New 21 oz Hoplite mini tripod from Spartan Precision Equipment

[Pdzoller]

@Oregon Hunter,
If you got some extras and want someone to give it a good testing and review I suppose I could find the time.

 

[Justin Crossley]

It's an interesting niche product. I'm not sure if it has a legit use case or not but I plan on trying one out before I decide.

I'll definitely test it against a bipod in regards to stability, speed to get set, versatility, weight, and cost.

I'm skeptical but I love that the Spartans keep designing and developing new products.

 

[Oregon Hunter]

It's an interesting niche product. I'm not sure if it has a legit use case or not but I plan on trying one out before I decide.

I'll definitely test it against a bipod in regards to stability, speed to get set, versatility, weight, and cost.

I'm skeptical but I love that the Spartans keep designing and developing new products.

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Thanks for giving it a shot Justin. Rob is always trying to create tools to accomplish specific tasks. If it turns out to be too niched, we chalk it up as a learning experience and pull it. We're trying!

 

[Shortschaf]

It's an interesting niche product. I'm not sure if it has a legit use case or not but I plan on trying one out before I decide.

I'll definitely test it against a bipod in regards to stability, speed to get set, versatility, weight, and cost.

My formal guess: it does not have the stability of a bipod. And it sure doesnt win for speed.

Bipod that doesnt cant has 2 degrees of freedom.
Tripod with a ball head has one extra degree of freedom. Not to mention the apex is lower on this. My 2¢. For the record its easy to be an armchair engineer

 

[Oregon Hunter]

Here's a video the designer Rob just made that explains the thought process behind it and intended use cases.

Hoplite Mini Tripod - Feature Overview​

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Here's a video the designer Rob just made that explains the thought process behind it and intended use cases.

Hoplite Mini Tripod - Feature Overview​

I still don’t get it. . Excited to hear real world experiences from those willing to bite the bullet and try it out. I would love to be wrong. I do a lot of back country hunting in idaho, montana, utah, colorado etc and am always looking to shave ounces where it makes sense.

 

[Marshfly]

I also don't get it. Heavier and less height adjustability than a $90 Aoka tripod and I have to use proprietary mounts for the rifle and optics rather than normal ARCA plates. Both will be very similar stability setup as in the picture below. The AOKA clamps down tight enough to fully support an 8# rifle with the ARCA mount in front of the magwell.

 

[Happy Antelope]

Spartan at the Sportsmans Outdoor. Rob has some good photos from the event. Lots of guys we all like in the outdoor media world.

 

[Oregon Hunter]

Spartan at the Sportsmans Outdoor. Rob has some good photos from the event. Lots of guys we all like in the outdoor media world.

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Thanks for sharing these pics! It's easier to understand how something works when you see it in use.

 

[Blaw]

I also don't get it. Heavier and less height adjustability than a $90 Aoka tripod and I have to use proprietary mounts for the rifle and optics rather than normal ARCA plates. Both will be very similar stability setup as in the picture below. The AOKA clamps down tight enough to fully support an 8# rifle with the ARCA mount in front of the magwell.
View attachment 741127

do you still like this tripod? how is it glassing while sitting on the ground?

 

[Marshfly]

do you still like this tripod? how is it glassing while sitting on the ground?

I honestly never use it anymore. I either carry a full size carbon tripod that I use for shooting/glassing or carry a super light KDC Granite Peak plus a carbon bipod. Most of the time I am hunting with my family and I have the full size carbon tripod with us as that by far gives everyone the most stable shooting platform of anything.

 

[justinspicher]

I have had/use a hoplite for about 8 months so far. I have had a hard time finding a place for it, as it’s not quite big enough 80% of the time and too small 15% of the time I try to use.

However, I did swap the legs out and now my Sentinel tripod legs are on the hoplite head and it is pretty amazing.

I have use the hoplite a few time on the bench, but my bipod is easier to use. I have also used the hoplite as a rear rest along with the V notch from spartan. Worked okay, but the set up time was ridiculous.

I could see using this more in a place like Alaska or New Zealand, here in Colorado where I live/hunt there isn’t of a use for it.

I don’t see myself getting rid of it, because as soon as I do, I will find a use for it.