose value. 

Don’t forget to check out minimum folded height as well! You might want a tripod that can function with a leg angle selector at only a few inches off the ground for close-up shots, which can be handy for some types of landscape photography .

Not all 6-foot tripods are built the same, a lot depends on the number of leg sections it takes to get there.

Look at how the tallest travel tripod reaches its height and make sure it doesn’t sacrifice too much max load – we still need a sturdy tripod!

The more sections your tripod has, the smaller its folded height may be, but the more leg locks you’ll have to turn loose before your tripod is ready to shoot. 

I find that tripods with more than four leg sections start to be less sturdy and more annoying to lock up. 

Some of the tripods on our list are not cheap, especially if it’s a carbon fiber tripod. If you’re making a significant investment in your travel tripod though, you should expect it to last.

We’ve already touched on a few factors that impact durability; lightweight status, tripod weight, and leg sections. But the biggest indicator of your tripod’s durability is the build materials. 

Most of the tripods on our list use aluminum and carbon fiber. We do not recommend investing in a travel tripod made of plastic if you plan on taking it through the wringer.

Even if you don’t plan on bumps and bruises, the cheapest travel tripod won’t last more than a year or two, it will be flimsy and you wouldn’t even want to trust compact cameras on it.

Aluminum is a great middle ground. It’s not so expensive, and it’s not very fragile.

Travellers taking photos in normal weather conditions and exposing their gear to an average amount of wear and tear will be OK with the lightweight metal, and it still supports great maximum height.

Going near the ocean though, or want the best travel tripod on the market? You’ll need to look at carbon fiber tripods.

Carbon fiber is the strongest, lightest, and most weather-resistant material used in tripod construction, but also the most expensive. Invest in a carbon fiber tripod if you plan on shooting rain or shine. 

Some other tripods are made up of a combination of the two materials to strike up a middle ground. 

There’s a large amount of range in tripod pricing, and you can expect to get what you pay for. As you can see, you can find a good tripod for anywhere from $100- $400. Even higher if you’re looking at the Peak Design Travel Tripod (it’s worth the price tag though).

I strongly believe in investing in your gear, but you shouldn’t buy a travel tripod that costs more than your camera!

Some gearheads will swear by the most expensive options, but the truth is, casual travellers won’t need the features included on a $400 tripod. 

That’s a Wrap!

We broke out the zoom lens and examined the landscape of the best travel tripods on the market with everything we got. Hopefully, the image is starting to get a bit more clear.

While best travel tripod won’t affect your picture quality as much as your camera will, a sturdy, steady, and lightweight tripod will go a long way towards sharp images and safe camera use. 

Whether you’re trying to play with long exposures, vlogging, or working in low-light, our editor’s choice Peak Design Travel Tripod will help you perform to your fullest no matter where you’re shooting. 

Looking for other ideas? Here is our runner up in 2 different categories:

This special carbon fiber tripod won’t come cheap, but it’s the best we’ve tested, and you can always write it off as a business expense if you’re a pro.

The three-pound unit offers excellent stability, durability, and portability that will pay for itself during your first long hike or voyage.

Get the best deal for it here .

Incredibly small, flexible, and portable, this tripod can go anywhere you can. Add in the surprisingly sturdy ball heads at a reasonable price, and you’ve got a simple option focused on portability.

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Best Travel Tripods (Take Epic Pics On The Go)

Traveling with camera gear can be a complete nightmare. Every extra thing you take with you adds up to extra weight, and, extra space. Things you often don’t have enough of.

I was recently faced with exactly this dilemma, while also trying to upgrade my 10-year-old, super small, but mostly useless, old tripod.

At A Glance: Our Top 3 Travel Tripods

• Best Overall Tripod Three Legged Thing - Brian Carbon Fiber Jump To Review
• Best High-End Tripod Gitzo Traveler Series 1 GT1555T Tripod Jump To Review
• Best Budget Tripod Benro SLIM Carbon Fiber (FSL09CN00) Jump To Review

So in this post, I am going to share the fruits of my long, arduous quest for the best travel tripod. From the top of the line to the super affordable, I have found the best options out there to help you take amazing pictures on the road!

Top Product Overview

Top travel tripods in 2021, three legged thing - brian carbon fiber.

When I was looking for a new lightweight travel tripod, I thought I would end up with one of the more popular brands. However, don’t close your mind to new players, there are some amazing travel tripods out there like this one – Brian from Three Legged Thing .

Three-Legged Thing is a “relatively” new brand in the tripod world. They are based in the UK and produce super-high-quality tripods that are focused on travel.

I came across them in my recent quest for a new travel tripod. I read all the reviews and blog posts around, and always saw the same companies – Manfrotto, BeFree, Gitzo, etc. But I wanted to find the optimal tripod in terms of weight, useable height, and collapsed size. All without giving up any functionality.

Three-Legged Thing also produces a huge range of tripods , so if you want something smaller, longer, lighter, etc. they are sure to have it.

I ended up with the Brian tripod from Three Legged Thing because it fits all those criteria. It fits easily in a normal backpack, is close to the best lightweight tripod around, and when it is fully extended it is 74 inches (188 cm) – so eye level or above for almost anyone. Rare in such a lightweight travel tripod.

They have also thought about almost everything including

• the ability to get super low by removing the center column (and make a Monopod with one of the tripod legs too!)
• super fast extension of the legs with their patented rubber grips on the twist locks
• reverse collapsed so it is super-compact (the legs fold 180 degrees to envelope the tripod head)
• a super slim, easy to use a tripod ball head
• removable and changeable feet (buy separately – spikes etc)
• And it looks stunning too with the blue/orange anodized Aluminium they used!

My only beef with this tripod apart from the fact I would have liked it to be even lighter (you can get those, but they are always smaller and don’t expand as high) is that it does not have a quick-release plate – a minor detail, given you can get alternative heads for it. It is Arca compatible though. And of course, it sits on a lovely ball head, so all in all you can’t really complain.

But for me, this is the best travel tripod you can get right now.

• Super compact & lightweight tripod
• Extends up to 74 inches (188 cm)
• Easy to open up and exten
• Moderate price compared to similar models from other brands
• Tripod ball head does not have quick release
• Not the cheapest option - but mid-range and worth it in my opinion

Product Information

• Materials: Carbon fiber
• Weight: 3lb / 1.36kg
• Max Height: 74" / 188 cm
• Folded Length: 16.1"/ 41 cm
• Max capacity: 30.9lb / 14 kg

Gitzo Traveler Series 1 GT1555T Tripod

Gitzo makes the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to tripods, and many would claim they are the absolute best tripod around. Quite a few travel photographers will be seen on Youtube toting a Gitzo and for good reason. The quality and craftsmanship of their gear are almost second to none.

It just comes with a price tag to match. And, I actually found the specs a little lacking compared to Brian above when I seriously compared them. And for more than double the price, Three Legged had me sold.

Anyway, back to the Gitzo . It is a carbon fiber tripod at 3.1 pounds and extends all the way to 58.5″ (158.6 cm) so not quite as high as the Brian, but most people will be ok with it.

Note: If you want a taller one, you will have to compromise on the weight and folded height quite a bit. One model you can check out is the Gitzo GK2545T  (max height 65.2″)

Where this carbon fiber tripod excels in the specs is the folded length is one of the smallest around at 14 inches (35.6 cm) so will easily fit in any backpack or case.

The Traveler has all the other features you would expect from a lightweight travel tripod including:

• Reverse collapsible twist-lock legs with 3 angles
• Top-notch tripod ball head with quick release (arca compatible)
• Short center column to help get lower to the ground
• Easy to use ball head for image alignment
• Exceptional quality
• Super-lightweight at 3.1lb
• Compact folded size: 14 inches
• Quick release plate
• Very expensive
• Extended height a little lacking, but there are bigger models
• No Monopod ability
• Weight: 3.1 lb / 1.4kg
• Max Height: 58.5" / 158.6 cm
• Folded Length: 14"/ 35.6 cm
• Max load: 22 lb / 10 kg

Benro SLIM Carbon Fiber (FSL09CN00)

The Benro Slim is probably the cheapest, smallest, and simplest of all the lightweight travel tripods in this review. That doesn’t mean that it’s not worth your time, it just lacks a few features and a little bit of full height, as well as weight capacity.

But it makes for a great travel companion for those wanting to save weight, space and don’t need pro camera features.

Weighing in at 2.64lb, it’s certainly the lightest I have seen in a while. And I was surprised it was able to extend to 57.1 inches (147cm). Not a towering tripod, but given it collapses to 12.9 inches (32.7cm) it’s probably the smallest too.

Otherwise, it is quite a simple travel tripod, with an extending and reversible center column, simple lockable 4 part carbon fiber legs that have multiple angles (as all of them do).

The one small touch it does have is a hook on the end of the column to hang your bag or weight for windy conditions.

The ball head is decent enough, although not quick release. It has a bubble level that gets hidden by the camera when attached, which is a small downside. But the lever release is an easy-to-use feature. And this lightweight travel tripod has a separate panoramic knob for rotating.

All in all, this would be the best option in terms of size, weight, and price, if you want to save on all three! (and don’t mind the reduced max height or capacity).

Note:  there is an even smaller and cheaper option too, the  Benro TSL08CN00 .

• One of the lightest
• One of the most compact
• Easy to set up and use
• Very affordable
• Reduced maximum height (57.1")
• Hard to get low to the ground (have to reverse column)
• No monopod options
• Weight: 2.64 lb / 1.2 kg
• Maximum Height: 58.5" / 158.6 cm
• Max load: 8.8 lb / 4 kg

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Tripod

Manfrotto is one of the absolute go-to brands when it comes to travel tripods and their BeFree series of tripods has definitely made a name for them.

In researching the best travel tripod to buy, I, unfortunately, read a few too many complaints about them to consider them in my final selection. However, they are still loved by many, and for good reason.

Their lightweight carbon fiber BeFree is almost ideal in most of the ways you want a tripod to be. It’s relatively light (but not as light as the Gitzo or 3 Legged above) at 3.59 lb (1.63kg), and can extend to a decent height: 59 inches (159cm), but still short of my final choice Brian.

It almost beats the Gitzo in terms of folded length, at 16.1 inches (40.9cm), which is impressive. It uses the same backward folding, twist-lock leg sections that have become quite the standard in tripods, and makes the most sense as it hides the ball head that way, as you can see below.

However, the Manfrotto is missing some of the features that the more intelligently designed tripods seem to have. This includes the ability to remove the center column to get down low – you have to reverse it and hang the camera under the tripod to do that instead.

It also lacks a place to hang your bag or weight in windy conditions and does not convert to a monopod.

However, the 3 part twist lock, quick release leg sections mean it is marginally faster to extend than others. And of course, it has easy to open legs and the usual ball head that can be used at any angle. All things you would expect from a modern tripod.

However, given the price of this travel tripod, some people will be ok with these compromises

• Super lightweight
• Decent max extension
• 3 part leg sections easy to extend
• Hard to get low to the ground (can't remove center column)
• No monopod capability (they have another model for that)
• Nowhere to hang a weight for windy conditions
• Weight: 3.59 lb / 1.63kg
• Maximum Height: 59 inches / 159cm
• Folded Length: 16.1"/ 40.9 cm
• Max load: 17.6 lb / 8 kg

Benro Travel Angel 2 Series Carbon Fiber (FTA28CV1)

Benro’s Slim above is one of the simplest and lightest, but if you want some more height or weight capacity, then you can upgrade to their Travel Angel series. It is not the best in the class of some of the others, but it has solid specifications in all areas, so is a reasonable travel tripod.

Its maximum height is 66.9 inches / 170 cm, which is still not towering, but more than decent for a travel tripod. This also means it weighs a little more at 4 lb / 1.8kg, a compromise for the height and weight capacity of 22lb.

Again, if this is the kind of feature you need, then Brian beats them all and is lighter and more compact. But Benro makes a competitive travel tripod for sure.

This model also has all the features you will love such as the ability to turn it into a monopod, and a place to add weight via the underside of the center column.

Like many of the other travel tripods above, it also features a twist lock, quick-release legs, an easy-to-use ball head, and the standard plate mounting system to help attach your camera with ease.

However, it is just a little shorter than I personally would have liked. That does not mean it’s not a good travel tripod for you though.

• Fairly light, compact and extendable for a travel tripod
• Converts to a monopod
• Can hang weight from the center column
• Not as high as the Brian
• A little bit on the heavy side
• Weight: 4 lb / 1.8kg
• Maximum Height: 66.9 inches / 170 cm
• Folded Length: 18.7"/ 47.5 cm

Vanguard VEO 235AB Aluminium

Generally, I don’t include Aluminium tripods in this review because they are heavier than the carbon fiber tripod version and that defeats the travel tripod purpose in my humble opinion. However, in this case, the Vanguard is a great low-priced alternative that is also quite light.

Weighing in at 3.3 lb (1.49 kg) it’s still respectable and also extends to a decent enough 58.6 inches (148cm) and collapses to a small enough 15 inches (38cm ).

Where this travel tripod excels is the foldable center column which can be very handy for weird angles and overtop shots of things on the ground. Not something most of us need a lot, but it can be handy to have the option.

It also has retractable spikes in the feet in case you get yourself in some slippery situations, and an adapter if you want to get down low (no need to reverse the center column). There is also the standard ball head that you can use at almost any angle.

In summary, for the weight and size, as well as the low price, this makes a great entry-level option for any traveler with a camera!

• Very affordable, compact and light
• Low height adapter instead of center column (for low shots)
• Max Height is reasonable
• Folding center column for various angles
• Retracting spiked feet
• Max height is a little lacking
• No monopod option
• Weight: 3.3 lb / 1.5kg
• Maximum Height: 57.1 inches / 145 cm
• Folded Length: 14.9"/ 37.8 cm
• Max load: 13.2 lb / 6 kg

Sirui W-1204 Carbon Fiber Tripod

If you plan on taking your travel tripod to some wet places, then the  Sirui waterproof tripod  is perhaps the one for you. It is the only truly waterproof model in this review.

Like most of the tripods in the travel category, it comes with full carbon fiber legs, with easy-to-use twist locks for fast deployment. These locks are also fully waterproof preventing both water and dust from entering the mechanism and the legs themselves. And the leg angle is automatically locked and easy to change.

It is not the lightest tripod around (at 3.7 lb), but it does make up for that with the amount of extension, reaching a height of 70.9 inches, which is certainly impressive.

It is also a reasonably priced travel tripod for what you get, which is always a plus. However, not being as popular or well-known a brand, there might be better options above, that is for sure. I for one love my Three-legged thing!

• Waterproof and easy to extend legs
• Very high when fully extended
• Not as compact as most
• A little heavy and long for my liking
• Weight: 3.7 lb / 1.67 kg
• Maximum Height: 70.9 inches / 180 cm
• Folded Length: 20. 5 in.
• Max load: 39 lb / kg18

Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is one of the smallest and lightest on the market. After all, Peak Design has been relentlessly focusing on improving camera gear for years.

One of the biggest selling points of this travel tripod is how small it packs down. The leg sections collapse down and fold together in such a way that it resembles a water bottle. So, you can easily slide the Peak Design travel tripod into the bottle holder of any pack.

This travel tripod also comes in two flavors, Aluminum, and Carbon fiber, so you can choose how light you want it, and how much you want to spend to get that weight saving.

Overall, this is an impressively compact travel tripod that is very well designed and comes with premium materials. Just remember to add a ball head to your shopping list.

The biggest downside for some may be the fact that the Peak design travel tripod does not have panning. But, if you can live without that, you are good to go!

SEE THE CARBON VERSION HERE .

• Insanely compact
• Two material/weight options
• All the features you need
• Panning not an option
• Minimum height: 14 cm / 5.5 inches
• Max height: 152.4 cm / 60 inches
• Weight: Aluminium: 1.56 kg / 3.44 lbs / Carbon fibre: 1.27 kg / 2.81 lbs
• Max load: 9.1 kg / 20 lbs

Compact Travel Tripods To Consider

I did not want to go into detail on absolutely every tripod on the market. However, there are a few other tripods you might want to consider for various reasons.

The first is the Joby GorillaPod which is super popular because of its extremely lightweight and compactness. However, be careful when considering this tripod as I had a small one and they just cannot realistically handle a large camera at all. So, if you have anything other than a light compact camera, I would not use one.

Another option in this very compact category that is far more capable of handling a larger camera is the Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod . As you probably know, Manfrotto is the king when it comes to tripods, however, they have just been facing more competition of late. This mini tripod is worth having in your bag as a backup or for when you just can’t carry a larger tripod around.

What To Look For In A Travel Tripod

The following are what I consider to be the most important things to look for:

Travel Tripod Weight

One of the biggest things you have to deal with when traveling is weight. So, when looking for a travel tripod I usually look at weight as one of the biggest deciders.

Depending on how big (high) the tripod can go and the material it is made from (carbon fiber is lighter in general) the tripod will vary in weight in the 2.5-4 lb range. It’s all a compromise though, as lighter often means more expensive or shorter overall.

Travel Tripod Height

Depending on how you shoot, this can be a deal-breaker or not a big deal at all. Photographers that rely on the viewfinder will want a tripod that comes up to eye level. So, look for a tripod with a maximum height that matches your eye height (which is a little lower than your actual height, so be careful to remember that).

If you have a live-view or mirrorless camera, then this may be less of a problem. Because you can always tilt the screen to see what is going on. However, it does limit you in terms of maneuverability and overall height in terms of seeing over objects and so forth.

However, it is a travel tripod and you have to compromise on something!

Collapsed Length Of A Tripod

A travel tripod will usually have to fit into your backpack, or your suitcase, so just be sure that it can. This means figuring out what the maximum overall size/length can be for your situation. For me, it was important that it was as small as possible, without compromising too much on max. height. That is why I settled on Brian. However, you can get taller, and shorter ones that compromise on other things too.

Materials & Durability

Most of the tripods in this review are carbon fiber. Some are Aluminium. There is little difference in terms of durability, it is just that carbon fiber is more expensive and lighter.

Where you want to pay attention is in the details like the sleeves to open and close the leg sections, the ball head mechanism, and so forth. it is not always easy to know, but if you read the reviews on Amazon, people who have owned them will give you lots of clues about quality and materials.

Special Features

Most of the travel tripods have the same features like a ball head, collapsable legs with twist locks, and so on. However, there are a few things extra you might want to have.

The first is a monopod which is made using the center column, that is fully removable. Another is to consider how the plate is mounted and where the bubble levels are. This can have a huge effect on usability.

Travel Tripod Price

The cheapest travel tripods in this review are around the $100 mark. However, they are not the best in terms of build quality, materials, and features. Similarly, the most expensive, the Gitzo Traveler is nearly $1000, and for most people not worth the money.

• Carbon exact tubes; reverse-folding legs
• Traveler G-Lock leg lock system

However, if you are just starting out, then something like the Benro Slim is a great option in terms of size, weight, and features. Then if you really want to upgrade, you can in the future.

• Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod - 494 Center Ball Head (MH494-BH) - Quick Release Plate (200PL-PRO) - Padded Tripod Bag - Manfrotto 10 Year Limited Warranty (6 Month + 9 Year & 6 Month Extension with Online Registration)
• Advanced Travel Tripod kit Carbon

If you want something a little better, the Brian or the Manfrotto or BeFree are better bets.

• Meet Corey, our most compact entry-level Punks tripod brought to you by 3 Legged Thing. This lightweight, ultra-compact system is made with durable, aircraft grade magnesium alloy and features a wealth of practical elements to make your shoot smooth and simple - the perfect travel companion!
• Extending from 10cm up to 1.5m, Corey offers a wide range of working heights, folding down to just 34cm and weighing only 1.5kg, making it the ultimate companion for photographers on the go. Despite its compact size, it can support up to 14kg - 9 times its own weight!
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Gitzo Mini Traveler: a little bit of luxury that everyone can probably afford

Classic Italian design in a petite three-legged package

Most of us dream of owning a Gitzo tripod... with this new table top model your dreams may not only come true, but the mini support is small enough to take wherever you go.

The Gitzo MIni Traveler is hailed to be the world's most compact professional-grade carbon fibre tripod. Aimed at high-end photographers, who wish to travel light and most frequently make use of medium-sized optics on their DSLR or mirrorless camera (take a look at our list of the best travel cameras right now), the Mini Traveler benefits from the same precision-engineered carbon fibre and aluminium structure as other tripods in the Gitzo range. The materials are treated using a special anodic oxidation processes for added durability. 

Weighing just 265g with the supplied aluminum Mini Traveler GH1382TQD ball head attached, and can support a maximum payload of 3kg. The legs can support 25kg if the head is removed.  This makes the newcomer ideal for placing secondary remote cameras in crowded environments, such as sports games or for performance photography, where the photographer wishes to capture unique shots from the sidelines or wings. The legs have removable rubber feet.

The legs themselves can be adjusted into two positions for maximum versatility, with changing between angles made easy through the implementation of a new leg lock system. The shooting height can be varied from a maximum of 17.5cm down to 5.3cm. 

The design of the Mini Traveler is unmistakably in keeping with the Gitzo philosophy and is available in two colour options, when paired with the standard head - all black or with silver highlights on the head itself. 

Overall it seems the Mini Traveler is the perfect companion for Gitzo fans or perhaps as an entry into the entry into the exclusive Gitzo club. 

The Mini Traveler (model number GKTBB) has a recommended price of £189.95/$199.99 with the GH1382TQD ball head.

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As the Editor for   Digital Photographer magazine, Peter is a specialist in camera tutorials and creative projects to help you get the most out of your camera, lens, tripod, filters, gimbal, lighting and other imaging equipment.

After cutting his teeth working in retail for camera specialists like Jessops, he has spent 11 years as a photography journalist and freelance writer – and he is a Getty Images-registered photographer, to boot.

No matter what you want to shoot, Peter can help you sharpen your skills and elevate your ability, whether it’s taking portraits, capturing landscapes, shooting architecture, creating macro and still life, photographing action… he can help you learn and improve.

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Best tripods for your camera in 2024 – 14 top tripods for different settings

When stability matters, photographers and video makers need a three-legged, supportive friend..

In the review

Need a top tripod? Angela Nicholson and the AP team pick the finest supports from Manfrotto, Benro, Vanguard, Peak Design, Gitzo and more, with options for all budgets.

Photographers of any experience know the value of a good tripod. Providing rock-steady support for pin-sharp pictures, a tripod opens up shooting opportunities that simply aren’t possible working hand-held. Introduce smooth sideways panning movements, or use ultra-long shutter speeds that would defeat even the most advanced stabilisation system. Alternatively, you may be a video creator, and need a support for locked-off shots. In these cases and more, you want a tripod.

What to look for in a tripod

Tripods often see use in still life photography or macro photography , where sharpness is essential, and careful composition is paramount. Similarly, those who are well-versed in landscape photography will inform you that a tripod is an essential piece of kit for capturing those golden moments in all their glory.

If you’re wondering how to choose the best tripod, it’s mostly a matter of weighing up size, stability, features and price . How heavy your setup is will dictate how strong a tripod you need, and the specifics of what you shoot may mean you require certain features. For instance, some tripods can convert to a monopod for those moments you need to be more nimble. Others are designed to be able to put the camera incredibly close to the ground in order to shoot tiny subjects and macro shots.

Carbon fibre or aluminium?

We’ve mostly focused on photography tripods in this guide, but many of the options here will also work well for video (check out our guide to the  best cameras for video if you’re crafting a vlogging setup). Tripods tend to be constructed from one of two materials: carbon fibre (strong and lightweight, but expensive) or aluminium (cheaper, and able to take a kicking). We’ve included both types in this guide.

Other ways to use a tripod

Whilst the primary need for most will be to use the tripod with your camera, whether that’s mirrorless camera or a DSLR , you can also use a tripod as a support for any additional lighting, or accessories you may need, such as a flashgun, or reflector. If you’re looking for a tripod for your smartphone, have a look at our guide to camera phone tripods .

Need a quick recommendation? Here’s our quickfire list of the best tripods to buy in 2024, along with links to the best prices:

• Best tripod for photography: Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS – buy now
• Best premium tabletop tripod: Benro Tablepod Flex Kit – buy now
• Best multi-function tripod: Benro MeFoto RoadTrip Pro Carbon Fibre Tripod – buy now
• Best travel tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod – buy now
• Best budget tripod for mirrorless: Vanguard VEO 3GO 235AB – buy now
• Best for cameras and smartphones : Joby RangePod Smart Tripod – buy now
• Best large tripod: Kingjoy SolidRock C85 tripod – buy now
• Best premium tripod: Gitzo GK1555T-82TQD Traveller Tripod Kit – buy now
• Best tripod for landscapes: 3 Legged Thing Punks Billy 2.0 – buy now
• Best tripod for macro: Manfrotto 190 Go! – buy now
• Best workhorse tripod: Manfrotto 190XPro4 Tripod – buy now
• Premium travel tripod: Gitzo GT1542 Mountaineer Series 1 – buy now
• Best video tripod: 3 Legged Thing Legends Tommy Tripod – buy now
• Cheapest tripod: Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod – buy now

Continue reading to find out why we’ve chosen these as the best tripods you can buy…

Best tripod for photography: Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS

Price: $400 / £399

Amateur Photographer verdict

• Tilting centre column
• Friction adjustable ball head
• Sturdy build

At a glance:

• $400 / £399
• Supplied BH-250S ball head

A recent tripod that earned a full five stars in our review , the Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS is a large carbon fibre model that’s ideal for landscape, wildlife and macro photography . It’s a little bigger and bulkier than other tripods on this list, with its 2.6kg (5 pounds,11 ounces), so if you’re looking for a compact option for travel then you may want to scroll on. However, the sheer versatility that this Vanguard tripod offers is absolutely top-end. The three legs can be set at independent angles for dealing with uneven terrain, including basically flat to the ground, and the central column can be set to basically any angle the user desires.

We also appreciated the supplied BH-250S ball head . It’s got a satisfying weight to it and feels like a premium piece of kit. There’s a friction adjustment control to deal with loads of varying weight, and the dual panning design features a rotating base and a rotating Arca-Swiss type camera clamp.

The Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS is straightforward to use once you’ve worked out what all its dials and knobs do. Its stability is rock-solid enough for basically any photographic setup you can imagine.

Best for: a great all-rounder but especially useful for Landscape and Macro

Read our Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS review .

Best premium tabletop tripod: Benro Tablepod Flex Kit

Price: $160 / £129

• Lightweight
• Converts to a selfie stick
• $160 / £129

A tabletop tripod option, this versatile camera support comes in a kit with both rigid and flexible legs that allow it to be creatively positioned in all sorts of ways. While it’s clearly designed principally for those using a smartphone, it is very light weighing only 430g (15 ounces), but perfectly capable of holding a mirrorless camera and lens. In our testing, we even found it held up the full-frame Sony Alpha A7R IV and a 24-105mm f/4 lens without issue.

The Benro Tablepod Flex Kit is highly versatile. The flexible arms can also be attached to the legs to allow for the use of additional accessories like lights or a microphone, making it a great choice for video creators. Some clips are thrown into the kit to help with attaching the bendy legs to poles or branches, and the tripod also converts to a selfie stick. All in all this is a surprisingly fully featured package for a tabletop tripod.

Best for: small mirrorless cameras

Read our Benro Tablepod Flex Kit review .

Best multi-function tripod: Benro MeFoto RoadTrip Pro Carbon Fibre

Price: $300 / £272

• Very versatile
• Phone clamp
• Shorter centre column
• $300 / £272
• Supplied with a smartphone clamp

Benro bills the MeFoto RoadTrip Pro as a 6-in1 tripod, which might raise concern that it’s a jack-of-all trades and master of none, but it’s actually a very capable travel tripod with a maximum height of 152.5cm and 1.5kg (3 pounds, 4.9 ounces) weight. Two of its other functions include transforming into a monopod or a mini tripod, both of which are genuinely useful. It also comes with a smartphone clamp that fits in the head for when you’re not using your main camera.

If you want to save a bit of cash and you don’t mind carrying the extra 270g (9.5 ounces) Benro also makes an aluminium version of the MeFoto RoadTrip Pro tripod that’s available for around $175 / £119.

Read our Benro MeFoto RoadTrip Pro Carbon Fibre Tripod review

Best travel tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod

Price: $600 / £559 (carbon fibre), $380 / £329 (aluminium)

• Incredibly compact
• Fast set up
• $600 / £559 (carbon fibre), $380 / £329 (aluminium)
• 1.27kg(carbon fibre) / 1.56kg (aluminium)
• 5-section legs

The price of the carbon fibre version of the Peak Design Travel Tripod is enough to make you choke on your coffee, but it is very good, and at 1.27kg (2 pounds,12 ounces) it’s 290g (10ounces) lighter than the aluminium version. That doesn’t sound like much, but you can tell the difference even when you’re carrying it in a fully-laden backpack. Nevertheless, the price of the aluminium version makes it the most attractive tripod from Peak Design, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Both tripods have 5-section legs , extend up to 152.4cm in height, have a minimum height of 14cm and can support a load of up to 320oz/9.1kg. There’s also an unusual (but effective) integrated ball head. This can be replaced with a standard one using the Universal Head Adapter, although this will push up the price even further.

Peak Design opted for an unusual shape for the tripod’s 5-section legs but it means it’s very slim when folded down, so it slips easily into a drinks bottle pocket and is just 39.1cm long . It’s also very stable for a travel tripod and can even deliver sharp long exposures when a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is mounted on a mirrorless camera.

Read our Peak Design Travel Tripod review .

Budget tripod for mirrorless: Vanguard VEO 3GO 235AB

Price: $170 / £150

• Super lightweight
• Smartphone Bluetooth remote
• Only 4kg rated load
• $170 / £150
• Arca-Swiss compatible

This five-section aluminium tripod is ideally suited for a mirrorless camera setup. While it weighs just 1.24kg (2 pounds, 11 ounces) and folds down to a slimline 33cm in length , it can still reach a pretty decent maximum height of 136cm . Other tripods go higher, but with tilting screens more or less ubiquitous, it’s a lot less essential than it used to be for a camera to reach eye level on a tripod.

As we found in our testing, out in the field the Vanguard VEO 3GO 235AB works well. It’s quick to set up, owing to the fact that all five locks on a leg can be undone in a single twist. We appreciated how large and user-friendly the controls are for such a small tripod, and its broad compatibility scores it plenty of points – we tried a bunch of Arca-Swiss plates and L-brackets with the camera clamp, and it accepted them all.

Read our Vanguard VEO 3GO 235AB review .

Best for cameras and smartphones: Joby RangePod Smart Tripod

Price: $139 / £129

• Great price
• Versatile with phone holder
• Good build quality
• Bag straps aren’t comfortable
• $139 / £129
• 1.69KG weight, max 8KG support 
• 160cm maximum height 
• https://joby.com/

The Joby RangePod Smart tripod is an affordable entry-level tripod with a modern arca swiss compatible ballhead and a high load-bearing capability. It comes with a phone adapter that is easily adjustable for various phone sizes and features cold-shoe mounting points for adding small accessories such as lights or microphones.

With 160cm maximum height, it is one of the tallest tripods on our list, it supports cameras up to 8Kg which means you don’t need to worry about heavy set-ups. The legs are made up of 4-sections and with Joby’s M-locks they are fast and easy to set up.

Read our Joby RangePod Smart Tripod review .

Best large tripod: Kingjoy SolidRock C85

Price: £449

• Very stable
• Supports large cameras
• 164cm extended
• Tricky to adjust height without centre column
• Four bubble levels
• www.kingjoyuk.com

It may be a pricey proposition, but the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 tripod mightily impressed us when we gave it a full review. Reaching a whopping maximum height of 163.8cm , this four-section carbon fibre tripod is a newbie to the UK photo accessory market, and is one of the biggest supports on the block weighing 2.65kg (5 pounds,13 ounces). A useful levelling base with no fewer than four bubble levels can be controlled using a large twist lock in the centre, and is a godsend for capturing landscapes on uneven ground.

Stability is in general very impressive. We tried it out using a full-frame camera with attached battery grip and a 100-400mm zoom, and it had no problems at all. If your setup isn’t that beefy, this may be overkill for you, but it’s a hugely impressive tripod for those who need this level of support.

Read our Kingjoy SolidRock C85 review .

Best premium tripod: Gitzo GK1555T-82TQD Traveller Tripod Kit

Price: $599 / £509

• Reversible legs
• 10 kg payload
• Short centre column
• Ball head could be better
• $599 / £509
• 10kg maximum payload

This luxurious travel tripod has carbon fibre legs with 5 sections . This means it can be packed down to just 35.5cm in length yet it has a maximum shooting height of 148.4cm . It comes with a short centre column section that can be swapped out for the standard one to enable low-level shooting

The kit includes a GH1382TQD Center Ball Head Series 1 Traveller. This is the slimmest head in Gitzo’s professional range and the combined weight with the legs is 1.42kg (3 pounds, 2 ounces).

Gitzo rates the kit’s maximum payload at 10kg (22 pounds). Furthermore, Gitzo recommends focal lengths up to around 135mm with 200mm as a maximum. This tripod is built to last and comes with an extended 5-year warranty (when registered).

Read our Gitzo GK1555T-82TQD Traveler tripod kit review .

Best for landscapes: 3 Legged Thing Punks Billy 2.0

Price: $270 / £219

• Impressive 18kg load capacity
• Detachable legs
• Carbon fibre
• $270 / £219
• 18kg maximum payload

All three of the 3 Legged Thing Punks Billy 2.0 carbon fibre legs can be unscrewed and converted into a mini tripod with the addition of the option Vanz footwear (£53). There is also an option to attach one of the legs to the centre column to create a monopod or a microphone boom.

The Billy 2.0 can bear a maximum load of 18kg (39 pounds,10 ounces) but weighs just 1.57kg (3 pounds, 7 ounces) with the AirHead 2.0 ball head. 3 Legged thing also sells the Billy 2.0 legs only, but the head is a worthwhile inclusion.

Thanks to the chunky rubberised leg lock grips, and the fact that they are close together when the tripod is collapsed, the Billy 2.0 can be deployed quickly. It extends to a maximum height of 1.66m and folds down to 45.5cm in length.

Read our 3 Legged Thing Punks Billy 2.0 .

Best for macro: Manfrotto 190 Go!

Price: $260 aluminium & $520 carbon fibre / £169 & £299

• Solid build quality
• Quick release twist locks
• We struggled to find any
• $260, $520 / £160, £299
• Rotating centre column

Manfrotto’s aluminium 190 Go! (MT190GOA4) can be picked up at a great price. It weighs 1.66kg (3 pounds, 10 ounces), packs down to 45cm in length, has a maximum working height of 152cm and has a recommended maximum payload of 7kg (15pounds, 6 ounces) although it can handle weight up to 15kg (33 pounds, 1 ounces).

Thanks to its M-lock system which requires just a 90° turn to unlock and lock the legs, the tripod can be set up in seconds. These twist locks also have no protruding parts, which means the 190 Go! Slips into a bag easily.

The Manfrotto 190 Go! also features a centre column capable of rotating through 90° into horizontal orientation, making it ideal for flat-lays and macro photography . And there’s an Easy Link connector. This enables an accessory arm to be attached to the shoulders of the tripod to hold a light or similar accessory, such as a power bank.

Read our Manfrotto 190 Go! review .

Best workhorse: Manfrotto 190XPro4

Price: $269 / £199

• Quick power locks
• Easy link plug
• $269 / £199
• 175cm maximum working height

The Manfrotto 190XPro4 (MT190XPRO4) is a 4-section aluminium tripod is available to buy by itself or in a kit with the excellent XPro Ball Head with 200PL plate for £269 or the X-Pro 3-Way Head for £289.

It’s a solid and dependable tripod a maximum working height of 175cm and its folds down to 57cm . The recommended maximum payload is 7 kg (15 pounds, 6 ounces), but it can also cope with weights up to 15kg (33 pounds, 1 ounces).

Like the Manfrotto 190 Go! , the 190XPro4’s centre column is mounted through a pivoting section that enables it to be tilted through 90° to horizontal orientation. That’s useful for top-down shooting and copy work. There’s also an Easy Link connector for mounting an accessory arm.

Premium travel tripod: Gitzo GT1542 Mountaineer Series 1

Price: $899 / £659

• Excellent build
• Detachable centre coulmn
• Very expensive
• $899 / £659
• 159cm maximum height

The design of Gitzo’s carbon fibre Mountaineer tripods combine rigidity with low weight, portability and robustness. They are for landscape photographers who like to walk to their shooting locations. With all that in mind, the 4-section GT1542 weighs 1.28kg (2 pounds, 13 ounces) (legs only), has a maximum height of 159cm with the centre column up, 135cm with it down, and a minimum height of 15cm . It can also support loads of up to 10kg (22 pounds).

The GT1542 is also available as a kit with the GH1382QD Center Ball Head for $1079/£999. Gitzo states that the focal length should be limited to 200mm or less but recommends 135mm or less. Like the other Gitzo tripod mentioned, this comes with an extended 5-year warranty.

Designed for video tripod: 3 Legged Thing Legends Tommy

Price: $800 / £460

• Super stability
• Can convert to tabletop use
• High Payload
• $800 / £460
• 60kg maximum payload

3 Legged Thing’s beefy Legends Tommy carbon fibre tripod comes without a head or a centre column but it has a maximum height of 162cm , weighs a substantial 2.59kg (5 pounds, 11 ounces) and measures 73cm when it’s folded down . However, it can carry a staggering 60kg (132 pounds, 4 ounces) load. It means you get a very stable shooting platform that’s ideal for hefty cameras when shooting stills or video.

The Tommy is supplied with a flat plate and a 75mm bowl. This means it can be used with either a regular type of tripod head or a levelling head for video-shooting. It also comes with a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Cheapest: Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod

Price: $33 / £28

• 1 kg payload
• 1kg maximum payload

Provided you’re not planning to use a long, heavy lens, the Manfrotto Pixi is a useful little support that’s perfect for low-level shots and won’t break the bank. What’s more, as it weighs just 190g (6.7 ounces), you won’t mind slipping it in your camera bag ‘just in case’ and it can cope with loads to 1kg (2 pounds, 3 ounces), which is enough for many camera and lens combinations.

The Manfrotto Pixi has a simple design with an integral ball head that’s released with the press of a button. The legs are also shaped so that when they are closed, the Pixi creates a comfortable handle that’s useful if you’re shooting video .

Text by Angela Nicholson, with contributions from Joshua Waller, Jon Stapley and Michael Topham. 

Related articles:

• The ultimate guide to tripods
• Benro launches TablePod Flex and KoalaPod Mini
• Best camera phone tripods and mounts
• Best camera bags

Follow AP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube and TikTok .

Angela is a former Technical Editor of AP and a widely respected editor, writer and reviewer, she’s used and reviewed a huge range of photographic kit. She’s also a CAA-qualified drone pilot and the founder of SheClicks, a community for female photographers. Angela is a judge for the British Photography Awards, Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year, Potato Photographer of the Year and Landscape Photographer of the Year.

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5 Best Travel Tripods That Are Lightweight and Easy to Use 2024

• Photography / Travel Gear

Need a Travel Tripod? Here are our favorites!

I can’t believe I’ve been shooting for over 20 years. That being said, I’ve gone through a fair share of tripods. Today, we put together this list of best travel tripods today to help you pick one that’s best for you.

We’ll continue to update the post as tripods get updated and new up and coming brands make their way up the ranks, so be sure to check back!

This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure  for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: March 9, 2024

− − Content Menu

• Do I Need a Tripod?

When You Need a Tripod

• 5 Best Travel Tipods

What to Look for in a Travel Tripod

• More Highly Rated Travel Tripods

Most Affordable Travel Tripods

Best travel tripods for mirrorless cameras, best travel tripods for your phone, essential tips for travel photography, planning checklist.

We like to travel light, meaning the max we carry is one carry on and  one backpack  (it doesn’t matter how long the trip is or whether it’s summer or winter).

This can be quite challenging since we travel for work and carry our laptops and a decent amount of camera gear. At the very minimum, we have our DSLR, two lenses, and a tripod. But depending on the trip, we sometimes travel with filters, multiple bodies, a drone, and more.

First Off, Ask Yourself, Do I need a Tripod?

This all depends on your subject.

My high school hobby transitioned into shooting weddings after college. Then it took almost a decade before  I quit weddings  so that my main focus could be shooting travel photos.

When we shot weddings, we were moving quickly from moment to moment. A tripod just slowed us down, so we only used it for the more formal moments. During our travels, we adopted the same habit of being on the move.

Even still, a tripod follows us on all our trips, but it mostly stays at the hotel unless we know we’re shooting specific types of photos that day.

The photo below isn’t the best photo (we took it with an iPhone and it was getting dark), but it’s one of the very few photos I could find of me using a tripod.

• Landscape Photos –  To stack multiple images for HDR or during sunrise and sunset images where there isn’t enough light and we want to expose longer for color.
• Water  – Long exposure of waterfalls, beaches, etc makes it silky smooth.
• To Capture Movement  – It doesn’t just have to be moving water. You can capture movement in other things like clouds, stars, cars, people walking, or bird wings fluttering.
• Self-Portraits  – mainly when we want to have both of us in the photos, but it’s also perfect for solo travelers. PRO TIP: Instead of running back and forth with the timer.
• Using a Telephoto Lens  – I especially have a hard time keeping it steady since it’s heavy, and I’m a small person. I need to shoot at least 1/400 handheld even if it’s image-stabilized or all my photos will come out blurry.
• Astrophotography and Night
• Video  – to have a nice locked off shot
• As a Mount  – for accessories like flash (although we did this more when we shot weddings)
• To Get Rid Crowds  – if you’re in a busy area where there are tons of people moving around, you can take a lot of consecutive shots, layer all your photos, and edit them out. This doesn’t always work if people stay in the same spot in the shot the entire time.
• Increase Image Quality  – Keeping the camera ISO low to increase the quality of images. However, this is pretty rare for us since cameras these days are so good.

Some of these you can still manage handheld and deal with in post, but it will make editing a longer, annoying process.

See More: 15 Best Travel Backpacks You Need to Check Out

The 5 Best Travel Tripods

1. peak design carbon fiber travel tripod (editor’s choice) →.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is the newest, innovative tripod to hit the market and is truly a game-changer!

They’ve completely redesigned how you can use a tripod, and the first thing you’ll notice is that it collapses without wasting space. It comes with exciting features, including a reversible center column, a new ball-head design with no knobs, a built-in cellphone mount, and more.

We tested it at home and based on size and functionality, we think it will become number one, but we want to test it on the road for a few months first.

Pro Tip: If the carbon fiber price is too high, they also have an  aluminum version here .

• Weight: 2.8 lbs
• Folded Length: 15.5″
• Maximum Height: 60″
• Minimum Height: 5.5″
• Load Capacity: 20 lbs
• Head Type: Ball Head
• Quick Release Plate Type: Arca-Type
• Click here for the full list of specs.
• Packs small.
• Unique ballhead design is easy to use.
• Built-in cell phone mount.
• Easy to reverse the center column.
• Can’t shoot panoramas, since there isn’t a separate ball panning lock.

2. Manfrotto BeFree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with 494 Ball Head →

Manfrotto is the veteran brand and the number one choice for many photographers. They’re the experts who have made tripods the longest.

We preferred the Arca-System, so we picked up  this adapter .  With the adapter, it’s by far one of our favorites. We love that it’s as intuitive as a classic tripod gets. Our least favorite thing is the space between the legs when it’s collapsed. You can always stuff shirts in between, but it would be easier without the gap.

• Folded Length: 16.14″
• Maximum Height: 59.1″
• Minimum Height: 16.14″
• Load Capacity: 17.6 lbs
• Quick Release Plate Type: RC2
• Built by a long-standing company that knows what they’re doing.
• Easy and intuitive use and features.
• Not as small when collapsed.
• Can’t get as low as we’d like.

3. Heipi 3-in-1 Tripod →

We recently got the HEIPI 3-IN-1 Tripod and it has some impressive features! It has a unique 3-pillar center column system allowing you to transform your tripod to use it in different ways. It also has a strong ball head that can hold up to 55 lbs. Overall I’m impressed with the design!

• Weight: 3 lbs
• Folded Length: 17.7″
• Maximum Height: 59″
• Minimum Height: 5.7″
• Load Capacity: 55 lbs
• Unique 3-in-1 column design.
• Can use columns separately.

4. MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod →

We’ve used multiple MeFoto tripods over the years. The one we currently have is discontinued, but the one we’re talking about here is the updated version.

MeFoto is relatively newer to the tripod game, but they focused on building tripods with travelers in mind. It even comes across with how they named their lines:  RoadTrip ,  Backpacker , &  GlobeTrotter . They have multiple color options to help you pick out your tripod amongst a sea of black tripods.

One of our favorite features is that it can convert to a monopod with no tools.

• Weight: 3.7 lbs
• Folded Length: 16.5″
• Maximum Height: 64.2″
• Minimum Height: 16.1″
• Load Capacity: 26.4 lbs
• Quick Release Plate Type: Arca-Style
• Can be used as a monopod or tripod.
• Lots of color options.
• Still has space between legs when collapsed.
• Heaviest tripod on this list.

5. Joby GOrillapod 5k Flexible Mini-Tripod →

Joby makes a wide range of GorillaPods, but right now, we’re focusing on their beefiest one that can support a DSLR.

GorillaPods excel on uneven grounds or odd shooting situations. Their flexible legs allow you to wrap it around objects or adjust them as needed. They’re also great for vlogging.

The one major downside is that you can’t get a higher vantage point if there isn’t anything higher to attach it to.

• Weight: 1.06 oz
• Maximum Height: 15.2″
• Minimum Height: 6″
• Load Capacity: 11 lbs
• Click here for a full list of specs.
• Flexible legs great for uneven ground.
• Can wrap around objects to mount in different spots.
• Not great for a huge set up (like a telephoto lens).
• Limited height.

We’re always looking for the lightest, smallest, packable tripod out there while still capable of safely supporting our gear. These are the things we take into consideration:

Additional Features

Not only does it need to meet weight requirements for flights, but you’ll be carrying it on you. A heavy tripod gets cumbersome fast (and so does a DSLR. I wanted to throw it in the lake on our last backpacking trip. That’s a story for later)!

Most tripods have two models: the lighter carbon-fiber model and the more affordable aluminum alloy model.

Pro Tip: Keep in mind that you need to pay attention to how much weight a tripod can carry as well. If you’re using a telephoto lens on a DSLR, the lightest tripod may not support that weight. On the flip side, if you’re primarily shooting with a phone or GoPro, you can go extremely light.

Regardless of the weight, size matters. I’m talking about how small it packs down. The ones that can pack smaller saves you space in your luggage , and it’s less awkward to carry with you.

Pro Tip: Think about how you’ll be carrying the tripod. When I’m flying somewhere, I pack it in my suitcase . Once I’m on location, I carry it in my backpack . Test them in both scenarios.

How high does it go?

For the most part, you want it to go up high enough to match your height, so you don’t have to bend over. Since I’m vertically challenged, I rarely use it at full extension. Some people, however, also like to use their tripod to extend their camera as high as possible and get a bird’s eye view.

How low does it go? 

If you want to shoot at low angles, you’ll want to know how low it can stand. If you’re shooting puddlegrams, you’ll want to prioritize this.

Pro Tip: Typically, the peak height of a tripod includes the center column fully extended. This is also the tripod’s weakest point. When fully extended, a little gust of wind can shake or even topple the tripod.

Your tripod needs to keep the camera still and stable. Since travel tripods need to be as small and light as possible, they come with thinner legs and lighter pieces. As a result, it’s sacrificing the stability of their heavier, bulky counterparts.

There have been times where I’m shooting in windy situations, and the tripod can’t keep the camera still. When looking for your travel tripod, see how wobbly the legs are and the weight it can handle. Is there an anchor point where you can attach your backpack to give it more stability? How many joints does it have and does it affect stability? 

Test your tripod with your heaviest setup (mine currently is the Canon Mark IV and 70-200/2.8L lens). Make sure it’s stable, and tap the legs at different points to see how it handles the vibration.

Most tripods in this category come with some sort of standard head, but you can always change it out later. When choosing a head or testing what comes with it, think about what you’re shooting with since the head also comes with weight limits too.

You also want to consider how easy it is to maneuver.

There are three main types of heads:

• Ball-Head  – one access point that loosens or tightens that allows for flexible and smooth adjustments, For photography, ball heads are pretty standard.
• Pan-Tilt Head  – one knob or handles to control its horizontal movement and another for its vertical movements. It’s more commonly used for video.
• Gimbal Head  – helps balance the camera no matter which direction you’re trying to move it (usually for heavy or long lenses)

Do you shoot more portrait or landscape orientation? We like to shoot vertically, and after a while of tilting and the ball head for portrait orientation, it got looser until the tripod couldn’t hold the weight of our camera. The weight of the camera slowly dragged the ball head down.

Pro Tip: We used to use a  L-Bracket  for our camera, but recently switched to a rotating collar , which we absolutely love. It makes the camera bulkier, but it’s much more stable for shooting in either orientation and quicker to switch between both. I don’t know why I waited so long to get one!

Tripod Legs – Twist Lock or Level Lock?

This is generally a matter of preference, but there are some pros and cons to each. We prefer the lever locks.

• Lever locks  let you set up and pack up your tripod quicker, and it’s easy to know if it’s locked by looking at it. The cons are that it is slightly bulkier and the set screws can loosen over time and you will need a hex tool on you to adjust it. Other tripods come with a hex tool, but the Peak Design tripod has it integrated into the design.
• Twist locks  are less bulky, require less maintenance, and have fewer parts that break when taking a beating. The downside is that it takes more time to set up and also sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s fully locked.

Pro Tip: Take care of your tripod. If you shoot in dusty or sandy conditions, make sure you wash it and dry it off to extend its life. You don’t want all the sand or dust to stay in between the legs.

You need to consider the camera you’re shooting with and also the environments you’ll be shooting in. Here is a shortlist of other features you may want:

• Quick Plate  – for easy mount and dismount
• Feet  – you may want spikes for outdoor locations as opposed to rubber for cities
• Bubble Level  – to keep the horizon level (We use the electronic one in camera)
• Cell Phone Mount  – sometimes you may want to shoot with your phone for ease.
• Flipping Center Column  – can the center column flip so the camera can be mounted downwards
• Carrying Case  – to protect the tripod
• Warranty  – in case something malfunctions

More Highly Rated and Recommended Tripods

Here are other highly rated travel tripods to check out:

• Gitzo GK1545T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod
• Benro Bat zero Series Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
• Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod
• Manfrotto MK290XTA3-3WUS 290 Xtra Aluminum Tripod
• Magnus TR-13 Travel Tripod with Dual-Action Ball Head
• Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
• Manfrotto BeFree GT XPRO Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with 496 Center Ball Head
• Benro FTA28CV1 Travel Angel Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with V1E Ball Head
• K&F Concept Lightweight Travel Tripod
• ULANZI Mini Aluminum Tripod
• JOILCAN Tripod
• Aureday Travel Tripod
• Amazon Basics Lightweight Tripod
• Newest Phone Tripod (Editor’s Choice) + Peak Design Creator Kit
• DJI Osmo Mobile
• MeFOTO SideKick360 Smartphone Tripod Adapter
• JOBY Gorillapod Magnetic Tripod with GripTight ONE Phone Mount
• Think about where you’re shooting.  Popular tourist spots have restrictions on tripods and may even prevent you from entering.
• Practice using your tripod at home,  so you don’t fumble with it on location. You might miss an epic shot, and you’ll also risk damaging your gear if you don’t use it properly.
• Check airline restrictions.  Although US TSA guidelines state that you can bring a tripod on carry-on and checked luggage, other airport security may make you check it in. After the airlines lost our luggage for a few months, we never liked checking our luggage.
• How do you want to carry it?  What kind of backpack are you carrying? Most  camera backpacks have a good way to carry tripods  whereas general travel backpacks may not. Some tripods you can wear like a sling.

• Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
• Download these helpful language apps .
• Arrange a rental car for your trip.
• Get airport lounge access .
• Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
• Get a new backpack for your trip.
• Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
• Don’t forget your in-flight essentials .

Any others you can think of that should make our best travel tripods list?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes ” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

Follow on Instagram (E + J) , YouTube , TikTok , and Pinterest.

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Asia Pacific

Gitzo tripod kit Traveler α, series 1, 4 sections

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Point your mobile device camera at the QR code below to see this product come to life in augmented reality!*

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• Exclusive special edition dedicated to Sony α camera models
• Perfectly fit Sony α7 and α9, increasing grip and stability
• Black & silver grey colour combination, modern and elegant
• Exquisite new high-appeal look and feel with distinctive design
• Highest safety standards ensured by UNI/PdR 105:2021 compliance

Specifications

Maximum Height

Closed Length

Safety Payload UNI/PdR 105:2021

Maximum Height (with Center Column Down)

Base Diameter

Bubble Spirit Level (No.)

Carrying Bag Included

Center Column

Upper Disc Diameter

black/silver

Leg Sections

Top Attachment

Friction Control

-90° / +40°

Independent Pan Lock

Ball Locking

Independent Tilt Lock

Lateral Tilt

Leg Lock Type

Legs Tube Diameter

14.7, 18.2, 21.7, 25.3 mm

0.58- 0.72- 0.85- 1 in

CarbonExact

Maximum Working Temperature

Minimum Working Temperature

Panoramic Rotation

200PL-PROSONY

Quick Release

Description

In the wake of the collaboration between Vitec Group and Sony announced during Gitzo’s 100th anniversary celebrations, Gitzo presents a best in class product developed especially for Sony α7 and α9 cameras: the Traveler α tripod, addressing professional photographers and premium camera users . It features a tailored design solution to perfectly fit Sony α7 and α9 camera models, helping increase grip and stability for precise framing and extraordinary composition. Thanks to its dedicated Sony α plate , the Traveler α brings Gitzo’s premium travel tripod to demanding photographers unleashing their creativity using Sony α cameras. The new black and silver finishing and new design match perfectly with the outstandingly stylish and modern aesthetic of Sony α cameras. The Traveler α is a compact lightweight travel tripod in Gitzo’s distinctive high-quality design and materials . It weighs 1.43 kg, extends to 165 cm high and safely holds up to 10 kg of gear . Thanks to the 180° leg-folding system pioneered by Gitzo, the Traveler α’s legs reverse-fold around its centre column and head, allowing it to fold down to 43 cm . This model is recommended for use with lenses up to 135mm. With its legs spread and its short centre column inserted, the tripod goes lower for those low-angle or macro shots. Its legs are made of Carbon eXact tubing for superior strength and stiffness in a slimmer size and feature the “ Traveler G-lock ” - a travel-size version of Gitzo’s G-lock, designed to ensure security and reduce size. The specially designed compact rubber feet ensure perfect camera stability. The Traveler α features Gitzo’s most compact professional carbon fibre tripod center ball head . This perfectly balanced, versatile tripod head is engineered to ensure the ultimate smoothness and precision of movement and secure locking with independent pan/tilt lock . The Traveler α Center Ball Head is supplied with the Sony α plate but can also hold the short, Arca-Swiss compatible plate (GS5370SD) and is also perfect with all Gitzo's D profile plates . Its quick-release plate is kept locked with a screw-knob and a bubble level helps photographers keep a straight horizon. The special edition Traveler α tripod features an ergonomic strap made of genuine Italian leather crafted to resemble carbon fibre, for extreme comfort in use.

Gitzo Traveler, Mountaineer and Systematic Supports, Heads and Kits are covered by a Standard Limited Warranty (six months from date of purchase) and are eligible for a free Standard Limited Warranty Extension, upon online product registration, for an additional six years, six months - thus, up to seven years of coverage from the date of purchase. For more details or to register your product, please visit: warranty.videndummediasolutions.com .

• sparepart GK1545TA GK1545TA_20240410.pdf
• sparepart GK1545TA GK1545TA_20240411.pdf
• manual List of compatible cameras GK1545TA , GSLBRSY
• sparepart GK1545TA 20180423 GK1545TA_20180423.pdf

Gitzo tripod bag Traveler

Gitzo Century traveler camera messenger

Gitzo center ball head Traveler, quick release, series 1

Gitzo tripod kit Mountaineer, series 1, 4 sections

Gitzo tripod kit Traveler, series 2, 4 sections

Gitzo tripod kit Mountaineer, series 3, 3 sections

Gitzo monopod, series 2, 4 sections

Gitzo monopod Traveler, series 2, 6 sections

Gitzo monopod, series 4, 4 sections

Gitzo monopod, series 4, 6 sections

Gitzo 3/8'' to 1/4'' adapter

Gitzo Grease, set of 2

Gitzo tripod Mountaineer series 0, 3 sections

Gitzo tripod Mountaineer series 2, 4 sections

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