Give me your tripod recommendations

[Howard94]

As the title states I’d like some recommendations for a tripod. As usual I’d like to save money where possible.

There’s to many options for me to sort through Tricer, Aziak, Sirui, Leofoto, Slik……….i can keep going. I’m looking mainly for a glassing setup that I could shoot off of. I’d say sirui st-124 with the va5 is where I’m leaning.

 

[Wrench]

I've tossed every pan head I've owned. I love the mh 35 and mh50. I swapped on a cam plate in place of the screw and it makes it as fast as my ma series heads but it can pan and is more intuitive.

I have ma 30, lh 40sc, mh 35 and 50, some Manfrottos and some very lightweight stuff and the anvil knockoff lives on my heavy shooting tripod, the mh get swapped around 3 sets of hunting legs.

 

[Howard94]

I've tossed every pan head I've owned. I love the mh 35 and mh50. I swapped on a cam plate in place of the screw and it makes it as fast as my ma series heads but it can pan and is more intuitive.

I have ma 30, lh 40sc, mh 35 and 50, some Manfrottos and some very lightweight stuff and the anvil knockoff lives on my heavy shooting tripod, the mh get swapped around 3 sets of hunting legs.

What tripod are you putting it on. I was looking at that mh35 and 50 as well

 

[Danger23]

The St-124 with va-5 is a pretty damn good setup for the money. I haven’t shot off of it and I don’t know that it would be heavy duty enough to hang a gun off of it but you could definitely use it for a rest. The Sirui st-224 is a bit heavier duty and would work better for shooting it would also work great for a NBA center to stand and glass.

 

[ProRoad]

I love my Sirui T04S with VA-5 fluid head. Light enough to hike with and is very smooth for glassing. I also have a BOG Death Grip Ultralight in Arca Swiss so I can shoot from it. I don't leave the gun clamped in, only as a rest. I'm a Pro photographer so tempted to steal it for my work, but it's definitely on the lighter/delicate side.

 

[Wrench]

What tripod are you putting it on. I was looking at that mh35 and 50 as well

I have a bunch. The brunton and leofoto 282cx see the most use.

 

[MallardSX2]

Loving that pistol grip and quick release panner setup I just got put together. Damn nice setup. I’ll likely never change.

 

[Overdrive]

Tophand tripod's

 

[Gpw]

Check out Muley maniacs. Love there tripods. They sell a couple of different fluid heads as well

 

[wpeach1912]

Any glassing tripod with a pan head and a center column is going to really suck for shooting off of. A decent alternative if you want more shooting capability is something like a Leofoto 324clx with the MA-40x head the have a pan head with arca on the bottom that you can clip into the ball head

 

[Shortschaf]

Ive tried several tripods. My goal was to have lightweight standing glassing and shootability also. Tried the Surui w1204, leofoto 282cmx, leofoto so282, leofoto sa324L, and leofoto sa364, but ultimately landed on:

Tricer HK tripod

• 2.5lbs
• Inverted legs (only way to go)
• 3 section that collapses short but is standing bino-glassing height for all except 6' 2" plus
• Can shoot standing in a pinch but it's a lightweight tripod, don't expect mega stability. I wouldnt do so for anything over 200 yards
• For shooting kneeling or seated it is good to go

For a head you can shoot with, I can only recommend a RRS Anvil or Leofoto MA30L or Tricer AK head (all the same design)

Pan heads dont shoot well at all and Ive not seen a ball head that shoots as well as an Anvil design

A plate with a bag works pretty well for everything too, but there is no insurance for not dropping your binos from 5 feet so ultimately I prefer to clip stuff in the field. Plus you can literally aim the rifle/glass for a youngster and lock it in for them

 

[Hydra6]

I like my Leofoto inverted tripod - they make 3 sizes of legs - thicker the legs the steadier but also heavier. I have never used the head for shooting, I put a flat plate with a bag or just put the bag on top of the tripod

 

[kcm2]

For shooting, look for a quad stick, which I have used to shoot prairie dogs out to 600 yards. No left-right movement and you can get the up-down quite stable. Never tried a tripod. I don't use the quadpod for glassing. YMMV.

 

[Beendare]

There is a long tripod thread in the gear section....

 

[jimh406]

If you use trekking poles, you might want to look at the Wiser Precision third leg, etc. They also have an adapter to use the third leg by itself, and to use the trekking poles shooting sticks.

 

[samgann93]

I was in a similar boat as you. Too many options and didn’t know where to start. Ended up picking up a Sirui ST-124 VA-5X combo and haven’t looked back. Really like the stability and really don’t have any complaints.

 

[MTNHNTR Brad]

Save some weight on the head - check out our Swift TS. Made for glassing - but I shoot off of them quite often. Just level the legs and makes for a good shooting option if needed.

 

[Tobe_B]

Research spartan precision equipment. Certainly not for everyone, but it’s a good option and worth looking at. It’s modular, and can be a multipurpose piece of equipment.

 

[Howard94]

Ive tried several tripods. My goal was to have lightweight standing glassing and shootability also. Tried the Surui w1204, leofoto 282cmx, leofoto so282, leofoto sa324L, and leofoto sa364, but ultimately landed on:

Tricer HK tripod

• 2.5lbs
• Inverted legs (only way to go)
• 3 section that collapses short but is standing bino-glassing height for all except 6' 2" plus
• Can shoot standing in a pinch but it's a lightweight tripod, don't expect mega stability. I wouldnt do so for anything over 200 yards
• For shooting kneeling or seated it is good to go

For a head you can shoot with, I can only recommend a RRS Anvil or Leofoto MA30L or Tricer AK head (all the same design)

Pan heads dont shoot well at all and Ive not seen a ball head that shoots as well as an Anvil design

A plate with a bag works pretty well for everything too, but there is no insurance for not dropping your binos from 5 feet so ultimately I prefer to clip stuff in the field. Plus you can literally aim the rifle/glass for a youngster and lock it in for them

What didn’t you like about the leofoto sa-324 and 364.

 

[Shortschaf]

What didn’t you like about the leofoto sa-324 and 364.

Non inverted legs primarily. Having inverted legs is massively more user friendly to me.

364 specifically was a little heavier than I needed
4 sections is kind of a lot of twist locks to run too, but that is a smaller gripe

To be clear, both are useable