Travel Tripods Recommendations

I know the old adage,

you can have cheap, solid, and lightweight but you can't have all three but....

Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced travel tripod, (approx £100 max) that could fit in a large backpack so it''s unobtrusive (doesn't scream tog, in slightly dodgy areas).

Had a look at the befree, but its a little pricy for me and I don't like the locking mechanism on the legs.

I've been thinking of Giottos GT8223-5011N, link

but from what I can see it doesnt have a hook to hang your bag off the tripod to help out in a slight breeze.

All advice much appreciated.

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/tripods-monopods/giottos-tripods-heads/giottos-...

SRS have this at £99 ,folds down to 39.2 cm, i bought a "3Legged Thing" that folds to 40cm but that was £149 made from aircraft grade mag alloy, has a hook and one leg converts to monopod. weighs around .9 kg

Back in the spring of this year I was also looking for a good quality travel tripod and in end bought a Red Snapper. I am very pleased with it. I thought it was comparable to the BeFree, at a more reasonable price and definitely has a hook!

I was looking for something fairly lightweight that I could carry on my shoulders when out on my bicycle and the Red Snapper more that adequately met my requirements.

I also went for the included ball-head offer which you can see here.

Glyn

Great ideas for recommendations.

Unfortunately I do a considerable amount of travel to the other side of the pond. The airline restrictions there are through the roof; completely unacceptable. One is forced to make all kinds of compromises in the types of equipment one can carry in a gadget bag/rucksack. Even then, one typically is not permitted ANY version of a tripod in carry-on; one must gamble and place it in stowed luggage - where despite the levels of security - it frequently just disappears

I'm surprised you say that - I know plenty of people who carry their tripod onboard US airlines, including the budget airlines, and have never had a problem doing so.

I pack mine in my checked bags, simply because it is one less thing to lug through the airport. Never lost one yet, or anything else that has been checked for that matter.

Thank you for the information on that one...

Unfortunately I have yet to make that discovery; unless perhaps... You might be willing to pass along a shameless plug for some of the airlines names.

I (fortunate or not??) spend at least a full month traveling throughout the Americas. This year they've somehow lost two tripods and three tripod heads, a laptop and iPad that were ""very interestingly** later traced "back" to whom had borrowed them - thanks American Feds.

But yes... I have personal examples of tactful run-ins with TSA and numerous airlines over restrictions. I'm almost forced into shipping ahead volumes of equipment and then gambling with it still getting there. Across the pond - I've had to re-buy items such as large format equipment and also even rent it

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll have a read up and see if anywhere has them in stock to try out.

I have the carbon version of this one:
link

And can highly recommend it. Folds down to only 30cm as well.

We are getting way off topic here, sorry lennythelion.

One useful thing is if you are a professional in anyway you can get a special waiver to allow you to carry on your gear, almost regardless. You can't then carry-on clothes as well though.
My son works for Dutch TV and they carry on stacks of stuff, but check their clothes. Professional photographers can do the same by arrangement. You have to be able to prove you are a professional though a printed card or letterhead can be enough.

Friends spend a lot of time flying through the US and Canada, on Jet Blue, SouthWest etc, and have never had a problem with taking a tripod on board, attached to either a wheelie camera bag or a rucksack. The legacy airlines allow it if it doesn't exceed their carry-on rules. TSA have no problem with them, or any camera gear, unlike Schiphol security .

I'm very happy with my Velbon Ultra Rexi L. Just about within your budget, 36cm collapsed, tall enough for me (6ft) with ball head and camera, sturdy, 1,3kg, split centre culumn. Only negative would be lack of hook on centre column but it would be very easy to drill a hole through the little cap and get a hook and a matching nut from a hardware store. Worth a look. Not a single 1 or 2 star review on Amazon, just one 3 star and rest (36) are 4 and 5 stars. That's quite rare!

I went for the budget option. 7dayshop Tripods - Travel-Pro Tripod for Professional Photo & Video Use. Includes Case
It is very light, very compact and the ball head is better than expected.