which tripod?

[sirmissalot]

You definitely need to spend the money on a good head and tripod to use on a good spotter. I'm going to try out a cheap but very light tripod this weekend, but I have a couple carbon fiber ones with monfrotto fluid heads and like them a lot. Heavy is good when you're glassing so there is a balance there, but lugging a 3lb "lightweight" tripod around seems excessive to me on some of my longer hunts. I go back and forth on the issue though.

[Karl Blanchard]

One thing to consider about fluid heads, if you end up looking at one, is they have a temp rating on them.  They can freeze so if you are possibly using it in cold conditions you may want to look at a different head.  This is the reason I did not get one.

[deerhunter_98520]

What type of head do you guys reccomend?

[Karl Blanchard]

What type of head do you guys reccomend?

I have used a few different pistol grip style, but eventually went back to a traditional pan head.  Individual locks for tilt and pan work best for me as I am mostly a grid glasser.  I steer clear of anything with key components that are plastic.  Plastic flex's, and flexing creates a poor image which causes eye fatigue.   I went with the Outdoorsmans pan head.  It's spend but has absolutely been worth it!

[huntnphool]

Love my pistol grip Manfotto

[lamrith]

What type of head do you guys reccomend?

I have used a few different pistol grip style, but eventually went back to a traditional pan head.  Individual locks for tilt and pan work best for me as I am mostly a grid glasser.  I steer clear of anything with key components that are plastic.  Plastic flex's, and flexing creates a poor image which causes eye fatigue.   I went with the Outdoorsmans pan head.  It's spend but has absolutely been worth it!

Plastic also likes to squeek right when that big buck comes into the area.

[jjhunter]

I prefer the outdoorsman medium tripod and their pistol grip head.   I do 90%+ of my glassing off the tripod with binoculars and the pistol grip is as slick as they come.   It also easily handles my 80mm spotter when I need greater detail.

[deerhunter_98520]

I've never used a pistol grip before...are they easier to scan with and adjust over a pan head? I have just a cheaper tripod  right now and I have to really tighten it down so it won't slowly creep under the weight of the scope

[huntnphool]

I've never used a pistol grip before...are they easier to scan with and adjust over a pan head? I have just a cheaper tripod  right now and I have to really tighten it down so it won't slowly creep under the weight of the scope

 Mine is a Manfrotto 222 like this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Manfrotto-222-Joystick-Head-/291482821924?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43ddbae524 but I think some Chinese versions of this are out there too.

 One hand operation, I own both types and much prefer the pistol grip type for my spotter and binos.

 

[deerhunter_98520]

And it holds the spotter pretty secure?

[huntnphool]

And it holds the spotter pretty secure?

 I hike with my Swarovski spotter attached and on my shoulder, no issues so far.

[deerhunter_98520]

Nice..I'll have to check it out...I was already thinking of trying one out

[grundy53]

I have the same scope and elected to purchase a Vortex tripod as well. I think it's the ProGT from 2-3 years ago which I really like. It's heavier than I'd like which would prevent me from going deep with it but for most of the hunting I'll be doing this year, it should be fine if weight is not going to be a big factor. Compact and flexible for glassing and sturdy enough for me to digiscope with my DSLR.

I'm thinking about getting a vortex tripod. I'm glad to see that you like it. One question though. Did it come with the head? I couldn't tell from
 their website.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[deadyote]

So my buddy and I went out this week and I used his Vortex Summit SSP.  POS!!!!  The screw in the plate that attaches to the spotter broke in half when I hand tightened the spotter to it.  That is going back to the store for sure.  Even my buddy was surprised.  I think I'm going to order the oben that LoJack suggested.  It gets great reviews and has a higher load capacity.  I'll let you all know how that works out.