Do you ever wonder why your photos turn out blurry when you have a really good camera?
Do you struggle to get your milky way images sharp or your waterfalls to look silky?
If you want high-quality images, you need a tripod! Period.
When you have a sturdy tripod, your photo quality will dramatically improve.
If you enjoy outdoor adventure like we do, you need a compact tripod that’s sturdy, but also lightweight. We recommend you add a travel tripod to your camera gear checklist!
This guide will help you find the best lightweight travel tripod that is compact and portable to suit your photography style, budget and activity level.
• What is a travel tripod?
• Which travel tripod is best: carbon fiber or aluminum?
• Travel tripod features, pros and cons
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WHAT IS A TRAVEL TRIPOD?
Travel tripods are designed to be compact and lightweight.
Many travel tripods fold up into a compact package that you can fit into a carry-on bag. They are also designed to be lighter than the full-sized tripods.
Tripods designed for portability usually have four or more leg sections that can fold up around the center column, or a center column that drops down between the legs for transport.
Most lightweight travel tripods don’t extend to the same heights as full-sized tripods so you will need to bend over a bit while shooting.
Other than the features of being compact and lightweight, the travel tripod is basically the same as any other tripod.
WHICH TRAVEL TRIPOD IS BEST: CARBON FIBER OR ALUMINUM?
Carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum. Does a few ounces of weight difference really matter?
If you’re someone who is traveling a lot or carrying around a gearpack, every ounce counts.
Aluminum is less expensive, and a bit more durable, than carbon fiber. You would think due to carbon fiber being lighter, that’s what makes it more expensive. Actually the higher cost is due to production costs.
Where Should I Buy Camera Equipment?
We get asked this question often. There are two places where we buy our cameras, lenses and other accessories: Amazon and B&H Photo.
B&H Photo is our go-to company for buying the high quality cameras, tripods and lenses. They are a reputable company that's been in business for over 45 years. Their customer service and knowledge about photography equipment gives us peace of mind when spending money on higher ticket items.
→ Check out Photography Gear at B&H Photo
Amazon is where we buy most of our camera accessories like filters, memory cards, etc. The free two-day shipping is always a plus. We have bought cameras, lenses and tripods from Amazon with no problem as well. They are good about returns, but won't be able to answer gear-specific questions.
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT TRAVEL TRIPODS
The most-asked question we receive is “What tripod do you recommend?”
Most of our photography is outdoor landscape and wildlife that requires a STURDY tripod that’s also portable and lightweight.
A tripod is an essential item on our camera gear checklist!.
We rely on using a travel tripod to create the best images of the landscape and wildlife we see on our outdoor adventures.
We recommend the following list of travel tripods because they are sturdy, lightweight and portable.
MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber Tripod
Gitzo Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod
Benro Travel Angel Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod
Manfrotto 190go Aluminum Tripod
Sirui T-025X Carbon Fiber Tripod
3 Legged Thing Punks Corey Aluminum Tripod
1. MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber Tripod:
Best Lightweight Carbon Fiber Tripod
The MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber Tripod is the one we use and always recommend. It’s perfect for our travel and hiking style.
If you want a high quality travel tripod that’s small, compact and very competitively priced, you’ll want to get the Globetrotter.
Lightweight carbon fiber construction makes it the perfect travel tripod. It’s also very sturdy which makes it a good choice for serious and casual photographers.
This portable tripod has the ability to convert to a monopod which is a nice feature.
The bottom line: the MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber is a killer deal for the photographer who needs a lightweight and portable travel tripod.
There’s also an aluminum version of the MeFoto Globetrotter that’s less expensive, but weighs more. And there’s the MeFoto Roadtrip Classic Carbon Fiber Roadtrip Travel Tripod that packs up a bit more compact than the Globetrotter, but you sacrifice load capacity (only 17.6 lbs).
Tripod Details:
- Load Capacity: 26.4 lbs
- Maximum Height: 64.2″
- Minimum Height: 16.1″
- Folded Length: 16.5″
- Leg Sections: 5
- Weight: 3.7 lbs
CHECK PRICES AT AMAZON | CHECK PRICES AT B&H PHOTO
2. Gitzo Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
Best Sturdy Tripod for Travel
When it comes to quality, performance and dependability, Gitzo tripods are hard to beat.
The Gitzo Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod and center ball head is light enough to carry all day, yet sturdy enough when you need it.
Don’t let the price scare you. Yes, it’s expensive, but if you take a lot of photos, use a tripod often, and really want something to last a long time, it’s worth the investment.
You know what they say about you getting what you pay for. If you are serious about taking your photography to the next level, and you need a lightweight tripod for travel, the Gitzo Traveler Carbon Fiber is one you should consider.
Tripod details:
- Load Capacity: 22 lbs
- Maximum Height: 64.4″
- Minimum Height: 12.6″
- Folded Length: 16.7″
- Leg Sections: 4
- Weight: 3.2 lbs
CHECK PRICES AT AMAZON | CHECK PRICES AT B&H PHOTO
3. Benro Travel Angel Series 2 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
Best Compact Tripod for DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras
The Benro Travel Angel Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod is a travel tripod with many full-size features.
With the load capacity, this portable tripod can easily handle a DSLR or mirrorless camera setup.
One of the features that makes this tripod easy for travel is that it folds back on itself. This allows the Benro Travel Angel II to be a truly compact tripod. When it’s folded up you can fit it inside your carry-on or strap it on the outside of your camera backpack.
The Benro travel tripod also has center-column versatility where the column can be removed and attached to a removable leg to form a monopod.
If you are looking for a sturdy and light tripod to hold your DSLR or Mirrorless camera, the Benro Travel Angel Series is one we recommend.
Tripod details:
- Load Capacity: w2 lbs
- Maximum Height: 69.9″
- Minimum Height: 18.7″
- Folded Length: 24.6″
- Leg Sections: 4
- Weight: 4 lbs
CHECK PRICES AT AMAZON | CHECK PRICES AT B&H PHOTO
4. Manfrotto 190go Aluminum Tripod
Best Compact Tripod for Beginners
The Manfrotto 190go Aluminum tripod is a versatile tripod for many different types of photographers who need portability.
If you’re looking for a lightweight tripod that offers stability, the Manfrotto 190go is an excellent choice.
Compared to other travel tripods, the only drawback is the lighter load capacity the Manfrotto 190go can handle. If you shoot sports, action, storms or wildlife and use very heavy telephoto lenses, you will need a tripod that can handle a heavier capacity..
The Manfrotto 190go compact tripod has an innovative 90-degree central column which is perfect for macro photography.
Perhaps the best thing about the Manfrotto 190go series is how fast and easy it is to set up and collapse again. When you are out in the field taking photos, it sure is nice to quickly extend the tripod, especially since the other hand is usually holding the camera!
If you prefer carbon fiber, check out the Manfrotto Element Traveller Carbon Fiber Tripod.
Tripod details:
- Load Capacity: 13.2 lbs
- Maximum Height: 61.4″
- Minimum Height: 2.75″
- Folded Length: 21.6″
- Leg Sections: 4
- Weight: 4.6 lbs
CHECK PRICES AT AMAZON | CHECK PRICES AT B&H PHOTO
5. Sirui Carbon Fiber Tripod
Best Travel Tripod for Hiking or Outdoor Adventure
The Sirui T-025X Carbon Fiber Tripod with C-10S Ball Head is good for lightweight cameras, mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras with small lenses attached.
It’s a very lightweight and compact tripod that fits easily in a carry-on bag or camera backpack. We appreciate that it’s light enough to carry around all day, stable enough to hold a DSLR with a small medium lens, and affordable.
The Sirui tripod is also perfect for hiking, backpacking or other outdoor adventures. The space and weight savings mean you can pack that extra lens or batteries.
Sirui has created a lightweight and solid travel tripod that’s affordable and doesn’t feel cheap.
Consider the Aluminum Sirui T-005X if you need a more budget-friendly travel tripod.
Tripod details:
- Load Capacity: 13.2 lbs
- Maximum Height: 58″
- Minimum Height: 4″
- Folded Length: 12.2″
- Leg Sections: 5
- Weight: 2 lbs
CHECK PRICES AT AMAZON | CHECK PRICES AT B&H PHOTO
6. 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey Aluminum Tripod
Best Multi-function Small Tripod for Travel
If you’re looking for a very high quality, easy-to-use and easy-to-transport travel tripod, the 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey Aluminum Tripod checks all the boxes.
It’s a small tripod, but you don’t lose out on height as it extends to nearly five feet. This is all you really need from a travel tripod.
The 3 Legged Thing build quality is exceptional. One addition we really like is the implementation of rubber-coated twist locks. This improves grip and protects our hands from a hot or cold aluminum surface. It may not seem like a big deal, but your hands will thank you when you’re out taking photos on a hot or cold day.
Another innovative feature on the 3 Legged Thing Corey tripod is the ability to detach the center leg and use it as a monopod, microphone boom, or selfie stick depending on your needs.
High quality and performance at a terrific price make the 3 Legged Thing Corey the perfect choice for a travel tripod.
Tripod details:
- Load Capacity: 30 lbs
- Maximum Height: 58″
- Minimum Height: 4″
- Folded Length: 13.7″
- Leg Sections: 5
- Weight: 3.4 lbs
CHECK PRICES AT AMAZON | CHECK PRICES AT B&H PHOTO
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY FACEBOOK GROUP
This is the group for you if…
• You have a camera
• You like taking pictures
• You want to improve your photography skills
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
You don’t need the best travel camera or the most expensive travel photography gear to become a good photographer.
Photography is a journey and it improves over time through practice, patience, and more practice.
You can read articles and watch tutorials about photography, but until you practice those techniques, you aren’t going to improve!
If you need to invest in a new travel camera or upgrade your travel photography gear, then do it.
But also remember to invest money and TIME into learning new photography skills if you really want to capture stunning travel photos!
This list of resources will help you take your photography to the next level.
Resources to Improve Your Photography Skills
Your Photography Journey Facebook Group
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