The perfect tripod

Cynoscion

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Mar 11, 2021
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South Texas
Has anyone found the perfect tripod? What I’m getting at is, is there a tripod that checks all, or at least most of the boxes? Is it light enough to be used backpack hunting? Is it sturdy enough to shoot off of so you don’t have to carry a bipod too? Is it tall enough to glass standing and or shoot standing? Does it pack down compact enough to get in your pack or at least strapped to the outside without being to big?
I am looking for it if it does exist but I feel like it may be a unicorn so I’m interested in what y’all are using if it’s checks most of the boxes.
 

bradb

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Jan 8, 2013
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There is a lot of personal ideas to the ideal to all those questions and I think there will be tons of people having different "perfect" to many of them. But my pick would be RRS 24l with anvil head. I actually use the 34 series legs and its "fault' may be the little extra weight
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
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Lowcountry, SC
I like my ProMaster XC-M 525CK. Decent price for the resulting setup.

Tripod and head weight = 3 pounds 5 oz. Took a bit of legoing from two heads I already had, but I'm pretty happy with the weight/performance.

- ProMaster XC-M 525CK tripod
- ProMaster Specialist SPCH20 Cine Head
- ProMaster H30 head QR assembly swapped onto the SPCH20 head. Saved about 3 oz, plus a bit for each QR plate that I carry (binocular mount, Optic, etc.)
 

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Cynoscion

Cynoscion

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South Texas
I hear you guys on the RRS setups but every time I look for them, they’re sold out.
Are their heads compatible with standard ARCA Swiss plates?
 

Lawnboi

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Mar 2, 2012
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North Central Wi
I hear you guys on the RRS setups but every time I look for them, they’re sold out.
Are their heads compatible with standard ARCA Swiss plates?
Yes. They ship as they make them here in the US. You can order and get in line, they don’t charge till it ships.

Iv got an ascend with an anvil head and no center column. If not standing a lot it’s about perfect. If you want to stand and shoot more I’d look at the 24.

Iv yet to handle anything that compares to RRS.
 

28bang

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Joined
Mar 16, 2018
Messages
369
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Oregon
I bought the rrs ascend with anvil 30. Added the pc-lr 40 for panning because the anvil 30 alone was not going to fly. It only weighs 5.6oz. Then the 40 dovetail plate for quick release.
 

Sadler

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Dec 17, 2016
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Washington
I hear you guys on the RRS setups but every time I look for them, they’re sold out.
Are their heads compatible with standard ARCA Swiss plates?
Another option is to order them through rentoutdoorgear.com. The RRS 14L was sold out on their site and the guys at ROG had one to me within two weeks of ordering it. This was less than a month ago
 

Sadler

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Dec 17, 2016
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1,449
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Washington
Are they selling new or used/demo?

Both. Just depends on which tripod you want. I bought a new Ascend 14L and didn't have the option for a used one. The 24L had that option though.

Just checked their site. You can buy the 24L and 34L with anvil used.
 

Reburn

Mayhem Contributor
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Messages
3,438
Location
Central Texas
Both. Just depends on which tripod you want. I bought a new Ascend 14L and didn't have the option for a used one. The 24L had that option though.

Just checked their site. You can buy the 24L and 34L with anvil used.

Its cool they have them in stock if someone needs it right now but for $26 worth of savings ill just buy new.
 

Hunt30

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 13, 2018
Messages
186

I’ve used a bunch of setups over the years, but my current setup of a Gitzo GHF2W Head and GT2543L legs are my favorite. It’s seems to be the perfect blend of quality, height, sturdiness and weight.​

 
Joined
Jul 24, 2016
Messages
804
One more happy RRS user here. I went with the TFC-33s. It weighs about 1.5 lbs more than the typical tripods talked about here for backpacking but it’s worth the weight to me.
 

Roscoehd

FNG
Joined
Mar 19, 2021
Messages
10
Has anyone found the perfect tripod? What I’m getting at is, is there a tripod that checks all, or at least most of the boxes? Is it light enough to be used backpack hunting? Is it sturdy enough to shoot off of so you don’t have to carry a bipod too? Is it tall enough to glass standing and or shoot standing? Does it pack down compact enough to get in your pack or at least strapped to the outside without being to big?
I am looking for it if it does exist but I feel like it may be a unicorn so I’m interested in what y’all are using if it’s checks most of the boxes.
2 Vets "40 Mike Mike " it is heavy but it will be worth it.
 
OP
Cynoscion

Cynoscion

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Mar 11, 2021
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I’ve been ooooing and awwwing over RRS and 2 Vets tripods all weekend. They both have some big ol beefy stuff. I’ll probably end up with something from one of the companies before long. Lots of reviews put 2 vets ahead of RRS except for the China import aspect. It’s a shame!
 

PONYBOY

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Messages
182
Location
California
Hey All - Traditionally had been using the Outdoorsman tripod with the micro head... I loved that set up. Great glassing flexibility and super stable. Tripods systems wasn't great for shooting off of although I did use a couple of times in a pinch and everything worked ok.

I recently got an RRS tripod and WOW - Very stable, flexible (Positions), and light considering everything it can do. The Anvil 30 head is amazing for shooting off of (Rock Solid) and also good for glassing! If you are looking for something light they make a tripod more catered to hunters with a center post. Only downside is the system is VERY EXPENSIVE, that being said the quality is top notch and you will have the system forever.
 
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Cynoscion

Cynoscion

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Today it got really weird and I’ve been contemplating all afternoon what I should do so here goes.
This morning I put an ad in the classifieds looking for a RRS Anvil 30. I got a pm from a guy (1st screen shot) so I texted him and then he replied with word for word copy/paste from an old classified ad (2nd and 3rd pic) and then added some lingo of his own.
Here’s a link to that thread that he stole the info from so you can see he’s obviously trying to scam me.


Also want to give a shout out to 771Sallee ( Bill) guy in the link above. He reached out to me with good info on his RRS setup and told me he sold his Anvil 30. If he hadn’t reached out to me, I wouldn’t have looked him up, seen his closed classified ad and I probably would’ve sent the scammer some cash and received fukall in return.
I thought really hard about covering up the scammers handle and phone number in the screen shots but decided not to since he was deliberately lying and trying to extort money. I hate a liar and a thief!
 

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tak

WKR
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Jan 10, 2021
Messages
404
Damn, glad you caught the scammer!

I just got a 24L with anvil 30, arrived Monday or Tuesday earlier this week, ordered Aug 26. So 3.5 weeks. I was expecting at least a month, they might have said 4-6wks when I called to order.

I'm really impressed after playing with it a little bit. I knew it was great to shoot from, but I'm impressed with the ability to scan with binos. I thought that would be tough compared to a pan head. Time will tell on the glassing aspect, but so far I don't expect it to be an issue at all.

The 24L works for glassing standing up. Otherwise, if just shooting standing up, and not glassing, the regular 24 would be fine. Also, if you want to go really lightweight, you can remove 2 leg sections. I saw photos of a guy on here that did that. Going to try that once I get some rubber caps that fit over the threads.
 
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