Wiser BT-20 Ridge Warden

[svivian]

This thing looks pretty sweet. Anyone get their hands on one of these pre sale?

BT-20 Ridge Warden Ball Tilt Head

The BT-20 Ridge Warden "Ball Tilt" head is the brain child of a "what if" question. What if there was a head that worked great for glassing and shooting? We answered that question with the Ridge Warden. The Ridge Warden is essentially a ball head but with a novel mechanism to lock the ball into...

www.wiserprecision.com

@B_Reynolds_AK im looking at you

 

[Drenalin]

I just got the email; this looks badass.

 

[Deadspace]

I was going to ask the same thing. This think looks pretty sweet for 3.8oz

 

[svivian]

I just got the email; this looks badass.

3.8 ounces is insane. I think im just going to have to bite the bullet and order

 

[ChrisAU]

Ordered. Of course I just sold my Aziak Backcountry to get a Ridgeline, but was really apprehensive about losing my center column. Time to order another Backcountry lol.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Ball heads work great in the studio….. toss it in back of SxS and go travel 100miles of powered dust roads and then video how well it works!!!

 

[svivian]

In case anyone wanted to know. I am an arca user on the fore end so this may prove to be an issue.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

I bought one back at the Western Hunting Expo so I have a few months of use with it. So far I like it especially for what it is... Ultralight.

pros - light weight, compact, ARCA, price(for USA made)
cons - panning(tension not very adjustable)

If the panning (at least on mine) could be adjusted to less tension so that it would pan with less effort it would be my favorite head.

Here it is with my Aziak Tripod 1.5 lbs total.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Hahaha. I got the email and thought it looked duplicative of some other products…..then read this and actually watched the video. Dang it, it does look pretty legit.

 

[WRO]

I really like my nighthawk, I’m sure I’ll be getting one of these too.

The owner is a great guy who actually builds stuff, not hires some 8 year old Asian kid to build it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tall_Vol44]

I bought one back at the Western Hunting Expo so I have a few months of use with it. So far I like it especially for what it is... Ultralight.

pros - light weight, compact, ARCA, price(for USA made)
cons - panning(tension not very adjustable)

If the panning (at least on mine) could be adjusted to less tension so that it would pan with less effort it would be my favorite head.

Here it is with my Aziak Tripod 1.5 lbs total.
View attachment 896177

Do you mind to explain the panning issue a little more?
Does it lock independently like a pan head, or is everything locked by the ball mechanism?
I like to lock the panning and leave the tilt unlocked, or vice versa, sometimes... I'm curious if that is an option with this head?

 

[4090Sharps]

Do you mind to explain the panning issue a little more?
Does it lock independently like a pan head, or is everything locked by the ball mechanism?
I like to lock the panning and leave the tilt unlocked, or vice versa, sometimes... I'm curious if that is an option with this head?

I'm wondering about the pan as well. It says everything is controlled through the ball mechanism adjustment, but there is some "micro adjustment" for pan. Sounds like pan isn't adjustable except the micro adjustment.

 

[mtnbound]

This thing looks pretty sweet. Anyone get their hands on one of these pre sale?

BT-20 Ridge Warden Ball Tilt Head

The BT-20 Ridge Warden "Ball Tilt" head is the brain child of a "what if" question. What if there was a head that worked great for glassing and shooting? We answered that question with the Ridge Warden. The Ridge Warden is essentially a ball head but with a novel mechanism to lock the ball into...

www.wiserprecision.com

@B_Reynolds_AK im looking at you

How dust/dirt resistant are the detents?

 

[svivian]

How dust/dirt resistant are the detents?

Unfortunately don’t have it in my hands yet

 

[wind gypsy]

Looks awesome in theory but I'm skeptical that a sub 4 oz ball head is going to provide the stability i'd like for shooting. I've been playing ball head musical chairs trying to figure out what I want to do for a glassing/shooting head. If they made a MA-30L or anvil with a panning feature I'd probably be set.

 

[atmat]

not hires some 8 year old Asian kid to build it.

But their nimble fingers are great for building. How dare you strip jobs from children.

 

[bullmtn]

But their nimble fingers are great for building. How dare you strip jobs from children.

FALSE, kids love videogames especially Minecraft, they don't need to be working their tails off in a factory.... they should be in the coal mines, that is what they yearn for.

 

[ID_Matt]

Looks awesome in theory but I'm skeptical that a sub 4 oz ball head is going to provide the stability i'd like for shooting. I've been playing ball head musical chairs trying to figure out what I want to do for a glassing/shooting head. If they made a MA-30L or anvil with a panning feature I'd probably be set.

And under 12 oz

 

[svivian]

Looks awesome in theory but I'm skeptical that a sub 4 oz ball head is going to provide the stability i'd like for shooting. I've been playing ball head musical chairs trying to figure out what I want to do for a glassing/shooting head. If they made a MA-30L or anvil with a panning feature I'd probably be set.

I agree however im just at the point I want something that works well for glassing but servicable for shooting off of, as Ill spend 90% of my time glassing. Im not the guy shooting NRL matches who needs a rock steady setup.

Problem is all im finding are things that end up being junk for both. The Tricer DZ head is ok but for the price and size not my solution at the moment.

 

[Marshfly]

I agree however im just at the point I want something that works well for glassing but servicable for shooting off of, as Ill spend 90% of my time glassing. Im not the guy shooting NRL matches who needs a rock steady setup.

Problem is all im finding are things that end up being junk for both. The Tricer DZ head is ok but for the price and size not my solution at the moment.

I think this solution is MUCH better than the DZ.

Now what we need is a light tripod that doesn't have a center section and is reasonably priced. I have a Vortex Summit Carbon laying around that is really light when you remove the head and take the bottom part of the center section off that is really close to perfect for this head. You aren't shooting standing off of it with crazy stability but for sitting and prone it would be fine.