Best sub 4lb tripod for shooting and glassing?

[Texasbuckeye]

I have an innorel tripod I got off amazon, it is way sturdy and can easily be shot off.

It is a little more than 1# heavier with ball head but right at 4# with out the head, but price is not bad. They have a bunch of different options though, and the 44# max weight tripod weighs in sub 4# with ball head it appears.

my model is the GT324C, but there are a bunch of other varieties. The GT284C was the one above mentioned sub 4# with ball head.

 

[ProStaffSteve]

Curious as I have a similar question as OP. So I just grabbed C.4 x18 binos from Maven that I would like to use as a spotting scope for game. I hear they are heavy but having a second eye relief is good for longevity of spotting sessions. I have no interest in shooting off a tripod at this point in time.

A friend recommended me the Tricer BC tripod and LP Head… but that’s like $600. I’m looking for a light weight set-up as I hike (no motors or animals) to pack in, and I’m in Idaho so everything is up a mountain both directions.

With no successful experience glassing, it’s very hard to know what I want. I am of the mindset but once-cry once, but at the same time I’m unsure if that’s really the right for me. I have a pad that I sit on, a pair of 10x42s that I glass with currently, a thoughts? Was the Maven glass a good move, too?

What do you Opticheads recommend?

 

[BLJ]

I have an Innorel KT284c with a Smallrig head. 3 pounds 3 ounces.

 

[Ajsomp]

I’m back and forth between the Aziak backcountry tripod with wiser precision bt20 head and the Aziak ridgeline.

Neither I see myself shooting from the standing. The Aziak ridgeline is the lightest I’ve seen and has no center colum. The backcountry has the option for a center column or not - and with the wider head I’m only at 1.5lbs. I am willing to deal with a little extra weight on the Aziak/wiser set up for a pan/ball head combo.

But if you want something you can shoot from the standing, you’ll want to look elsewhere

 

[timber_ghost]

My budget isn't huge for a tripod right now so I think am going to go with the Leofoto LS-324C for this year. I will be adding a 4" arca rail to my main mountain rifle. If it feels too light while shooting, I will upgrade to something more burly later and keep the LS-324C as a photography/glassing tripod

 

[timber_ghost]

I have an Innorel KT284c with a Smallrig head. 3 pounds 3 ounces.

Has this thing held up pretty well through real world hunting conditions and being strapped to the outside of the pack? Looks like it is just a knock off of the Leofoto

 

[mulveymo]

Tricer AD with your head of choice. I shoot off the LP panhead, whole setup weighs like 2.5lbs. not the most stable shooting ng platform, but it's better than a bipod.

 

[BLJ]

Has this thing held up pretty well through real world hunting conditions and being strapped to the outside of the pack? Looks like it is just a knock off of the Leofoto

No idea. I just got it a couple weeks ago.

Probably won’t hunt with it, but plan on using during PRS 22 matches.
A 10-12# 22 probably won’t be much of a test, but after looking it over I don’t see where it would have any issues.

 

[khuber84]

I run a leofoto 323c(3.1#) with the inverted Sunwayfoto IB30 head(0.7#). It's not super stable for standing shots, but kneeling and seated it's money. Tall enough to glass standing with binos, I'm 5'10" with my legs spread a bit. If you're a taller person, you'll be hunching a lil.

 

[flyfisher117]

Curious as I have a similar question as OP. So I just grabbed C.4 x18 binos from Maven that I would like to use as a spotting scope for game. I hear they are heavy but having a second eye relief is good for longevity of spotting sessions. I have no interest in shooting off a tripod at this point in time.

A friend recommended me the Tricer BC tripod and LP Head… but that’s like $600. I’m looking for a light weight set-up as I hike (no motors or animals) to pack in, and I’m in Idaho so everything is up a mountain both directions.

With no successful experience glassing, it’s very hard to know what I want. I am of the mindset but once-cry once, but at the same time I’m unsure if that’s really the right for me. I have a pad that I sit on, a pair of 10x42s that I glass with currently, a thoughts? Was the Maven glass a good move, too?

What do you Opticheads recommend?

What part of Idaho are you in?

I use the Aziak Back country and Tricer LP. I love the combo as it’s super easy to haul up either mountain. I’m glassing off of it with 10x42 and 15x Mavens mostly. It does work with my 65mm spotter but I don’t love it.

Either way watch around, it seems every big holiday both Tricer and Aziak will have a sale.

 

[UnckleBob]

If you are willing to carry 4lb and budget is not an issue, RRS is the way to go. The ascend has been awesome, mine is pretty beat up and gets taken almost everywhere. Others will weigh the same and have similar dimensions but are not as stiff of carbon or as stable IME.

What if budget is an issue? I have $500 to spend. I won't be going on any backcountry hunts, but I don't want to have a heavy pig to carry around.

Primary usage - hold rifle/shotgun up to 10 pounds while I shoot seated from a blind.

Secondary usage - holding binos steady in the fields while glassing.

 

[willfrye027]

What if budget is an issue? I have $500 to spend. I won't be going on any backcountry hunts, but I don't want to have a heavy pig to carry around.

Primary usage - hold rifle/shotgun up to 10 pounds while I shoot seated from a blind.

Secondary usage - holding binos steady in the fields while glassing.

I would research the leofoto options, I am not well versed in that brand but they seem to do well.

I’ve also played with the lighter weight tricer tripod and I would say it’s more suited for the occasional tripod shot and ideal for glassing use. Might be worth considering that one as well if shooting is not the primary purpose or if you’re not shooting very far from the blind and don’t need rock solid.

Do some searches on here, should be able to find others with leofoto experience

 

[khuber84]

I'd suggest a leofoto 323C, paired with a leofoto ma30L head, this will be right at 4# +- 2oz. The total max height will be 62" so with you binos atop, if your tall, may be a lil short for standing glassing. This setup will run about $500. The Tripod is plenty stable in all positions but standing. I have a small nylon cradle that attaches to all 3 legs that I cut put a rock on to make it more stable if a standing shot is absolutely necessary.

The ma30L is extremely close the the RRS anvil in performance but lighter, it was sued for patent infringement by RRS so the only place to get em is ebay.

This is prob the highest performance, lowest cost, 4#, shooting oriented setup. For glassing primarily, you could go a different direction. I glass and shoot off both anvil/ma30L and have had good luck with it. For primary glassing, I think a pan head is a lil better, but def not as good for shooting.

Leofoto ST-X Outdoors Tripod with Integrated Lever-Control Ballhead

2024 NEW PRODUCT The Leofoto ST-X Series Rifle Tripods are one of the most compact apex setups on the market with a perfectly balanced weight to strength ratio. The ST-X Series features a knob-controlled clamp, with the option to choose either a dual Arca & Picatinny clamp or an Arca-only clamp...

leofotousa.com

This is a new product from leofoto, it's basically an integrated ma30L into a 323C, 64" max height. My only problem with this, the clamp is integrated into the Tripod Apex, and you'd always have to be aware that your orientating the Tripod legs so that your clamp is where you want it for off hand use. The seperate ma30/323C unit doesn't care as the clamp is part the head, not part the Tripod Apex.