Choosing the best spotting scope tripod can be tricky. It can be tempting to go for something ultra-cheap – which isn't difficult to find – but there's definitely such a thing as false economy when it comes to tripods. Spend too little and you can end up with a flimsy thing that falls over at the first gust of wind. But spend too much and you could get a bulky tripod stuffed with features you don't really need.
It's all about balance, and that's what we've tried to keep in mind when coming up with this list. A spotting scope user needs stability most of all – needs a rock-solid support for birding, terrestrial viewing or studying the night sky. Something that folds up well for easy transport to your spotting location can also be handy.
We've assembled our picks of the best tripods for the best spotting scopes by looking at the tripods we've reviewed and highlighting the models that have most impressed our team. While we reckon the best choice is a full-sized tripod that reaches a head height, you may also want to consider a travel tripod if mobility is a priority, so we've made sure to include both.
Jamie is the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, and travels the world watching every eclipse he can and photographing the night skies. He’s our go-expert on optics such as spotting scopes and solar binoculars.
The Quick List
This travel tripod pairs beautifully with a spotting scope, thanks to a head that delivers fluid movement and a sturdy build beneath. Read more below…
Combining a lightweight build with amazing capacity and impressive maximum height, this is an excellent tripod for the serious spotter.
Read more below…
This eminently affordable option has an integrated pan-and-tilt head that teams up well with a spotting scope, and reaches a good height too. Read more below…
While the head and carrying bag cost extra, and it's not cheap to begin with, this rock-solid tripod is an outstanding choice for heavy scopes.
Read more below…
This rig reaches a heady 186cm, and includes a fluid ball head and handle to allow you to line up your scope with precision. Read more below…
This travel tripod packs down pretty small, but still reaches a good height, while easy-to-use locks make setup a pleasure. Read more below…
Best spotting scope 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 spotting scope tripod overall
A flagship member of Manfrotto’s lightweight Befree line-up, this light travel tripod pairs very well with a spotting scope. Included in the kit is Manfrotto’s compact Befree 3-Way Live Head: its hydraulic damping system is made for videographers, helping them smooth, steady movements, and it’s a good complement to a spotting scope. The kit also includes a 200PL-PRO quick-release plate (which can take both Manfrotto RC2 and Arca-Swiss attachments).
The tripod itself has a lever leg-locking system, plus a strong center column to extend the maximum height to a respectable 150cm.
Read more: Manfrotto Befree 3-Way Live Advanced review
Best premium spotting scope tripod
If you’re schlepping a big spotting scope around, you won’t also want to be carrying a heavy tripod. But you’ll sure need one that can reliably support your scope, particularly at high magnifications. The 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0 tripod should definitely be on your list to consider. Don't be fooled by its fairly small and tidy dimensions – this tripod is capable of supporting up to 40kg of payload! That's much, much more than even the largest spotting scopes are going to require.
This isn't quite as high-end as the company's Legends range of tripods, but for our money it offers the best bang for your buck in the 3 Legged Thing range. Its three-section legs and single central column give it rock-solid stability for days, and with 194cm of maximum height (or even 202cm in monopod mode), it can cater for even the most abnormally tall of spotters.
Versatile and beautifully made, the 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0 is a fantastic premium tripod for any committed spotter. And while it's pricier than many others on this list, for a carbon fiber tripod, it's excellent value!
Read more: 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0 review
Best budget spotting scope tripod
An entry-level aluminum tripod with a built-in fluid pan and tilt head that moves through 360º, the Svbony SA402 is an ideal partner for a spotting scope. Its all-in-one design will only suit those who plan to pair it with a spotting scope near-permanently, though elsewhere it’s got a lot going for it for outdoor use.
Weighing a mere 2.2kg/4.85lbs, it comes with a nice shoulder bag complete with an adjustable shoulder strap. It gets to 164cm/64.5” thanks to an extendable center column and, in our test, felt sturdy enough with a spotting scope mounted on top. We noticed some slight droop on the tilt axis, but nothing serious.
Read more: Svbony SA402 review
Best tripod for large spotting scopes
While it is pretty pricey, and you'll need to factor in the cost of the head, the Manfrotto 055 MT055CXPRO3 is solid as a rock. It's a simple, straightforward tripod, lacking the bulk-reducing swing-up legs of other travel tripods, but all the more sturdy for it. It's easy to set up in seconds, as we found when we put it to the test for a full review, and if you're toting a larger spotting scope, it could definitely be worth the investment.
Equipped with a pivoting center column, the 055 MT055CXPRO3 (catchy name, eh?) is wonderfully intuitive in use. With tripods from lesser manufacturers, you often need to factor in a good chunk of time to figuring out how it works when you first get your hands on it, but Manfrotto's creation is so darn intuitive. The leg angle mechanisms, the pivot mechanism – it all just flows beautifully well. And with a 20kg load rating, it's well-equipped to take heavy kit.
Read more: Manfrotto 055 MT055CXPRO3
Best tall spotting scope tripod
The AD-01 3751 isn’t the strongest tripod around, but if you’re packing a relatively lightweight spotting scope then its affordability, ease of use, and precision movements make it a good choice. It may weigh just 2.86g/6.3 lbs and come with a shoulder bag, but it’s got a lot of girth; this is not the easiest tripod to travel with. Nor is it manufactured with the finest quality materials; it looks a little flimsy. However, its three-section double-shaft leg design and three-pronged spreader between the first and second stages add some extra stabilization, and its maximum height is a generous 186cm.
Crucially, it comes with a fluid two-way ball head (complete with leveling bowl base) and a detachable pan handle that makes precision movements possible. It’s compatible with DJI RS 2 and Manfrotto quick-release plates. There’s even a hidden magnetic hex key to make it easy to attach to the bottom of a sitting scope while you’re out in the field.
Read more: SmallRig Heavy-Duty Fluid Head Tripod review
Best spotting scope tripod for travel
Given the outdoorsy nature of spotting scopes, it’s tempting to use a travel tripod, but their reliance on an extendable center column can make them unstable. Not so the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Twist, whose center column adds an extra 23cm/9” while retaining stability. That’s largely thanks to a twisting lock at its base – hence the name – though we also loved its M-lock four-section legs. With a maximum height of 150cm, the tripod folds down to a convenient 40cm, making it easy to pack for a trip.
The included ball head is excellent, though it’s one area that may need upgrading if you’re after more precision.
Read more: Manfrotto Befree Advanced Twist review
How to choose the best spotting scope tripod
How much should I spend on a spotting scope tripod?
The price you’ll pay will depend on the brand and the quality of the engineering. Tripod kits that comprise a set of legs and a head can range in price from around $15/£10 to about $1,500/£1,250 for a top-of-the-range model. That’s a huge range, and each extreme is worth avoiding. Generally speaking, the best spotting scope tripods start at about $150/£150, though the use of carbon fiber will bump up the price. The more expensive tripods on our list cost about $350 to $399, and you shouldn't need to spend too much more than that.
Aluminum or carbon fiber?
The pricier material is carbon fiber, which adds incredible strength to a lightweight design. Despite that, most spotting scope owners will go for aluminum, which is both much more affordable and light enough for serious mobility.
How much height do I need?
Spotting scopes are much easier to use at head height or thereabouts, although the best travel tripods usually achieve that by using a retractable center column, which can introduce some instability. Also, look for rubber feet and spikes for coping with different surfaces (you’ll typically need physically swap out one for the other).
Check the folded length
The weight of a tripod is important if you’re going to carry it any distance, but so is its folded length. If it’s too long to strap to your bag, and it’s unwieldy in trains or climbing over stiles, then it’s going to put you off taking it anywhere. Many so-called ‘travel’ tripods have legs that fold upwards for storage and completely enclose the head. This makes them smaller and neater when folded and easier to carry around.
How many leg sections?
Tripod legs may have three, four, or five sections. A larger number of sections means the tripod is shorter and more portable when it’s folded, but it will usually take a little longer to set up and may well not be quite as stable.
What type of leg locks?
These come in two main types: twist locks and flip locks. Twist locks take up less space and are generally a little quicker to use – you can often unlock all the leg sections in a single movement when you’re setting the tripod up. Flip locks are operated individually and may be a bit slower. Try both types to see which you prefer.
Leg angles
Most tripods have legs that can be angled independently – which is particularly useful when working on sloping sites or in cramped areas. The standard leg angle will be fine for regular use, but it’s often useful to splay one or more legs outwards on uneven surfaces or to rest them on walls, say. Splaying out all three legs will allow you to shoot from a much lower angle.
What type of head should I get?
The most suitable tripods for spotting scopes tend to have a pan-and-tilt or three-way head, which will help you lock the pan axis or the tilt axis and move the other independently. They make it easy to make small adjustments to get a subject perfectly into the spotting scope’s field of view. That’s also true of slower but smoother fluid heads, which are aimed at video creators. Pistol grip tripod heads are even easier to use.
Some spotting scope owners will be happy with ball heads – but while they do make it quicker to get your spotting scope roughly lined up with your subject, it can be tricky to then get that subject precisely into the field of view.
Attaching your camera
Most tripods are sold with heads, and most heads have a quick-release plate so that you can detach the camera in moments for handheld shots. The Arca Swiss-compatible plate is by far the most common, meaning you can swap between different tripod heads, even if they're made by different manufacturers. However some makers, notably Manfrotto, make their own bespoke QR plates, which can be a nuisance if you have two or more tripods from different makers.
Extra features
Detachable monopod legs: These sound really useful – a detachable leg you can then screw into the center column to make a monopod. In practice, we find these often lack the rigidity of a 'real' monopod unless you're starting with a particularly substantial tripod.
Center column: Not all tripods come with a center column, but most do. You can extend this upwards to increase the height of the camera, although this introduces extra wobble. On some tripods, the center column can be rotated to produce an angled boom, which is perfect for overhead shots, macro work, and tabletop photography. Using the center column does reduce the stability of the tripod, however, so is best avoided with long exposures.
Bowl base: This is a video-specific feature that allows you to get the base level without having to make a whole series of tiny adjustments to the leg length. A level base is essential for a video where you want to make panning movements, and the best video tripods come with bowl or leveling bases as standard.
Types of feet: Rubber feet are fine on most surfaces but best on carpets and wooden floors, where you don’t want to cause damage. Metal spikes are good for soft and uneven ground. Some tripods have rubber feet, which can be screwed back to reveal spikes.
How we test tripods
We measure the maximum operating height of each tripod and its folded height for carrying, complete with 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
