Trying to find the Best Travel Tripod can feel overwhelming. You’re bombarded with articles listing “top 10 tripods,” but often, it seems like the writers haven’t even used them! And if you’re new to tripods, you might not know what to prioritize: How heavy should a tripod be? How can you tell if it’s stable? Can you trust a lightweight tripod to secure your valuable camera?
The market is saturated with options, and as a beginner seeking reliable information, it’s tough to determine the ideal choice.
I’m writing this guide because I’m genuinely enthusiastic about my travel tripod! Seriously! It has transformed my travel photography, and I believe every photographer who wants to elevate their travel photos should consider investing in one.
Unlike those generic, endless list articles that dominate search results, I personally own and have purchased every tripod recommended in this guide. I’ve put them through rigorous testing in diverse environments – from discreetly capturing self-portraits in bustling Brazilian cities to photographing the mesmerizing Northern Lights in Iceland, capturing long exposures of the Danube in Budapest, and essentially making a tripod a staple in my travel gear for every trip I embark on.
I’ll walk you through my decision-making process for selecting a tripod, highlighting crucial features to consider in a travel tripod, guiding you on how to choose the best budget travel tripod for your specific requirements (and revealing how affordable you can realistically go without sacrificing quality), and sharing my personal favorite carbon fiber travel tripod under $100 that has been my trusted companion for years. Let’s dive in!
Why Invest in a Travel Tripod?
This might seem like a leading question, as not everyone absolutely needs a travel tripod. Even with one, you’ll still take the majority of your photos handheld during any trip. So, why should you consider adding a travel tripod to your photography kit? In my experience, a travel tripod is a piece of equipment that offers incredible value – often more affordable than many best travel photography lenses, yet it can significantly enhance the quality and professionalism of your travel photos. Many captivating shots are simply impossible to achieve without a tripod.
Here are compelling reasons why a travel tripod is an essential tool for travel photographers:
- Capture Razor-Sharp Low Light Images: Utilize slow shutter speeds to capture incredibly sharp images in challenging lighting conditions like after sunset, indoors, or at night. Without a tripod, these photos are prone to blurriness due to camera shake, caused by subtle hand movements during longer exposures.
- Take Stunning Self-Portraits and Group Photos: Perfect for solo travelers or those with specific creative visions for their shots! A tripod is invaluable for capturing photos of yourself while traveling, and ensuring everyone in your travel group is included in photos – no more missing the photographer!
- Unlock Long Exposure Photography: Create breathtaking long exposure effects, capturing phenomena like star trails, silky smooth waterfalls, the ethereal Northern Lights, or vibrant cityscapes at night. These artistic shots are simply unattainable without a stable and secure tripod setup combined with a camera equipped with timer functionality.
- Elevate Your Video Quality: Handheld video footage, unless stabilized by a gimbal, often results in shaky, unprofessional-looking videos. Many tripods come equipped with a panorama feature, enabling smooth and even panning shots, instantly improving your video production.
- Boost Your Instagram Game (Maybe!): While not guaranteed to make you instantly famous, a tripod opens up a world of creative possibilities, leading to more unique and eye-catching content that can certainly enhance your social media presence.
The truth is, a travel tripod unlocks a vast range of creative and technical photographic opportunities. Here are a few examples showcasing the fundamental benefits of using a tripod for travel photography:
Now that you understand the advantages of owning a travel tripod, let’s explore the essential features to consider when making your selection.
Key Features to Consider in a Travel Tripod
What’s the real difference between travel tripods? At first glance, especially compact travel tripods, they might seem quite similar: three legs, a head, and a few knobs. How much variation can there truly be?
The answer is: significant variation! Each component of a tripod impacts its weight, ease of use, durability, and overall practicality while maintaining a compact form factor.
When choosing the best travel tripod for your needs, keep these critical considerations in mind:
- High-Quality Build Materials: Ideally, aim for an affordable carbon fiber tripod. Carbon fiber is superior as it’s stronger, lighter, and more resistant to rust compared to aluminum. However, aluminum is also a common and acceptable material for travel tripods, often offering a more budget-friendly option.
- Minimum and Maximum Height: Evaluate both the lowest and highest extension capabilities of the tripod. You’ll want a tripod that can go low for ground-level shots, but also extend to or above eye level for comfortable shooting at various angles.
- Compact Folded Size: Travel tripods are designed to be compact, but folded sizes still vary. Balance the folded size with its extended height and stability. Smaller folding size often means compromises in maximum height or stability, so consider what’s most important for your travel style.
- Quick and Easy Setup: Let’s face it, if your tripod is cumbersome to set up, you’re likely to leave it behind in your hotel room. Look for tripods with twist locks for leg extensions rather than clip locks, as twist locks generally offer faster and more secure adjustments.
- Lightweight Design: A best travel tripod should be light enough to carry in your travel camera bag or using a strap all day without it becoming a burden. Again, excessive weight is a major deterrent to actually using your tripod.
- Carrying Convenience: A fantastic feature to look for is a built-in clip or attachment point for a carrying strap. This is significantly more convenient than always having to store the tripod inside your backpack, especially when moving between shooting locations frequently.
Top Budget Travel Tripods: Two Personal Recommendations
I personally own and regularly use both of these tripods that I’m going to compare for you today, sharing my real-world experiences with each. I’ve been using the Rollei for approximately 3 years, and the JOBY for about 2 years. Both have accompanied me on adventures to diverse locations and offer unique advantages and disadvantages. Crucially, both have proven to be durable and reliable despite being tossed in my backpack and subjected to the rigors of travel. They’ve both been instrumental in capturing special photos that wouldn’t have been possible without them, and they are integral parts of my minimal photography gear setup.
Keep reading to explore the detailed pros and cons of each tripod, understand which tripod is best suited for different travel scenarios, and discover alternative tripods I considered that also fit within a budget-conscious approach.
Rollei Compact Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod No. 1
This tripod is truly my go-to choice. It strikes an exceptional balance between being remarkably compact and lightweight, while also providing impressive stability and robustness. It folds down to a mere 13 inches (33cm) and weighs only 2 pounds (900 grams)! I can comfortably carry it all day using the included travel strap, often forgetting it’s even there.
Setting it up is incredibly fast – I can confidently deploy it in under 20 seconds. The leg joints loosen and tighten smoothly, allowing for rapid extension and secure locking. I know that if setup were a hassle, I’d be far less inclined to bring a tripod along, so the ease of use is a major advantage.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Ultra-Compact and Lightweight — Folds to under 13″ (33cm) and weighs less than 2 lb (900g), making it truly travel-friendly. – Effortless Setup — Legs extend quickly and smoothly, with a secure and reliable locking mechanism. – Includes Travel Strap and Bag — A rare and incredibly useful inclusion not commonly found with other travel tripods! – Swiss-Arca Compatible — Features a standard quick-release plate, simplifying camera attachment and detachment. – Monopod Functionality — One leg can be detached and used as a monopod for added versatility. – Exceptional Value for Carbon Fiber — Most carbon fiber tripods in this price range are significantly more expensive; this offers incredible value. | – Potential Cold Weather Stiffness — In sub-zero temperatures in Iceland, the leg joints occasionally became slightly stiff. However, this was a rare occurrence. |
One important point to note is that Rollei is a reputable German brand. Living in Germany, I’m familiar with their strong reputation for quality, but they may be less widely known in the US. Perhaps this contributes to its surprisingly affordable price on Amazon USA, and why it might not have as many reviews as some other brands (although existing reviews are overwhelmingly positive). Despite the presence of more well-known American brands, the phrase “Deutsche Qualität” (“German Quality”) truly applies here. Again, finding another carbon fiber tripod at the $100 price point with these features is incredibly rare!
Comparable carbon fiber tripods from brands like Manfrotto can easily cost three times as much. While you can find similarly priced carbon fiber travel tripods from lesser-known brands like Zomei, they often compromise on folded size and weight, sometimes being significantly heavier and bulkier than the Rollei.
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit
I initially purchased the GorillaPod specifically for a trip to Brazil, where I was primarily traveling solo. This meant I needed a way to take photos of myself, but Brazil isn’t necessarily known for being the safest place to openly carry expensive camera gear, especially a tripod that could attract unwanted attention. 😂
So, I opted for a more discreet and budget-friendly tripod that could easily fit inside my backpack without screaming “expensive camera equipment!” For the most part, the GorillaPod worked exceptionally well for this purpose. Of course, the GorillaPod has limitations compared to a traditional tripod, but depending on your travel style and destinations, it can be an excellent and highly versatile option.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Highly Flexible Legs — The signature flexible legs allow you to mount it virtually anywhere, unleashing creative shooting angles and perspectives. – Ultra-Lightweight and Compact — The smallest and lightest tripod option available, perfect for minimalist packing and on-the-go shooting. – Affordable Price Point — Priced around $40 for the mirrorless version and $90 for the DSLR version, it’s one of the most budget-friendly yet high-quality travel tripods on the market. | – Limited Maximum Height — To achieve higher perspectives, you’ll need to creatively attach it to elevated objects, as it lacks significant height extension on its own. – Plastic and Metal Construction — Unlike the Rollei’s carbon fiber build, the GorillaPod utilizes a combination of plastic and metal components, which may be less durable over the long term compared to carbon fiber. |
Which Best Budget Travel Tripod is Right for You?
Ultimately, the best travel tripod for you depends largely on your intended use and travel photography style. If you’re seeking an all-around excellent travel tripod that balances portability, stability, and features, the Rollei Compact Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod is an outstanding value for the money and a reliable investment that will serve you well for years to come.
On the other hand, if your priority is extreme portability, discretion, and shooting in unconventional locations, or if weight is your absolute primary concern, the JOBY GorillaPod is an exceptional choice. Alternatively, for maximum versatility, consider owning both tripods to cover different travel photography scenarios!
Products Mentioned in This Guide
Here are direct links to the two recommended travel tripods discussed in this article. If you’re in the market for a travel tripod that you’ll actually want to bring with you everywhere, explore these options:
Rollei Compact Traveler No. 1 Tripod (Carbon) – My primary travel tripod for over 3 years. Compact, sturdy, durable, and exceptional value!
JOBY GorillaPod 5k Compact Tripod – Ideal for discreet street photography and situations where extreme portability is paramount.
About the author
Hi, I’m Monica, an American expat based in Germany for over six years. I’m passionate about exploring the world and capturing memories through photos and stories. My aim is to inspire others to embrace travel and show how accessible it is to work abroad and travel extensively.
Follow my adventures on Instagram, Twitter, Bloglovin, & Facebook.
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