Editor’s Choice: Peak Design Travel Tripod   

Peak Design’s innovation is the near-complete elimination of dead space when the tripod is folded up. The Travel Tripod’s legs and center column nest together for a total diameter of just 2.5 inches, or about the circumference of a water bottle. It is quick to deploy, too, thanks to non-inverted legs that extend along an aligned system of locking cam levers. Rather than several knobs, the head has a single adjustment ring and a propriety quick-release plate that’s Arca swiss compatible. You can extend the tripod to 62.5 inches or down to a minimum working height of 5.25 inches.

Price: $350 (aluminum), $600 (carbon fiber)
peakdesign.com

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Slik AL-324BH4

The AL-324BH4 can keep 8.8 pounds of photo gear aloft at a maximum height of 55.7 inches or a minimum height of 9.8 inches. Collapsed, the tripod measures 20.3 inches. A Rapid Flip Mechanism allows you to quickly adjust the leg angles. The tripod’s collar has an accessory port that accepts 1/4-20 or 3/8-inch accessories. The tripod ships with a dual-action ball head with an Arca-compatible quick-release plate. The head has independent pan and release controls.

Price: $140
slikusa.com

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Vanguard Veo 2Go

This four-section, aluminum tripod includes an Arca-Swiss-compatible quick-release plate and a pair of spiked feet for working on rough terrain. There’s a retractable weight hook you can use to add stabilizing weights, and the tripod legs can be positioned at three independent angles. It extends to 51.2 inches and down to a minimum working height of 6.9 inches, and it can hold 6.6 pounds of camera gear. It packs down to 12.75 inches.

Price: $120
vanguardworld.com

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Joby 3K Pro

With the 3K Pro, Joby has designed a GorillaPod capable of supporting heavier cameras up to 6.6 pounds, making it a great fit for compact DLSR and mirrorless shooters who need to position their gear at unorthodox angles that traditional tripods can’t easily replicate. The 3K kit includes an Arca-Swiss-compatible ball head and a standard 1/4-20 tripod mount. Weighing a little over a pound, the 3K Pro’s ball head has a panning base with degree markings and a single
locking knob.

Price: $150
joby.com

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Manfrotto BeFree GT XPRO

Optimized for capturing close-up details, the XPRO features a built-in 90-degree column in the top casting that, when deployed, lets your camera be positioned offset from the tripod’s legs. The tripod includes the 496 ball head, which can support up to 22 pounds of gear. The head has independent friction knobs and includes an Arca-compatible quick-release plate. The tripod body is forged from carbon fiber. The XPRO extends to 63.8 inches and has a minimum working height of 3.5 inches. Folded up, the tripod measures a compact 16.9 inches.

Price: $430
manfrotto.com/us-en/

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