How heavy is your tripod?

[jarrettd]

I just picked up a Slik Pro 824CF Tripod and SVH-501 head. I really like it a lot. Very strong, super stable. But I cant get over the weight of it. 4.75 lbs assembled... This is my fist spotting scope tripod. I admit I am a noob. Do y'all pack full size tripods like this into the backcountry? My spotting scope weighs 2.8 lbs. I am debating on removing a few of the telescoping leg sections to shave some weight and just use is in the seated position.

 

[Drenalin]

I have a Promaster 525, the carbon version. I removed the two lower leg sections on two of the legs, which got it down to 28 ounces. I left the third leg full length to help with steep slopes, and so I can detach it and just carry a monopod. Fairly versatile and lightweight, while still being stable enough for my use. I paired it with the 6 ounce Weiser panhead.

 

[Mark at EXO]

I have been running the RRS Ascend as a do-it-all (binos, spotter, rifle) tripod. It is 45.8oz with the center column extension removed (still has a short column).

 

[Marbles]

I have a Surui T-025X at 28 ounces with the ball head. It is light, and works for the Kowa 554 spotting scope I use, which is small and light. However, I want to add an RRS Ascend for shooting off of and as a midweight tripod for my wife's photography (she has an FLM that I think is 4.3 pounds without a head) and is heavier than I am willing to pack for hunting.

 

[nobody]

Just shy of 3 lbs. Vortex Summit Carbon 2 with a Slik SVH-501 fluid head. Plenty sturdy for binos and an 85mm spotter, but it's seated height only. That doesn't matter to me, since I ALWAYS glass sitting down.

For scouting and road glassing, I've got a big Slik tripod that is standing height. But it doesn't go in my backpack anymore, it's too darn heavy (5 lbs, +/-).

 

[Kyle Wheeler]

I aim for 3 lbs. Slik 633 with VA5 is right there or something like the vortex ridgeview CF as well if you want a super tall tripod for straight spotter and like to always stand and glass. The Slik is capable of standing and glassing but I have to extend center which I don’t prefer. A basic ball head can get this setup closer to 2.5 lbs or if you went with Wiser Nighthawk would be insanely light. I like some weight for stability.

 

[jarrettd]

I'm leaning towards the Slik Pro CF-635 which is the most compact carbon tripod Slik makes. I will use my SVH-501 head on it. That would put the total weight at 2.9 lbs.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Unless camp is on your back, I wouldn’t worry about it for the time being. Go use it in the field and then make adjustments.

For when weight matters I use:
Slik Pro 635 CF w/ Jim White 2.0 head: 41.6 oz
Works awesome with my SLC 10s/15s and Kowa 554; STX 65 is pushing the stability especially with wind.

For everything else I use:
Manfrotto 290 XTRA CF w/ Jim White 2.0 head: 74 oz
This is my “go to”.

You can plan on only sitting and remove legs but then what do you when the vegetation is higher than your sitting height? Can remove a center post but what if you need just 1” of additional height?

 

[alpine_troop]

Leofoto Ranger LS325C+LH40 ball head combo: 4.25 lbs.

(identical to the Revic Stabilizer Hunter tripod kit, which is a rebranded Leofoto setup)

The extra pound over a lighter setup gets you big gains in stability. If I was buying all over again I’d probably get one of the 4-section tripods instead of the 5-section. Would be slightly lighter and quicker to setup and stow.

 

[Marbles]

Unless camp is on your back, I wouldn’t worry about it for the time being. Go use it in the field and then make adjustments.

This is a great point.

 

[Overdrive]

Mine is 2 1/4 lbs (tripod only)
But serves as more than a spotting tripod.
- spotting Tripod
- has a pulley with rope to assist with skinning and quartering
- walking sticks
- tent frame (tent is still in RnD)
- shooting rest

 

[JohnJohnson]

I have an RRS TFCT 34L with an Anvil-30 so mine comes in around 5.5lbs, which is reasonably heavy. I just don't care in the slightest. If I was big into backpack hunting maybe I'd take a look at it I suppose. But for an added 2-2.5lbs over a very lightweight tripod system, I can shoot off this one with almost prone accuracy and my glassing is beyond rock solid. I just never saw tripods as the area to shave weight when hunting. For an extra 1-2 pounds you get a massive amount of use/options.

 

[Winternews]

I usually don’t bring a tripod for my rifle… or scope. I glass with the binos and when I need to see if a dot has antlers, I rest the scope (25oz) on my pack carefully. I don’t bring a full size scope. I do have a Slik tripod, about 1.5 lbs with the center column removed and a ball head, but that usually stays home. Not everybody’s in the same boat but it works for me as a good compromise vs just binos and not being able to tell if I should relocate a few miles closer to dots on the next ridge or not.

 

[ElDiablito]

Slik 613cf and Sirui VA5 head with two lower legs removed weighs 36.4 oz.

 

[Winternews]

I forget if they were mentioned above, but the Slik Sprint Mini is 590 grams with the head and center column gone and the Oben 28” carbon tripod with lots of threads on here is sub 1 lb. The Slik one is pretty sturdy for its size; here’s a shot with it. The Oben is the same price and less weight though.

 

[BBob]

I have been running the RRS Ascend as a do-it-all (binos, spotter, rifle) tripod. It is 45.8oz with the center column extension removed (still has a short column).

I use the same RRS Ascend with the short column as my main tripod with an Outdoorsmans Fluid Head. Spendy combo but fantastic especially with large optics. If I need to go "light" it's a Gen 1 Outdoorsmans tripod with their Pan Head.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Outdoorsman standard tripod and pan head....56 oz.

 

[throughhiker]

Slik CF-634 + Sirui VA-5 head. The VA-5 is v-smooth but weighs 20 oz on it's own so am looking for a lighter backcountry option.

 

[throughhiker]

this is a killer deal if anyone is in the market:

Product Description

Product Description | Camera Land NY

cameralandny.com

 

[mtwarden]

my heavier tripod (Sirui T-024SK) is 32 oz with the ballhead, 44 oz with the VA-5 panhead

my ultralight tripod weighs just 8 oz- Granite Peak by Kramer Designs

I just ordered a AOKA carbon tripod that splits the difference at 17 oz