Outdoorsmans tripod confusion

[Hunter6]

Ok. I have read and watched a lot the Internet has to offer about the compact medium and medium tripods from Outdoorsmans. I'm still torn on which to get. I have 12x50 binos and a 65 mm spotter that this tripod will hold up and going to get micro pan head.

1. Do the compacts offer enough Height if on uneven terrain to glass sitting down.

2. Sometimes I hunt in flat sage desert and would like to stand and glass. Does the medium with the tall center post extension offer a stable enough to platform to use occasionally standing.
Dont get me wrong. I mainly sit and glass and know if I want to be rock solid standing I should get the tall. Tripod.


It's a lot of money and living in Oregon I can't go to the store and compare side by side so I want you options and it would be great if you have pictures of the tripods in the field.

So which of those did you or would you buy.

Thanks for your help.



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[Hunter6]

Any opinions?


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[dotman]

Call them

 

[Hunter6]

Call them

I have I was just wanting options from someone not trying to sell the product.

 

[HuntHarder]

I live in Az, and the outdoorsman is right down the street. They are nice tripods, but I personally did not like them. I hated the idea of the center post extension. It was not solid enough for me, and stood no chance with my spotting scope on it. I think they are overpriced for what you get, and if you do just get the tripod that you can stand up with, it is not much of a weight savings over some of the cheaper carbon fiber manufacturers. I do love their panhead, I think that thing is top notch.

 

[Hunter6]

I live in Az, and the outdoorsman is right down the street. They are nice tripods, but I personally did not like them. I hated the idea of the center post extension. It was not solid enough for me, and stood no chance with my spotting scope on it. I think they are overpriced for what you get, and if you do just get the tripod that you can stand up with, it is not much of a weight savings over some of the cheaper carbon fiber manufacturers. I do love their panhead, I think that thing is top notch.

Interesting I just thought Outdoorsmans was top notch on their tripods. So you are saying you prefer a carbon one like the slik 634 from s&s.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I'm not a fan of their tripods either. I continue to go back to sliks 624 and 634 twist locks. I am however a big fan of their heads.

 

[HuntHarder]

I do prefer the Slik's over the outdoorsman. Do some research on weights vs. max height.
Slik 624 max height of 44" with a weight of 1.8 lbs. vs. Outdoorsman medium max height of 44" with a weight of 2.6 lbs.
Folded length-
Slik 624- 14" Outdoorsman medium- 18"
Price:
Slik 624- $249.99 Outdoorsman medium: $369.99

I would go Manfrotto, slik or gitzo over outdoorsman's. Their panhead, is a different story. I believe that is one of the lightest, nicest panheads out there.

 

[Hunter6]

I do prefer the Slik's over the outdoorsman. Do some research on weights vs. max height.
Slik 624 max height of 44" with a weight of 1.8 lbs. vs. Outdoorsman medium max height of 44" with a weight of 2.6 lbs.
Folded length-
Slik 624- 14" Outdoorsman medium- 18"
Price:
Slik 624- $249.99 Outdoorsman medium: $369.99

I would go Manfrotto, slik or gitzo over outdoorsman's. Their panhead, is a different story. I believe that is one of the lightest, nicest panheads out there.

Funny you say that I got so zeroed in that and didn't even look at the sliks 634. It's lighter than the medium and about the same closed length but I can use it for standing and sitting.

Leaning this way now. Usually when I get on this forum it cost me money. This time it might save some.

 

[Hunter6]

Well I went with the slik pro 634 with no regrets, Playing with it in the office I'm impressed. Can't wait to get it in the mountains.

Might a also say super fast shipping from s&s I ordered on 4/27 used free shipping and received today 4/29.

 

[whacker1]

Well I went with the slik pro 634 with no regrets, Playing with it in the office I'm impressed. Can't wait to get it in the mountains.

Might a also say super fast shipping from s&s I ordered on 4/27 used free shipping and received today 4/29.

The question I always have with other than outdoorsman is how they do in the wind. I wasn't impressed with the manfrotto in the wind. the two reason I was looking at Outdoorsman was the stability in the wind. If you tell me that Silks will be at a similar level of stability I will definitely explore the options they may have. Question 2, can I put an outdoorsman pistol grip on their tripod or do they use their own formula for attachments like some of the lower end manufacturers?

 

[Hunter6]

I got an Outdoorsmans micro pan head to go on the slik so the pistol grip will work. I'll let you know about the wind when that happens.


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[whacker1]

I got an Outdoorsmans micro pan head to go on the slik so the pistol grip will work. I'll let you know about the wind when that happens.


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In Eastern Oregon, I can't imagine that it will take you too long to come up with some wind to test it out. LOL I too am planning for a 65 mm spotter to top it, so I look forward to your experiences. The 624 would be the model I would be looking as compared to Outdoorsmans compact medium.

 

[MattB]

I'm not a fan of their tripods either. I continue to go back to sliks 624 and 634 twist locks. I am however a big fan of their heads.

Right there with you.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

good info fellas

 

[justin davis]

I used to have a Gitzo CF tripod. I liked the weight of it. But it was a little shaken with a heavy spotter on it when it was windy.

I then traded it for an outdoorsman medium. The outdoorsman is really solid which I like. A little heavy it seems, but solid. I like taller tripods so the taller the better in my opinion.

 

[Joelweb]

Hey guys,

Resurrecting this thread. I too am considering the Outdoorsmans vs Slik or Promaster, and I'm wondering if there are any more reports on stability in the wind.

Nothing is more frustrating than a shaky tripod in gusty conditions, and I generally find that I am on the windy slopes while glassing the sheltered slopes. Thanks.

 

[338edge]

I have the outdoorsman medium. Very stable in the wind.

 

[frankrb3]

I have the outdoorsmans medium compact with their pan head and I absolutely love it. I don't have any other tripod experience other than a vortex tripod my dad bought this year and it was terrible. It was so shaky in the wind I couldn't even use it to help sight his rifle in at 100 yards, and that was with the new vortex 85mm spotting scope. Couldn't help but wish I had brought my tripod out to the range with us. I also really like the clamping mechanisms compared to the twist locks on the vortex, just personal preference.

As a medium compact I can only use it sitting down and I have no intentions of adding the extension. Eventually I will wan't a tripod I can use standing up, and when that day comes i'll most likely upgrade to a different tripod.

I don't think the weight of the medium compact outdoorsman tripod to be bad. It's extremely sturdy and easy to get adjusted. The length of it collapsed with the pan head and no quick release adapter is pretty much exactly the same length as my straight 65mm vortex razor spotting scope. I actually use the spotting scope case that came with my spotter as the case for my tripod, and I just keep a neoprene case on the scope.

Because they are the same length they are very convenient to pack. If i wanna save weight I will just leave my spotter behind and use my binoculars on the tripod.