Need a good, solid spotting tripod

[Mike D Texas]

I’m in the market for a good, solid spotting tripod. Weight is less of a concern than stability. It drives me nuts for a spotter to be shaking with the slightest wind. It needs to be solid enough to not shake (within reason) even when spotting from a standing position using a straight body spotter;I’m 6’ tall.

So far I’ve looked into fat boy, two vets and (RRS) tripods.

Are there others I should consider? Are the Tricers stable given their weight?


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[cornfedkiller]

Sirui ST-124, or Leofoto might have something within your specs.

 

[huntnful]

I’ve been on the search for this as well. And something with a center post for easy height adjustments, and doing it at the legs.

I’ve looked a good amount, and still not found “the one”.

 

[CCooper]

RRS 34L is the only tripod that has met my expectations for stability standing with a straight spotter. I have not tried their smaller series in all fairness, just went with the big boy. It's a little chunky though...

 

[Mike D Texas]

I’ve been on the search for this as well. And something with a center post for easy height adjustments, and doing it at the legs.

I’ve looked a good amount, and still not found “the one”.

I’m mixed on the center post but that seems to be the main cause of instability and vibration on the ones I’ve tried so far.


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[nad1967]

RRS is simply amazing. I've tried other tripods like gitzo, leofoto, and even the vortex carbon tripod. None are as solid. Keep your eyes peeled, check FB marketplace, Craigslist, ans offer up. Hopefully luck will fall your way!

 

[huntnful]

I’m mixed on the center post but that seems to be the main cause of instability and vibration on the ones I’ve tried so far.


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I definitely agree. Especially added vibration for shooting stability. But it’s so nice when running optics off of it and having that faster adjustment. That’s just for me personally though. No doubt a tripod with no center post would be more stable though

 

[JohnJohnson]

RRS 34L is the only tripod that has met my expectations for stability standing with a straight spotter. I have not tried their smaller series in all fairness, just went with the big boy. It's a little chunky though...

I also have a TFCT-34L and same. Obviously another perk is being able to shoot from it with almost prone-level stability. Both my father and I shot antelope at 360 yards from fully standing positions (no option to go lower) this year and I shot a coues at 380 from the sitting position last year.

 

[huntsd]

Outdoorsman’s. Not going to be the lightest in just picked one up and like it way more than my carbon fiber

 

[Bull_n_heat]

I’m in the market for a good, solid spotting tripod. Weight is less of a concern than stability. It drives me nuts for a spotter to be shaking with the slightest wind. It needs to be solid enough to not shake (within reason) even when spotting from a standing position using a straight body spotter;I’m 6’ tall.

So far I’ve looked into fat boy, two vets and (RRS) tripods.

Are there others I should consider? Are the Tricers stable given their weight?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Any interest in a Tricer BC? I'll probably be putting one up for sale soon. Its pretty good, but it just didn't quite jive with the rest of my "system"

 

[Mike D Texas]

Any interest in a Tricer BC? I'll probably be putting one up for sale soon. Its pretty good, but it just didn't quite jive with the rest of my "system"

I’m ignorant to this stuff, that’s why I was reaching out for advice.

If you have a 85mm straight body spotter is it tall enough to use when standing for someone 6’ tall and most importantly is it stable? Meaning little to no movement in the spotter from wind?


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[Grassymike]

Just curious, where are you glassing that you can stand up ?

 

[CCooper]

I also have a TFCT-34L and same. Obviously another perk is being able to shoot from it with almost prone-level stability. Both my father and I shot antelope at 360 yards from fully standing positions (no option to go lower) this year and I shot a coues at 380 from the sitting position last year.

I shot a bull at 650 last year seated with mine- brush was too high for prone. I regularly shoot steel out to 700 comfortably seated- past that I like to get prone. Full standing still gets tricky for me past 500 on steel. I carry it everywhere with me, just cut weight elsewhere. The 34L, Scout pan head, and Cinch bino adapter has been a great system for me the last couple seasons.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Just curious, where are you glassing that you can stand up ?

Mostly at the range. I have a field tripod setup.

I shoot out to a mile pretty regularly at Raton and the wind can get a bit sporty there at times. When I’m being spotter for someone else, I prefer to stand.


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[sndmn11]

a stabilizing hammock thing helps a ton. I am exceedingly happy with my Manfrotto 055, but RRS is the only thing I have handled that is a genuine upgrade.

https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Artist-Stone-Tripod-Easel/dp/B07C9LZHR5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3TG4G1X0FNH81&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q2BbkyLntNEvaWXQwYVDRZwzGEiHRu03cJU2G1Qs-QwT8JAJaCMq1pcjSx-aWQYgGbkeTV8XC9EiGgz0Ojem7QWKuKguyLmIcOEbBiQQ__daI5Xl-dYH3VmmfWiSDW9Xp29wx7dNbO4-J-mPFIXdwfS3wm47r797TuyO2KGMlOuwrUn9vQgtXUmn4RIbUByi4eQhmstoz6GdWnbXq_NHazPtgznCi-5W9AugO_Psa5iqbqcLCLmtWmmArNQ4z4j9R9GkocM11HGr6M_Ji5VIKJOs0BWywRCZkeQgxAbZ6g0.N1VwGcJ19P4gzH9ow93dFkg6cGVKqqzjSOWIZjlxzGI&dib_tag=se&keywords=easel+hammock&qid=1731006474&sprefix=easel+ham%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-2

055 Carbon Fiber 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column

Shoot more accurately than ever before. The new 055 carbon fibre-3 section photo tripod offers outstanding rigidity and is incredibly lightweight. This engineering masterpiece from Italy has been manufactured to very high standards, and features a 90° column that can be extended vertically or...

www.manfrotto.com

 

[4090Sharps]

Sirui ST-124, or Leofoto might have something within your specs.

I'm well under 6' and don't like the ST-124 for standing. It's decent overall, but gets shaky with even a little wind when standing.

 

[nad1967]

Outdoorsman’s. Not going to be the lightest in just picked one up and like it way more than my carbon fiber

Where did you get the Outdoorsman?

 

[ni7ne]

Got a beefy Innorel tripod directly from aliexpress. Most US companies are just selling the same Chinese carbon tripods and slapping a warranty and branded labels on them. My assumption is that I'm going to gradually destroy a carbon tripod through abrasive environment getting into the locking mechanisms, and that a warranty probably won't help me. This particular one has been solid at holding up a Kowa 80mm. I'm 6'6" and the height is acceptable.

There's a lot of room for things to go wrong without recourse ordering straight from aliexpress, though.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I’ve been really happy with the little aziak for a sitting only tripod. It’s TINY, does have a center column.