Light Tripod for Hiking and travel

I am just curious what you guys use for longer hikes that can be fitted in the backpack and lightweight and sturdy enough. I generally don't carry lenses more than 200m on longer walks or travelling to far away destinations (like Asia or Europe)

I am looking at either carbon fiber or basalt as material - there are so many options from expensive Gitzo to mid-priced Induro, Bogen and Giottos to cheaper Slik or Flashpoint (Adorama).

My heavy Bogen Monfrotto tripod is killing me on longer walks - so I need one and curious what you guys prefer.

Thanks for your time

If travel is a major consideration (especially airplane travel) then you'll prefer a tripod with a max 22" folded length so that it will fit in a standard suitcase. The Gitzo 1540 is such a tripod when the head is removed. The Gitzo T models give up a lot of strength with the fold back design, so unless you REALLY need that option, I'd go for one of the non-T models if your looking at the 15XX tripods.

I recently replaced my Manfrotto 3021 for the same reason with a Velbon El Carmagne 630 and I have loved almost everything about the new tripod. It is about 1.5" shorter than my Manfrotto was, so that has been the only negative since I'm 6'2". It cost about 1/2 of the Gitzo 1530/1540. I would say it is on par with Giottos and Bogen for quality and I have owned tripods by both makes. Mine weighs about 4 pounds with the Acratech Ultimate head.

The other option is the ultralight and compact tripod. This is how you put together a sub 3 pound tripod (including head). These are all too short for me to work with comfortably, so I've not seriously considered them. The Gitzo 0540 is probably the gold standard. There is a Slik CF model that is supposed to be really nice. Velbon makes a 540, but I don't think it is quite as light as the other two and I'd think that Giottos has one too.

Mel-

Arnab, when I met up with fellow NPNer Tom Haxby a while back for a weekend of shooting he was sporting a newer model Gitzo that would meet your goals superbly. I think it was the GT2530, but I could be wrong. You might want to email him and ask which model it is. It was very lightweight, yet very stable. Match those legs with a RRS BH-40, and you would have a killer lightweight, yet rock solid combo!

You can do a search for Tom haxby under All Photos to get Tom's email link.

Arnab,

The Gitzo Mountaineer G1158 Tripod (the 1540 replaces this model)has served me very well over the last 3 years. Take the head off and it fits in my day pack and is light enough to carry for extended backpacking trips but holds my heavy hasselblad camera without any problems. The only (minor) issue I have had has been peeling of the cork pad on the tripod head in extreme heat/humidity.

Arnab, since you're traveling with not so heavy equipment, you might take a look at the Manfrotto 725B. It weighs 3.1 pounds (whether that's light or not depends on your definition of light), comes with an integral ballhead and quick-release plate, extends to just over 64 inches and collapses to just under 20 inches. It's rated for up to eight pounds of gear. I've been backpacking for three years with its predecessor, the 724B, and use it often and at all angles with a 30D/battery grip/100-400L IS/flash. It is rock solid with that gear. Cost is about $115.

I happened to check out the Gitzo 6X 540, a 4-section tripod that's supposed to be very sturdy and very light. Unfortunately I wasn't really impressed - it looked extremely flimsy, worse than my Slik Sprint Pro GM that I've refused to use after my equipment literally took off in front of my eyes.

I'm also looking around for better options, and I think the the 1540 might be a good bet. However that thing is almost as expensive as a new lens.

I'm also looking around for better options, and I think the the 1540 might be a good bet. However that thing is almost as expensive as a new lens.

I agree that the 1540 would be a good bet. I ended up with the Velbon even though I could afford the Gitzo. I think the Velbon 6XX is very even matched with the 15XX except that the height is slightly lower without extending the center column (about an inch) and the weight is about 1/2 pound more. As I see it, the Gitzo 1540 or 2540 for that matter was not worth twice as much as the Velbon 630, Giottos 8271 or Manfrotto 055MF3.

I just went through the same question and analysis. I ended up with a Gitzo 1540 with a Markins Q3 head. I removed the center column from the Gitzo. The total weight is 3 lbs. 1 oz. I've used it with my 5D with a 100-400 mounted and have been very satisified with the stability. As others have noted, the only downside is the price.

I love my feisol! I have the 3401. Its a 4 section carbon fiber pod. It weighs only 1.3 kg or about 2.8 lbs. It compacts pretty small, can go low to the ground and it extends to 56 inches with no center column. I'm 6'2" and didnt bother to get a center column and still do not regret that decision. I have an acratech ultimate head which is about 4 inches tall and I shoot LF so i gain some heighth there too. The whole setup is under 4 lbs and plenty sturdy for my camera. Oh yeah, and it only costs $175! Try to find a CF pod at that price with those specs, good luck.

I've been using the Velbon El Carmagne 530 for awhile now and love it. It is a little shorter than the 630 mentioned above, but it's closed length is also a bit shorter. It also weights a little less. The down side may be that it supports 8.8 lbs compared with the 13.2 lbs for the 630.

I recently purchased a new tripod and ballhead specifically for backpacking when weight and compactness are issues. I ended up buying the Gitzo 1540 (2.5 lbs) and an Acratech ballhead (15 oz.). The 1540 is expensive and, when I got it, I had concerns whether it was too small and light for my Nikon f5 and lenses. However, I was satisfied with it in use and happy with the weight I saved over the combination I had been using. It can also be attached to my backpack without being unweildy.

For light weight and compactness, the AcraTech head is hard to beat. I sometimes need a smaller tripod than my Gitzo 1325. When I do, I just use my old Bogen 3001. Really, it doesn't seem to weigh all that much more than a carbon fiber model and is much cheaper. I'm not sure that the weight savings/price ratio is all that favorable for carbon fiber on the smaller tripods.


Kent in SD

I don't know enough about the others to make a solid recommendation, but I can say the Gitzo GT2530 is a wonderful pod. I've left in the center column after about a year of use, but unless you need it inversed for the camera body to be upside down at ground level (with right angle viewfinder), with an adapter the center column can be removed to conserve weight. It has been very steady, even partially submerged in rushing water (GSMNP, and cleans up well.

If you really want to go light, I don't think you can beat the Gitzo G1058 and a Really Right Stuff BH-25 ballhead.