Ultralight Tripod Options

[True North]

I'm a fan of the Aoka 28

 

[4th_point]

I'm a fan of the Aoka 28

Me too. Very handy as long as one keeps expectations reasonable. Perceived quality is better than expected too but I have not owned mine for very long.

 

[Beendare]

Put this here for the database

This Aoka works for me if Im sitting on the ground and glassing under perfect conditions [which is rare] I don't see myself giving this a lot of use.

Pictured at 44” without the last small skinny top section extended which we’ll get you about another eight or 10 inches. This 44” is as high as I would go with this tripod. It comes with the extension pictured and an arca plate.

My heavy Vortex18x UHD’s - pictured for scale- are stable on this unless it’s windy- then forget it- no way.

It has a hook to weight it down but the center post chatters in the wind- Its light- but Not really a very good system

 

[BigredRusch]

I have been running Leupold alpine CF425. Pretty close to what you are looking for out of the box: 2.0 lb, arca, ball head VS pan.

Works really well sitting and you can leave the center column behind. Heavy spotter or high winds it gets shaky.

I have range tested shooting off it. Have not shot at game yet but I would based on range test.

I am running the Alpine CF425 as well. I am happy with the ball head for glassing and look forward to shorting my Kimber hunter pro .308 off of it. Not sure I would shoot a heavy mag off it though.

I kept the removable center column attached for micro height adjustments when sitting and glassing. It makes life easier than messing with the legs a bunch.

I weighed it with the center column and ball head at 33 oz.


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[WashedUp1775]

I am running the Alpine CF425 as well. I am happy with the ball head for glassing and look forward to shorting my Kimber hunter pro .308 off of it. Not sure I would shoot a heavy mag off it though.

I kept the removable center column attached for micro height adjustments when sitting and glassing. It makes life easier than messing with the legs a bunch.

I weighed it with the center column and ball head at 33 oz.


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Good stuff. I have Been leaving the center column behind. I may have to try it out.

 

[MCS]

So far I'm pretty happy with the sirui travel 5c and the small rig head.

 

[aftriathlete]

Here’s some pictures. I’m running the Tricer bino adapter as well as the head. The tripod is on a MR guide lite frame with a pintler bag. It’s a little tall but doesn’t bother me.

Is it possible/practical to carry it without the sunway center post attached? The tripod itself seems to small and compact, but the sunway post seems to make it way less convenient to carry. Any reason you couldn’t keep the center post off and just install it when you take it out of your pack? It just spins on right?

 

[ewade07]

Is it possible/practical to carry it without the sunway center post attached? The tripod itself seems to small and compact, but the sunway post seems to make it way less convenient to carry. Any reason you couldn’t keep the center post off and just install it when you take it out of your pack? It just spins on right?

Yes, the center post can be removed and carried, it just screws on. I just keep it screwed on so as not to chance losing it. After using it all spring/summer the height of it with the centerpost on did not bother me at all.

 

[8grenade]

There is no free lunch when it comes to tripods- some weight is needed for rock-solid performance in wind. You can always find something light, but you may be disappointed when using it. Of course the size and weight of your camera completely dictate your options. I don’t know anything about super-UL tripods, but to use my heavy full-frame equipment at eye height when traveling I take a very compact Me-Foto. It appears that they now offer a “backpacker” one as well. Some attachment to use your trek pole as a mono-pod is the lightest way if you don’t need extended exposures.

 

[MountainTracker]

Is it possible/practical to carry it without the sunway center post attached? The tripod itself seems to small and compact, but the sunway post seems to make it way less convenient to carry. Any reason you couldn’t keep the center post off and just install it when you take it out of your pack? It just spins on right?

I carry the tripod without the center post attached, it fits better in the pocket on my pack. Doesn’t take much time to put on and off.


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[CO2130]

Just here to add another review to the thread. I have the Tricer LP head and the 28” Aoka. I’ve tried my hardest to like it, but after 4 or 5 backpacking trips as well as taking it along to get used to on a couple quick evening glassing trips I will be switching to the Slik CF635. The head is amazing for what it is but the tripod just doesn’t handle my 15’s or ATS80 well enough to even carry. As stated above it may be fine in “perfect” conditions but I have never really been in those conditions. This is for people who spend a lot of time glassing with high quality optics and like to glass a lot/long ways. Some quick scanning with 10’s and slapping a 50-60mm spotter on to confirm if an animal is legal within a mile and it would probably do fine.


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[JakeSCH]

Just here to add another review to the thread. I have the Tricer LP head and the 28” Aoka. I’ve tried my hardest to like it, but after 4 or 5 backpacking trips as well as taking it along to get used to on a couple quick evening glassing trips I will be switching to the Slik CF635. The head is amazing for what it is but the tripod just doesn’t handle my 15’s or ATS80 well enough to even carry. As stated above it may be fine in “perfect” conditions but I have never really been in those conditions. This is for people who spend a lot of time glassing with high quality optics and like to glass a lot/long ways. Some quick scanning with 10’s and slapping a 50-60mm spotter on to confirm if an animal is legal within a mile and it would probably do fine.


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I would also check out Tricer's BC tripod. Same weight as the 635 but more stable. The inverted legs make a big difference...but it also quite a bit more $$ then the slik.

 

[mtwarden]

Here's an idea I'm going to try.

The little Aoka goes w/ me on most hunts where I can get by with a small spotter & 10x42's, so while probably too light to shoot from as a regular tripod, I'm thinking of using it like a bipod up front where I'd normally mount a bipod. Gives me a wide array of height options and should be as stable (probably more stable?) than a bipod.

I've ordered a regular Spartan Davros head (which is a little over an ounce lighter than the ballhead that comes w/ Aoka). All my optics (and rifle) are already setup for the Spartan system already (have a Davros Pro head on a heavier tripod), so everything is ready to go.

I've been using their Javelin Lite Bipod, probably could be left behind now if this works out.

 

[ChrisAU]

For a 2-3 oz penalty the Aziak tripod is incredible compared to the Aoka/Sunway setup. I'm not sure I'll ever use the Aoka again, its a photoshoot away from the classifieds.

 

[mtwarden]

^ I have to get out of my cave more often. Hadn’t heard of the Aziak- thanks for pointing that one out

 

[aftriathlete]

Tricer has a sale going on, picked up the LP head yesterday for 20% off. Haven’t decided which tripod yet though. I’m a little gun shy on the Aoka now after looking through my buddy’s Swaro spotter on a much sturdier tripod setup than it sounds like the Aoka is. It was breezy, not crazy wind, and the amount the spotter image was vibrating and jumping around has me thinking it doesn’t take much wind.

 

[ChrisAU]

^ I have to get out of my cave more often. Hadn’t heard of the Aziak- thanks for pointing that one out

Not sure if you used the Sunway extension with the Aoka, but I found it essential for height to glass sitting and for micro adjusting height. But the Aziak folds up shorter than the combo is only 3.7 oz more than the combo with the full center column, less than 2 oz more with the short center column, and it is a muchhhh more stable tripod.

 

[mtwarden]

yeah I have the extension for my Aoka, the only way I could get it usable to glass off- definitely going to look into the Aziak

 

[PathFinder]

The UL tripod market has really taken off since this thread started! I've been using the Aoka/Tricer LP combo all summer and the start of archery season so far. For what it is I like the Aoka but the new options are looking really good in comparison.

• Tricer BC: 26 oz, 40" tall. Carbon fiber almost just looks like a chopped short fiber? Not ideal for tripod legs. Inverted leg design is great though.
• Aziak: 22 oz, 45" tall. If it's woven fabric throughout as it appears on the surface, that's better than chopped but not ideal. That could just be cosmetic though, might be wrapped uni underneath.
• Slik 632: 22 oz, 37" tall. Woven Uni-fiber, much better orientation for a tripod leg.

As for the Tricer LP head, overall I really like it. Very hard to top at the weight and price. My one suggestion is that the threads for tension adjustment should have been UNF instead of UNC. I do find myself having to find just the right tension and finer threads would give a little better resolution so it wouldn't be so touchy.
I've considered going back to the Smallrig head if I can get mine to loosen up. The one my buddy has is great. The fluid function is just better overall and may be worth the 6 oz.

 

[ChrisAU]

The UL tripod market has really taken off since this thread started! I've been using the Aoka/Tricer LP combo all summer and the start of archery season so far. For what it is I like the Aoka but the new options are looking really good in comparison.

• Tricer BC: 26 oz, 40" tall. Carbon fiber almost just looks like a chopped short fiber? Not ideal for tripod legs. Inverted leg design is great though.
• Aziak: 22 oz, 45" tall. If it's woven fabric throughout as it appears on the surface, that's better than chopped but not ideal. That could just be cosmetic though, might be wrapped uni underneath.
• Slik 632: 22 oz, 37" tall. Woven Uni-fiber, much better orientation for a tripod leg.

As for the Tricer LP head, overall I really like it. Very hard to top at the weight and price. My one suggestion is that the threads for tension adjustment should have been UNF instead of UNC. I do find myself having to find just the right tension and finer threads would give a little better resolution so it wouldn't be so touchy.
I've considered going back to the Smallrig head if I can get mine to loosen up. The one my buddy has is great. The fluid function is just better overall and may be worth the 6 oz.

Its nitpicky, but this is a thread about ultralight tripods in the lightweight section - the Aziak is 20.4 oz with the long center column and 18.9 oz with the short center column.