Hiker friendly tripod?

[Peakbagr]

Beware a deficiency of the lightweight tripods. They are more susceptible to bumping and wind.
We bivouaced on an open summit one time to get the morning's first light. I had my OM-1 set up, walked away from it for a moment, and the breeze found the least study leg.
It went over like a tall guy being poleaxed. 2 legs remained extended, and one collapsed, with the filter and lens front serving as airbag for the camera slamming into the anorthosite.

 

[BillK]

Beware a deficiency of the lightweight tripods. They are more susceptible to bumping and wind.
We bivouaced on an open summit one time to get the morning's first light. I had my OM-1 set up, walked away from it for a moment, and the breeze found the least study leg.
It went over like a tall guy being poleaxed. 2 legs remained extended, and one collapsed, with the filter and lens front serving as airbag for the camera slamming into the anorthosite.

I was actually thinking about that earlier. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel leaving my nice DSLR on a tripod in a very uncontrolled environment (top of a mountain) and walking away. If possible, I think I'm going to leave the shoulder strap around my neck if I can get enough slack in it. Good point.

 

[DougPaul]

You can also hang a weight off the tripod to steady it in a breeze if the legs are strong enough.

Doug

 

[w7xman]

You can also hang a weight off the tripod to steady it in a breeze if the legs are strong enough.

Doug

Yes, there is a hole or hook in the center poast for a reason. Make a sling and suspend a rock. It's a good thing!

 

[darren]

You can also hang a weight off the tripod to steady it in a breeze if the legs are strong enough.

Doug

You can just hang your backpack from it.

- darren

 

[Grumpy]

You can just hang your backpack from it.

Or ... you could dispense with the tripod altogether and use your backpack as a "beanbag" type camera support.

G.

 

[arghman]

Yes, there is a hole or hook in the center poast for a reason. Make a sling and suspend a rock. It's a good thing!

Hmm. I can't remember my physics/mechanics class very well, but somehow I remember if you have X amount of weight you can carry to help stabilize a tripod, it is more effective to put weights on the tripod feet, than to hang from the center. In my younger days I probably could have written up a proof quickly but not now

 

[arghman]

Thanks Jason. That one looks pretty decent. Keep me posted on how it works out. I really want to stay under 2lbs, ideally 1-1.5lbs. I stopped at CompUSA, Best Buy, and Circuity City on the way home, but nothing caught my eye. Best of luck with it.

Just got back from a bunch of botany expeditions & made good use of my tripod. For $80 I am a happy customer. If the same item were $200-$300 I would probably not be as happy. When I get more time available (August???? ) I will post more details.

 

[arghman]

ok, more info on the Slik Sprint Pro as promised.