Good, cheap tripod for binos.
Equipment
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Wanting to try binos on tripod for glassing this year. Using vortex viper 10x42. Any good cheap options. I'm talking under 50 bucks. Thanks for any input.
I don’t have any specific recommendations, but amazon has several in the $50 range that look kinda decent to me. If you keep your expectations in line with the price point you can probably find something pretty that will work fine.
But keep in mind you will also need some kind of adapter to attached those Binos to any tripod you get (more $).
—Jim
Good and cheap do not got together
I used a Vanguard with an integrated head for a couple years before upgrading and it was ok. I dont remember what it cost now but I'd say somewhere around $50.
Cheaper heads will be frustrating to glass with but its doable.
Get something that’s dual purpose so you get your money’s worth out of it. I love my Bogpod. Bino adapter, spotting scope adapter, gun rest, and center pole for my glassing tarp. If you really just want a dirt cheap tripod go to eBay or Amazon and search it up.
As said above, Good and Cheap Don't Go Together... Buy once, cry once and get a lifetime of service!
Start at Vortex, and move up by what you can afford. I would buy the best you can get for your dollar! Camofire usually has good deals on decent tripods. But not good, nor great!
Like a quality scope, you get what you pay for!
Once you glass off a tripod, you won't go without it..
I would recommend spending more. At least $130 or so. You’ll be buying another $50 one in a year and you’ll have spent the same money. In my mind, do yourself a favor and start at that price point.
Spend more and thank us later.
Good and cheap go together...with heavy LOL
Take a look at the Vortex Summit, which is a branded model of Velbon's Ultra Max. Reasonable price, reasonable weight and reasonable stability.
Not sure about $50 but should be able to find the Vortex or Velbon on sale somewhere.
One of my best hunting purchases ever was dropping over $400 on a good carbon manfrotto tripod and pan head...
Been using it for a long time and still amazed at how useful it is!
I have a cheap tripod I use in my living room for glassing my and adjacent lands.
It's the only place it will work.
Cheap equates to useless when it comes to tripods.
I'm a retired Alaska Master Guide. I guided in Alaska for 45 years and in some other states as well. I've never felt the need to use an expensive tripod. In fact, I love lightweight cheapo ones!
What I HAVE done to make inexpensive ones work well is to add a hook or loop on the bottom. By hanging a 2 or 3 lb rock from the bottom, you can stabilize your chinsy tripod so it can be used effectively in the wind in the mountains.
If you want to buy a fancy tripod, knock yourself out. I'm just saying that I never felt the need. And I did a LOT of glassing over the years...
Pete
Thanks for all the input fellas, much appreciated. I bought a cheapo off amazon. I wanted to see if glassing off tripod would be for me or not. I'll do some trial runs with it here soon. I'll let you know if I should've just flushed my money down the toilet. Haha
Pete, that is fine if you don't mind the jitteryness when moving the cheap head on the tripod to scan.
X2 on Manfrotto which is made by top shelf Bogen. I got the aluminum model with pan head. Amazing. One day though I'll upgrade to a real spotting scope.
If you are going to be efficient at glassing a good tripod is just as important as a good fluid head. With a cheap setup, you will be disappointed and not as efficient as with better equipment. Get a tripod without the center supports so you can adjust the angle of the legs, Get a fluid head so the panning and movements are as fluid as possible. Also, get a glassing stool, sitting and glassing is better than standing. THE KEY TO GLASSING IS COMFORT. I spend more than 1500 hours a season looking through glass . I personally utilize a slik carbon tripod topped with an I-footage komodo k5 fluid head and sit on a Walk Stool.