Ultralight Tripod Options

[ewade07]

Welp/ thanks to this discussion I have ordered the aziak backcountry tripod, VA5 head and a new pair of swaro EL 10x42 . Really looking forward to get it all in hand and start playing around.


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Get the tricer head. Over a pound lighter than the va5.

 

[bwc33]

Get the tricer head. Over a pound lighter than the va5.

I will look into it! My order from GoHunt is out for delivery today. I've only ever used the VA5 on a buddies setup.


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[bwc33]

This is a pretty sweet setup. I will make it out to our farm this weekend and do some field glassing here in Ohio for whitetail. I will mostly likely send my swaros in for the outdoorsman stud. But the aziak clamp is very convenient and compact.

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[4090Sharps]

This is a pretty sweet setup. I will make it out to our farm this weekend and do some field glassing here in Ohio for whitetail. I will mostly likely send my swaros in for the outdoorsman stud. But the aziak clamp is very convenient and compact.

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I've been playing around with the Aziak tripod and the VA-5 (already had one on hand), and it's a pretty nice combo. Add the Aziak carbon fiber lever and you can drop some weight but retain your a lever.

 

[MountainTracker]

I’ve been using the tricer head and have noticed the pan lever doesn’t really lock down tight without really cranking on it. Also if the tilt or angle of the scope is too low I’m unable to loosen the pan lever enough to make adjustments, because the tilt lever hits the bottom of the scope plate, so I then have to adjust the tilt in order to adjust pan. Just something I noticed over the past few hunts, not sure if other are experiencing the same thing. If I could figure out how to get the pan lever to lock down easier I’d be much happier with it. The weight is hard to beat though.


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[bwc33]

I've been playing around with the Aziak tripod and the VA-5 (already had one on hand), and it's a pretty nice combo. Add the Aziak carbon fiber lever and you can drop some weight but retain your a lever.

Ordering the carbon fiber handle today. The VA5 is so smooth.


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[churley15]

I’ve got an aoka up in classifieds if anyone’s interested in trying one cheap


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[TxA]

The Tricer head is unbelievably lightweight and very smooth. I'm not sure there is a better option when considering weight.

 

[Happy Antelope]

That is the Range Rover of tripods, nice choice! Do you shoot off your Davros Gen 2 head on the Ascent? How do you like not being able to lock in your rifle to the “post”? I bought the head for my Slik 632 tripod and couldn’t get as steady as I wanted to be for long shots. Glassing with the pro optics mount worked well but ended up sending it back after they were unable to provide a “post” with a shoulder like the javelin bipod uses.

We shot on them for several days last week, had a 15 year old boy who had never shot a rifle in his life hitting sheep size steel at 300 to 1600 yards, was hitting antelope at 500 almost 100% of the time. Couple guys clocked 10 hits out of about 40 to 50 shoots at 2200 on a life size sheep. You can get plenty stable especially if you go prone. Watched DTJ hitting hit 1 moa steel 3 shoots in a row with an ascent at 700 yards.

 

[Happy Antelope]

View attachment 599632Aziak with the long center column, Tricer head, and Kowa 554 with an Aziak arca plate is only 3 lb 6 oz and 14 oz lighter than just my old tripod and head setup!

Awesome on the Aziak! Great company and an even better owner!

 

[mtwarden]

No problem w/ a 65mm spotter on the Aziak (Davros head)

 

[MountainTracker]

For anyone looking at the Aziak it is on sell right now.


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[LostWapiti]

I have used the Aoka for the last 2 seasons and am really happy with what it can offer but hated that it was just barely too short a lot of the time for use with binos, so I ended up using it as a monopod a lot which was fine. I was using it without the extension as the extension is way too long and skinny. Today I did 2 big things though.

1st I bought a Slik 632 because I wanted something I could still shoot off of that was still very light. Can anyone recommend a good and well priced ultralight ball head? Considering the Aziak one.

2nd I modified the Aoka by cutting up the extension sections and gluing them back together to make a 1 oz 4inch extension. See photo. This comes in at 18oz on my scale which is much lighter(and hopefully stable) than any extension you can buy as well as free since the parts are included with the tripod. You could make one for yourself at whatever length you choose. Some electrical tape and JB Weld was involved to get a good tight and secure fit.

I think both tripods will continue to have their place in my pack. The Aoka offers everything I need for glassing my Kowa 66A and binos. The Aoka will come along on archery hunts and any time I don’t think I will need to shoot off a tripod. Hopefully I am satisfied shooting off the Slik 632.

 

[LostWapiti]

I've been using the Leofoto LS-224C with the LH-25 ball head for about seven months. It's sub-2 pounds, but still gets tall enough that I'm able to shoot standing off of it. I used it to do quite a bit of glassing on this year's elk hunt and I've probably shot over 400 rounds off it and it's held up well. It's on sale right now too.

Can you tell me about the LH-25 ball head? I’m considering getting one or it’s little brother the LH-22 but it looks to me like there is not way to control the tension on or lock out the panning feature. Is that correct? Does this cause you any issues? It is making me think it might be a no from me.

 

[S.Clancy]

My brother has the Tricer LP and Sirui AT-125 tripod. That combo weighs 1lb 11oz and is light years beyond the Aoka for not much weight penalty.

 

[LostWapiti]

My brother has the Tricer LP and Sirui AT-125 tripod. That combo weighs 1lb 11oz and is light years beyond the Aoka for not much weight penalty.

I almost bought the AT-125 or a close competitor, the X-Aircross. They both look awesome and should be very stable. The photography community seems to love them but I couldn’t find much feedback about them for hunting. It would be great if we could get a review on it. Durability of the leg locking mechanism is a concern for me.

 

[S.Clancy]

I almost bought the AT-125 or a close competitor, the X-Aircross. They both look awesome and should be very stable. The photography community seems to love them but I couldn’t find much feedback about them for hunting. It would be great if we could get a review on it. Durability of the leg locking mechanism is a concern for me.

It has the same leg system as the old Vortex Summit tripod. That system worked and was durable. The AT-125 will get plenty of use over the spring shed hunting. I don't imagine any issues.

 

[LostWapiti]

My Slik CF-632 showed up in just a couple days and I am very impressed. It was "Rok" steady with a 8.5lb rifle on it and its very easy to use. I threw the head on it from my Aoka(Same as Oben) and that worked very well but I did feel like the head is a little undergunned since the tripod is just so good and steady. S&S told me this would be the most steady option for what I was considering and they are definitely right because I can't imagine it being any more steady, I'm seriously blown away, it is much more steady than some much heavier tripods. If anyone is looking for a tripod for seated glassing and shooting I will always recommend it. I considered the Aziak head but decided that saving 1oz for $48 doesn't make any sense so I ordered the Smallrig one for $27.

 

[mcseal2]

My set-ups aren't the absolute lightest and aren't, but they have worked really well for me.

If I need standing height I use the Slik 634 with the Outdoorsmans pan head, If I don't I use the Slik 624 with the Outdoorsmans micro pan head. They work well with my 10x Leicas, Swaro 15's, or my Kowa 554.

If I want to have one of those heads on the Outdoorsman's window mount, or swap them between tripods that's easy to do too.

I shoot off the Outdoorsman's rifle rest and it has worked really well for me. I've shot all my Alaska animals off that mount and my tripod kneeling or standing. I've taken game around home off it sitting. Anytime I can't shoot from prone I'll use it if there is time.

My buddy I hunt with uses a ball head, and I personally prefer the separate levers of the Outdoorsmans heads enough to carry a bit of extra weight.

 

[svivian]

It has the same leg system as the old Vortex Summit tripod. That system worked and was durable. The AT-125 will get plenty of use over the spring shed hunting. I don't imagine any issues.

Welp this combo was money well spent