Can of worms, Lightweight Spotting Scope Tripods and heads

[JDHasty]

I haven't established a budget for this yet, as I literally know nothing about them. I know I can spend about as much as I want to, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.

I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.

Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.

Outdoorsman products are what it impresses me that you are looking for.  I don't own them personally, but friends have gone through an assortment getting to where they needed to be and I have been the beneficiary of a lot of dithering about trying to save a few bucks and not getting what they should have in the first place. 

[huntnphool]

I haven't established a budget for this yet, as I literally know nothing about them. I know I can spend about as much as I want to, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.

I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.

Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.

I choose to carry mine that way in the pic because it makes it quick to get on critters. It does fit into the small pack on my back if I take the head off of it and pack them both.

[huntnfmly]

Here's a pic of my tripod fits in side pocket of backpack and extends up to standing. I'm 6ft

[7mmfan]

I haven't established a budget for this yet, as I literally know nothing about them. I know I can spend about as much as I want to, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.

I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.

Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.

I choose to carry mine that way in the pic because it makes it quick to get on critters. It does fit into the small pack on my back if I take the head off of it and pack them both.

I suppose if I was in a spot where I knew I was only glassing and the chance of running into an animal was low, I would probably do the same. I've just had enough missed opportunities where if I had not been carrying something I'd have gotten a shot.

[7mmfan]

Here's a pic of my tripod fits in side pocket of backpack and extends up to standing. I'm 6ft

I'm a shorty, at 5' 9" so that would work fine. What is the normal going rate for a tripod/head like yours?

[huntnfmly]

Another pic

[huntnfmly]

I think the head was about $80 at cabelas and I got lucky on tripod at packwood swap meet paid $50.
Do some searching and you can find some pretty good deals on what you're looking for

[huntnfmly]

To me that's half the fun researching and finding

[b23]

They certainly won't be cheap but Nightforce has a new Carbon Fiber tripod they will be releasing after the first of the year that is capable of a lot more than your basic tripod.  No idea what you're looking for but here's a link to it. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/05/nightforce-2016-carbon-fiber-tripod/

[Will B]

Went sheep hunting earlier this year using a full-size Swarovski spotting scope (20-60x80 STM HD) and a couple of different full-size tripods.

One was a manfrotto mtpro4 with the RC128 pan head - weighs almost 7 pounds. Super stable, even in 35 mile an hour winds, and effortless panning. Painless to set up and take down quickly.

The other was a vortex summit carbon with a vortex pan head - weighs about half that, a little over 3 pounds. Less stable in wind, slower to take up and take down, noticeably less smooth panning.

Both are inexpensive, both worked reasonably well. If I was pre-season scouting, or walking a mile or so to glass, and planning to glass for a long time, I'd prefer the manfrotto. Big hike, long distance, I'd want the vortex or another lightweight tripod.

[Magnum_Willys]

SLIK Compact II and Manfrotto 496RC2 head weighs 2# total.  Heavier than I want but works fine.  Raises to about 40 inches.   Can't imagine packing more weight than that for a tripod.  Use it with Swaro 65mm Wide Angle

[Karl Blanchard]

+1 for the outdoorsmans.  I run a medium with their panhead. 

[Mossyoak]

+1 for outdoorsmans. I am thankful BLRman gave me the advice. You will not be disappointed.