Thread: best tripod for bc use suggestions?

looking for something light weight and durable. have about 5 shitty broken ones sitting around the house. durability takes importance over weight as the tripod need to be able to take some abuse. oh and only needs to hold a rebel xti.

figured that some of you mags would have a good suggestion to what you have used and been happy with.

it all depends on how rough you are on your gear

but ive had this one http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/291660637.htm
for at least 5 years and its been everywhere with me climbing peaks and long hikes.

I generally dont carry anything while skiing though.

otherwise, a friend of mine had one of these that was stupid bomber at a fraction of the price of a bogen. http://cgi.ebay.com/Heavy-Duty-Metal...QQcmdZViewItem
(at least i think it was that one, it looks very similar)
Although I think his had rubberized foam padding around the leg uppers.

http://www.gitzo.com/
Look for a lightweight head, for BC use. Depending on how much you want to spend, it might be a bit high. But... for less than the price of your 5 broken ones you'll get one that will sustain some abuse.

thanks for the suggestions,
bklyn, i'm thinking more towards your line of thinking that more spent is better than 5 cheap broken ones.

as for abuse, these tend to beat the shit out of yr gear pretty quick:

and thats a pretty wide slot

that vanguard ebay tripod is a sick sick SICK tripod/head steup for $70

but it is 6lbs

I'm using something very similar to that Quantaray for backpacking (3.3lbs)

I'm looking at buying a Gitzo GT0530 or GT0540 or GT530

The 530 only weighs half a pound and compacts to 1ft in length!

Add a 0.3lbs G1077M ballhead and you are in business...

Of course those Gitzo carbon fiber tripods do cost $330-$430 without the head...

There are also solutions out there that can utilize hiking poles for extra light weight.

Originally Posted by Summit

There are also solutions out there that can utilize hiking poles for extra light weight.

no shit? cool!
got a link?

Originally Posted by pechelman

no shit? cool!
got a link?

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...028/index.html

I have a Leki hiking staff (monopod) that works well as a ski pole. It has the removable knob with a camera mount underneath. I tied 3 equal lengths of parachute cord to the staff and staked it out like a tent.

I just took it on a hut trip to experiment, worked great! very lightweight as it is your ski pole. (double duty) It held up my heavy SLR no problem.

telehoar == BRILLIANT

looking like the gitzo 0530 is right up our alley. that with the ball head should fit the bill.again thanks for the suggestions.

I'd invest (or make) a decent hard case instead of buying a more expensive tripod. Some large diameter PVC pipe might work, drill plenty of holes to lighten it and drain water quicker.