What tripod should I look at?

[JGood]

@JohnJohnson you just saved me $500

 

[Ac338]

I’ve been pretty happy with my Innorel Rt90c paired with the Leofoto Lh-55 head. Solid setup and I needed two setups to shoot off of for when the daughter or lady came so RRS wasn’t in the budget

 

[JGood]

To be fair I don’t think many would be able to tell the difference between the Leofoto and RRS unless they are compared side to side.

I spoke with Larry at Rent Outdoor Gear (great company) and had him send me both. I ran my hunting and PRS rifle on both in every conceivable position to shoot off of. Where the RRS outshines is in standing positions when you apply lateral torsion to the rifle. The Leofoto has almost a spring like load to it where the RRS has almost no movement to it. Like I said before, VERY specific requirements push the RRS ahead. For glassing I don’t thing the lateral torsion matters a bit. BUT if you plan on taking long shots from a standing position, RRS can’t be beat.

And like JohnJohnson said before….you never have to wonder if you could have spent more money on a better product

 

[Flyjunky]

I see the rrs vs leofoto as a chance to support a USA company that took the time to invest in r&d and make the best product vs a Chinese one that does nothing but steal the design and undercut.

YMMV

 

[Wyoming Shooter]

This is a highly informative thread. So much so that I've become a bit overwhelmed. I'm looking for my first shooting tripod. Stability is more important to me than light weight. My budget for tripod and head is approximately $750. Suggestions?

 

[dirtytough]

This is a highly informative thread. So much so that I've become a bit overwhelmed. I'm looking for my first shooting tripod. Stability is more important to me than light weight. My budget for tripod and head is approximately $750. Suggestions?

For shooting off of, not worried about weight, and a price of $750ish. I would look at an RT90C with an Anvil 30 or something like the Vortex Radian with ball head. The Anvil is the best shooting head available.

 

[seand]

One thing I don’t hear discussed much is tripod quality benefit when shooting clamped into a ball head vs shooting off a bag on the tripod.

The cost/stability increase of an RRS just doesn’t provide much stability benefit when you are shooting off a bag on the tripod. Direct attach, locked into an arca rail - yes, significant difference between RRS and cheaper options. Shooting off a gamechanger on Tac table or on tripod with no ballhead used, not much difference IMO.

I’ve been shooting less direct attach and more off a lightweight bag this last year. My kid actually prefers it, so we left the $1500 tripod in the truck and carried the $300 Leofoto in the field on her hunt this year.

 

[hereinaz]

One thing I don’t hear discussed much is tripod quality benefit when shooting clamped into a ball head vs shooting off a bag on the tripod.

The cost/stability increase of an RRS just doesn’t provide much stability benefit when you are shooting off a bag on the tripod. Direct attach, locked into an arca rail - yes, significant difference between RRS and cheaper options. Shooting off a gamechanger on Tac table or on tripod with no ballhead used, not much difference IMO.

I’ve been shooting less direct attach and more off a lightweight bag this last year. My kid actually prefers it, so we left the $1500 tripod in the truck and carried the $300 Leofoto in the field on her hunt this year.

I agree, using a bag can be better or as good in many situations.

I will take a little liberty to do some self promotion. There are lots of solutions out there, and we are trying to spread the word about our company LS Wild that is trying real hard to make better gear that is more lightweight and designed for hunters. I like PRS and NRL Hunter because it spawns creativity, but the good stuff needs translation to hunters.

For specific situations, especially kids, I will carry a bag which drapes over any head to give a solid position. Set it up for kneeling height and teach the kid to put the shooting hand knee up and rest the elbow on it. I've done that and taught them to watch and I will I point the leg towards the animal. This makes it very simple for first time shooters/hunters to get set up and make good confident shots.

Here is one of our bags. https://www.lswild.com/store/p25/Mini_Waxed.html

A plate and bag works great for anything where you need more flexibility or speed, like coyote hunting or an ambush point where you have a couple different lines of sight. They are popular in NRL hunter because of that. When I shoot matches, I don't lock my rifle into the tripod because of speed.

Here is our plate. https://www.lswild.com/store/p69/Ultralight_Plate,_Bag_and_ARCA_hardware.html

 

[Mpmoody15]

@hereinaz

I’m ready to ditch the Slik/Sirui tripod and head combo I’ve been fighting for the past few years. What exactly is your glassing setup?

 

[hereinaz]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1635709-REG/leofoto_so_282c_2_section_tripod.html

LEOFOTO MH-40 40mm Ball Head w Handlebar Control Arca Compatible Ideal for Target Shooting https://a.co/d/3Y8FuNX

 

[T_Widdy]

I’m still testing this out but so far I have been happy with this tricer ad and a rrs anvil 30. I did remove the center post and build a solid mount for the anvil.

 

[hereinaz]

I’m still testing this out but so far I have been happy with this tricer ad and a rrs anvil 30. I did remove the center post and build a solid mount for the anvil.View attachment 633698View attachment 633699

Looks nice.

 

[seand]

Or to save additional cost and weight just skip the head all together. 3/8” tee nut in a 5x8 piece of 1/2” plywood will screw right down tight direct on the tripod, bag on top. Bag works great for glassing too.

 

[JGood]

This is a highly informative thread. So much so that I've become a bit overwhelmed. I'm looking for my first shooting tripod. Stability is more important to me than light weight. My budget for tripod and head is approximately $750. Suggestions?

At that price range, i think the leofoto is the move. SA series.

One thing I don’t hear discussed much is tripod quality benefit when shooting clamped into a ball head vs shooting off a bag on the tripod.

VERY TRUE, but there is a trade of here as well. How heavy a bag are you taking and how far do you have to go. Sand filled OG Game Changer? I'll pack that about as far as i can throw it. I have an ultralight rear bag for backpack hunting that i love, but it does jack sh*t on top of a tripod.

I really dig that LS Mini Waxed at 11oz. I think id be willing to pack it...

 

[seand]

VERY TRUE, but there is a trade of here as well. How heavy a bag are you taking and how far do you have to go. Sand filled OG Game Changer? I'll pack that about as far as i can throw it. I have an ultralight rear bag for backpack hunting that i love, but it does jack sh*t on top of a tripod.

pint size waxed gamechanger with gitlite fill, weight is approx 1#, same weight as a anvil30 head.

Schmedium git lite gamechanger, approx 1.75#.

If worried about weight, backpacking, etc. consider it’s really multi purpose. Can use as rear bag, shoot off stumps/other stuff, sit on it, use as a pillow.

A lighter tripod, no head, plus bag can wind up same weight or even lighter than a beefier RRS with ballhead.

 

[dirtytough]

no head,

How do you glass without a head on the tripod?

 

[mj23polaris]

How do you glass without a head on the tripod?

Put a bag on the tripod, I hunt with a Armageddon gear x-wing and regularly just put the bag on the ball head and set binos on it.

At NRL hunter I use my game changer over the ball head. Never clipped in my binos.

It's actually pretty solid

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

 

[Ridge Ghost]

I agree, using a bag can be better or as good in many situations.

I will take a little liberty to do some self promotion. There are lots of solutions out there, and we are trying to spread the word about our company LS Wild that is trying real hard to make better gear that is more lightweight and designed for hunters. I like PRS and NRL Hunter because it spawns creativity, but the good stuff needs translation to hunters.

For specific situations, especially kids, I will carry a bag which drapes over any head to give a solid position. Set it up for kneeling height and teach the kid to put the shooting hand knee up and rest the elbow on it. I've done that and taught them to watch and I will I point the leg towards the animal. This makes it very simple for first time shooters/hunters to get set up and make good confident shots.

Here is one of our bags. https://www.lswild.com/store/p25/Mini_Waxed.html

A plate and bag works great for anything where you need more flexibility or speed, like coyote hunting or an ambush point where you have a couple different lines of sight. They are popular in NRL hunter because of that. When I shoot matches, I don't lock my rifle into the tripod because of speed.

Here is our plate. https://www.lswild.com/store/p69/Ultralight_Plate,_Bag_and_ARCA_hardware.html

What is the weight on the plate/bag combo?

 

[dirtytough]

Put a bag on the tripod, I hunt with a Armageddon gear x-wing and regularly just put the bag on the ball head and set binos on it.

At NRL hunter I use my game changer over the ball head. Never clipped in my binos.

It's actually pretty solid

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

That’s what I figured. I can see my binos tumbling down the mountain now. Bet it works good with a spotter also.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m still testing this out but so far I have been happy with this tricer ad and a rrs anvil 30. I did remove the center post and build a solid mount for the anvil.View attachment 633698View attachment 633699

Probably a really dumb question but I looked up that anvil head and that trivet tripod you have.

Do those just sort of click together with no messing around and you’re good to go? Additionally could I just bolt an arca plate to my rifle and slap it on a set up like that and roll with it or is it more complicated than that?

Also, what would it take to have a setup like that and switch between a spotter and the rifle?

Again, sorry if those questions are basic.