Is there an ultra-light tripod under 500g for backpacking a 1.5kg camera setup?
Asked 7/15/2010
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2 answers
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I’m looking for a very portable support for backpacking. My ideal limit is 500g total for the complete support, including both legs and head, and it needs to hold roughly 1.5kg (for example, a Nikon D90 with an 18-200mm lens).
I don’t need full standing height; sitting-height use is fine. The goal is simply to avoid relying on rocks, logs, or trees to support a tabletop tripod.
I’m also interested in options where the extra carried weight is low because the item can serve another purpose, such as hiking gear. Do ultra-light tripods in this range exist, or are hybrid or alternative supports the more realistic solution? DIY ideas would also be welcome.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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An alternative tripod that may serve your needs is the TrekPod. It might be the closest thing you are going to get from a weight perspective, but it has an interesting capability that may make its weight a moot point. The TrekPod XL weighs 630g (including the ball head), and is a cross between a tripod and a monopod. It can get up to 62" in height, but breaks down very small so it can easily be packed away. The real kicker: it can also double as a hiking staff! As a hiking staff, it wouldn't need to be something you have to stick in your pack, so the weight might not matter.
I chose the Gitzo over this since I needed a full tripod with the flexibility that a full set of telescopic legs offered. The TrekPod is probably the lightest full-height tripod I've ever encountered, though. Its 130g over your limit...but maybe it will still work.
Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user124
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A true freestanding tripod under 500g that will comfortably support a 1.5kg DSLR kit is uncommon. In practice, most very light full-size tripods start closer to 700–800g before adding a head.
From the examples given:
- A Gitzo Mountaineer carbon-fiber tripod is around 780g, but that’s still above your target and a head adds more weight.
- A TrekPod-type hybrid is closer to your goal at about 630g including a ball head, and it can double as a hiking staff, which makes its carried-weight penalty more reasonable for backpacking.
- If you can use surrounding objects or wrap legs around supports, a Gorillapod SLR-class support is much lighter at under 190g and can handle roughly this kind of load, but it is not a conventional freestanding tripod.
So the short answer is: below 500g, your best options are usually compromises such as a flexible tabletop support or a multi-use hybrid rather than a traditional tripod. If you need a true tripod, expect to go somewhat above 500g.
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