WTB: Peakdesign travel tripod

[Aditya Ravi]

Hi JJMPF,

I am looking to purchase a peakdesign travel tripod. Im open to both carbon fiber and Aluminium models, let me know if you have one you're willing to let go of. Thanks!

Regards,
Aditya

[Aryabhatta]

Would recommend the heipi one over this (no not selling either; just a recommendation).

[DeepakS]

Would recommend the heipi one over this (no not selling either; just a recommendation).

Interesting, considering that the Peak Design Tripods have established themselves as a widely used and durable brand.
Are you currently using the Heipi Travel tripod?

[mahesh]

I was in the same boat. I finally chose Benro Cyanbird CF. With their ball head it is 23k and With hybrid head it is 32k.

If you are hybrid shooter (stills + video), their hybrid head is fantastic one. You won't get that with Peak Design.

I have used it and its really sturdy and useful. If you are from Mumbai, you can check it out with me personally.

- Mahesh

[Krish Chandran]

A travel tripod is primarily meant for travel outstation by air, when the tripod cannot be carried in the cabin baggage and 15Kg is your permitted weight limit for checked-in luggage. If you aren't doing any travelling with a tripod then this purchase may not be necessary.

I have a Peak Design Aluminium travel tripod that I have been using since 2021 and here is where I think it outshines the (cheap) Chinese competition.

1. Folded size - diameter and length. It folds up really small and is extremely travel-friendly
2. Weight Definitely lighter
3. Versatility. If you are able to look past the ball-head that comes with the tripod and get an Adapter head (from PD itself)  it becomes a very useful device. I have used a fluid head, a regular gimbal head, and now I use a Double-ball head on that adapter head.  Currently, I use it with my Nikon Z8 + 600mm PF lens
4. Spare parts Since I have begun using the PD I have lost the tool kit and damaged one section of one leg when an SUV backed over it. Both times I reached out to them and got replacements (within two weeks) along with instructions to install them.

I also own a full sized Benro Tripod (since 2018)  - large and heavy. It is a Chinese knock-off of the Gitzo. I cannot travel with it by air, but I use it for all other purposes. Great tripod, but the twist locking mechanism on two sections of one leg do not collapse in, all the way. This happened in 2021 and until now I have not found a single "Benro repair centre" (In Pune and Mumbai) that can fix the problem. The parts aren't available either. Still living with the problem - still hopeful I will one day get someone to do the repairs.

That's my cheap Chinese maal experience, first hand. YMMV.

[Aryabhatta]

Would recommend the heipi one over this (no not selling either; just a recommendation).

Interesting, considering that the Peak Design Tripods have established themselves as a widely used and durable brand.
Are you currently using the Heipi Travel tripod?

Yes I am currently using the heipi one. I bought it after quite a bit of research. For the price i feel it's the best travel tripod out there. The ball head alone is a massive improvement over peak design's.

[Bharat Varma]

but the twist locking mechanism on two sections of one leg do not collapse in, all the way

Elaborate on this please? Haven't yet opened up my Benro, but the typical mechanisms are quite simple once you open out the twist lock fully. A tube with two slots at opposite sides near the end, and circular plastic tabs that sit anchored to the slots and prevent the legs from coming apart at the locks.

Shouldn't be hard to fix, but don't open it if everything works well enough right now.

[Bharat Varma]

Hi JJMPF,

I am looking to purchase a peakdesign travel tripod. Im open to both carbon fiber and Aluminium models, let me know if you have one you're willing to let go of. Thanks!

Regards,
Aditya

PD is a fabulous brand and offers great service too - but is obviously expensive as a result (and has some limitations in its native configuration).

If you remove cost from the equation, there are essentially two questions left.

• What is the load capacity that you need? Lens/Camera to be used?
• What is the maximum height that you need?