Which cheap tripod has lasted through the years for glassing and photo/video

[Corey75]

Are any of you guys running a “cheap” tripod when scouting and hunting back country? Looking to hear about which cheap tripod has served you well, way longer than you’d have expected.


I come from a video and photo career/background and I have too many tripods, ranging from $200-$2000. I have this old $200 Amazon carbon fiber tripod that has been beat to death while backpacking/hiking and still works great, but it does not have a center column because I was using it for landscape photo and video( you can get lower to the ground more easily without a center column) I’m wanting to find another cheapo and light tripod to use as a do it all basher, mainly for glassing. That’s why I want the adjustable center column available, but will also double as camera tripod for my hiking camera kit.

 

[patagonialuke]

I've been very happy with both the Sirui ST-124 (bought with their VA-5 fluid head for ~$200), and the Aziak Frontcountry ($380; paired with their Frontcountry ball head).

The Frontcountry definitely feels more solid and is a bit easier to adjust, despite being a touch lighter, so it serves as my rifle-season tripod for on-hunt glassing and shooting. But the Sirui has held up surprisingly well, given its price and weight; with the VA-5 head, it's been my primary tripod for glassing with a spotter for a few years now.

I also shoot photos off both and can't say I have much of a preference in that regard. They're light and not inherently stable, but hanging some weight off the center column is usually enough to deal with wind.

 

[Austink47]

I go between Aziak front country when there is a rifle involved and the small rig when there is no rifle. In my experience the small rigs are hit or miss, I have one that is fantastic, a couple have just been okay. If you get a good one, price, size, and performance are hard to beat for a Arca head.