You don’t have to be on a mission to be the world’s next viral blogging star to appreciate the charms of a phone tripod.
Once only found in a professional photographer’s kit bag, these helpful little tools have found mainstream popularity, able to help with myriad projects, from taking hands-free selfies to watching cooking videos as you make dinner.
You can get the three-legged stands in all sorts of heights and with attachments like ring lights to improve conditions in low-light settings. They’re perfect for taking on trips and holidays too, folding down compactly to stow in a weekend bag or cabin luggage.
They’re excellent for holding your phone still while on video calls too, handy if you happen to be working remotely or want to check in with friends and family while on holiday.
Whether you’re filming at home or want to take a triumphant summit shot on your next hill walk, we’ve rounded up the best tripods to assist you on your adventures.
See our edit of the best below
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TEKZONE Muvit Vlogging Kit
Lights, camera, action - this kit is a studio set in a box. Made for wannabe vloggers, this multifunctional table top tripod comes with a 49 LED light flash attachment as well as a multidirectional microphone, ideal for making clear sounding ASMR clips as well as recording makeup tutorials. The clamp comes with soft rubber pads to protect your device from dents and scratches.
Buy now £59.99, Selfridges
JOBY GorillaPod Tripod Starter Kit
No need to worry about the terrain, this tripod starter kit has everything you need for stable and steady shots and video content. The tripod stands feature rubberised feet that will grip on all sorts of surfaces and they’re flexible too, able to reach your desired angle. With phone sizes changing with every release, it can be challenging to find a clamp to fit yours, but this set’s version is a universal design, ready to fit on all phones. There are also plenty of mounts on which to set your GoPro, torch light or even a compact camera. Comes with a two-year guarantee.
Buy now £32.95, John Lewis
NGT Tripod Light & Remote
Whether you’re into stargazing or you want to record our outdoor adventures, this sturdy tripod is the perfect sidekick. The rubberised feet offer greater stability, especially in damp or wet conditions and once your phone is secured in the clamp, there’s a tool to adjust the angle too. Plug in the flashlight attachment for extra illumination and use the remote when you’re ready to capture the perfect shot.
Buy now £19.99, Blacks
Hivexagon Adjustable Phone Stand
If cooking videos are more your jam, this stand won’t fail to give your next creation the pro chef touch. With a large, lamp-like base supporting a stand on which another crossbar arm pivots, you can swing your smartphone in any direction you need to capture the content you’re after. The main height can be extended to a maximum of 52cm, giving you plenty of headroom to take the ultimate flatlay.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
Acrhkoor 10.2-inch Floor Ring Light with Extendable Tripod Stand
Get the most bang for your buck with this multi-use ring light which can be set up to use as a tripod, desktop stand, or selfie stick depending on your needs. The diameter spans 10.2 inch offering a wide range of light with three colour options - warm, cool white and daylight. But wait, there’s more.
In each colour option there are an astonishing ten levels of brightness, giving you a grand total of 30 lighting choices in total. The five-part stand can go from 15.6 inches to 54.4 inches, making it ideal for group pics as well as solo selfies.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
GerTong 12.6-inch’ Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand & Phone Holder
Get your family and friends involved in your next photography project with the help of this ring light which not only comes with natural light options but 10 RGB colours too, giving you more than 150 settings to play with. The holder accommodates larger handset designs and the hose is super flexible, allowing you to adjust as needed. As well as a weighted floor tripod which can stretch up to 150cm, the set comes with a mini desk tripod too (max length 18cm). Capture your next hot shot or movie clip via the remote control, putting you right in the driving seat.
Buy now £33.99, Amazon
HAMA SpotLight Steady 120 LED Ring Light
Make getting your content easier than ever thanks to this floor-standing LED ring light, perfect for everything from YouTubing to taking headshots. This one comes with a remote control that works over Bluetooth so you can make adjustments to the brightness, colour or temperature without moving from your spot. It may extend up to an impressive 215cm but it can be folded down to compact dimensions, making it perfect for taking on the go.
Buy now £45.00, Amazon
Fotodiox Selfie Starlite Stix Light Kit
Reminding us of runway marshals who direct aircraft into their bays with orange batons, this tech gizmo is ready to help your content take off and go viral.
The impressive six-foot tall metal tripod collapses and sets up easily, promising to turn a corner of your home into a mini studio. This is mainly thanks to the rotating and gooseneck arms supporting powerful twin LED lights which each offer adjustable intensity.
It comes with a mains plug but there’s also a battery pack too, giving you the freedom to vlog, blog and snap on the go.
Buy now £110.00, Urban Outfitters
Rio Makeup Perfector LED Ring Light
If you’re looking for a portable light without a phone holder bulking up the design, Rio Makeup’s option is perfect.
Switch between warm and natural light settings that mimic indoor and outdoor light and rotate through 360 degrees to find the best angle for you, wherever you are.
It ticks the boxes for being green too: the USB power does away with the need for batteries, and the LEDs should last for around two years too. The tripod stand extends up to 50cm.
Buy now £29.99, lookfantastic
Studio Creator Ultimate Video Maker
Teens dreaming of social media superstardom will be beside themselves opening this box of video-enhancing tools on December 25.
The set has everything they need to make their content sing, from a condenser microphone to an 18 mode colour LED ring light and an XL green screen, to take them from their bedroom to... well, anywhere.
The pack even includes a fun ON AIR lightbox to let the household know important filming is underway.
Buy now £59.99, Smyths