peak design travel tripod erfahrungen

Peak Design Travel Tripod review – triumphant unique design

A unique design creates a compact if pricey travel tripod.

TechRadar Verdict

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is well-made, stable, compact and lightweight, so it provides all of the key attributes photographers typically look for in travel tripods. If you can get beyond the high price and the slightly peculiar head that takes a little getting used to, the unique design and stability can’t be faulted.

Incredibly compact

Lightweight

Considered design

Snap leg locks rather than twist locks

Head takes getting used to

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Editor's Note

Two-minute review.

• Should I buy?
• How I tested

• Original review date: June 2019 • Still available new, and still unique • Launch price: $599 / £559 / AU$1,170 • Official price now: $599 / £559 / AU$1,170 (carbon fiber)

Update: February 2024. We first looked at the Peak Design Travel tripod during a hands-on review in 2019 , and many years later there's still no design quite like it, which is a little surprising given how considered and successful the design concept has been delivered to create a super-compact tripod for your travels and one of the best travel tripods period. It remains available from retailers with a largely similar list price that goes all the way back to launch. 

A tripod’s a tripod – three legs and a head to secure a camera – pretty simple really. So how do you improve on a tried and tested design? The Peak Design Travel Tripod undoubtedly follows this fundamental construction, but four years of research and development has delivered a unique travel tripod as well as being incredibly compact and lightweight; its folded footprint when compared to similar-sized travel tripods, is about half in terms of diameter.

The Peak Design’s legs fold in neatly thanks to their shape, which drastically reduces the profile of the tripod when folded making the diameter similar to that of a can of soda; it may not sound exciting, but it’s impressive and makes the Peak Design a highly portable travel tripod if you’re willing to pay the premium price the tripod commands.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in two flavors with the carbon fibre leg option costing $600 / £560 / AU$1170, and the aluminum alternative coming in at a slightly more modest $380 / £350 / AU$670. But that’s still a high price for an aluminum travel tripod. To be fair, it certainly isn’t cheap, but the overall design is what you’re paying for and as well as looking pretty smart and, indeed unique, the Peak Design provides impressive stability despite the legs being made up of five sections.

Cost aside, the main difference between the carbon fibre and aluminum options is weight. The former comes in at just 2.81lbs / 1.27kg, while the latter is slightly heavier at 3.44lbs / 1.56kg. The aluminum model is still lightweight despite the legs being made of heavier material, so this remains an option worth considering if you can’t afford the carbon fiber version. All other aspects of the tripods are the same, including the folded length of 15.4in / 39.1cm with a 3.1in / 7.9cm diameter.

With such a lightweight and compact folded size, you may be thinking that this tripod is short and flimsy, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. These were my initial expectations, but I was hugely impressed with the overall sturdiness and the ability to shoot low to the ground with the center column inserted upside down into the legs or as high as 60in / 152.4cm with the center column fully extended. The center column also offers a hook for adding weight and there’s an integrated phone mount that stows away in the bottom of the center column above the bag hook for adding weight to the tripod to increase stability when required.

This is a tripod that’s intended for professional use and offers a maximum payload of 20lbs / 9.1kg, so it can handle a wide variety of camera and lens combinations. With this, you could get away with using some long telephoto lenses for wildlife photography, and the head can support the weight, but the design of the head wouldn’t provide the most efficient and comfortable shooting experience for this type of photography. Plus, the head isn’t interchangeable so you couldn’t swap it out for a gimbal head instead.

Ultimately, this is no big deal because it’s clearly not a tripod that’s designed for this type of photography, but something to bear in mind if this would be an intended use. The head itself is low profile, which helps to reduce the overall bulkiness of the tripod and employs a novel design that takes getting used to if you’ve only experienced what you might call standard tripod heads in the past.

The head itself fulfils the clear desire to create something that’s compact and in keeping with the overall design of the tripod, but being a fixed head means that you have to be 100% sure that it’s something that you can get on with. What makes it different is that despite being a ball head, is that it provides two locking/adjustment rings; one for the ball mechanism and another for the tripod plate. Once you get used to which is which and you’ve used them a few times they do become intuitive, but they are undoubtedly a break from the norm.

The tripod plate uses the Arca Swiss design so it’s compatible with L brackets, which is great. And even if you don’t use an L bracket, the head and plate can be set vertically to the side for portrait format shooting with the notches of the socket providing additional stability. This is a clever design that mirrors that of the tripod as a whole.

When it comes to operation, the Peak Design is quick and easy to set up. And when I say quick, I really do mean quick because it simply needs to be extended rather than unfolded and then extended like many travel tripods. The leg locks are the older style clip locks rather than twist locks, but with the unique leg shape that facilitates the compact folding of the tripod, this is clearly the only option. It certainly doesn’t impact usability and these can be easily dismantled for cleaning and maintenance which is always useful.

Should I buy the Peak Design Travel Tripod?

Buy it if...

You want the most compact travel tripod Despite offering a maximum height of 60in / 152.4cm, this tripod folds down to an incredibly small size making it one of the most portable travel tripods available.

You value great design The Peak Design Travel Tripod may follow the fundamental design of tripods, but the way the legs have been built alongside the ultra-lightweight make it a unique option.

You use an L bracket L brackets typically use the Arca Swiss style attachment and although the Peak Design head can’t be changed, it does use an Arca Swiss style plate for connecting cameras.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget This is an expensive tripod whichever option you go for, so if you’re on a tighter budget there are many alternatives available that follow a more traditional travel tripod design.

You require additional features The Peak Design Travel Tripod undoubtedly offers some unique features such as the integrated phone holder, but apart from the unique overall design it’s a fairly basic tripod.

You need a heavier tripod Travel tripods are typically lightweight but some are, of course, heavier than others and some photographers prefer a little extra weight to increase stability in windy conditions.

How I tested the Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Peak Design Travel Tripod was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my 'f-stop' brand backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed February 2024

James Abbott is a professional photographer and freelance photography journalist. He contributes articles about photography, cameras and drones to a wide range of magazines and websites where he applies a wealth of experience to testing the latest photographic tech. James is also the author of ‘The Digital Darkroom: The Definitive Guide to Photo Editing’.

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Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) review

Peak design has never made a tripod before and it wants you to pay over $600 for this one.

Digital Camera World Verdict

There are cheaper travel tripods than this, and taller ones too, but nothing that offers this performance, this design cleverness, and yet folds down into such a neat, compact and portable package.

Size and neatness when folded

Serious rigidity and weight capacity

Dazzling design details

Not the tallest

Some hex key fiddling

Don’t look at the price!

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Key features

Build and handling, performance.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod tells you pretty much everything you need to know in the name. But Peak Design specializes in innovative design, as seen in its very clever camera bags, straps and camera clips… so it’s no surprise to find the company’s new travel tripod is unlike any other.

The best travel tripods need to be adaptable and rigid, obviously, but they also need to be small, light and portable. If you just want the best tripod all round, it's not so hard to find some great candidates, but if you want a tripod portable enough take on your travels but still sturdy enough for night shots, selfies and long exposures, the list gets a lot narrower.

One of Peak Design’s chief aims has been to cut down on wasted space, or volume, when the tripod is packed away. It’s achieved this with legs and a center column that dovetail precisely when the tripod is folded, and aren’t just a bunch of tubes pushed together (no disrespect to other tripod makers).

This is a very compact tripod when folded too. It’s not just narrower and neater than rival tripods, it has a closed length of just 38.5cm. This is achieved without the usual travel tripod trick of extending the center column and folding the legs up around it. Instead, the Peak Design Travel Tripod has a low-profile head that protrudes very little and can be packed away where it is, with no fiddly folding required.

The short length has been achieved with 5-section legs, which helps achieve a maximum height of 153cm with the center column extended or 131cm without. The carbon fiber version tested here has a weight of 1.27kg. There is a much cheaper aluminum Peak Design Travel Tripod version with all the same design features but a little less stiffness and vibration damping (Peak Design reckons the carbon fiber version is around 20% stiffer).

Neither is cheap – the carbon fiber version especially – but Peak Design is offering a lifetime guarantee and has included some amazing design touches, like a detachable weight hook in the bottom of the center column that slides to reveal a smartphone clamp, and a clip-on holder for the hex keys used to attach the tripod plate to the camera and configure the head and center column.

There’s also a bag which offers a very snug fit, loop attachments for a shoulder strap or backpack strap and an inner pocket containing a special tool for maintaining the cam locks on the legs, should they need it.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod packs away very small but it’s pretty quick to open out and set up. The cam locks on the legs are right next to each other so you can release them all at the same time with one (strong) hand to extend the leg sections. The rubber feet on the end have chamfered edges to offer a flat surface regardless of leg angle, even with the legs outstretched in the low angle mode.

The center column and low profile ball head take a little getting used to. First, because of the upside-down design of the head, you have to raise the center column just a little to get proper articulation, and further still to be able to turn the camera on its side to shoot vertically. On many tripods, this is a recipe for the wobbles, but not there. The Peak Design Travel Tripod feels solid as a rock, even with the center column raised.

The ball head is locked not by a knob on the side in the usual way, but with a rotating collar. There’s no friction control – you loosen the lock to point the camera and tighten it to lock it in position. It’s a very firm lock, and there’s no ‘creep’ – the camera doesn’t ‘droop’ when you tighten it.

Compared to most Arca Swiss plates, Peak Design’s looks tiny. What’s more, you have to fix it to the camera baseplate with the hex key supplied. It’s a bit of a fiddle, but Peak Design insists it’s necessary. This approach gives a grip of iron, whereas butterfly nuts or coin slots can’t match the tightness and keep loosening as you move the camera (well they do for us, anyway).

The camera plate is a standard part used across the Peak Design range, so you can unhook you camera from the tripod and slot it straight into a Capture Clip, for example. The plates are so small that you might find it easier just to get extra ones and leave them attached to your camera(s) rather than messing around with hex keys.

The smartphone clamp is very clever, not least because it clips straight into the tripod head’s Arca Swiss rails – though you have to insert the correct side first, or it doesn’t go in properly.

All the controls, knobs and clips on this tripod have a beautifully firm and precise feel – except the head clamping ring and the quick release lock dial just above it. These feel a little sloppier and more plasticky – though both work just fine.

The Peak Design head attaches directly to the top part of the center column. You can use a regular third party head, but you have to get a separate adaptor kit. There are also kits to replace rubber feet with spikes and to produce an ultra-lightweight configuration where the inner leg sections are replaced with long ‘feet’ and the tripod becomes a low-level mini-tripod.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is way more rigid than you might expect. The five-section legs and the spindly-looking center column don’t inspire much confidence, but once it’s set up it feels as steady as a rock. Indeed, Peak Design quotes a maximum payload of 20lb (9kg) and there aren’t many camera-lens combinations that even approach that. 

The company says that it’s been designed to handle full frame DSLRs and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses – or longer, and with our camera/lens combo its grip and rigidity were very impressive.

It also resists twisting very well, and while the lowest leg sections look pretty spindly, we didn’t see any flexing or bending. Even that skinny center column is tougher than it looks. The pull out locking knob looks a bit twee, but there’s nothing twee about the center column’s rigidity or wobble-resistance.

With a maximum height of 153cm, the Peak Design Travel Tripod doesn’t go as high as some. But there’s no photographic rule that says all pictures must be taken at eye level, and with so many cameras today offering tilting or vari-angle screens, tripod height is hardly the concern it used to be. If you are a six-foot viewfinder fan with an aversion to stooping, though, it’s something you might want to take into account.

We’d need to spend a long time with this tripod in a variety of conditions to get a proper sense of how it will bear up, but straight out of the box, its compactness and its rigidity are really impressive.

Basic aluminum tripods are affordable but heavy. Carbon fiber tripods are lighter but cost more. And travel tripods which combine lightness, small folded size and good extended height and rigidity cost more again. So although the Peak Design Travel Tripod looks expensive compared to a basic aluminum model, it’s in the same ballpark as other specialized lightweight travel tripods – and it’s a lot cheaper than a Gitzo Traveller.

So is it worth it? We can’t comment on its long-term durability yet, but for sheer folded size, compactness and weight, it’s already a step ahead of its rivals while feeling every bit as rigid.

There are cheaper travel tripods than this, and taller ones too, but nothing that offers this performance and yet folds down into such a neat, compact and portable package.

• Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum) review • These are the best travel tripods right now • We pick the best tripod for all round photography • These are the best cameras for travel • The best camera backpacks right now

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Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com

Peak Design Tripod Review: Long-Term (Ab)Use

7 month review of the Peak Design Travel Aluminum Tripod.

I’ve owned and extensively used the Peak Designs Aluminum Travel Tripod throughout the last 7 months.

During that time, I tested the tripod in many conditions including high-elevation mountains, salty beaches, and dusty deserts.

This review shares my experienced thoughts on the tripod after hundreds of hours of use.

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support my work and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents:

Build quality & durability, functionality, compactness, pros & cons, initial impressions:.

Upon unboxing, I was immediately impressed by the build quality.

All components are recycled aluminum (love that from a sustainability standpoint) or rubber and are machined to very tight tolerances.

The smoothness of the legs really stood out to me and the center column adjustment knob popping in/out is a nice touch that adds to the premium feel and function of the tripod.

The amount of thought and attention to detail behind the design is obvious. This is a well-engineered piece of kit.

7 Month Thoughts:

The tripod has held up extremely well to scrapes and bangs against boulders, saltwater exposure, and extremely fine particulate dust storms.

Cosmetic scratches aside, the tripod functions like new.

The ball head is still perfectly smooth, as is the extension/retraction of the legs, and there is no noticeable corrosion.

The flip locks and all adjustment knobs are also still smooth with zero crunch or stick. Tension and retention of the legs is still great, I have not had to make any adjustments to the flip locks.

I was a little worried about the dust storms in the desert, which are infamous for gumming up most field equipment. The unique design of the tripod head leaves the ball exposed to the elements, and I thought dust might get in there and clog things up.

I’m a nature field recordist, so naturally, I had a microphone on the tripod recording the entire duration of the dust storm (about 2 hours). Needless to say, the tripod was completely covered in dust by the time I returned to break down the gear.

I did wipe down the leg sections with my hand before collapsing them, but there was absolutely still some dust left behind. However, as previously mentioned, the legs and ball head still function like new after this abuse.

To give you an idea of how fine this dust was, I took shelter in a tent during the storm with the rainfly staked tight and low to the ground. By the end of the storm, the tent floor was covered in ≈2mm of dust that was able to get under the fly and through the fine mesh walls. It had a powdery consistency and was difficult to completely remove from my hands.

Standout Features:

The following features are unique to the Peak Design tripods as far as I know, and took a little time to learn how to use.

Unique ball head

The unique design of the ball head is perhaps the most intriguing feature of the tripod so I started there.

Extremely compact, the head consists of a ball, two rotating rings, and a quick-release button compatible with Arca-type plates and L-brackets.

The rings replace the traditional knobs/levers on virtually all other tripods. This design saves a lot of space resulting in an extremely compact head.

The first ring twists to lock the quick-release plate securely atop the tripod. This ring has a chunky aluminum stud protruding that makes operation as simple as flicking your thumb. With surprisingly little effort, the ring locks very tight, yet is easy to unlock with slightly more effort than the first flick.

The second ring is located below the first. After moving your camera around the ball to compose your shot, the ring twists to lock your position. I was impressed by how tight this lock is. After tightening, there is zero play or sag.

I shoot with a Lumix GH5 and Lecia 100-400mm lens and was in the habit of composing my shots slightly higher than intended to account for the slight sag after tightening the ball head on my Benro tripod. With the Peak Design tripod, I compose my scene precisely, and it stays that way after locking this ring.

The 360° knurling around this ring allows for a secure grip for fast and easy operation.

Flip locks are nothing new, but the levers on the Peak Design tripod are so thin and compact, you can easily flip all four levers at the same time, allowing for extremely fast leg deployment and field setup.

This is the only tripod I know of with this design. All others use chunky paddles or twist locks that cannot easily be operated in unison.

Phone attachment

This is a really cool feature.

Neatly stored inside the bottom of the center column is a phone mount that attaches to the tripod head and expands to accept most phone sizes.

I sometimes film vlog-style content in the field and previously carried a separate gorilla tripod for this purpose. With this feature, my kit is substantially smaller and lighter.

Angle adjustment

The legs of the tripod have two locking angles; one for maximum height, and another for low-angle shots. This is a pretty common tripod feature. However, the procedure for adjusting these angles is innovative and I love the design.

Most tripods use tabs you have to pull up on to free the legs, set the leg to the desired angle, and then push the tabs back down to lock the legs in place.

With the Peak Design tripod, these tabs are spring-loaded, meaning you can push down the tab to free the leg, adjust the leg angle, and it will automatically lock into place.

This feature eliminates multiple steps and results in faster operation in the field.

Included tool

On the inside of one of the legs is a clip that houses a dual 4mm and 2.5mm Allen key (hex wrench).

The 4mm side is used to tighten the included quick-release plate to your camera and for swapping between different center column lengths.

The 2.5mm side is used to adjust the flip lock tension and to replace/remove the top plate pins to accommodate other brands’ quick-release plates.

An additional 4mm Allen key is included with a keyring. I keep this one on my car keys.

Two-piece center column

The two-piece center column allows you to use the full-length column if you prioritize a greater maximum height, or the shorter center column if you shoot a lot of low-angle compositions.

I fall into the latter group and have actually cut the center column with a hacksaw on my other tripods to get as low to the ground as possible without inverting the center column and shooting upside-down.

I tried inverting a column in the field once and swore never to do so again. Not only is inverting the center column time-consuming, but you also have to use your camera upside down, which is very awkward.

With a hacked center column, I can get super low to the ground with my camera still on top of the tripod.

With the Peak Design tripod, I can simply use the shorter center column…no hacksaw needed.

Standard Features:

Bubble level

Small bubble level similar to most mid-pro level tripods. It works well.

At the bottom of the center column is a standard hook for hanging a bag from for additional stability. Again, nothing new here, but the way the hook snaps into the center column is incredibly sexy and addictive. For such a small part of the design, I can’t believe the countless hours of prototyping that went into it.

The Peak Design tripod is a well-oiled machine. It’s a joy to use in the field.

With a little practice, this will be the fastest, most efficient tripod you’ve ever used.

All four flip locks can simultaneously be unlocked on each leg for rapid deployment to full height. Peak Design says their office record is 9.8 seconds. I’ve never timed myself deploying the tripod, but it feels even faster than this mark.

Here’s a video showcasing how efficient this process can be: https://youtu.be/xV9Pcw0a0Jo?feature=shared&t=502

Additionally, the quick-release locking system is much faster than traditional methods. The thumb-stud ring is much faster to tighten than the knobs on most other tripods that clamp your quick-release plate in place.

When folded, the Peak Design tripod measures just 15.5”.

This length makes storing and traveling with the tripod a breeze.

It neatly fits in all of my backpacks and luggage, and has the perfect spot behind the cooler in the trunk of my car.

With its size and weight, I always have it with me.

The Peak Design Aluminum Tripod weighs 3.4 lbs.

This is exceptionally light for a fully-featured aluminum tripod. Most other tripods in this weight class are carbon fiber.

The Benro Tripster Travel Tripod is also aluminum and weighs 3.4 lbs, but doesn’t have a phone mount, features twist lock legs (which I don’t like), only has a minimum height of 14” (compared to 5.5” on the Peak Design), and has 3 knobs for adjustments vs. the two rings on the Peak Design.

I like storing the Peak Design in one of the side water bottle pockets on my LowePro backpack for day hikes. With my water bottle on the opposite side, the weight is very balanced and comfortable.

Peak Design tripod while backpacking.

With my old Benro tripod (5.1 lbs), it was difficult to balance my pack, and one of my shoulders was always sore at the end of the day.

I have a lot more gear for backpacking, so the Peak Design tripod usually finds its home strapped to the bottom of my pack.

As previously mentioned, I carry my tripods by hand a lot while in the field. The lightweight design of the Peak Design tripod has been great for this purpose. However, I wish it had a foam grip to make carrying it more comfortable and warmer in cold weather.

I also own a Benro Slim Carbon Fiber Tripod that weighs only 2.35 lbs. However, I find myself bringing the Peak Design tripod on all my adventures, even for long-distance backpacking trips, because the extra weight makes it more stable and I simply enjoy using it more.

My camera and microphone rigs weigh several pounds and cost thousands of dollars. At the end of the day, I trust the Peak Design tripod over my other options.

1. Lightweight

3.4 lbs puts the Peak Design tripod in a weight class almost exclusively occupied by carbon fiber tripods. The other aluminum tripods at this weight don’t have as many features.

Although there are more compact tripods on the market, it’s hard to find a full-height model with as many features as the Peak Design at or under 15.5” collapsed length.

3. Build Quality

I’ve used a lot of tripods over the years: Benro Classic A2580F, Benro Slim, Manfrotto 525MVB, Benro A2573F.

By far, the Peak Design is the most complete, well-thought-out, and meticulously designed tripod in my collection.

The rapid deployment legs, adjustment rings, and quick-release plate all make for the fastest tripod workflow I’ve ever experienced.

5. Included Phone Clamp

The phone clamp stores inside the center column so you always have it with you if you need to mount your phone on the tripod.

6. Repairability

While other tripod manufacturers offer replacement parts, they’re constantly making new models and replacement parts become increasingly hard to find the older your tripod gets.

Peak Design has spent years designing their aluminum and carbon fiber tripods and only makes those two models.

Every part can be replaced or repaired.

7. Shoot Down in any Position

Most tripods I’ve used have a notch on one side of the ball head for shooting down. Locating and orienting into this notch is time you’ll save with the Peak Design tripod.

Thanks to the unique ball design, the camera can be pointed straight down in any position.

Okay, so far this post has been nothing but praise. However, the Peak Design tripod is not perfect. Here are the things I don’t like and hope to see changed/added to the design in the future.

1. Only Two Locking Leg Angles

I’m used to tripods with three leg angles: one for max height, one for low angle, and one in between. The Peak Designs Tripod only has two locking leg angles: max height and low angle.

I’m often setting up on rugged, uneven terrain and I frequently wish there was a locking leg angle between those extreme settings for extra stability and peace of mind.

As a result, I manually set the legs to those in-between angles for stability in tight spaces and over extremely variable rocky terrain. While I have never experienced the legs shifting under the weight of my gear in these unlocked positions, I would appreciate a third locking leg section, especially when the tripod is topped with $3,000 worth of equipment.

Now that I think of it, I should increase the leg tightness to make them even more unlikely to shift in these unlocked positions. I can do this by tightening the leg hinge with the 4mm Allen key. I’ll only do this when I have the leg at the angle I want, and loosen it afterwards so the tripod isn’t too stiff for normal use.

2. Short Center Column Could Be Longer

This is a nitpick and niche con. I don’t think many users would agree with me or be able to empathize. To better understand where I’m coming from, please read the following:

I despise center columns. I often like to get low angles, and inverting the center column in the field is a pain and super awkward. If you don’t invert the column, the lowest you can get still leaves your camera almost two feet above the ground. To solve this, I've used a hacksaw to cut the center column off, leaving just enough to still fit into and secure to the legs.

Honestly, the Peak Designs Tripod solves these issues with the two-piece center column. If you’re like me and prioritize easy low-angle shooting over extra height, just use the short center column, problem solved.

However, I want the short center column to be slightly longer to maintain all the features of the tripod.

With the present design, you lose two features when using the short center column:

Phone Clamp

When using the full-length center column, the accessory for mounting your phone to the tripod neatly folds and stores inside the bottom of the center column. The short center column is not long enough or wide enough to accommodate this feature.

Additionally due to the narrower internal width of the short center column, the hook cannot attach. This means you cannot hang a bag from the bottom for additional stability.

If the short column was a little longer and slightly wider (interior diameter), both of these features would be maintained.

Plus, the extra length wouldn't affect the low-angle height. With the legs at their minimum height and the short center column dropped all the way down, there's still several inches of gap above the ground, leaving more than enough room to accommodate the phone clamp inside and hook on the bottom.

3. No Foam Grip

I miss the foam grip I grew accustomed to on my old Benro.

I carry my tripods by hand a lot in the field. Whether it’s short walks between shots or long treks from A to B, I almost always have my tripod with a camera/microphone attached in my hand so I never miss a moment.

Without the foam grip, my hands are often cold and uncomfortable.

Additionally, when using my tripod for sound recording, the foam grip helps deaden handling noise when I have the tripod set up with only one leg extended like a monopod.

Having extensively used the Peak Designs Aluminum Travel Tripod for over seven months in extreme environments and demanding situations, I can honestly say that it’s the best tripod I’ve ever used.

While minor improvements could enhance its versatility, like a foam grip and more leg angles, these do not detract much from its value.

It's a tool that not only meets the rigorous expectations of professional fieldwork, but elevates and streamlines the creative process.

Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading, Jared

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Thanks for reading, -Jared

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Peak Design Travel Tripod Review

This Peak Design Travel Tripod review delves deep into what might be the most technological advanced tripod design ever seen. Is it worth the money though?!

Photography Gear Reviews | Tripod & Monopod Reviews | By Matthew Saville

Peak Design has been rethinking the camera accessory market for many years now. You’ve probably already seen their other highly innovative products on the market!

Well, for many years they’ve been secretly brainstorming their most innovative, impressive, and apparently most complex product to date: the Peak Design Travel Tripod.

Instead of just putting their sticker on the same knock-off tripod design that almost every other new brand has been copying for years now, these folks have redesigned this travel tripod from scratch.

Revolutionary design with useful, well-implemented features. Best all round - highly recommended.

Literally, everything about it is something I’ve never seen before. It’s been a long time since I had this many instances of thinking, “What the heck? This is genius!”

To be honest, when I first heard that another travel tripod was headed my way for review, I groaned. I’ve lost count of how many cheap tripods I’ve broken over the years. Travel tripods, in particular , are usually way too short, very wobbly, and not even lightweight!

It seems that for most tripod makers, the word “travel” has focused on the one dimension- length when collapsed. But, if a tripod is still short when fully extended, not to mention very wobbly and kinda heavy, then I’m not lugging it up a mountain!

So, was I wrong to roll my eyes at the thought of yet another dinky little travel tripod? Indeed, this one is downright tiny. And yes, I was very, very wrong.

Table of Contents

Peak Design Travel Tripod Review Criteria

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• Compact, space-saving leg design
• Very well built
• Concealed mobile stand
• Ingenious ball head design
• Fast Deployment
• Rigid and strong
• Could be lighter

Reviewing a tripod might seem very simple and easy. Does it work well? How does it feel? Is it expensive or affordable? Actually, there’s a lot more to it…

To make a long story short, I’ve lost count of how many tripods I’ve used that felt sturdy at first, did their job, and seemed affordable, …yet they broke within 6-12 months, sometimes catastrophically.

For those of you who have never trusted your expensive camera and lens to a tripod, “catastrophic failure” is not a phrase you ever want to hear.

The Peak Design Tripod is almost as short (and a whole lot lighter than) a full-size DSLR & lens, which it can easily support

So, now that I’ve got your attention, here is exactly what I’ve learned to look for in a tripod’s design, and what to test rigorously in the field, in order to determine for sure whether or not it’s a good product.

Specifically, the review categories I use are as follows:

• Leg locks & center column joints
• Overall stiffness and “indestructibility”
• Size – height, weight, & portability
• Overall value for the money

Before we dive in, here are the specs:

• Price: $599.95 (carbon fiber; Aluminum: $349.95)
• Max Height: 60″ (152 cm)
• Min Height: 5.5″ (10 cm)
• Compact Length: 15.5″ (39 cm)
• Max Load Capacity: 20 lbs (9.1 kg)

Build Quality of the Peak Design Tripod

The carbon fiber version looks great!

Right away, I’m impressed by the fact that the Travel Tripod feels strong and sturdy . Its size is deceptive – this thing is built tough, and it has a bit of heft for such a small item.

That’s probably because, unlike most other tripods, there is essentially no empty space at all in between the legs or the head; it is the very definition of space-saving design!

But, don’t let the word “heft” fool you. The Peak Design Tripod weighs in at just under 3.5 lbs (1.5 kgs) including its head, which is well into the zone of “ lightweight “.

Really, it’s the visual of such a tiny item that throws you for a loop. When the Travel Tripod is fully opened/extended, somehow, just looking at it while holding it you get the exact opposite feeling- this tripod weighs almost nothing!

I can’t name it the most “ultralight” option of all, however, since there are tripods in the 2 lb range. Most of those tripods are terrible though, and you’ll want to avoid them. Only a select few ultralight tripods are worth the money, and they’re either extremely expensive, or significantly bigger, or a significant compromise on stiffness and/or height.

Simply put, the Peak Design Travel Tripod strikes a great balance between being lightweight, compact, strong, and durable.

Since I use all kinds of different tripod plates, I immediately grabbed an Allen wrench set and removed these safety pins. (An Allen key that fits these pins is included, too. It’s hidden in a secret pocket on the tripod bag!)

…Now the tripod head is ready for any and all of my Arca-Swiss Plates and feet!

Its materials and workmanship are definitely superior to all of the other generic, knock-off brands out there that re-package the same basic tripod design.

This is a tripod re-imagined from the ground up.

Not only are the Peak Design Tripod’s legs, base, and center column a unique overall shape that allow it to be so compact, but the most prominent elements of design, the leg angle stem and the ball head, are downright brilliant.

(Side note: the team who designed the ball head also designed the Mobile Tripod by Peak Design.)

Tripod Height

Max Height, center column extended: 60″ Min Height, center column un-screwed: 4″

How tall can a tripod hold your camera, safely and steadily? That’s a very important question that some new photographers forget to consider when shopping for a tripod.

With a travel tripod, all that matters is that it’s lightweight and portable, right? Wrong. Because, if you have to hunch over to look through your viewfinder or even to get your face close to the camera’s rear LCD, that can be a problem. Bad posture is never a good thing!

Thankfully, the Peak Design Tripod, despite being one of the tiniest tripods I’ve ever used, it’s also surprisingly tall . It rises to 60″ (150 cm) which is very impressive for a tripod that packs down to just 15.4″ (39 cm).

As someone who is 74″ tall (188cm), it’s not quite tall enough for me to put my eye to the viewfinder. Then again, most travel tripods aren’t. With articulated LCDs appearing on almost every camera now, 60″ is indeed tall enough for most people.

The lowest height of 4″ is possible with the center column unscrewed (provided Allen wrench is required)

I will say, however, that one thing I miss is the medium leg angle which allows you to put the legs halfway between “as tall as possible” and “totally flat”.

Most tripods have three total leg angles, and I’ve grown very accustomed to it. However, this really won’t be a deal-breaker for most photographers. Just don’t leave your camera unattended in high winds.

Tripod Leg Locks & Joints

The leg lever locks might be a bit claw-like, but the leverage they offer will make them painless to operate in cold temperatures.

I must admit, from the pre-release pictures that I saw of the Peak Design Tripod before it was officially announced, the leg locks and joints were my main concern.

There are five leg sections per leg, which means four locks per leg, and they’re lever-lock, not twist-lock. For me as a landscape photographer who uses tripods very heavily, that seemed like two strikes against it.

To my surprise, the legs are some of the stiffest and strongest I’ve ever encountered, and the locks are strong, tight, and very easy to use .

Their large, hooked design makes them extremely easy to unlock and lock all at once when the legs are compacted, and easy enough to lock and unlock when the legs are extended.

As a bonus, the leg locks do have an easy-access Allen key tightening screw, which many lever-lock tripod legs do not have.

(By the way, in case you’re anything like me and don’t fully read instructions before taking gear out into the field to use it, the included Allen key is “hidden” in a secret pocket on the tripod bag.)

In case you’re wondering where the Allen key is hidden, here it is!

Really, the crowning achievement to me is the low profile of not just the leg lock joints, but also the rest of the levers and clamps too.

They’re all so flush with everything else that it adds up to make a huge difference in the overall portability of the Peak Design Tripod.

There are no knobs sticking out anywhere, even on the camera plate clamp like there always have been for Arca Swiss clamps. Well done, PD!

Another neat and original feature and something I’ve never seen implemented before is hidden away in the centre column of the Travel Tripod – namely a fold-out stand for securing a smartphone to the tripod ball head.

Hidden away in the centre column is a neat little smartphone stand.

For photographers who like to capture the occasional smartphone selfie video, or perhaps even a time-lapse or night photography long exposure to share quickly over social media, it’s a useful little feature.

To deploy it, you just twist the hook attached to the base of the centre column and pull out the clamp, which is folded up and suspended magnetically within the column. Then you clip it to the ball head, just as you would the base plate on your camera, Storing it away is just as fast and simple.

This is the kind of smart, lateral thinking that Peak Design is so well-known for, and yet another small but useful function that makes this tripod stand out from all the others on the market.

Tripod Ball Head

Is the ball head the center column, or is the center column the ball head? They are essentially one and the same.

The head of the Peak Design Travel Tripod is definitely the most unique, dare I say bizarre , and genius things about it. In fact, it’s totally integral to the tripod itself.

Peak Design has completely re-imagined the industry status quo: “you can buy legs and a head separately”. These two parts could not possibly be more intertwined.

The center column itself is part of the head; it’s topped off with a ball, and the clamp sits right on top.

When completely collapsed, the clamp itself slips down in between the leg angle platform. It is this final design characteristic that completes the “no empty spaces” compact design.

You can see more about how the ball head works in the video below:

But, does the ball head actually work well? First, the clamp’s grip itself is very strong. It is ready to keep even a full-frame DSLR with a big flagship f/2.8 zoom perfectly in place.

Of course, you have to crank the locking mechanism down a little aggressively if your body and lens begin approaching the maximum rated weight limit.

On the other hand, all those lightweight mirrorless cameras and crop-sensor systems that many photographers are adopting will feel perfectly at home on this rock-steady platform.

My only critique is that this design inherently forfeits a separate panning knob for the ball head. The center column’s triangular shape means you can’t even cheat by loosening it slightly with the center column down.

Overall, though, it’s a compromise that I’m totally willing to make for the benefit of such a strong, stable tripod being so utterly tiny when collapsed.

Performance

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is slimmer than, and weighs less than, my large coffee thermos!

How do you judge a tripod’s performance? It’s all about whether or not you can actually get sharp photos at slow shutter speeds!

So, just like I would review a lens or a camera, I ask myself: “do the images look good?”

Again, Peak Design has come up with one of the stiffest, most high-performance travel tripods that I’ve ever used.

Despite its odd leg and head design, the verdict comes easy: Not only does the tripod do a great job of holding a camera perfectly still, but the highly unique ball head design still affords a decent amount of precision and easy operation.

By the way, the Peak Design Travel Tripod makes a great GoPro vlogging “battery-free gimbal” ;-)

I will say, however, that the ball head is not without its compromises. In addition to the lack of a dedicated panning knob, the clamp itself does create a slight risk of changing your composition unintentionally when locking the head down.

To Peak Design’s credit, it’s actually surprisingly good at keeping your composition exactly how you set it, but the lock-down action itself does require a little more attention than a traditional ball head.

Anyways, I just can’t get over how compact and yet tall and strong the Travel Tripod is. If anything, the design is so compact that the tripod’s heft throws you for a loop at first.

Opened and extended, though, all of a sudden it feels feather-light and yet still strong and tall. It’s definitely ready for a full-frame DSLR and standard pro lenses, but it’s also compact and portable enough that it’ll make a fantastic, solid platform for your lightweight mirrorless and/or crop-sensor system too.

Price & Value | Carbon Fiber VS Aluminum

Carbon fiber looks gorgeous, sure, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod will set you back $599.95 for the carbon fiber version, and $349.95 for the aluminum one.

So, are these tripods good value, when you can find “junk” tripods (in my opinion) for about half as much? Absolutely, because those junk tripods will break very quickly, whereas this product could last you a lifetime if you take decent care of it.

The aluminum version is already rather light however, at just 3.44 lbs (1.56 kgs) compared to the carbon fiber model’s 2.81 lbs (1.27 kgs). So, you might really wonder if the carbon fiber version is worth the higher price tag.

It’s definitely worth considering the carbon fiber Travel Tripod model – there’s more to carbon fiber than just its weight. Carbon fiber is also much stiffer and stronger than aluminum. This absolutely can translate to sharper images, with heavier camera gear.

Consider your kit, and the shooting conditions: Light breeze? Carbon fiber will resist the tendency to experience a “vibrato” that totally ruins fine image detail. Super-telephoto lens? Carbon fiber will allow your tripod to settle down more quickly, with or without wind, so that you can use your camera’s simple 2-3 sec exposure delay mode (self-timer) to get pin-sharp images at super telephoto focal lengths.

Lastly, if you shoot in extremely cold environments a lot, holding carbon fiber legs will keep your hands much warmer than metal legs, even through thin gloves!

For Comparison- Left: Slik 700DX “heavy duty” tripod Center: Peak Design Travel Tripod Right: Manfrotto Tabletop Tripod.

So, both the aluminum and carbon fiber versions of the Peak Design Travel Tripod do present a good value, thanks to their overall quality, amazing design, and their ability to keep your camera perfectly steady even at a decent height.

If you just can’t afford the carbon fiber model, simply ask yourself how often you need to use your tripod, and how demanding are you going to be of it.

Will you be shooting in tough conditions, with larger, heavier telephoto lenses? Just keep saving for the carbon fiber model.

Or, will you be shooting more casually, with a compact lightweight setup at normal focal lengths? You’ll definitely be fine with either tripod.

No matter what, you’ll be getting sharper images , plus a less frustrating overall shooting experience and a much longer lifespan , out of a Peak Design Travel Tripod than any other cheap tripod out there, aluminum or carbon fiber.

For Comparison: My favorite backpacking tripod, the (discontinued) Slik 614 CF, which weighs only ~2.1 lbs with a head, is indeed significantly larger than the Peak Design Travel Tripod. Also, it is a little less stiff and only marginally taller.

What if you’re looking for something even more lightweight, though? While most no-name or newcomer brand tripods get a big thumbs down from me, I do recommend the ~2 lb range backpacking/hiking tripods from Slik, a name brand, such as the Slik Sprint and Lite series (see my full camera tripod guide for more details).

You trade a fair amount of overall build quality by going with a tripod that weighs in at under 2 lbs, of course, but for those hikers and travelers who count every ounce/gram, it’s a good option to have.

Get an exclusive Peak Design x Shotkit Discount Code:

Final Words

In case you’re wondering, yes, that’s a 15″ MacBook Pro. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is THAT small!

Simply put, this is the best compact travel tripod around, especially if space in your bag(s) is very precious. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is a champion of portability. No other tripod is this low-profile yet also this strong and tall.

Yes, on certain occasions I will instead opt for my tripods in the ~2 lb range, like when I need to carry 2-3 tripods up a mountain. However, for most people who travel with just one tripod, this could be your best choice.

It’s not just made for travel, of course. The portability means the Travel Tripod is also a great everyday tripod that you can slip into your camera bag, rolling case, or almost anywhere.

It’s the perfect tripod for photographers who don’t necessarily use a tripod all the time, but would likely not even bring one if it were too big and unwieldy.

If you can’t afford the carbon fiber version, don’t worry, the aluminum version is a great choice too, for nearly half the price. Either way, this is definitely my new favorite ultra-portable travel tripod.

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Matthew Saville is an astro-landscape and adventure landscape photographer based in California.

15 Comments

Peak carbon tripod panning solution. Hi: You mentioned the issue of not being able to do a pan because the head can’t rotate. Here’s my solution; inexpensive and easy.

I use the Peak standard plate.

Neewer Metal 60mm Quick Release Plate https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RS348PB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A39F69IW77H648&psc=1

The Neewer Camera Panoramic Panning Base https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB1MX35/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2DLO1SS82Y0QI&psc=1

When sandwiching all 3, this piece of kit adds maybe 1” of height, which is not an issue if your only primary requirement is rotation. You can’t leave it attached to the tripod as it won’t fit in the carry case, but it’s small enough to easily transport to your location and quickly attach to the tripod. Works great!

Thanks for the tips, Chris!

Hi, do I understand correctly that one can’t use the tripod head to shoot panorama, which require several horizontal shots? thanks

I think you’re right about both tripods offering good value. I love this tripod. I got the aluminum version and I really think it’s the better buy. If you need more stability attach a camera bag to the center column hook. I actually put the tripod in my camera bag so people don’t know I’m carrying a tripod even though this thing hardly looks like a tripod. Check out this article I wrote about it: https://nextinphotography.com/the-best-tripod-for-people-who-dont-like-tripods/

Thanks for sharing your review, David!

Do you think the aluminium is still an acceptable model to go for or will I regret not going for the carbon fibre? The weight seems quite high versus some other travel tripods which I’ve seen for ~1000g like the Slik Lite range.

I never use a tripod right now due to lugging the size/weight but I have wanted to get one for night shots and taking photos with me AND my family in (hurray)

I was curious what your opinion is versus these options as well, what do you think?

Both versions are definitely not the lightest travel tripods available. I owned both and sold the aluminium, simply as I prefered the look and feel of the CF!

How pathetic that you don’t publish critical comments about your articles. You deleted my comment from a few days ago because it didn’t fit this article’s narrative. I have screenshots and will be tweeting those and paying them around on Facebook to let people know what kind of hacks you are.

Calm down Josh!! Our site has just come back online, after being broken for 24 hours – google it if you like. We lost a lot of comments and 6 articles, which we’re currently rebuilding. Feel free to comment what you said again, and as long as it’s not offensive, we’ll publish it, just like we do with all reasonable comments. Sounds like you’re pretty angry though, so maybe this isn’t the best space for you to vent. All the best.

hey there …. is the aluminum version of the peak design tripod suitable for slow shutter speeds in running water … if the tripod is now in running water, is it suitable for slow shutter speeds?

Hello, please how did you mount the gopro on the Peak Design tripod ? Would you list these accessories please ? Thanks for sharing

I know you saw my reply to your FB message, but I thought I’d reply here as well, for the benefit of others who may read this review:

I used one of the Gopro adapter plates that has double-sticky tape on it, the flat one, and I stuck it to the smallest Arca-Swiss plate I could find. Kinda about the size of a Peak Design standard plate, but just slightly larger and metal surfaced so the double-sticky tape can get a more secure grip.

Hope this helps anybody else who is wondering!

It’s been a while since this review was published so I am hoping someone will see this comment and, perhaps, offer some insight.

Will the head of the PD Travel Tripod accept non-PD Arca-Swiss plates? I have Arca-Swiss L-brackets and the PD “Capture” clip does NOT accept regular A-S plates, only the little PD plates which go loose too quickly.

Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

As far as I can tell, most A-S plate should work with the tripod’s ball head. In the case of longer A-S plates (star trackers, L-brackets, etc), the ball head’s safety pegs can be removed with the provided allen key to accommodate longer plates. I hope that helps!

Thanks Matt, for such a thoughtful review. Really appreciated the effort you put into explaining why someone should consider the aluminium tripod vs the carbon-fiber. I have read a number of other reviews and no one else has really addressed this issue. As someone who is only going to use a tripod on a more casual basis with a Fuji XT mirror less camera and a prime lens I can only justify getting the aluminium tripod. So tempting though to find the extra and get the carbon!

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Peak Design Travel Tripod Review

Last updated: November 24, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

As a professional travel photographer, I’ve used a lot of travel tripods over the years, including models from Manfrotto and Vanguard.

Today, I’m going to be reviewing Peak Design’s travel tripod , which I’ve been using in the field for the past several months to see how it compares to other travel tripods.

I’ve actually been a fan of Peak Design’s products for a long time. They make a range of photography accessories, and I particularly like their carry strap system which I’ve been using for years on my cameras. They also have a range of popular bags.

My experience to date with their products has been very positive, they are well made and backed by an excellent warranty and support program. Let’s see if that quality has extended to their travel tripod. I’ll share my thoughts on using one of their travel tripods for the first time.

Peak Design launched their travel tripod (via Kickstarter) in 2019, with general availability coming in 2020. This was their first and is currently only tripod.

It’s now been on the market for some time, and I thought it was about time I gave it a good test and review. Let’s start with the specifications.

Peak Design Travel Tripod Specifications

There are two variants of the Peak Design travel tripod on the market at the moment, an aluminum model and a carbon fiber model.

The only difference between the two is the material in use, which affects the weight (and price!). All the other specifications are the same. Here’s a quick overview of the main specifications.

• Load capacity – 20lbs (9.1kg)
• Max height center column raised – 60″ (152.2cm)
• Max height center column down – 51.25″ (130.2cm)
• Weight aluminum model 3.44lbs (1.56kg)
• Weight carbon fiber model 2.81lbs (1.29kg)
• Packed height: 15.4″ (39.1cm)
• Packed diameter 3.125″ (39.1cm)

The retail price of the aluminum model is $379.95, and the carbon fiber model is $599.95. You compare the latest prices and buy it direct from Peak Design here , on Amazon here , and from B&H Photo here .

This tripod certainly fits what we look for in a travel tripod , which is a blend of portability and a good load capacity.

As well as the raw numbers, there are a few additional features of the Peak Design travel tripod I wanted to highlight.

First, the tripod is designed from the ground up to be super portable. The main way this is achieved is with the head design, which is very compact. The ball head basically fits flush into the tripod when packed away and takes up barely any space.

The flip locks, triangular leg design, and small center column also all contribute to allowing this tripod to fold down really small.

I have used a lot of travel tripods over the years, and this one is definitely one of the best designs I’ve used in terms of how it packs away to take up a minimal amount of space.

The ball head is also pretty smart. There’s an integrated bubble level to ensure your camera is flat, and the flip lock design makes attaching and removing your camera very easy. You can also lock your camera into place with the flip of a toggle, which gives great peace of mind.

Another neat feature is the integration of a phone head mount. This lives inside the center column, and has a quick-release mechanism for easy installation.

It then attaches directly to the tripod mounting plate and allows you to use your tripod with your smartphone. This should work with pretty much any smartphone on the market today.

It’s a nice value add and is also well designed and sturdy.

One last thing I wanted to highlight is the carrying case. This is often an afterthought with tripods, if you even get one at all.

Well, Peak Design is known for their bags and their tripod case is lovely. It looks great, the tripod fits inside securely, and it’s both padded and weatherproof. It is missing a strap, but there are add-ons to make it compatible with the Peak Design carry system.

Ok, so those are the main features. What is this tripod like to actually use in the real world? Let’s find out.

Peak Design Travel Tripod – Thoughts on Real World Use

I prefer to do a review based on real world experience, so I traveled with the Peak Design travel tripod as my main tripod for several months to see how it performed in the field.

As this is a travel tripod, I expect it to be something I can carry with me when hiking, so I took it with me on a number of hikes up various Welsh mountains as well as other slightly less strenuous strolls. It has also been on more leisurely trips in the UK, France, and the USA.

When I’m testing a travel tripod, there are a few things I’m interested in. First, it has to be lightweight, because no one wants to carry more than they need to.

This tripod definitely meets that requirement, even the aluminum version is light enough that I don’t have to think twice about adding it to my gear for a trip.

The next thing I look for is how easy the tripod is to set up and put away. When I’m hiking, I don’t want to have to spend a lot of time putting a tripod up and down whenever I see an opportunity for a shot.

The Peak Design travel tripod definitely works in that regard as well. I’m normally not a big fan of flip-lock legs as they can catch on my camera bag when setting up and putting away.

However, in this case they are well designed so that doesn’t happen, and they make set up and put down a breeze.

The way the camera attaches to the head also works well. This is something that other tripods don’t always do as well at, especially when using the Peak Design carry system which has the carry strap attached to the tripod plate.

The Peak Design carry strap hooks on the camera base plate can sometimes get in the way of easy attachment to the tripod head. Obviously, this being a Peak Design tripod, that issue has been thought through, and the camera easily attaches to the tripod head even with the strap still attached.

There’s also a handy locking mechanism on the tripod head that makes it easy to ensure the camera is properly attached to the tripod head.

Of course, any tripod is only worth its salt if it actually provides a stable platform for shooting from.

I’ve used it with a full-frame mirrorless camera paired with a heavy 100-400mm lens, and it performed very well. I also used it with my more normal landscape wide-angle lens, and even with the smartphone adaptor.

All around, this tripod performed very well and let me get the shots I wanted, even the long exposure shots where the tiniest movement can ruin everything.

The final thing I need in a travel tripod, or any tripod for that matter, is ease of operation.

Now this one was a bit of a learning curve for me. The design of the Peak Design tripod head is that it slots down into the legs. However, you have to partially extend the central column (around an inch), to get full movement.

Before I got used to the tripod, I would try to move the head to the position I wanted, but not be able to because the head only has full freedom of movement once the central column has been partially extended.

Extending the central column isn’t hard, but it is an additional step to remember to do.

Once the head is extended, adjusting the head is easy. It’s a ball-style design, and to adjust the angle of the head you loosen the control ring, move the tripod head to the angle you want, and then tighten the control ring.

This is all very easy and intuitive once you get used to it. This is really important, especially if you plan on doing any astrophotography or Northern Lights photography , as you might need to operate the tripod in very dark conditions where you are working by feel.

So that is a lot of positive things. Are there are issues I encountered? Well, yes.

The main downside I discovered, which is the main negative of this tripod, is a lack of separate pan and tilt controls.

When you loosen the control ring to adjust the head, you can move the camera up, down, left, and right. However, you can’t pan or tilt separately.

So, for example, if you have your shot framed almost perfectly, but want to shift the view a few degrees to the left, you have to be careful not to tilt the camera up or down at the same time.

This also makes tasks like shooting panoramas a lot more challenging. Many tripod heads, including many ball heads, offer separate pan and tilt controls, so you can pan independently of the tilt control.

Now, honestly, whether or not this is a big deal will depend a lot on the photos you like to take. If you take a lot of panoramas, then this will likely be a bigger issue.

The good news is that the control ring also controls the friction, meaning you can loosen it only a little and then just be careful as you move the camera, with friction on your side to prevent unwanted movements on the wrong axis.

However, with a heavy camera setup it can be challenging to only move in one direction.

The other thing to bear in mind is that over time the flip locks on the tripod leg sections can become loose, meaning that the legs don’t stay extended. This is just an overall issue with all flip lock legs on tripods I have used.

This can happen with any tripod, but Peak Design have thought ahead and included both a tool to adjust the leg flip lock tightness, as well as a handy clip which allows you to attach the adjustment tool to a tripod leg.

You just want to remember to bring this with you when you travel, in case a leg needs tightening up when you’re in the field.

Finally, whilst the addition of the bubble level is appreciated, the light color and way it is positioned means that my camera covers most of it up, making it difficult to see and not very useful once my camera is set up.

Honestly, most cameras and smartphones these days have a built-in level feature anyway, so I rarely use the bubble level on a tripod, but I wanted to mention it in case it was important to you.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed using this tripod in the field, and it has earned a place in my photography bag for sure.

Peak Design Travel Tripod Pros and Cons

Having covered my experience using the Peak Design travel tripod in the field I wanted to share a quick rundown of what I felt to be the main pros and cons of this tripod from a travel photography perspective.

• Lightweight, even the aluminum version
• Folds down very small
• Works well with the Peak Design clip system
• Really nice tripod bag
• Can convert to tabletop tripod
• Built-in smartphone holder
• Lifetime warranty
• Expensive, especially for carbon fiber model
• No easy panning control
• Some constraint on portrait orientation shot

Overall,l I definitely think it’s a good travel tripod. The main downside is the cost is pretty high, especially if you are considering the carbon fiber model, which costs a lot more but only offers a modest decrease in weight.

I think most people would be happy with the aluminum model as the features are the same.

Peak Design Travel Tripod Alternatives

When you start researching tripods, you are going to quickly learn that there are a great many tripods on the market, and honestly, it can be hard to tell them apart.

The main decisions will come down to how much you want to spend and how important specifications like maximum load capacity, maximum height, minimum height, folded height etc. are to you.

Most tripods play around with these specifications, so you should be able to find the perfect tripod for you. I wanted to highlight a few options to consider, and you can see more options in our guide to the best travel tripods .

Gitzo Traveler Series

Any comparison of tripods, especially high-end tripods, is going to include mention of Gitzo. These are generally regarded as some of the best tripods on the market, although they tend to come with a fairly eye-watering price tag.

Still, the Peak Design carbon fiber tripod isn’t exactly a budget model, so I feel it’s fair to compare it against a tripod of this caliber.

There are quite a few tripods in the Gitzo Traveler series. I’d say the most comparable model would be the Gitzo Traveler, series 1, 5 section tripod .

This carbon fiber tripod has a maximum height of 58.46″, a folded size of 13.98″, a weight of 3.13lbs and a max load capacity of 22lbs. It has a retail price of $719.99.

So compared to the Peak Design carbon fiber model, the Gitzo has a slightly smaller folded height, weighs slightly more, and has a slightly lower maximum height.

Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235CB or 265HCB

A quick note, I’m a Vanguard Ambassador and have been since 2014, and I’ve used a lot of their gear over the years, many of which I’ve also reviewed .

I think their products offer a lot, and I’ve been very happy with their gear in use around the world.

The two main tripods I think they currently produce which you might consider instead of the Peak Design Travel Tripod would be from the Vanguard VEO 3 Go range, and specifically the 235CB or 265HCB models .

These are both carbon fiber tripods, but with a retail price around half that of the carbon fiber Peak Design Travel Tripod model.

The 235CB is the smaller tripod, with a maximum size of 53.5″, a folded size of 13″, a weight of 2.3lbs, and a max load capacity of 8.8lbs. It has a retail price of $269.99.

The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a much higher load rating and a higher maximum height, but also weighs more and doesn’t fold up as small. It’s also more than twice as expensive. One to consider if you have a smaller setup that won’t challenge the maximum load rating.

The 265HCB is the taller tripod, with a maximum size of 65.5″, a folded size of 16.1″, a weight of 3.1lbs and a max load capacity of 22lbs. It has a retail price of $339.99.

The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a similar load rating and a lower maximum height, but weighs less and folds up a bit smaller. It’s nearly twice as expensive.

Both Vanguard tripods also convert to monopods and come with a smartphone adaptor and Bluetooth remote shutter trigger. They’re also available in aluminum, at a lower price point and a higher weight.

The aluminum VEO 3 Go 235AB retails for $219.99, and the aluminum VEO 3 Go 265HAB retails for $269.99. Generally the easiest way to save money on a travel tripod is to choose an aluminum model over a carbon fiber one.

If you’re interested in this product, or any of the other Vanguard products, you can save money using  our exclusive Vanguard discount code . This will give you 20% off everything in the  Vanguard store.

Just use the code  FindingTheUniverse  for your discount! This Vanguard discount code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

Should you Buy the Peak Design Travel Tripod?

Honestly, only you can answer this question! However, having used it for a number of months I can definitely say that it is a well-made tripod. It works very well and has enough clever design features to make it stand out in a very crowded market.

When you add up all the little extra things like the nice bag, smartphone holder, and compatibility with other Peak Design products, it ends up as a really well-rounded product.

Of course, there are many other tripods on the market at other price points, but I don’t think you will be disappointed if you decide to go for it.

You can buy it direct from Peak Design here , on Amazon here , and from B&H Photo here .

Further Reading

That’s it for my review of the Peak Design travel tripod – I hope you found it helpful. Before you go, I wanted to share some of our other content which we think you will find useful.

• Our  review of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod  after three years of regular use.
• A  review of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM , the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB .
• We have a guide to  why you need a tripod , a guide to  choosing a travel tripod , and a round-up of our  favourite travel tripods
• We have a guide to  how to use a compact camera ,  how to use a DSLR camera , and  how to use a mirrorless camera . We also have a guide to  how a DSLR works
• Knowing how to compose a great photo is a key photography skill. See our guide to  composition in photography  for lots of tips on this subject
• We have a guide to what  depth of field  is and when you would want to use it.
• We are big fans of getting the most out of your digital photo files, and do to that you will need to shoot in RAW. See our guide to  RAW in photography  to understand what RAW is, and why you should switch to RAW as soon as you can if your camera supports it.
• You’re going to need something to run your photo editing software on. See our guide to the best  laptops for photo editing  for some tips on what to look for.
• If you’re looking for more advice on specific tips for different scenarios, we also have you covered. See our guide to  Northern Lights photography ,  long exposure photography ,  fireworks photography ,  tips for taking photos of stars , and  cold weather photography .
• If you’re looking for a great gift for a photography loving friend or family member (or yourself!), take a look at our  photography gift guide ,
• If you’re in the market for a new camera, we have a detailed guide to the  best travel cameras , as well as specific guides for the  best cameras for hiking and backpacking , the  best compact camera ,  best mirrorless camera  and  best DSLR camera . We also have a guide to the  best camera lenses .
• If you want a camera or lens, but the prices are a bit high, see our guide to  where to buy used cameras and camera gear  for some budget savings options.

Looking to Improve Your Photography?

If you found this post helpful, and you want to improve your photography overall, you might want to check out my  online travel photography course .

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 students learn how to take better photos. The course covers pretty much everything you need to know, from the basics of how a camera works, through to composition, light, and photo editing.

It also covers more advanced topics, including astrophotography, long exposure photography, flash photography, and HDR photography.

You get feedback from me as you progress, access to webinars, interviews and videos, as well as exclusive membership of a Facebook group where you can get feedback on your work and take part in regular challenges.

It’s available for an amazing one-off price for lifetime access, and I think you should check it out. Which you can do by  clicking here .

Note: We were sent this product for free to see how we liked it. I chose to write this review based on my own personal opinion of the tripod after using it for a while. All opinions are our own.

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tony adams says

25th March 2024 at 12:49 pm

Hello, I received the peak design travel tripod for christmas and so far have had a good experience. your review is really good. It is my first tripod. I am wondering what case or bags you would recommend for carrying it around when traveling. Locally I just put in a carrying case I got with it but want something more for city walking and travel abroad. any recs welcome. thanks

Laurence Norah says

25th March 2024 at 6:51 pm

Thanks very much, I’m glad you found the review helpful and are enjoying your new tripod. I was actually out shooting on my Peak Design travel tripod only today 🙂

So your question is a very good one but a hard one to answer without knowing a few things. I do intend to write a guide to photography bags but I haven’t quite gotten round to it yet. So the main things you will need to decice is what you want to carry (camera gear + anything else). This will inform the size of the bag. Next you need to decide the shape of the bag, so that’s backpack, shoulder bag, sling bag etc. You have already mentioned you would prefer a more city style bag, so that is a good thing to know as style varies a lot, from more hiking style bags, to bags that look good around a city.

Other things to consider are if you want the bag to meet airline requirements (and if so which airline, as different carriers have different standards), what sort of access you want to your gear (side access, top access, back access), and any other features such as waterproofing, reconfigurable interiors etc.

I appreciate this is a lot to think about. I’m an ambasssador for Vanguard Photo who make a wide range of photography bags and I talk with people in person about choosing a bag quite a lot, so I know there is quite a process to go through to find the right bag. In addition, may photographers end up with multiple bags for different scenarios!

So I would recommend checking out the Vanguard bags as a starting point. Peak Design also make photography bags which are good, although a little more expensive in my experience. I do use on of their backpacks, it’s not quite as comfortable as my Vanguard bag but it certainly looks nice.

If you’re interested in Vanguard products, you can save money using our Vanguard discount code. This will give you 20% off everything in the Vanguard store. Just use the code FindingTheUniverse for your discount. This Vanguard discount code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

If you did have some thoughts about the type of bag you want based on my criteria above, I’d be happy to give some more focused recommendations. Just be aware there are a LOT of photography bags to choose from, at a wide range of prices!

WILLIAM WANG says

19th December 2023 at 12:37 am

Too expensive

19th December 2023 at 2:31 pm

Hi William,

Thanks for your comment! It is definitely at the higher end of the pricing spectrum for a tripod. The good news is there are lots of alternatives on the market, so hopefully you can find the right tripod for you 🙂

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Peak Design Travel Tripod Lives Up to the Hype: Review

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The Travel Tripod from Peak Design is blowing up Kickstarter. Amassing more than $6 million is no easy feat, and we think it deserves the praise in this review.

I own a tripod but never use it. It sits in a drawer and accumulates dust. Not because it doesn’t work, but because it’s a pain to lug around. It’s bulky and heavy, and I’ve learned how to sufficiently use rocks, skis, and other accouterments in lieu of a full-sized tripod. Maybe you feel the same way.

However, San Francisco-based Peak Design , makers of photography equipment from backpacks to clips and straps, also recognized this problem. Well-known for its elegant and thoughtful design, the company set out to make a better tripod over 4 years ago. The result: the Travel Tripod , launched last week on Kickstarter, and it’s well worth the wait.

I was given the opportunity to test one of the tripod prototypes for a week while hiking and shooting long exposures around the Bay Area. In short, I walked away very impressed. Every component and small detail feels refined and thoughtful, making the tripod easy to set up, use, and travel with. Best of all, there is very little wasted space or weight.

Review: Peak Design Solves Critical Tripod Flaw

Peak Design wanted to fix one critical flaw: tons of wasted space, which inherently makes a tripod difficult to carry with you in the field. Compared to other tripods, the Travel Tripod is one of the most compact out there. There’s no wasted space in its design.

That means Peak Design created a more effective tripod at a fraction the size of traditional travel tripods.

Travel Tripod: Portability and Assembly Speed

One of the first things I noticed was how fast it deploys and packs down. It took me about 20 seconds from the moment I pulled it out of my bag until I was shooting photos. That’s twice as fast as my old tripod. Once deployed, the Travel Tripod is stable and durable – I used it in rain and mist, accidentally dropped it a few times, and spent some time on sand beaches, and the tripod still works fine. It’s rated as both weatherproof and impact-resistant and is backed up by a lifetime warranty.

The team at Peak started the design from the ground up, thinking through the photographer’s workflow. As the self-dubbed masters of the “carry,” the brand’s first challenge was to make a tripod that is much more portable. The Travel Tripod does that, taking up half the volume of most of its top-end competitors.

The team also eliminated all protruding knobs, meaning every water bottle pocket on a bag can also be used for transporting the tripod. The tripod’s legs and center column nest together tightly, when collapsed, to achieve a packed diameter of just 3.25 inches, which is very similar to a water bottle.

For someone who regularly travels with skis, paddling gear, and/or bike equipment, the streamlined shape is a huge improvement, helping me tuck the tripod into small corners of my pack and allowing me to take it on more trips. Plus, despite more compact size and space, the Travel Tripod still has all the professional-level capabilities you would expect.

Levers Over Knobs

Instead of knobs, the team at Peak employed leg levers (four on each leg) that can be operated together, which helps accelerate setup. Further, with the new product architecture, there is no need to flip the legs up or down, saving tedious unpacking time. Last, the camera attachment is simple and easy to use, making you wonder why other companies haven’t made one like it before.

Major Improvement: The Simplicity of the Ball Head

Maybe the biggest improvement is the ball head, which takes all the guessing out of which knob to turn. This is a single adjustment ring that gives the tripod head total articulation for both portrait and landscape shooting. The camera locks securely and can be adjusted quickly. Likely many improvements on this tripod, this is addition by subtraction. The simplicity of the ball head is what makes it unique.

The Travel Tripod uses high-quality materials and has precision, machined parts that help with stability, durability, and cut the overall weight, too. The tripod is designed to handle pro photography gear, like full-frame cameras with telephoto lenses, with a weight capacity of up to 20 pounds and a maximum height of 60 inches.

It also comes with a hidden mount for phones, although I rarely used this because I’m not a selfie connoisseur.

Fitting in With the Peak Ecosystem

I’ve admittedly been a Peak Design fanboy for years and rely on their ecosystem of products. The tripod fits well into this system, easily connecting to straps, securely holding Peak’s plate, and stowing in the packs snuggly. That said, the tripod works with nearly all third-party plates (including longer ones) by removing the pines on the ball head.

What I Didn’t Like: Weight

I did have a few letdowns while testing this product that was rumored to be coming for the past couple of years.

First, while the carbon fiber model I was testing is notably lighter than most other top-of-the-line tripods, it still weighs just under 3 pounds, meaning it isn’t perfect for many ultralight missions. Similarly, for someone like me who skews towards portability over performance (when you can’t have both), I would prefer a mini Travel Tripod model — one that isn’t quite as tall or burly but can pack smaller and is a bit light for backcountry-oriented trips. Neither are dealbreakers, but they are considerations for folks like me.

Field Test: Peak Design Travel Tripod Is a Must-Buy

Overall, the Travel Tripod is a huge improvement from every other tripod I’ve used or owned. Sure, I may not take it on every trip, but it will certainly accompany me on many more than my current setup, primarily because it’s easy to stow and simple to use. Launched this week, the tripod has already raised $6 million on Kickstarter . However, that’s hardly surprising, given Peak Design has raised more than $20 million across its eight other campaigns.

The Travel Tripod comes in two versions: aluminum and carbon fiber for $289 and $479, respectively — both on discount if you back the campaign .

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This Kickstarter-funded travel tripod collapses down to the size of a water bottle — it also weighs less than 4 pounds

• Peak Design — which makes my favorite camera and travel backpacks — launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new Travel Tripod . I got the chance to try out a prototype, and in my opinion, it's revolutionary.
• Tripods can often be a pain to carry around, but they can be key to stepping up your photography game — especially when traveling. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is incredibly lightweight and folds up smaller than any similar full-size tripod.
• The Travel Tripod's Kickstarter campaign is live until July 18. If you back the campaign, you can get an aluminum Travel Tripod for $289 (that's $61 off the retail price), or the carbon fiber version for $479 (a $121 discount). 

As an amateur travel photographer and a reporter who often shoots my own photos, Peak Design has been on my radar for a while. The company, which was launched in 2010 by a photographer who was looking for a better way to carry his gear, has exploded over the past few years.

That's partly thanks to its success using Kickstarter to secure funding to scale production on new products, rather than traditional private equity or loans. The brand has had seven successful Kickstarter campaigns and has raised more money on the platform than any other single brand or product.

The eighth campaign is now live.

While the last few Kickstarters were for dynamic gear that could be used for general photography or everyday travel, this latest one heads back to Peak's roots making camera accessories specifically for the traveling photographer.

Meet the Travel Tripod .

Tripods are a necessary, but often frustrating piece of gear to use outside of a studio setting. It can help elevate your photography, but tripods are heavy, and even the best travel-oriented ones are bulky. That's because most tripods consist of three metal tubes — the legs — around a center column. Even when tripods are folded up for carrying or storage, they tend to have a lot of negative space since the tubes don't fit very tightly together.

Testing the new @peakdesign travel tripod with a few long(ish) exposures in Brooklyn. A post shared by David Slotnick (@david_slotnick) on Jun 23, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT Jun 23, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT

Peak sent over a prototype of the Travel Tripod for me to test out. I've been using the 3 Legged Thing Corey Travel Tripod for the past year or so, which I've been more or less satisfied with, so I was excited for a chance to see if Peak's tripod really makes a difference.

Read more : I'm an amateur travel photographer — and I can unequivocally say that this Kickstarter backpack is the best camera bag I've tried

Peak's Travel Tripod solves the bulk problem that most tripods have with legs that are a unique six-sided shape, rather than circular tubes. They're designed for the closed position and fit tightly together around the triangular center column.

The shape is undoubtedly effective — when closed, the Travel Tripod is just 8 inches in circumference, or about 2.5 inches in diameter (which is around the width of a standard water bottle) and a bit taller than one at 15.5 inches.

It's hard to stress how small that is for a tripod without seeing it in person. For context, the 3 Legged Thing Corey has a larger diameter of 4 inches, or 11 inches in circumference.

Of course, weight matters too for travel gear.

The Travel Tripod comes in two variations — a more affordable aluminum alloy and a premium carbon fiber. The aluminum weighs in at 3.44 pounds, while the carbon is a remarkably light 2.81 lbs. For comparison, the lightest functional tripod that I've used for travel, the 3 Legged Thing Corey, is 3.4 lbs, but has a much larger diameter at 4 inches, or 11 inches in circumference.

The Travel Tripod has efficient and intuitive features that were obviously designed by a photographer familiar with the process of setting up and using a tripod in the field.

The highlight is a small yet hyper efficient ball head mechanism for a free range of movement. There's also a single adjustment ring on the head that unlocks full articulation, or locks the head into position. One thing that's always annoyed me about tripods is that it's often unclear which knob you're supposed to turn to maneuver what you want — the adjustment ring solves that.

There's a quick release/attachment plate for your camera, with a clever locking ring to secure it in place and avoid any accidental jostling or release. For a bit of extra convenience, there are three cutouts to turn the ball head 90 degrees and drop the camera into portrait orientation — most tripods only have one.

The legs deploy quickly and easily, and the cam levers secure tightly. The center column is released and locked with a small, low-profile knob that extends for an easier grip. Combined, these two elements make setting up the tripod incredibly fast.

For example, as I was walking back from testing the tripod with a few long exposures of traffic, I heard an ambulance coming down the street that I wanted to get a shot of, but the tripod was completely folded up for storage. I managed to get it set up in about 10 seconds, leaving me a few seconds to get my exposure settings adjusted before the ambulance passed.

Other nifty features include a counterweight hook on which you can hang your camera bag for extra stability, a nifty cell phone mount hidden behind that hook in the center column, and a generous 20 lb weight capacity. That can handle a full-frame SLR or mirrorless camera with most telephoto zoom lenses. I took a few sample shots with a Sony A7 III and attached Sony 100–400 mm lens, and the tripod was more than capable of handling the weight.

If there's a downside, it's the price.

The aluminum Travel Tripod retails for $349, while the lightweight carbon fiber retails for a brutal $599. Peak has faced some criticism for the pricing, though in a Kickstarter backers video , the founder disclosed that it comes down to manufacturing costs of the unique design. Each carbon fiber Travel Tripod costs $230 to make and Peak sells it to retailers for $300, meaning the profit margin for isn't massive.

Fortunately, the Kickstarter campaig n is still ongoing, so it's possible to get a huge discount on the tripods. If you back the campaign, you can get the aluminum Travel Tripod for $289 (that's $61 off the retail price), or the carbon fiber version for $479 (a $121 discount).

The light weight of the tripod is definitely useful, but it's not much lighter than competitors. What really stands out is the small profile when it's folded up. It takes up so little room in your bag compared to other tripods that it's easy to store in any piece of luggage or camera bag.

I've been carrying mine to and from work and shoots in a few different bags for testing purposes, and have an easier time than with any other tripod I've used.

Click here to back the Peak Design Travel Tripod on Kickstarter.

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Travel Tripod

By peak design, a travel tripod that's actually portable. imagine that..

• Revolutionary compactness
• Pro-level stability
• Integrated ergonomic ball head

Watch the Video

See how we brought the Travel Tripod to life on Kickstarter.

We Cut the Fat

Travel tripods are supposed to be portable, right? Our revolutionary architecture removes the negative space found in traditional tripods.

Fitting More Into Less

Our Travel Tripod packs down to half the volume of traditional tripods without sacrificing height or stability. How? 4 years of engineering.

Pro Performance

Deploys to 60in and has a 20lb weight capacity. Built for use with full frame DSLRs and telephoto lenses.

Deploys in Seconds

We didn’t just make the tripod smaller, we made it faster . Packed to fully deployed in 9.8 seconds (that’s the office record).

Stable + Stiff

3rd party testing shows that the Peak Design Travel Tripod performs as well, if not better, than significantly bulkier tripods in its class.

Mobile Ready

A brilliantly integrated phone mount lets you capture timelapses and long exposures with the camera in your pocket.

Intuitive to Use

No bulky, confusing knobs. Just a single, ergonomic adjustment ring for smooth and simple control.

Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

Aluminum Travel Tripod

We make gear for the creative and the adventurous.

Our products keep your gear organized, protected, and accessible, so you are free to adventure, commute, and create. We pride ourselves in creating true utility through elegant, thoughtful, award-winning design we guarantee for life.

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Peak Design Travel Tripod Review Posted

By bdery in review announcements on aug 23, 2020.

In this accessory review, we take a look at the Travel Tripod from manufacturer Peak Design. This tripod, launched on Kickstarter in Spring 2019 and available for the general public one year later, is the first tripod proposed by the company.

These elements, and several others, integrate to create a novel product. On paper, the Travel Tripod has a lot to offer.

Can it live up to the expectations?  Read our review to find out!

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aluminum , ball-head , ballhead , carbon , carbon fiber , compact , lightweight , peak design , travel , tripod

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Peak Design Travel Tripod

Chris's review of four travel tripods was well done and convinced me that the super compact Peak Design would best meet my needs. I can tolerate a few more ounces and save a lot of dollars if I go for the aluminum version instead of the carbon fiber. Any downside besides weight?

rtavan wrote: Chris's review of four travel tripods was well done and convinced me that the super compact Peak Design would best meet my needs. I can tolerate a few more ounces and save a lot of dollars if I go for the aluminum version instead of the carbon fiber. Any downside besides weight?

Vibration damping, as much as the difference matters to _you_ and _your_ shooting cases (skip to 8'23" for the demonstration/comparison):

It’s hard to give you advice without understanding why you need a tripod in the first place.

If you just need a tripod to take selfies of you and your mates in Paris, then any $45 tripod will do.

However, if you’re thinking about some off-road spot for that once in a lifetime landscape, then I’m not sure a ‘travel’ tripod will do the trick.  It needs to be rock solid and have the ability to convert the feet to spikes.  It’s going to be in sand, surf, mud, gusty winds.  It needs to come apart for cleaning.

The legs need to lock securely.   A loose clamp will cause the tripod to topple over - and there goes your Nikon D850 into the surf or over the cliff.

Many pro landscapers carry their tripods by hand or slung over their shoulders since they’re too large to fit inside a modest backpack.

In my experience, if you need a tripod at all, it better be a darn good one.

Not saying the Peak Design won’t cut it, since I have not tried it.

Bob wrote: It’s hard to give you advice without understanding why you need a tripod in the first place. If you just need a tripod to take selfies of you and your mates in Paris, then any $45 tripod will do. However, if you’re thinking about some off-road spot for that once in a lifetime landscape, then I’m not sure a ‘travel’ tripod will do the trick. It needs to be rock solid and have the ability to convert the feet to spikes. It’s going to be in sand, surf, mud, gusty winds. It needs to come apart for cleaning. The legs need to lock securely. A loose clamp will cause the tripod to topple over - and there goes your Nikon D850 into the surf or over the cliff. Many pro landscapers carry their tripods by hand or slung over their shoulders since they’re too large to fit inside a modest backpack. In my experience, if you need a tripod at all, it better be a darn good one. Not saying the Peak Design won’t cut it, since I have not tried it.

I complete agree with you, after I tried some "travel", light weight tripods, I found that either I go with stable, solid tripod (of course, not light) or not using it at all.

for travel or hiking that weight is a big factor, I am thinking of getting  this

Tony Z6+14-30 f4 S +24-70 f4 S+SB700+SB-400+ RX100 IV+Gitzo GT2531

I use an aluminum monopod hiking and the worst thing is when it's below freezing. My hands and gloves can freeze right to it. It can frost over the instant you come in from the cold. I don't even use my aluminum tripod when it's much below freezing.

I have the PD travel tripod in aluminium.  Like many however this is one tripod for specific uses - in this case travel and hiking - with others for other tasks (like my Jobu designs Kilarney for more 'serious' use).

The PD is a very clever piece of engineering and very well made.  Will it do for a 30 second exposure in fast moving water and a howling gale? No.

Will it take my 1DMKIV and 100-400 and be solid and totally rigid and damp vibrations perfectly?  No.

But it fits in the side pocket of my rucksack and punches beyond what you would expect.  I have done plenty long exposures in minimal to fairly strong wind with it and my 6Dii and 16-35 F4 with no problems at all.  For my Panasonic G9 and 12-60 or other lighter lenses it's perfect.  It handles the G9 and 100-300ii easily.  These shots below were in pretty stormy conditions (the big Cunim cloud causing the rainbow was producing a gust front that was pretty strong.  3 minutes after this shot I was totally soaked.  One shot is at 300mm (so 600mm FF equiv).

It's not the cheapest solution out there, but for an actual travel tripod it's good.  And the size aspect for me was worth it.  After 9 months pretty hard use I am still liking it a lot.  Hopefully this is of some use to you.

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Any thoughts on Peak Design.Carbon Tripod?

By bags27 November 11, 2021 in Film Forum

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My Gitzo is a bit too big/heavy for travel. Thinking of getting it (rather than the aluminum one: buy the best tripod right away, I've learned the hard way). Any experience with it? As good as folks seem to say? Thanks.

Posting this in the film, rather than the digital, section, because I shoot mainly film, and no super long lens.

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Hi bags27, Take a look here Any thoughts on Peak Design.Carbon Tripod? . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!

If your Gitzo is a bit to heavy and big which model of Gitzo are we supposed to be comparing any alternative with?

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18 minutes ago, 250swb said: If your Gitzo is a bit to heavy and big which model of Gitzo are we supposed to be comparing any alternative with?

Thanks. I can't remember. I think it's about a 20 ounces heavier and a lot bulkier than the PD.  But I'm really wondering whether anyone has the Peak Design and any experience with it, as it collapses remarkably small. So I guess I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts about its stability.

The Gitzo 1545T is well worth a look. The legs are lighter than the complete Peak Design tripod, it stands tall (higher than the Peak Design) for a tripod that packs down so small, and is very rigid for a travel tripod. For a fairer comparison, add Gitzo's own 1382TQD head, which they also sell as a kit with the legs, and the whole package is only 160g heavier than the Peak Design. You get a conventional Arca screw clamp, which will probably be less fussy about third party plates than the Peak Design head's clamp. Gitzo also have a 'Légende' tripod that's similar to the 1545T, sold as a kit with a different head that has a separate friction control (unlike the TQD head), and a smaller 0545T tripod which (with the TQD head) is about the same weight as the Peak Design.

One review of the Peak Design that's less enthusiastic than some:

A more favourable review:

https://thecentercolumn.com/peak-design-travel-tripod-review/

34 minutes ago, Anbaric said: The Gitzo 1545T is well worth a look. The legs are lighter than the complete Peak Design tripod, it stands tall (higher than the Peak Design) for a tripod that packs down so small, and is very rigid for a travel tripod. For a fairer comparison, add Gitzo's own 1382TQD head, which they also sell as a kit with the legs, and the whole package is only 160g heavier than the Peak Design. You get a conventional Arca screw clamp, which will probably be less fussy about third party plates than the Peak Design head's clamp. Gitzo also have a 'Légende' tripod that's similar to the 1545T, sold as a kit with a different head that has a separate friction control (unlike the TQD head), and a smaller 0545T tripod which (with the TQD head) is about the same weight as the Peak Design. One review of the Peak Design that's less enthusiastic than some: A more favourable review: https://thecentercolumn.com/peak-design-travel-tripod-review/

Thanks so much! This is really helpful.

The Gitzo you like comes out very well, indeed, in a comparison that PD itself supplies here:

https://support.peakdesign.com/hc/en-us/articles/360033120272-Testing-the-Travel-Tripod-for-Stability-and-Weight-Capacity

The "advantage" (if one calls it that) of the PD is that it is part of a system that allows for easy carry and adding other things. I have moved away from expensive leather shoulder straps to PD shoulder straps for my MF cameras and PD wrist straps for my FF and cropped cameras, and the whole system "sort of" works together. But that's not necessarily the clincher for me. I greatly appreciate your information.

• 4 weeks later...

Just to throw another option into the mix Rollei makes nice carbon tripods. I bought mine a few years ago and believe it's the C5i Carbon model. It weighs 1,3kgs and goes to just under 160cm (with raised centre column). One leg unscrews and becomes a monopod which can be handy though it's a feature I've never used tbh. The tripod comes with spikes for icy surfaces as well. It uses an Arca-Swiss quick release plate I believe.

I almost always bring it on travels and use it with my Hasseblad and quite heavy lenses (like the 40 Distagon CFE). Works great. It's the entry level tripod and so price quite low (about 150 Euro in the EU I believe) but there are more expensive Rollei options if you'd like to spend more lol. I have a really large and heavy Manfrotto too, so this Rollei fits perfectly as a small bring-everywhere tripod.

LocalHero1953

I have the Gitzo 0545T with a Markins head which is smaller than Gitzo's own head. It folds into a short unit that easily fits in an airline case, if that's important to you. I have used it with the SL2-S (including inverted for scanning negatives), but mostly with the CL and Sigma fp. It's the usual Gitzo quality. I have a larger FLM for large format and occasional SL2-S use. 

Thanks all, In the interim, an essentially clothing company (I kid you not) had the Peak carbon on deep discount (only 1 and completely new), so i grabbed it. I like it a lot, though i recognize the limitations of its head. Easy (if not cheap) fix to that, but for travel, I'm content.

Right now, my main MF is in CLA hell, so haven't had to use it much. 

• 2 months later...

I use the Peak Design carbon tripod for travel and have been very happy with it.

I have the Novoflex Triopod. The legs can be used for Nordic walking or as monopods.  As a thrifty Dutchman I bought two legs and use my Gitzo monopod - almost never used - as the third leg. 😉

I’ve ordered the Aluminium version because a) I'm stingy, b) my legs are supporting more weight than they should and a little more care with my diet I’lo easily shave off the difference to the Carbon version!  It has shipped but I don’t have it in my hands yet.

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Travel Tripod

This product won't ship right away to some locations, check here before ordering.

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We spent 4 years redesigning the tripod from the ground up, creating a travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottle—without compromising height, stability, or features.

Traditional tripods have always suffered from needless bulk and wasted space, so we made it radically faster to setup and takedown. Our tripod features ergonomic adjustment points, built-in mobile compatibility, and thoughtful details at every turn. Plus, it’s built for life on the road: durable, 100% serviceable, and backed by the Peak Design lifetime guarantee.

Tripod includes legs, ballhead, protective soft case, ARCA-compatible Standard Plate, mobile mount, hex tool with carrying clip, and bushing removal tool for maintenance. See Specs section below for details.

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Pro performance. half the size..

The Travel Tripod brings you pro-level stability, load capacity, and deployed height, yet packs down to the diameter of a water bottle. A ground-up redesign of the traditional tripod, the Travel Tripod is the result of 4 years of engineering.

Groundbreaking Architecture

Spatially efficient design eliminates wasted volume when packed down. Packs down to the diameter of a water bottle. No protruding knobs.

LIGHTNING-FAST DEPLOYMENT

Unique design allows quicker, easier setup/takedown.

Secure, fast, and ergonomic camera quick release.

Fast-locking, low profile leg cams.

Legs deploy in seconds, without having to flip over like traditional travel tripod legs.

PRO-LEVEL STABILITY & FEATURES

20lb weight capacity (optimized for a full-frame DSLR + telephoto lens). Stability and vibration damping performance comparable, if not better, than most tripods in its class. Low and inverted modes position your camera inches off the ground
. Integrated load hanging hook
. Anchor attachment points for carrying with Peak Design straps (sold separately).

ERGONOMIC BALL HEAD

Ultra-smooth, omnidirectional Compact Ball Head.

One single adjustment ring. No bulky or confusing knobs
.

Simple locking ring for total security.

Compatible with all PD plates and most 3rd party Arca-type plates.


Removable pins allow use with most Arca-type L-brackets
.

For your phone, too

Built-in and stowable mobile mount.

Securely grips any phone/case
.

Built to Last

Weather and impact-resistant materials.

All parts are serviceable, cleanable, and replaceable.

Includes a padded, weatherproof case.

Guaranteed for life.

What is in the box

• Tripod (Legs + Compact Ball Head) x1
• Weatherproof Soft Case x1
• Standard Plate x1
• 4mm + 2.5 Hex Wrench x1
• Mobile Mount x1
• Bushing Removal Tool x1

SKU/Part Number:

TT-CB-5-150-AL-1 (Aluminum)

TT-CB-5-150-CF-1 (Carbon Fiber)

Alloy: 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs) Carbon: 1.29 kg (2.81 lbs)

Weight Capacity:

9.1 kg (20 lbs)* *Optimized for pro setups, up to full-frame DSLR + telephoto lens

Instruction

Product Manual

Collapsed Dimensions:

Length: 39.1 cm (15.4”)

Diameter: 7.9 cm (3.125")

Deployed Dimensions:

Max height (center column raised): 152.4 cm (60")

Max height (center column down): 130.2 cm (51.25")

Min height (low mode): 14 cm (5.5”)

Tabletop Mode (center column raised): 57.2 cm (22.5")

Tabletop Mode (center column down): 35.9 cm (13.125")

Leg Sections

Aluminum cams

Ball Head, Hub, Load Hook: Powdercoated A380 aluminum

Legs: Anodized 6061-T6 aluminum (Alloy), Carbon F’n fiber (Carbon)

Quick Release, Adjustment Ring, Center Column Knob: Anodized 6061-T6 aluminum

Locking Ring: Polycarbonate/ABS blend

Feet: ShoreA60 TPU

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Moscow/Zelenograd and New Moscow

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Zelenograd and New Moscow are two large parts of Moscow city, that lie (often far) outside consolidated residential zone of the city, which lies within and just beyond the MKAD (Moscow Ring Road).

Zelenograd was added in Moscow in 1968 as one of the leading scientific centers. New Moscow was added to Moscow in 2012, forming Novomoskovky and Troitskiy Administrativniy Okrugs with plans of new vast expansion. New Moscow territory is yet to change according to its new city status. Even though suburbial kind construction intensifies in Novomoskovsky Administrativniy Okrug, Troitskiy Administrativniy Okrug still mostly has a rural feel.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Vnukovo and Ostafyevo airports are situated in New Moscow proper, though from Ostafyevo airport you still have to go through the "old" Moscow. It is possible to get from Sheremetyevo to Zelenograd without going to the old city - you have to change to 400 minibus on Leningrad highway or on local train on Planernaya. From Domodedovo airport you'll have to go through the old city anyway (the route through Domodedovo and Podolsk will take more time).

By train [ edit ]

Local trains connect Zelenograd with Leningrad Train Station, Tver, Klin and Konakovo. Local trains from Kiev Train Station pass through northern part of New Moscow between Novoperedelkino and Krekshino. To go to Zosimova Pustyn you may want to go all the way to Bekasovo, but trains there are infrequent. It is possible to get to New Moscow through Podolsk, but you'll have to change to bus there.

By bus [ edit ]

Most frequent bus to Zelenograd is bus 400 from Rechnoi Vokzal. It has special pricing. Buses are primary way of public transport to get to New Moscow, new buses are often added. Most buses start from Yugo-Zapadnaya and Tepliy Stan metroes, and Podolsk train station. Troitsk serves as a bus hub.

By car [ edit ]

Zelenograd is accessible by M10 highway. Major highways in New Moscow are M3, A101, Warsaw highway Podolsk - Kresty (joining with A101), first "Beton Ring" A107 and Borovsk highway Peredelkino - Vnukovo - to join with M3. M10 and A101 are often highly congested, M3 may be less prone to it, except Moscow vicinity, and crossing with A107, A107 is congested near M3 crossing, which is northwest of New Moscow; Warsaw highway is congested in Podolsk, and you'll have to pass congested M2 to get there from MKAD.

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Landscape Design Studio

Design.   accomplishment. service., istra, 2019, creating a roll lawn on a turn-key-basis, pond on the pirogovsky reservoir, 2019, creating a pond and planting, ushakov cottages, 2018, landscaping site improvement, for 40 years we have been implementing projects in landscape design. we use plants from our own nursery. we provide warranty on our works from 1 year, we create the beauty around you professionally and tastefully. we take care of the improvement of yoursite and carry out projects of any complexity., four differences from our competitors, our own 5 hectare plant nursery, we design until complete coordination with you, execution of any complexity objects with a guarantee of 1 year, well-defined collaboration mechanism with client, learn more about our activities, “turnkey” landscape design, complex gardening, ponds / water objects, projects we are proud of, our portfolio speaks for itself. to see, click here., lawn and mixborder kp slavenka.

There are lawn and mixborder for a plot of 2800 m². Substantial work was done on preparing the soil for planting before spreading the lawn and planting a mixborder from perennial plants and decorative coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs. It is always a guarantee of longevity.

Ushakov cottages

Greening and landscaping of a plot of 5800 m². It was one of the most difficult projects from a technical point of view. ‍ The site was located in a marshy area, half a meter from the foundation, it was possible to cut the reeds and remove duckweed. Our team cleared the plot, made a site plan, installed powerful drainage and stormwater,installed concrete foundations, made paving pavers, formed a pond, and and created lightning. ‍ We made the necessary planting, laid the lawn, installed retaining walls and zoned the plot to the forest zone and the garden zone, hearth, fruit zone, sports ground.

35 m² artificial pond with custom design

It was in 2016. The bottom of the pond was manually lined with white and pink Indonesian and black Black Sea pebbles. The pond was 8 meters Length , and 2 meters width. It turned out an intricate and pattern that looks very bright and unusual under water.

Our training in Germany

What is automatic watering ‍, site lighting, need help or recommendation, "turnkey" landscape design, complex gardening, ponds / water objects.