If you are a serious photographer and looking for a lightweight tripod for backpacking, you have come to the right place. I am not a professional photographer, but I do use a tripod on almost all of my backpacking trips. I usually carry the tripod with me when I am taking photos of waterfalls or rocky ridges. The tripod is also useful for shooting star trails at night.
The first thing that you will want to consider before buying a new tripod is how much weight you can afford to add to your pack. A lighter tripod will cost more money, so this may be an important consideration for you if you are on a budget.
Another factor that should be considered is whether or not the tripod will fit in your backpack. Some tripods are too large to fit inside most backpacks, which means they must either be strapped onto the outside of the pack or carried separately.
If you are planning on using your camera while hiking, then it’s best to choose a smaller tripod that can easily fit inside your pack.
Best Lightweight Tripod For Backpacking
AOKA’s Lightweight Tripod
Looking for a tripod that’s light enough to carry up the mountain but sturdy enough to hold whatever you want to take pictures of?
AOKA’s tripod is made from high-density carbon fibre that drastically reduces product weight, so it’s light enough to carry everywhere — but stable enough to give you excellent shots every time.
The tripod tube is made from high-density carbon fibre, which greatly reduces the product’s weight and ensures good loading capacity. The stretching height is 15.7 inches / 398mm, and the shrinking height is 9.65 inches /245mm. It has a shrinking diameter of 1.97 inches / 50mm, making it lightweight and easy to carry with you wherever you go.
The tripod weighs 0.97 lb / 440 g and has a maximum load weight of 6.6 lb / 3 kg, meaning it’s lighter than similar products but still stable enough to hold your camera—no matter what kind of shot you’re trying to get!
Pros
- Lightweight material
- More powerful-360° ball head
- Thinner and more convenient
- Portable and flexible
Cons
- Very nicely made but too flimsy and small
SIRUI Carbon Fiber Travel 5C Tripod
SIRUI carbon fibre travel 5C tripod is the perfect companion for your wanderlust. It’s lightweight but durable, constructed for maximum lightness and sturdiness. The 5-section carbon fibre legs with quick-release twist-locks allow you to adjust the working height from 6.3″ to 54.3″ in seconds.
While with a folded height of 13″. With two independent control knobs, our specially designed ball head can rotate 360° allowing you to take photos at any angle in horizontal and vertical directions.
This tripod also comes with a portable bag! Just carry it with you wherever your travels take you—you’ll be able to capture every important moment in your journey no matter where you are or what position you may find yourself in.
Pros
- Solid construction
- Adjustable and extendable
- 360° ball-head and panoramic view
- Multi-angle shooting
- Easy to carry
Cons
- Good legs but cheap plastic inserts
JOILCAN Aluminum Camera Tripod
Around the world, travellers love to take photos with the best. Everyone knows that one of the most important pieces of equipment for travellers is a good tripod. The JOILCAN tripod is fully retractable from 16.5 inches up to 81 inches to use for all your photography needs.
Its compact storage design and lightweight structure make it very easy to carry around in a bag during travel. It combines aluminium construction with metal parts to make the product more durable and has a better load-bearing capacity to adapt to various equipment.
You can use the Flip locks on both sides of the leg to release or lock it. The leg design adjusts the angle and provides low-angle shots. The ball head can be rotated 360 degrees to provide panoramic shooting, while you can also set up a monopod by adding an optional centre column between the legs (sold separately).
Pros
- High quality & durable
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Flexible and easy to use
- Quality and fast after-sales service
Cons
- The plastic leg releases
Amazon Basics 50-inch Camera Mount Tripod
The Amazon Basics 50-inch camera mount tripod is lightweight and mobile, so you can take it with you on all your adventures.
It weighs just over a pound and is made of durable aluminium to stand up to the elements. Plus, it comes with a handy storage bag, so you don’t have to worry about it getting banged around in your backpack or suitcase.
The tripod’s adjustable height makes it easy to use for any shot. It extends from 16.5 inches (when collapsed) up to 50 inches, so you can adjust the height easily with the lever-lock legs. The 3-way head allows for both tilt and swivel motion, so you can get shots from any angle—whether it’s a portrait shoot or a landscape view.
The quick-release plate also helps ensure fast transitions between shots, which is great if you’re trying to catch the perfect moment in nature or photograph an event without missing anything important!
Pros
- Adjustable-height
- 3-way head
- Quick-release plate
- Lightweight design
Cons
- Not super sturdy/stable
MACTREM M-PT55-Bk PT55 Travel Camera Tripod
Ready to take your photography skills to the next level? MACTREM M-PT55 travel tripod is built from durable aluminium and plastic, but it’s designed with portability in mind. It measures 20 inches when collapsed and extends up to 55 inches, making it a great option for those who want portability without sacrificing quality or range of motion.
This tripod is perfect for shooting on the go, whether taking a trip across the country or just heading out to shoot in your backyard. The quick-release plate makes switching between shots fast and painless, while the 3-way pan head keeps your camera steady so you can focus on getting the shot just right.
The PT55 features a 3-way pan head for a smooth 360-degree swivel function and a quick-release plate for easy attachment and removal from your camera. The 4 section lever lock legs allow you to easily adjust the height and angle between shots.
Pros
- Easy to store
- Quick-release plate
- Non-slip rubber mats
- 3-way pan head
Cons
- Too short and unstable
Final Words
Tripods are an essential addition to a photographer’s kit bag. They will provide extra stability for your camera, allowing you to take photographs in low light conditions or those that require longer shutter speeds without generating a camera shake.
A lightweight tripod is a great addition to any backpacking kit. You don’t always have a flat surface to set up your camera in the wild, and a tripod can help you get the perfect shot even in rough terrain.
The Lightest
The JOILCAN aluminium camera tripod has stood well in my time of testing. I have taken this light tripod on multiple backpacking trips.
I love that it is a lightweight option. It is nearly indestructible, weighs almost nothing, and you can wrap it around trees and other things to have a stable place to set up your camera anywhere!
Best Overall
If you love photography and want something lightweight and portable, AOKA’s tripod is a great way to go. It is small enough to fit in a backpack or even your pocket but big enough to easily hold a DSLR camera. AOKA’s tripod won’t last forever, but it doesn’t need to at its extremely reasonable price point.
