The best tripod can help raise your game when it comes to producing quality photography and video. A solid, sturdy set of legs and ball head opens up technical possibilities that would be difficult or impossible to achieve otherwise, including long exposures, low-light shooting, traffic trails, panoramas and panning shots.
With so many brands and models on the market, which is the best tripod to choose? A good place to start is to consider the material. Some of the best tripods are made from carbon fibre, which is stronger and lighter than aluminium or magnesium alloy, but it's also more expensive.
After deciding your budget, you'll also want to consider the type of camera you own (see our guide to the best cameras if you want to upgrade) and how you plan to use your tripod. For more help on making the decision, skip to the bottom of this article for a guide to choosing the right tripod.
Read on for our pick of the best tripods, including options for mirrorless cameras, DSLRs and the best smartphones.
We think the best tripod right now is the Benro Go Plus Travel. It's light and compact enough to carry on the move and it offers an impressive maximum operating height of 179cm. The legs have four sections, and one can easily be unscrewed to use as a monopod together with the removable centre column.
The central column itself can be rotated vertically through a full 180-degree arc, with multiple locking angles. The pivot system is smooth and every feature is well designed. Benro offers models in carbon fibre or a cheaper aluminium version. The legs and head are sold separately, which means it can work out more expensive, but it gives you the flexibility to match them how you want. We'd suggest that Benro’s B1 ball head is the best tripod head for this model.
A close second in our choice of the best tripods, the PUNKS Travis tripod is a sturdy, rugged option from 3 Legged Thing that stands up to all conditions. This set of legs will hold even the heaviest of professional setups, supporting up to a mammoth18kg.
This dependable tripod's detachable rubber feet, endearingly dubbed 'Bootz', and unique Tri-Mount plate allow easy accessory attachment. That makes the Travis a highly customisable option that you can adapt to the way you work.
While it's not billed as a travel tripod, it measures under 45cm when folded so it could be used for travel with few issues. It also quickly adapts into a monopod, making it a versatile all-rounder. The aluminium Travis has a carbon fibre brother named Billy, but the cost is a fair bit higher.
One of the best tripods for those that need to shoot at high angles, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 three-section carbon option reaches a lofty 182cm with the XPRO Ball head fitted.
This solid combination is sold separately rather than a complete kit, with the legs available in several aluminium and carbon fibre options. The three-section option measures fairly long when folded, but the 4-section version packs away smaller if you need a more compact option for travel.
Either way, both are quick to set up since the legs don’t swing up for storage. Unusually, the leg section locks have a flip action rather than a twist mechanism, but it does the job well. The centre column's 90-degree pivot function is also effortlessly simple to use.
As for the head, the XPRO Ball is one of the best tripod heads around and comes with either Manfrotto’s usual 200PL quick-release plate or an Arca-Swiss compatible quick-release plate.
Weighing in at over 2kg, the MeFOTO GlobeTrotter is a little heavier than we'd like for a travel tripod, but it folds down to just 41cm in length. The weight pays off in the form of a maximum load rating of 12kg for the legs and the ball head, which comes supplied. And despite their small size, the five-section legs give you a maximum operating height of 165cm. That makes it an impressive package for its size.
The legs swing up to reduce the carrying length, and one can be detached to serve as a monopod. Interchangeable rubber pads and metal spikes are supplied as well as a padded bag. All that's missing is a pivot function for the centre column, and there are only two lockable leg angles instead of the more usual three. A pricier carbon fibre edition is also available, which reduces the total weight by 400g.
The Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ tripod prioritises a quick and easy setup rather than minimising folded size. The three-section legs have four selectable lock angles and the centre column has a full 180-degree pivot facility, which makes ultra-low-level shooting a breeze.
Like most recent Manfrotto tripods, such as the current versions of the 055 and 190, this Vanguard tripod has a 3/8-inch threaded socket for accessories such as an LED light. Build quality is solid throughout. The only drawback is that since the legs don't fully swing up for storage, the folded size is rather large.
The best tripod as far as compact, conventional options go, the Manfrotto 190go! builds on the popularity of Manfrotto’s 190-series. There are several kits on the market, distinguishable by their twist-action clamps in place of clip locks. They come with either aluminium or carbon fibre four-section legs and with three-way or ball heads. The best options include Manfrotto's outstanding XPRO head, which also comes in three-way or ball versions.
The handy pivot facility allows the centre column to act as a horizontal boom, adding to the tripod's usability. The legs don’t swing up for stowage but the folded length still comes in at a modest 54cm. The maximum operating height of 159cm isn’t the most generous, and the maximum load rating of 6kg for the legs is a little under par compared with that of the XPRO ball head.
There are several newer editions of the Befree tripod on the market, but it's hard to beat the simplicity of the original. It weighs just 1.5kg and folds down to just 41cm, making it a perfect choice for travel photography.
The four-section legs grant a maximum operating height of 144cm, and the load rating is 4kg. Both of those are rather modest but should prove enough for most photographers who don't have special requirements. Considering their lightweight build, the tripod and head are strong and robust, and the clip-style clamps work smoothly and efficiently. As a basic tripod that won’t weigh you down on the road, the Befree is a sound travel companion.
We couldn't round off a list of the best tripods without mentioning the legendary Joby GorillaPod 1K. This mini-tripod boasts legs that can bend in any direction, allowing it to grip onto all sorts of objects in all kinds of places. Yes, the 1kg payload will limit your set up, but as long as you're not using a pro DSLR and a telephoto lens, the GorillaPod allows you to hold your camera steady in places where it might not be possible otherwise, opening up a range of creative options.
If you use mirrorless cameras or a smartphone (with an adapter), this is a good extra accessory to throw in your kit. Its flexibility means that it packs down well, and it adds very little extra weight to your travel gear. As a bonus, you can bunch the legs together to convert the GorillaPod into a handgrip for on-the-spot video shooting or selfies. A neat trick.
How to pick the best tripod
When it comes to choosing the best tripod for you, it pays to understand the different options on the market. Many recent designs have legs that swing up vertically for storage so that the feet encompass the head when the centre column is fully extended. That can reduce their folded length by around 8cm but has the downside that it can make these tripods more complicated to set up.
Another factor is the number of sections in the legs. Four or five telescopic sections rather than the more conventional three can help to extend the maximum height while keeping stowage size down. This saves space and is especially practical for travel but again means more setup time due to the extra clamps.
Some current tripods also boast a pivoting centre column, which in most cases enables you to use it as a horizontal boom, as well as vertically. That can be a big advantage when it comes to macro photography, as well as for shooting with an ultra-wide-angle or fisheye lens.
It also allows ultra-low-level shooting since most tripods now have legs that can be splayed to lock at multiple, wider angles to the vertical. Some pivoting tripods go further and allow you to lock the centre column at several angles through a full 180-degree arc.
The lightest tripods are usually made from carbon fibre, which can reduce the weight of a full-sized tripod kit by around 20 per cent when compared with an aluminium option. The material is more expensive, but if you have the budget and weight is an important factor, then a carbon fibre option may be the best tripod for you.
Read more:
- The best camera for beginners
- The best point-and-shoot cameras
- 15 top tips to boost your photography skills
