If you are a travel vlogger, then you need the best travel tripods available, but it’s not always easy to find a small travel tripod that can accommodate all your needs while you’re traveling. So let us help you find the best tripod for your vlogging needs as well as being compact and easy to travel with.
Things to consider when buying a travel tripod
These factors are what you should consider before purchasing the tripod of your choice.
- Size of the folded tripod – It should be as little in size as possible. Ideally, the tripod should be less than 12″, or 30 cm in length. This is the length limit of bags or carry-on for most airlines.
- Size of the tripod after being extended – For comfortable use, the tripod should be able to extend up to 50″, or around 125cm.
- Weight – While it is good for the tripod to be as light in weight as possible, the weight of the tripod should be able to support the camera mounted on it, tightly. I feel the ideal weight should be between 2-3 pounds or 1-1.5kg.
- Materials – Carbon fiber is the best material for a tripod due to its combination of strength and lightweight. While this may add to the cost of the tripod, it’s worth the extra price.
- Leg quality – The legs of the tripod should be durable in order to hold your camera effectively. This is especially vital if you work outdoors where you may be exposed to the wet or sandy ground.
- Head quality – The head is the main part of a tripod that attaches your camera to the tripod itself. It needs to be lightweight, strong, and compact enough to make the tripod foldable.
- Overall sturdiness – The tripod should be firm and solid – not wobbly. If the tripod falls over then you may be looking for a replacement for your newly broken camera.
- Affordability – Price is always a consideration but I feel that you should buy the best tripod you can afford. There’s nothing worse than buying a cheap item first, then having to buy a better one right afterwards when you realize the cheap item was garbage.
Our Top 3 Picks
Manfrotto Compact Advanced Tripod
- Light in weight
- Portable
- Easy to set up and take down
Velbon Videomate 438 Aluminum tripod
- A tiltable pan
- Sturdy structure
- Light in weight
7 Best Travel Tripods for Vlogging
Our list of the 6 best travel tripods are as follows:
1. Joby Gorillapod 5K
Although it’s not a tripod in the traditional sense, when it comes to versatility, size, ease of use, and the price I must mention the Joby Gorillapod 5K. In my opinion, this is by far the best tripod under $100.
It may not be the best DSRL tripod depending on what kind of lens you are using, because it can become unstable, but they work well with lighter DSLR cameras as well as mirrorless and point-and-shoot cameras. On the 5K model, you also get a choice of tripod heads.
I really like the Joby Gorillapod because of how easy it is to hold and use it as a selfie stick for vlogging. In terms of versatility, this is probably one of the best travel tripods you’ll find.
PROs
- Can be attached to objects
- Flexible
- Versatile
2. Manfrotto Compact Advanced tripod
The Manfrotto Compact Advanced Tripod has a very good overall design which feels good in the hands. It is an aluminum tripod composed of all the basic parts you will find in a regular tripod. It has expanding legs, locks, and a central column that lowers or raises the head. This is perfect for Travel Vlogging, especially if your work involves the outdoors and harsh environments.
The head is made up of a pan on which you can attach a camera by the use of a screw. For a sturdy overall structure, this Manfrotto tripod has three latches that help to expand and strengthen the tripod. These latches are foldable like any other part of the tripod. Another feature is the durability of this tripod. It can withstand a 5-foot fall, salt water, and sand on the beaches.
I feel the best feature of all is the ease of use. You will know how to work the tripod instinctively, so reading the user manual shouldn’t be needed.
PROs
- Light in weight
- Portable
- Easy to set up and take down
3. Velbon Videomate 438/f Aluminum tripod
This tripod is able to fold into a small size and is very lightweight at around 2.7 pounds (1.23kg). It also comes with a carryon bag for storage and easy transport. The Velbon Videomate 438 tripod has an extensible height of about 61″ or 153cm. The three-sectioned legs possess radial leg braces giving a firm support, and resulting in the tripod being stable, sturdy and reliable.
The pan enables you to tilt the camera in a forward, backward and left or right direction. This tripod comes with an accessory known as the QB-4L quick release plate. This enables Vloggers to get on with the job faster and more efficiently. The tripod’s tiltable pan will ensure the best still shot from the best angle too.
PROs
- A tiltable pan
- Sturdy structure
- Light in weight
4. Manfrotto 536 Carbon Fiber Tripod
This is a lightweight, two-stage carbon fiber tripod that has three sections. This is perfect for you as a Vlogger due to its steadiness, which helps to ensure you take precise shots.
The tripod is strong, durable, and lightweight thanks to the carbon fiber tubes and magnesium-die casting.
The height of the tripod is within the range of a 10.63″(27cm) to the extended 67.32″(171cm). It was designed to be prepared for anything. This enables you to shoot with more freedom and to express your unique style to the world.
The tripod also possesses a leg angle selector to ensure fast, easy and accurate independent adjustment of legs. This Manfrotto has a half bowl adapter of 75mm and can be used with mid-range video heads. It will reduce the excessive readjustment you would have to make without it. Less time setting up means more time filming.
Due to its small folded size this tripod will be allowed on most airlines.
PROs
- Ease of use
- Compact design
- Good overall sturdiness
- Its foldable size is accepted by airlines
5. 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey
This is a great entry level tripod. It comes with powdered-coated material that ensures durability and precision, for easy and smooth use.
This Corey tripod is an entry-level tripod, which shares many features with its professional counterparts. These features include a detachable monopod leg, interchangeable footwear for several terrains, and a patented tri-mount plate.
The 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey is ultra-compact, with a foldable size of 13.7″, or a little under 35 cm. This makes the Corey a perfect travel tripod. The detachable monopod legs can also be used as a boom for your camera or microphone. It uses a system called the bubble grip system which provides you better leverage and rigidity.
Corey tripods possess several sets of footwear for the different terrains, so nothing will stop you from taking shots anywhere.
PROs
- Its length is acceptable to airlines
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
6. MeFOTO RoadTrip Classic
As it implies from the name, this is a tripod that best suits a Vlogger on the move. The main material used in making this tripod is aluminum but there is also a carbon fiber version too, which help to make it both compact and light in weight.
The whole tripod can be converted into a monopod to be used as a boom for a camera or a microphone. The tripod can be folded to the extent of fitting easily into your bag due to its foldable size of 15.6 in (390 mm). The MeFOTO Aluminum Roadtrip Classic tripod has an extendable height of up to 61.8 in (1565 mm) and it can support a weight of around 17.6 lbs (8 kg). This means it can support DSLR cameras comfortably.
The tripod doesn’t just stop there. It also has many other special features to improve your Vlogging experience. One of these features is the pan being able to rotate a full 360 degrees. This enables anyone to get those great panoramas easily and accurately. Another great feature is the comfortable foam grip on the monopod leg that provides stability and safety.
PROs
- Good max-height
- Can hold heavy loads
- It can be converted into a monopod
7. Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI Mini Tripod
This tripod is designed for compact system cameras. It was designed for people who use more compact and lightweight cameras. If this is you then this tripod’s ease of use will make it well worth considering.
When it comes to taking shots for hard angles the Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI is the perfect pick. It has a very versatile structure allowing for great stills and perfect results.
The Pixi can be used with several varieties of digital devices such as iPhone, compact system cameras and even entry-level DSLR due to the universal 1/4″ screw located on the head of the tripod.
The Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI also has a push-button mechanism that enables you to position and lock the ball head in one quick movement.
As the cheapest tripod on this list, the Manfrotto Pixi has most of the basic features a Vlogger will require in a tripod.
PROs
- Universal and portable
- High stability
- Stable grip
- Quick and easy to use
Conclusion
These models of tripods are all a great fit for Vlogging without exception. While the main purpose of a tripod is to hold your camera and give you that perfect smooth results, I’m confident that anyone of those reviewed above would be a great choice for most Vloggers. Our top choices however would be the Joby Gorillapod 5K & the Manfrotto Compact Advanced tripod.
