Spotting scope tripod

[Wolfdog2314]

Hey all, just bought a new spotting scope. The Swarovski 65, as some of you may have seen in a couple threads down from here. Thanks for helping me with that decision.

I need a tripod now. I'd like to buy from cabelas as I have about 200$ In rewards to spend.

Can anyone reccomend me one from their website?

I don't have much experience behind a scope. So I don't have much preference as far as the tripod goes.

Do I want a panhead? Or the ball head? I'm pretty sure I don't need a tripod tall enough to stand behind. My biggest concern would be weight.

The Alta vanguard is the one that I'm looking at so far.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/tripods-mounts/_/N-1100071/No-0/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_103925880?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104752080&recordsPerPage=18

Thanks for the help!

[dye7barrel]

I have similar questions. Tagging to follow along.

[Magnum_Willys]

SLIK Compact II with a manfrotto 496RC2 head is an affordable lightweight combo that works for me with a swaro 25-50 wide angle

[ffbowhunter]

You get what you pay for honestly are you going to be packing in or from a truck? Do you glass sitting down or standing up or both? After buying the outdoorsman medium tripod, I do not think I will ever need a tripod again! I highly reccomend them but I know you said cabelas is where you want to purchase from. Also I have used the Slik 634cf which was a good tripod as well. As far as heads, I would only use a pan head or pistol grip. I run a pistol grip for my binos and pan head for my scope. Again outdoorsmans products are expensive but they are damn smoothe and I will not need a new tripod head in a long time. I've got a buddy who runs a manfrotto pan head and he loves it. Good luck in your search!

[Wolfdog2314]

I want a tripod I can pack for sure. I will probably utilize it in the truck also. As far as standing or sitting, I think I would use it most sitting.

I'll look in to the options you guys have suggested. Buying from Cabelas isn't an absolute must, as I'm sure I can use the rewards on something else!

[ffbowhunter]

You won't regret that outdoorsman medium tripod then, light and stable!

[Mossyoak]

Second on the Outdoorsmans medium, I have a Swaro 65 ATS. Love the tripod.

[yakimanoob]

If you use a cheap tripod that wobbles under that scope, you'll have wasted all that money on the Swaro. 

Whatever you do, get a good quality tripod.  Manfrotto is a solid choice, as are the others mentioned here. 

And +1 for the pan/tilt head.  I have a ball head on mine and hate it.  Couldn't put the budget together to replace it with a proper head this year, but this will certainly be my last season with it.

[Wolfdog2314]

Thanks all for the input. I did end up with the vanguard veo 235 panhead, as my budget was swallowed up for the year. The outdoorsman looks like a very appealing tripod to upgrade in the future. I'll see how I like this one this season. Being my first spotter setup it will be better than anything I've ever had!

Thanks!

[Buzz2401]

Any update on your choice to go with the Vangaurd Veo?

[Wolfdog2314]

Any update on your choice to go with the Vangaurd Veo?

Yes. Used it on idaho mule deer hunt and again in eastern Wa whitetail late hunt.

It does the job for now. For sure i know i don’t need as tall of tripod i got with the vanguard. Anytime i ever used the spotter i was sitting anyway. And with the angled scope, i needed the tripod lower anyway. So that will save weight in the future with the next tripod knowing i don’t need to have the ability to go so high.

The panhead would settle also. I always had to adjust it low and to the right, tighten it down, and then it would settle on my target. Kind of annoying.

Overall like i said, got the job done. And i really enjoyed my first year using a spotting scope. Just some trial and error for me as i am new to this world of optics.

[andersonjk4]

I bought a the Vanguard Veo Ball Head from Cabela's earlier this year to support my Cabela's Intrepid 20-60x80 spotting scope.  They were pretty low on stock and I compared this to the various Alta and Espod models.  This one seemed more stable and and more adjustable than the others mentioned.  I can't compare this to the Manfrotto options, but for the price this one is solid.  I was hesitant to get a ball head.  I went into it wanting to get a pan head, but after using the ball head I really like it.  I even used the tripod with by 12x42 binos for a lond glassing session and the ball head did good for that too.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/optics/optics-accessories/tripods-mounts/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104466780/i/103925880/vanguard-veo-tripod/2288394.uts?slotId=9