I like to travel light, whether I’m walking city streets, trekking across the countryside, or jetting off to the other side of the world. Conventional full-sized tripods tend to be big, heavy, and unwieldy – so I often leave mine at home, making it completely useless. By contrast, the best travel tripods literally take a load off. They’re made to be compact and lightweight, but in the past, they’ve often been notorious for being flimsy, relatively unstable, and too small to offer a useful operating height. The new breed of travel tripod tempts me with the promise of giving me the best of both worlds.
Many modern travel tripods have legs that swing upwards for storage, so that the head is encircled by the feet. This typically reduces the folded height by as much as 4in / 10cm. Some also include as many as five sections in each leg, and a two-section extending center column, reducing the folded height even further, while still enabling reasonably lofty shooting. I find they take longer to set up and fold away, but it’s a trade I’m willing to make for smaller stowage.
These are the best of the best travel tripods, but if you're on a limited budget, you might also want to check out our guide to the best budget tripods, many of which are also travel tripods. I've linked each mini-review to our full reviews so you can get even more in-depth info on the models you're most interested in.
Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He has tested oodles of tripods during his career, and there is no one better to help you pick the perfect travel tripod for you.
My recommendations of the best travel tripods
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.
Best all-around travel tripod
✅ You like innovative design and photographic kit that makes a real statement.
✅ You want a travel tripod that has the slimmest possible profile, thanks to specially shaped legs.
✅ You don’t mind paying top dollar for a travel tripod and can make use of all the features.
❌ You don’t want to pay over the odds for an aluminum or carbon fiber travel tripod – there’s no denying it’s pricey.
❌ You don’t need a mobile phone mount, which is a bit fiddly to get at.
❌ You’d rather have a different type of head, although an adapter is available separately.
The Peak Design Travel Tripod may be the first tripod that Peak Design has made, but it's hands-down one of the best travel tripods that I've ever used! While I tried the carbon fiber model, there is an aluminum version that has all the same design features, with a little more weight and less vibration resistance, but is a massive 40% cheaper. A couple of the other tripods here will go higher, but the Peak Design will still go to eye level for an average-height person, and it packs down to just 39cm in length.
I like that it's designed to cut out the dead space between the legs and the column when packed, which means it's not just short when folded but very slim too – I can put this inside my camera bag or cabin bag instead of just strapping it to the outside. The low-profile ball head is simple but brilliant. There's a phone holder hidden inside the center column, and best of all for me, the tripod feels seriously rigid.
Read more: Peak Design Travel Tripod review
Features ★★★★★ |
There are plenty of smart features, including a stash-away phone mount. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Just when I thought all travel tripods were very similar, this one is truly innovative. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Although compact and lightweight, rigidity is very good, even at full stretch. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
The aluminum version is pricey for a metal tripod and the carbon one costs much more. |
Best travel tripod for options
✅ You want a complete travel tripod kit that comes with a high-performance ball head and gives solid support.
✅ You like using a ball head that has the added features of adjustable friction damping and a panning lock.
❌ You’d prefer a tripod that folds down even smaller, and you don’t mind the chore of setting up extra leg sections and an extending center column.
❌ You’d rather have a 3-way head than a ball head, which is arguably more ideal for shooting video.
The Manfrotto Befree Advanced AS is a great travel tripod compromise: it’s sturdy but lightweight, folds down nice and small, and the clever head takes just about anything I can throw at it.
The included Befree Advanced 494 Center Ball Head is super quick and easy to work with, but fully featured, with independent adjustments for the main ball lock/release, plus an adjustable friction damper and a panning lock. Below the head is Manfrotto’s ‘Easy Link’ socket, which is ideal for mounting an LED video lamp, microphone, or other accessories.
You can have the Manfrotto Befree Advanced AS in aluminum or carbon construction, but I reckon the aluminum option is the best value. It still weighs just 1.51kg / 3.3lb, making the complete kit impressively lightweight for an aluminum setup. What's more, you can also have this tripod with either twist clamps for the leg sections or lever locks, depending on your personal preference. The 9kg load capacity is also generous, and despite the tripod's low weight, it still feels reasonably sturdy, even at its full 150cm stretch.
Read more: Manfrotto Befree Advanced AS review
Features ★★★★☆ |
The legs and head are both feature-rich but there’s no monopod conversion facility. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Manfrotto knows a thing or two about tripod design, amply demonstrated in this kit. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Rigidity and overall performance are excellent for a lightweight set of legs and ball head. |
Value ★★★★★ |
Considering the quality and versatility of the ball head as well as the legs, it’s great value. |
Best alloy travel tripod
✅ You’re happy with a magnesium alloy rather than a carbon fiber travel tripod.
✅ You want great performance and versatility at a bargain price.
✅ You like the ability to shoot creatively from really low levels.
❌ You’d rather spend more on a carbon fiber tripod that’s not cold to the touch.
❌ You’d rather have something simpler, with fewer leg and column clamps to operate.
❌ You don’t need the 14kg payload because you’re using lightweight kit.
I find that all of the Punks tripods from 3 Legged Thing are very travel-friendly, but the Corey 2.0 is the smallest and easiest to pack for the journey. It has the usual swing-up legs to save stowage space, this time with five sections in each, plus a two-section head, enabling a decent maximum operating height but a very small stowage size.
Don’t be put off that this one’s not a carbon fiber tripod. It’s actually made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, and the upshot is that it’s still lightweight yet very strong, with a hefty 14kg maximum load rating.
It ticks another two boxes on my wish list by easily converting to a monopod and enabling ultra-low-level shooting, with the option of attaching the ball head directly to the canopy (leaving the center column out of the equation). All three legs are removable, and Vanz footwear (sold separately) transforms the Corey 2.0 into a stylish tabletop tripod.
Read more: 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey 2.0 review
Features ★★★★★ |
The excellent feature set can be further extended with optional extra accessories. |
Design ★★★★★ |
The design is first-rate, both for the legs and for the complete kit with ball head. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Performance is excellent in all respects, with excellent resistance to flexing. |
Value ★★★★★ |
Based on high-grade magnesium alloy rather than carbon, it’s keenly priced. |
Best travel tripod for versatility
✅ You want an all-in-one kit that works well as just about any and every type of support.
✅ You’d like a tripod kit that converts into a mini/tabletop tripod.
❌ You’d rather have a tripod with ‘reverse-folding’ legs for a smaller stowage size.
❌ You don’t need all the extra modes that this tripod kit offers.
The Freewell The Real Multi Tripod 5-in-1 is the real deal when it comes to flexibility (in a good way). It lives up to its claims with amazingly versatile, multiple modes. Better still, it’s highly effective in all of them, as a regular tripod, tabletop/mini tripod, monopod, monopod with feet, trekking pole, and smartphone support.
The build quality looks and feels very good, based on luxury 10-layer carbon fiber and an aluminum alloy chassis. Everything works with smooth simplicity, enabling quick and intuitive setup and similarly straightforward takedown. The ball head follows suit, and I like that it has dual panning mechanisms. As an incredibly comprehensive, multi-mode tripod with a premium build, the Freewell is outstanding value for money.
Although it’s eminently suitable as a travel tripod, it doesn’t fold down particularly small and, more typical of the breed, its maximum height is fairly modest. I can live with that, but one criticism I do have is that I found the center column to be a bit wobbly when extended. The legs have a strong payload rating of 20kg / 44lb, and it’s 10kg / 22lb, leaving plenty in reserve if you want to add ballast via the supplied weight hook. And I’m particularly impressed with the alternative short legs for conversion into a mini/tabletop tripod, which again are made from premium carbon fiber and are extendable.
Read more: Freewell The Real Multi Tripod 5-in-1 review
Features ★★★★★ |
The Freewell is positively brimming with features, working as a tripod, tabletop/mini tripod, monopod, monopod with feet, trekking pole and smartphone support. |
Design ★★★★★ |
It’s a really clever design, in many and varied ways. The tripod is endlessly adaptable with intuitive ease of use, and it has a luxurious 10-layer carbon fiber build. |
Performance ★★★★½ |
Performance is mostly very good but the center column is a bit wobbly when extended, which impacts on the rigidity of the tripod at or near its maximum operating height. |
Value ★★★★★ |
Compared with broadly similar tripods that don’t actually offer as many operating modes, the Freewell is standout value for money. |
Best waterproof travel tripod
✅ You want a tripod that you can stand in water, especially saltwater.
✅ You’d like a tripod kit that is compact and lightweight, complete with a ball head.
✅ You don’t mind a relatively limited maximum operating height.
❌ You don’t need to pay a premium for waterproofing.
❌ You want a tripod with a taller maximum operating height.
❌ You’d rather have a tripod that converts into a monopod.
Compact, lightweight, and travel-friendly despite its chunky 28mm outer leg sections, made from 10-layer carbon fiber, the Leofoto Poseidon Ocean tripod goes where others fear to tread. That’s because it’s designed for use in water, and especially saltwater. That makes it ideal if, for example, you want to capture a long exposure with a 10-stop ND filter to blur the waves in a seascape shot, but worry about dipping your regular tripod in the sea. The Leofoto kit can give you a new kind of creative freedom, thanks to its waterproof construction.
I’m impressed that the tripod’s leg section clamps are fully waterproofed and sand-proof with additional O-rings, and that the metalwork in the rubber-padded feet and alternative spikes is made from corrosion-resistant titanium rather than aluminum or stainless steel. The same goes for the metal bases of the leg tubes. It’s perfect when life’s a beach.
The tripod is sufficiently small and lightweight to take just about anywhere and everywhere, yet offers sturdy and solid support that’s very resistant to unwanted flexing and vibrations. The only real minus point is that while the omission of a center column pays dividends for quick and easy ultra-low-level shooting, the maximum operating height is rather underwhelming. There’s also no monopod conversion.
Read our full Leofoto Poseidon Ocean LP-284C LH-30 review
Features ★★★★½ |
The standout feature of the tripod is that it’s waterproof, sand-proof and very resistant to corrosion. I feel a beach party coming on! |
Design ★★★★½ |
The design is based on 10-layer carbon fiber and plenty of titanium metalwork, rather than aluminum or stainless steel, for a life on the edge of the ocean waves. |
Performance ★★★★½ |
Setup and adjustments are quick, easy, and intuitive, and the tripod is very sturdy, offering good resistance against flexing and vibrations. |
Value ★★★★½ |
Considering the additional or uprated components required for making this tripod waterproof, it’s very good value at the price. |
Best designed travel tripod
✅ You want clever design touches, such as oval-shaped legs to minimize stowed size.
✅ You want a perfectly level shooting platform for panning with minimum setup time.
✅ You want to travel really light, as this weighs less than a kilo.
❌ You'd prefer to save cash with the cheaper hybrid carbon and aluminum version.
❌ You’ve got a heavy camera and lens combo; this maxes out at 4.5kg.
❌ You want metal spikes for prodding into soft ground, not just rubber pads.
The Benro Cyanbird Carbon Tripod comes as a kit with Benro's FS30 Head, and the pair makes for a great combination that stands out for its innovative design and performance. Unlike many typical travel tripod designs, this forgoes swing-up legs, thus allowing for quicker setup and breakdown; rather than being completely circular in shape, the legs are made of oval, curved leg sections that wrap around a triangular center column, minimizing its stowed size to a still-very-compact 45.5cm. The supplied FS30 ball head offers similarly innovative design solutions, with the panning section located at the top of the head rather than the base, which makes leveling the tripod for panning particularly easy.
Despite its lightweight construction – tipping the scales at a shade under a kilogram – it offers impressive rigidity and stability, providing solid support for loads up to 4.5kg, even at its maximum height of 150cm, effectively resisting vibrations and ensuring stable shots. While this carbon tripod is priced higher than the hybrid version (which combines carbon fiber and aluminum), its clever design and attention to detail justify the cost, and it's a worthwhile investment for photographers and videographers seeking a compact, lightweight, and high-performing travel tripod.
Read more: Benro Cyanbird Carbon Tripod + FS30 head kit review
Features ★★★★★ |
The legs and head of this tripod kit are both packed with clever features that are well implemented. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Bucking the trend of swing-up legs for travel tripods, it’s a smart design that makes for quick-and-easy use. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Despite being compact and lightweight, the tripod is very rigid, stable and resistant to vibration. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
The fully carbon fiber kit is rather pricier than the ‘hybrid’ carbon and aluminum version, but that’s to be expected. |
Best lightweight travel tripod
✅ You want a tripod that includes a smartphone adapter and even a Bluetooth controller.
✅ You’d like a tripod that works as a monopod and a selfie stick as well.
✅ You want one of the absolute lightest travel tripods on the market.
❌ You want a heftier maximum load rating than 4kg.
❌ You’d rather have a taller maximum operating height than 136cm.
❌ You don’t feel the need for a low-level adapter or dual rubber pads and spiked feet.
With five sections in each swing-up leg and a two-section center column, this Vanguard folds down to just over a foot long yet gives a reasonable maximum operating height. I find it can easily fit into my daily bag or backpack. It’s also very lightweight, although, as expected, the alternative aluminum version is a little heavier. The bottom leg sections are quite spindly, with a diameter of just 11mm, but stability is pretty good even at full stretch.
As well as giving a typically quick and easy change to monopod configuration, the Vanguard is more unusual in coming complete with a smartphone adapter. I like that it works well as a monopod and even a selfie stick, so I only need to take one support for the journey rather than two or three.
Read more: Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB review
Features ★★★★★ |
The feature set extends to an included Bluetooth remote for your smartphone. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Some clever design work has gone into this Vanguard tripod, from top to bottom. |
Performance ★★★★☆ |
The trade-off for being such a lightweight tripod is that it’s not massively rigid. |
Value ★★★★★ |
Considering the feature set and carbon fiber build, it’s great value at the price. |
Best travel tripod for sturdiness
✅ You've got a seriously weighty camera setup.
✅ You want a tripod that folds down extremely small.
✅ You like the idea of a detachable monopod and boom arm.
❌ You want to choose your own head, although you can buy the legs on their own.
❌ You don’t like fiddling with lots of leg clamps and dual center column clamps.
❌ You’re keeping an eye on the bottom line – it’s a pricey travel tripod.
The 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0 is no ordinary tripod. It folds down to just 35cm in length but opens out to offer a maximum height of 146cm and a huge payload capacity of 30kg. That far exceeds the weight of any of my camera and lens combinations, but the net result is great rigidity.
I like that it has a detachable monopod leg that can also be used as a microphone or camera boom, a Tri-Mount system for adding accessories, and an innovative two-section center column. That helps it to fold down really small yet reach a decent maximum operating height. You can buy the legs on their own, but I’d get the complete kit with 3 Legged Thing’s new and improved AirHed Pro Lever ball head.
The Leo 2 is not the lightest travel tripod you can get, and not the cheapest, but its ratio of folded length to maximum height, combined with its all-around versatility, makes it one of the best.
Read more: 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0 + AirHead Pro Review
Features ★★★★★ |
It’s certainly a feature-rich carbon fiber tripod that ticks all the right boxes. |
Design ★★★★★ |
There are plenty of clever design flourishes, typical of 3 Legged Thing. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
The rigidity and resistance to vibration is exceptional for a travel tripod. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
It’s expensive but only about half the price of the Peak Design carbon travel tripod. |
Best travel tripod with 3-way head
✅ You like the idea of a hybrid travel tripod, with a head that works well for video as well as stills.
✅ You feel reassured by buying a tripod from one of the biggest names in the business.
✅ You like flip locks rather than the more usual twist locks for leg clamps.
❌ You’d rather have a tripod kit that has a more usual ball head.
❌ You don’t shoot video, but stick to stills.
❌ You’d prefer a carbon fiber travel tripod rather than an aluminum one.
The Manfrotto Befree 3-Way Live Advanced is a lightweight photographer’s travel tripod paired with a three-way head. Although ball heads have become hugely popular, I actually prefer a 3-way head for the likes of architectural and close-up shooting, where precise adjustments can be critical. The 3-way fluid head in this case uses a hydraulic damping system to make it easy to achieve smooth, fluid camera movements, so I find it also works well for shooting video.
The tripod, meanwhile, provides a good balance between capacity, weight, and price. It’ll take 6kg of kit and only weighs 2kg itself. I’ve tested lighter and stronger tripods, but they tended to be more pricey than this one.
It’s not as tall as some of the other tripods in this guide, and doesn’t fold down particularly small, the latter not helped by having a 3-way rather than ball head. But for the vast majority of purposes, this is an impressive all-around package and merits serious consideration for any traveling photographer or videographer.
Read more: Manfrotto Befree 3-Way Live Advanced tripod review
Features ★★★★★ |
There’s a seriously good feature set, led by the dual-purpose 3-way head. |
Design ★★★★☆ |
The design covers all the basics but lacks some of the clever flourishes I’ve seen elsewhere. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
The load rating of 6kg isn’t massive but performance is good with impressive rigidity. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
It’s pretty expensive for an aluminum travel tripod but still pretty good value. |
Best video travel tripod
✅ You want a complete, lightweight carbon fiber tripod kit that includes an excellent fluid head.
✅ You need a video travel tripod that folds down small and is easy to stow.
❌ You’d rather have a video tripod that extends to a really tall maximum operating height.
❌ You already have a perfectly good fluid head, in which case the legs on their own might be a preferable option.
The 3 Legged Thing Wes ticks all of the boxes on my wish list for a video travel tripod. It folds down small and is very lightweight to carry, yet reaches a decent maximum operating height while being sturdy and resistant to flexing and vibrations. That’s mostly down to the clever design and the use of premium carbon fiber for the legs, along with an aerospace-grade magnesium alloy canopy.
I’m generally wary of tripods with five-section legs because the bottom leg sections are often very thin and spindly, resulting in a drop in rigidity and stability when they’re extended. There was no hint of this when using the Wes, and I found it gave solid support throughout its entire operating range. Typical of travel tripods, the maximum operating height isn’t particularly tall, but I love that you can quickly and easily configure the tripod for ultra-low-level shooting.
The tripod legs are a great buy on their own. However, the recently updated 3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine CC fluid head is such a great match for the legs that I feel the complete kit is the best option. As a complete travel tripod for videographers, it’s hard to beat. If you’ve got an L-bracket, the Wes works great for stills too, making it a good fit for hybrid shooters.
Read more: 3 Legged Thing Wes review
How to choose the best travel tripod
It’s good to be choosy when picking your perfect travel tripod for your needs and budget. Here are a few things to bear in mind…
Carbon fiber is pricier than aluminum, but is it worth the extra?
Upmarket tripods are usually made from carbon fiber instead of aluminum. They have a more luxurious feel, a smarter-looking finish, and can be slightly more resistant to vibrations. Carbon fiber can also feel less cold to the touch. But the main advantage of carbon fiber is that it’s lighter than aluminum, giving it a clear advantage when you’re trying to shed weight.
However, there can be diminishing returns. Although the weight-saving can be substantial in full-sized tripods, it’s much less noticeable in relatively small tripods. For many travel tripods that are available in both aluminum and carbon fiber options, the latter typically only saves around 200g in weight, little more than 10 per cent. Considering that the carbon fiber editions are often about 50 per cent more expensive to buy, aluminum travel tripods can be more cost-effective.
How small is the tripod when folded?
A while ago, a company called Giottos launched a series of Vitruvian tripods, named after Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing, ‘The Vitruvian Man’. As in the drawing, the legs swing upwards, but in the case of Giottos tripods, they swing up completely, adopting a vertically upright orientation for stowing away. The trick was that, by fully extending the center column before swinging the legs up, the tripod head no longer extended beyond the length of the legs, making the carrying size much smaller.
Giottos stopped making tripods many years ago, but its swing-up-legs innovation lives on and has been adopted by many other manufacturers. Thanks to this, many recent travel tripods fold down small enough to fit inside a bag or backpack, rather than needing to be tethered to the outside.
Can I save space by using a tripod as a monopod as well?
A neat trick of many recent travel tripods is that you can unscrew one of the tripod legs, detach the center column, and join the two together for use as a monopod, complete with a ball head. That can be a real space saver if you like using a monopod as well as a tripod, as you only have to carry one bit of kit.
What’s so good about multi-angle legs?
Pretty much all travel tripods these days have legs that can be locked at multiple angles to the center column. Typically, either two or three alternative angles are available, in addition to the legs being able to swing up vertically. This can help when you’re shooting on uneven terrain, or when there are obstacles in the way.
For example, you might need to use one or two legs in a near-horizontal orientation and place the feet on a wall or table to get into your desired shooting position. Another bonus is that, by splaying the legs to a wider angle when shooting at low operating heights, you can increase stability and reduce the risk of the tripod toppling over.
How low can you go when shooting with a tripod?
Multi-angle legs help to reduce the minimum shooting height, but the limiting factor is generally the point at which the center column touches the ground. The minimum height is therefore the height of the center column plus the ball head. A two-section extending center column can help to further reduce the minimum operating height, as well as the carrying height. Some tripods are supplied with a short, stubby ‘low-angle adaptor’. You can attach this to the tripod head and use it instead of the center column. The center column is also removable in most tripods, so you can invert it and shoot from between two of the legs with the camera upside down, right down at ground level.
What’s best for feet, pads or spikes?
Rubber pads are the standard footwear for tripods these days. They work well on solid ground as well as on grass and sandy areas. For soft surfaces like carpet, spikes can offer a more assured footing. Some tripods are supplied with both rubber pads and metal spikes, so you can swap between them as needed. Another option, which used to be more common in the past, is rubber pads on a threaded mount, so you can screw them in to reveal metal spikes beneath.
How we test travel tripods
We measure the maximum operating height of each tripod and its folded height for carrying, with the head attached. We also measure the combined weight of each set of tripod legs and head using electronic scales, and measure the diameter of all leg sections, from the widest to the thinnest, using digital calipers.
We check the ease of use, smoothness, and precision of all available adjustments in each set of tripod legs and heads. This ranges from adjusting leg sections and pivot facilities (where available) to the locking mechanisms of the head, as well as independent pan and friction damping adjustments, where fitted.
To check overall stability, we shoot with a range of camera bodies fitted with wide-angle, standard, telephoto, and macro lenses. We look for good resistance to flexing and vibrations throughout the whole range of operating heights, including the tallest available settings, with the legs and center column fully extended.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
Today's best prices compared
