Ultralight Tripod Options

[CjMelendrez]

Sirui st-124
Smallrig ch10

how does the sirui 124 compare to the slik?

 

[CjMelendrez]

The Back Country Lite and LP combo is nice. Super light and super easy to pack. I personally don’t like it with optics bigger than my 15’s. The wind really causes a ton of vibration and movement in this set up. 60mm spotter was just too much for my preference. Even with weight hanging from the center column. I would not pay full price for either. Wait for one of the sales.

I briefly had the Aziak back country ball head. I didn’t like it for glassing or shooting. I sold it fairly quickly.

I don’t like shooting off of pan heads. If you’re dead set on that I’d just grab a molinator and throw it ontop.

I do like the looks of the aziak backcountry lite tripod. would i be loosing that much functionality if i went with the smallrig or sirui VA?

 

[alexnelon]

how does the sirui 124 compare to the slik?

Absolutely smokes it

 

[flyfisher117]

I do like the looks of the aziak backcountry lite tripod. would i be loosing that much functionality if i went with the smallrig or sirui VA?

Never used the small rig. Only briefly used the Siriu VA pan head. I really liked it, I only went LP because I was counting ounces and bulk, and I didn’t want to have to use their special mounting plates.

 

[alexnelon]

Never used the small rig. Only briefly used the Siriu VA pan head. I really liked it, I only went LP because I was counting ounces and bulk, and I didn’t want to have to use their special mounting plates.

Special mounting plates? The sirui va5 and smallrig ch10 both use standard arca plates.

 

[CjMelendrez]

Weight aside, whatvare the pros and cons of va5 and smallrig? If they both in fact use arca plates

 

[flyfisher117]

Special mounting plates? The sirui va5 and smallrig ch10 both use standard arca plates.

The VA5 I used only worked with their own branded plates. My spotter with Arca foot didn’t work. My tricer BA adapter didn’t work. My RRS cinch strap didn’t work. It sort of worked with a plate I had on hand but not well.

 

[CjMelendrez]

If I want to spend $300 on a pod, is the aziak the move or something else?

 

[alexnelon]

The VA5 I used only worked with their own branded plates. My spotter with Arca foot didn’t work. My tricer BA adapter didn’t work. My RRS cinch strap didn’t work. It sort of worked with a plate I had on hand but not well.

Sounds like you might’ve had a vh10? The va5 has always been arca spec.

 

[flyfisher117]

Sounds like you might’ve had a vh10? The va5 has always been arca spec.

Nah it was an older VA5. Nothing would lock in properly. It was all too sloppy or just didn’t fit the jaw. It may be why it was being sold ha

 

[100%DIYazCOUES]

I use a promaster xc325c and tricer lp head. Just a hair over 2 lbs total.I like glassing from a stool and on steep slopes it’s still plenty tall. Even tall enough to stand if needed(rare). If you’re sitting on the ground only, the aziak backcountry is the best going as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve used a good number of tripods. Best bang for the buck is the Sirui 124. Still reasonably light and MUCH more stable in winds then the ultralight options.the things I always look for are …
-reasonable stability in winds. Most “ultralight “ tripods quickly become useless in a breeze. Worth .5-1 lb extra all day.
-center column .makes setup adjustments SO much quicker and easier. And unless you have it extended pretty high, does not effect stability much like a lot of people say.
-twist locks. Just a preference but I strongly prefer them.
The little tricer head has been great. No it’s not as smooth as a good fluid head, but it saves me close to a lb and works pretty damn well.
On a budget or not , sirui legs/tricer head (little heavier but taller and damn stable) or replace legs with aziak backcountry(sitting only, not as stable) would be great options

 

[CjMelendrez]

I use a promaster xc325c and tricer lp head. Just a hair over 2 lbs total.I like glassing from a stool and on steep slopes it’s still plenty tall. Even tall enough to stand if needed(rare). If you’re sitting on the ground only, the aziak backcountry is the best going as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve used a good number of tripods. Best bang for the buck is the Sirui 124. Still reasonably light and MUCH more stable in winds then the ultralight options.the things I always look for are …
-reasonable stability in winds. Most “ultralight “ tripods quickly become useless in a breeze. Worth .5-1 lb extra all day.
-center column .makes setup adjustments SO much quicker and easier. And unless you have it extended pretty high, does not effect stability much like a lot of people say.
-twist locks. Just a preference but I strongly prefer them.
The little tricer head has been great. No it’s not as smooth as a good fluid head, but it saves me close to a lb and works pretty damn well.
On a budget or not , sirui legs/tricer head (little heavier but taller and damn stable) or replace legs with aziak backcountry(sitting only, not as stable) would be great options

This is a fantastic summary, thank you

 

[True North]

If you are only sitting to glass and want the minimal, the Aoka is great, but for a few more ounces you can get something like Sirui at 125 and have a much better experience. I use a wiser head.

 

[True North]

... also, great advice from 100%DIYazCOUES

 

[Sundodger]

I'm guna bring this back up... I plan to only use this tripod for glassing with my 12x50's and maybe a lightweight spotter in the distant future, and shooting from it will not be a priority.

Which tripod do I need?

- Aziak Backcountry Lite ($299)
- Aoka 28" ($105 with Sunway Extention)
- Slik CF Pro CF-632 ($219.95 on amazon)

And head

- Aziak Backcountry Lite Ball ($79)
- Tricer-LP ($219)
- SmallRid CH10 Pan head ($47)
- Sirui VA ($88) and maybe add Aziak handle ($29)

Thank you in advance!

I bought an Aziak Backcountry Lite with their light ballhead for this season, Like the tripod a lot but not a fan of the ballhead and I generally actually like ballheads.

Just put a Wiser panhead on it for my November hunt and I think I am going to like it.

 

[Middle_Ridge]

23.3 oz for Aziak BC Light (short center column) + Tricer LP pan head. I think this combo seems to be pretty hard to beat for the weight. The new Wiser Precision Ridge Warden head could save an ounce over the Tricer head though.


Tip: To make any tripod head super smooth, you have to contrive a way to position the optic's center of gravity directly over the tilting axis of the head. That way it doesn't want to just completely tip over any time you go to unlock it. Here's how I set up my spotter to get it more centered on the Tricer head. It's a little heavier as a result. Something I'm going to consider moreso in the future for spotters -- how badly offset is their mounting point from its center of gravity? If it's got a 1/4-20 right under the center of gravity, then that means you won't need such a big pan head to wrangle it into smooth operation.

 

[4th_point]

I bought an Aziak Backcountry Lite with their light ballhead for this season, Like the tripod a lot but not a fan of the ballhead and I generally actually like ballheads.

What don't you like about the BCL ballhead? I've thought about trying one.

 

[4th_point]

I'm guna bring this back up... I plan to only use this tripod for glassing with my 12x50's and maybe a lightweight spotter in the distant future, and shooting from it will not be a priority.

Which tripod do I need?

You can get by with a very light tripod and head, if only using binos. That's the way that I would go.

I wouldn't focus on tripods and heads meant for a heavier scope, especially if the scope isn't even in the picture yet and way down the road.