Carbon fiber tripod recs

[Odawg785]

Pretty much the title.

Looking for a good quality, carbon fiber tripod to glass from and use my rifle on. New to western style hunting and overwhelmed by the amount of options.

Ball head seems versatile but is a pan better for glassing?

I currently have a Bog infinite w/ arca plate for my night hunting rig, love it. But it's only useful from a stationary position bc of weight.

 

[Sully_44]

Are you wanting something lightweight to throw on the backpack? Or the most stable glassing platform (big and heavy) to glass from the road?

 

[MT_Wyatt]

If looking for lighter weight I’d recommend Aziak. If shooting you’ll want some kind of ballhead. You want one that’s got a separate panning base though, which makes glassing with it easier. Pan heads like a Tricer LP are easier to control glass with though. Truly “shooting” you want an inverted shooting ball head, and you can just clip a pan head into that. Personally I wouldn’t get super hung up on shooting with the tripod and focus on glassing with it. You can use your pack, trek poles, etc to help with shooting, and tripods can make great rear supports for stock/hands.

 

[Maxhunter]

I have a Javelin from Sparta Precision and really like it.

Spartan Bipods

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[Odawg785]

Are you wanting something lightweight to throw on the backpack? Or the most stable glassing platform (big and heavy) to glass from the road?

Just getting started so want something I can grow into. I'm looking for something that I can put on my pack. Would spend time glassing from the road but want the flexibility to hike in for a night or spend all day in the field.

 

[Maxhunter]

My bad I miss read I thought you meant bipods.

 

[Brian Fahs]

I have several slik tripods. Different sizes for different applications. I prefer outdoorsmans heads and adapters. I don't think there is one do all size so you will probably end up with several

 

[Odawg785]

If looking for lighter weight I’d recommend Aziak. If shooting you’ll want some kind of ballhead. You want one that’s got a separate panning base though, which makes glassing with it easier. Pan heads like a Tricer LP are easier to control glass with though. Truly “shooting” you want an inverted shooting ball head, and you can just clip a pan head into that. Personally I wouldn’t get super hung up on shooting with the tripod and focus on glassing with it. You can use your pack, trek poles, etc to help with shooting, and tripods can make great rear supports for stock/hands.

You make a good point. With a pack and everything else I'll have shooting support seems covered, probably will opt for a taller bipod for sitting if there is taller vegetation. Sounds like a solid pan head is the way to go, way more time spent on the optics than behind the rifle.

 

[Sully_44]

Just getting started so want something I can grow into. I'm looking for something that I can put on my pack. Would spend time glassing from the road but want the flexibility to hike in for a night or spend all day in the field.

Awesome. I run a Sirui 124. It’s lightweight but also goes tall enough to stand and glass (I’m 6’1”). The aziak front country would also be a good option for a lightweight do all tripod. Don’t fall for the vortex marketing. They are overpriced and not as good imo. Sirui and slik are both really good for the money. As far as heads go, fluid pan heads are going to be the best to glass off of. Ball heads will be best for shooting. I use a hybrid head from Wiser Precision. It’s not cheap but it’s extremely lightweight, can handle my Swaro 65mm spotter just fine, has the best characteristics of a panning head for glassing and best characteristics of a ball head for shooting. Like mentioned, most shot opportunities will probably be off your pack, but it’s nice to have the option if you need to take a shot from a higher position.