Tripod: Help New Guy

[CMF]

I ended up buying two of these Siriu before last season. I believe it's lighter than the other one posted. I ordered this and another one and sent the other back.
I cut the handle down shorter cause I think it gets in the way.
I like that I only have a single point to loosen the entire leg section. It makes extending the legs a lot faster, although it takes some getting used to coming from the lever lock I had before.
I'm 5-9 and it's a hair short for standing up and glassing, so I ordered the SL-100 extension tube for one of the tripods. The wife and kids use the regular height fine, and she's only a couple of inches shorter than me.
If I were you, I'd order more than one and try them out before deciding and just send one back.

 

[benconfused]

Calling this out b/c your operating in a budget. I went on the cheap just to get into a tripod with this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PK9Q627?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Took it to Alaska in August and loved using every minute of it. Was using 10x42 Vortex Vipers. However, the head I would absolutely replace and you will not be standing at all. I'm in the market to upgrade to something a littler beefier for this fall.

You mentioned one of your hunts was a sheep hunt. To me, that could be a determining factor on shooting from the tripod. I've never sheep hunted but I would recommend @B_Reynolds_AK weigh in here if helpful.

 

[rob86jeep]

I had a cheap tripod and bino mount at first and it worked, but I immediately realized what I was missing when I upgraded. The smoothness of the VA-5 head and tripod ability to stand or set up on extreme incline/declines is worth the weight penalty for me.

I use the SILK CF-634 tripod, VA-5 flued head, Outdoorsman tall adapter, with Vortex Viper 10x42 bino's. I also have an Athlon Ares 15x45 spotting scope that I'll use when not packing in too far but it doesn't justify the weight penalty most of the time for me. I figured that if I was spending the money, I wanted a setup that would allow the most versatility in the future (shooting off the tripod and bigger bino's/spotter).

It does suck to pack that much weight in, but really trying to judge a mule deer rack at distance or glassing for hours makes the stability/versatility worth it for me.

 

[EHoffman]

Slik 634 or 624 CF. VA-5 or Aziak Vantage depending on your budget. If you're budget minded go with the surui carbon fiber VA 5 COMBO, but it's not as nice as the Slik.

For a light weight setup on a budget I second the Slik 634 CF with the Sirui VA-5X. Tall enough that I can glass standing. While flexible enough to glass while sitting. I also have the outdoorsman bino adapter pre-mounted to an extra arca plate. This make switching between binos, spotting scope, and rifle (if you have an ARCA plate) very easy and quick.