Leofoto STO-362-CX - First Impressions - new inverted

Joined
Mar 25, 2013
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1,279
Location
Alberta
$930 Canadian on Amazon.
40/36mm baseball bats
Integrated inverted ball head
5 lb 1 oz on scale
The giant rubber feet are 9.5 oz of that. It has screw in spike feet also, much lighter.
Twists are normal lefty loosy righty righty.
Has leg lock as part of a stout hook under head that spins 360 with weak detents between lock and unlock. Didn’t know about leg locks until I somehow engaged it and took a minute to figure out what the...
The head is arca and picatinny.
The arca lever has a lock and finger adjustable tension dial.
The leg bolts came tight af, they give a bunch of tools including two big Allen wrenches, one fir each hand, just for relaxing those bolts.
Bubble level in head.

First clamp in noticed a bit of left right so checked main screw going down through clamp to ball and degreased it all, paint pen and farmered it back on, don’t anticipate it will move. The post off ball has raised bar that goes up into machined recess under clamp side so it can’t go far either way but just something to address when you get one. Nothing wiggles any which way now using rifle as lever, but I’m clamped in tripod rookie so can’t give you anything to compare to, will see what it’s like to shoot like that but looking through scope on lockup it barely settles upward on lock up. Using 8 lb tikka with Srs balance to play for now so still tail heavy unless hang bipod out front.

I see 40mm rubber chair legs on Amazon if wanted to drop close to half pound but I’ll leave it for what I’m doing, pretty sure I want the weight down there. Did order the chair feet anyway.

Decent padded soft case with a zip section on end that lets it extend to absorb a pan head as I think they have that optional combo you can order.

Can’t seem to find anyone talking about em yet so they must be newer release?

Holler if you have any questions. Just watching tripod threads and see the questions and likes and looks like majority of them all encompassed and included in this model.

My initial thought opening it up was I went way overkill, and shoulda maybe looked at the 322 model which I think starts around 4.4 lb and with lighter chair feet you could land under 4 and it was about $250 Canadian less than the 362.

I have a 284 and man that thing is tiny af compared to this beast. Need table and sap run n gun to set binos on that for standing glassing and prolly pinch legs up a bit lol. Put 7/8” chair legs on that one and it’s just over 3 lb. Forget which head some letter h-30. Two totally different animals.

It goes very tall. At full extension to first leg angle stops I can clip a bino with aziak arca clamp on barrel right into it and glass standing straight up with boots on and I’m 6’ tall no shoes. Taller guys could likely do same pinching leg angles in a bit and gain another inch or so but any glassing off other mounts or tables or spotters only move taller than bino barrel clamped right into the head and handle the giraffes.
 
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Bought one 2 years ago. Too tall stowed to shoot kneeling, at least for me. Good solid tripod though.
100, I didn’t get it for far from truck work and it won’t get in a suit case. So you got a SO and added head etc?

This new one seems to be shooting focused and eliminated the head options by integrating the head.

I’m just warming up on the concept and wanna run it against my usual table setup or prone and range day stuff and see how I get along vs. Excuse to burn a bunch more ammo and then see if it’s something to use for certain hunts and spots. Seems simple and light for streamlining the features.

I’ll report findings as I give it my ‘fair’ shake over coming months and several rifles. Some arca feet in mail, gonna get a balance on 90 peak stock but don’t wanna bubba that one myself, the first tikka was a five minute...the Srs balance and one hole, pretty slick how it just scrapes that t-nut down into the webbing. Mdt one should be here shortly for a chassis I have and that will start me on three I know well without using a saddle or table/bag.

Just fun summer project for now. So much to test from poi, group sizes, distances I can get with various positions etc.

Just couldn’t find anyone reports on this version with the integrated head so may as well share the journey as un-comparative as it is. Seems like guys go down the road and wish they did sooner so finding out what I can and starting with this one. No competition here, just between me and gear and for potential hunting goals in the end.

Need the options with the kids now getting to on own and put em in blinds etc with the other pack friendly tripods I have and my desire to spend less time on the ground...so I sell myself.
 
40mm Amazon chair feet showed, 6 oz weight drop, now 4 lb 11 oz. changes the one handed handling feel a surprising amount. Feels light and nimble and less cumbersome and beastly. Legs get closer together closed and still don’t clack but seems easier to throw legs out too. Time will tell which I leave on, if can notice stability or otherwise issues. Also the padded case has good shoulder strap if wanting to hike in quivered over shoulder and rifle in hand but the zipper ends jingly af so snipped them off and ran paracord through the hole with knots either end and shut it right up, also cut the annoying velcro handle thingy off the one handle that Velcros both handles together. Done yapping until I can shoot off it.
 

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I run the 282cx for night hunting. I love it. I do wish at times I had got the 320 series, the one between yours and mine. But I don’t think I’ve ever missed a coyote due to my tripod. And it is light for walking between sets. If I’m walking to and from truck or to another set I leave rifle attached and legs extended just folded together straight, and lay gun over one shoulder with legs out front. I have killed a load of yotes walking to the stand and one or two sitting in field when I arrive. I just see tripod down and shoot.
 
I bought the RRS inverted too, it’s shorter. I use it when I know I’ll be sitting for a while, but too short to use it for standing shots. I can also use on my pack for western hunting. It’s really really good, but not that much better than my Leofoto. I got it at a screaming deal is only reason I bought it.IMG_8304.jpeg
 
Sounds awesome. I think I’ll be happy I went 362, despite the shock of seeing it first time, it’s growing on me quickly and now doesn’t seem so big. Getting middle bowl of porridge vibes now.

Got an 8 lb 3 oz tikka 223 super light on it clipped in back of Srs balance and with the 40mm chair leg feet it’s 12 lb 14.5 oz but one hand grabbing collar and upper metal of yoke lifts and maneuvers easily as its balanced there. Feels handy so far. Be fun to start burning ammo. Few more rails still to land and one to get installed out of house as I’m scared to butcher the 90 peak stock myself lol
 
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