BEST CARBON FIBER TRAVEL TRIPOD 2019
Best Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod 2019
I have a couple Carbon Fiber Tripods and I tend to use the Carbon Fiber Tripods for not just hiking but all travel photo shoots where I am not tethering my camera to my notebook computer and or a monitor. For hiking, backpacking, trekking and any other outdoor activity or travel purpose there is no better tripod for those purposes than one made from Carbon Fiber.
Fact: The Best Travel Tripods are Made of Carbon Fiber.
There two reasons for this.
- Carbon Fiber is lighter than steel or aluminum.
- Carbon Fiber is also stronger than steel or aluminum.
When tripod weight is a concern Carbon Fiber Tripod is the Best Solution. The only major drawback to carbon fiber is cost. Typical Carbon Fiber Tripods cost 2-4 times that of their identical steel and aluminum counterparts. There is also usually a correlation between weight and cost. The lighter the tripod the more expensive it costs. Those few grams or ounces of weight savings can cost hundreds of dollars.
Travel Tripod Heads
When discussing the weight of tripods the weight may be for the tripod legs only or the tripod with the head. The weight of the tripod head can drastically alter the total weight of the tripod with the head. When selecting your Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod understand the total weight!
Important Details
All Carbon Fiber Tripods are not created equal. Like anything else you buy there are several considerations beyond tripod weight. There have been times I have used my Aluminum Manfrotto BeFree Tripod simply because it fit in a bag that my Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber Tripod was to long for.
- Construction Quality: you get what you pay for and that is especially evident in the low end Ebay and Amazon tripod offerings
- Weight Capacity: a 2.5 pound tripod tat can hold 8 pounds is obviously not the same construction of a tripod that can hold 22 pounds
- Maximum Height: the tripod needs to extend high enough to suit your needs. This is typical determined by the number of leg sections but even tripods with the same number of leg extensions can be substantially different heights.
- Minimum Height: Some tripods legs spread fully out allowing the camera to be inches off the ground while others go down to about a foot, give or take a few inches
- Folded Diameter: You might need to fit your tripod inside a specific bag, pack or case and folded diameter can become a critical dimension.
- Folded Length: Similar to diameter length does matter, folded length that is especially important when stowing a backpack.
Don’t buy excessively more tripod than you need: If a Carbon Fiber Tripod with a 15 pound capacity is suitable start there. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars more on a higher capacity model unless you want to.
My list of the Best Carbon Fiber Travel Tripods 2019 is a culmination of hands on experience and internet research. I couldn’t afford to own them all let alone buy the most expensive models on the list. I’m guessing other lists are compiled the same way.
I also tried to include tripods for every budget, again you typically get what you pay for. I’m a Manfrotto guy. When all else fails and your unsure what to get, buy a Manfrotto and you won’t be disappointed. Manfrotto also distributes Gitzo tripods.
When looking at these tripods some have special features that might be useful. Some can get lay flat and get within a couple inches of the ground. Others have a center column that can go horizontal for taking pictures straight down. One tripod in that list actually can convert to a monopod. Next pass Ill will discuss the tripods in detail.
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The Best 3 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripods 2019
If I was to choose the three Best Carbon Fiber Tripods for Travel and Hiking it would be these threeTripod Tripod Head Load Capacity Max Height Min Height Folded Length Leg Sections Weight Cost 1 Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Carbon Fiber Tripod Really Right Stuff BC-18 Micro Ball Clamp Head 25 Pounds 47.6" 02.8" 17.2" 4 2.56 Pounds $955.00 2 Manfrotto Befree GT Travel Carbon Fiber Tripod 496 Ball Head 22 Pounds 63.8" 16.9" 16.93" 4 3.4 Pounds $389.88 3 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian Travel Tripod Airhed Neo Ball Head 30.9 Pounds 74" 07.5" 16.1" 5 3 Pounds $269.99
Best Carbon Fiber Travel Tripods 2019
This list below is sortable by any column criteria you choose as most important to your needs.| Tripod | Tripod Head | Load Capacity | Max Height | Min Height | Folded Length | Leg Sections | Weight | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gitzo GK1545T Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod | Center Ball Head | 22 Pounds | 64.4" | 12.6" | 16.7" | 4 | 3.2 Pounds | $999.00 |
| 2 | Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Carbon Fiber Tripod | Really Right Stuff BC-18 Micro Ball Clamp Head | 25 Pounds | 47.6" | 02.8" | 17.2" | 4 | 2.56 Pounds | $955.00 |
| 3 | Oben CT-3531 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod | BE-108T Ball Head | 08.8 Pounds | 60.8" | 09.3" | 15.5" | 5 | 2.5 Pounds | $242.95 |
| 4 | Sirui ET-1204 Carbon Fiber Tripod | E-10 Ball Head with TY-50E QR Plate | 18 Pounds | 55" | 05.0" | 16.5" | 4 | 2.5 Pounds | $269.99 |
| 5 | 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian Travel Tripod | Airhed Neo Ball Head | 30.9 Pounds | 74" | 07.5" | 16.1" | 5 | 3 Pounds | $269.99 |
| 6 | Benro TSL08CN00 Slim Carbon-Fiber Tripod | Ball Head | 08.8 Pounds | 57.6" | 15.7" | 20.1" | 4 | 2.2 Pounds | $139.00 |
| 7 | Manfrotto Befree GT Travel Carbon Fiber Tripod | 496 Ball Head | 22 Pounds | 63.8" | 16.9" | 16.93" | 4 | 3.4 Pounds | $389.88 |
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| 9 | Davis & Sanford TR654C-36 Traverse Carbon Fiber Grounder Tripod | Ball Head | 12 Pounds | 64" | 09" | 18.5" | 4 | 3.4 Pounds | $114.00 |
| 10 | MeFOTO GlobeTrotter Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Kit | Dual Action Ball Head | 26.4 Pounds | 64.2" | 16.1" | 16.6" | 5 | 3.7 Pounds | $299.00 |
Best Carbon Fiber Tripod for Travel and Hiking
Summary
I have a couple Carbon Fiber Tripods and I tend to use the Carbon Fiber Tripods for not just hiking but all travel photo shoots where I am not tethering my camera to my notebook computer and or a monitor. For hiking, backpacking, trekking and any other outdoor activity or travel purpose there is no better tripod for those purposes than one made from Carbon Fiber.
