There are few things worse than looking back through your holiday videos after an incredible experience and realising they're less than steady.
That gorgeous sunset or those breathtaking mountains views don't look quite so serene when the ground appears to be shaking from underneath the camera. The answer, as any photography-loving friends will likely point out, is a tripod. But if you're packing light, that's not always easy to squeeze in.
Fortunately, you'll find plenty of travel tripods around nowadays that nip that problem in the bud, allowing you to snap away with no shakiness in sight and even getting in the photos or videos yourself. If you don't have a videographer following your every move, this might just be the next best thing.
The best travel tripods can fit in your backpack or suitcase and can support your camera or phone securely and stably. These tripods can help you take sharp and steady shots in low-light conditions, long exposures, time-lapses, panoramas, selfies and pretty much anything else under the (sometimes literal) sun. If you're hoping for more creative freedom and flexibility to compose your shots from different angles and heights, a travel tripod is a must-buy.
What should you look for in a travel tripod?
Before choosing a travel tripod, you'll want to keep in mind a few features. Ideally, you'll want a tripod that's small enough to fit in your bag and light enough to carry around without straining your back or shoulders. The size and weight of a travel tripod depend on the material, the number of leg sections and the design of the legs and the head.
You'll also want one that's stable enough to hold your camera or smartphone firmly, without wobbling or shaking. That stability depends on the load capacity, the leg diameter, the leg locks, the feet and the centre column.
We've rounded up all of the best travel tripods.
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Peak Design Travel Tripod
Peak Design’s Travel Tripod brings you pro-level stability, load capacity and deployed height, yet packs down to the diameter of a water bottle, making it ideal for stashing in your hand luggage, if need be.
Made from weather and impact-resistant materials with a promise that all parts are serviceable, cleanable and replaceable, this is a tripod you’ll feel free to carry around without the fear of being stuck on the other side of the world with something you can’t fix. Its unique design allows quicker, easier setup/takedown while its low and inverted modes position is a great choice for unique shots with your camera just inches off the ground.
Buy now £359.00, Amazon
MANFROTTO JOBY TelePod Mobile tripod
This travel tripod takes the ‘travel’ part one step further with a sleek design to elevate your phone photography forevermore. Fitted with four settings (handgrip, monopod, elevated stand and tripod), the innovative design includes a Bluetooth Impulse remote shutter so you can snap your best pictures even from a distance. This all-in-one phone tripod works with small 360 cams and large and small phones alike with 360 attachment and offers maximum versatility when it comes to securing those great shots.
Buy now £69.95, Selfridges
National Geographic Small Camera Tripod - Black
If it’s good enough for National Geographic, it’s good enough for us. And the brand’s Small Camera Tripod promises an entire camera reel’s worth of incredible shots, thanks to its easy to set up design and sleek look. With a folded height of 42cm, you can easily pack this tripod away into your hold luggage if you’re looking for something a little fancier than a handheld option. Suitable for DSLR Cameras up to 2.5kg, smartphones, compact cameras, action cameras and 360 cameras, it’s one of the most versatile tripods around.
Buy now £29.95, Argos
Benro RoadTrip Pro Carbon Fibre Pacific Blue
This stylish blue and black tripod adds a dash of colour to your photography set up and comes with a plethora of features to ensure some incredible shots too. The Benro RoadTrip Pro is a six in one tripod, bringing together not just the tripod itself but also a monopod, boom pole, selfie stick, high hat and tabletop tripod. Basically: it doesn’t matter what sort of footage you’re after, you’ll be able to create it with this travel tripod. Its convertible arca style QR plate-holds cameras or phones and it folds up pretty small, too.
Buy now £169.00, Amazon
3 Legged Thing Pro Range 2.0
3 Legged Thing never falters when it comes to the best tripods and the brand’s Pro Range 2.0 is a top choice for travel photography when you need stability and style. This powerful yet compact carbon fibre tripod system was designed for professional photographers and offers a range of working heights, with its multiple mounting points and three detachable legs that allow you to convert from tripod to monopod to table-top tripod with ease.
Better yet, Leo 2.0 features the brand’s unique parallel locking system which lessens the chance of accidental disassembly.
Buy now £271.00, Amazon
Vanguard Veo 3GO 235AB Aluminium Travel Tripod
The Vanguard VEO 3GO 235AB Aluminium Travel Tripod is an ultra-compact and lightweight tripod with an Arca Swiss compatible ball head, a leg that converts to a monopod which can double as a selfie/vlogging stick, a smartphone adapter and a Bluetooth remote shutter trigger that offers the maximum versatility for mirrorless camera kits, DSLR camera kits and even smartphones. Which means that, when it comes to travel tripods, you’ll struggle to find something more efficient. It folds down to just 33cm and weighs just 1240g.
Buy now £169.99, Jessops
JOBY PIXI EVO Mini Tripod
You’ll struggle to find a more travel friendly tripod than JOBY’s PIXI EVO Mini Tripod. Mostly because it’s absolutely tiny: this is a travel tripod that understood the assignment and squeezed all of the necessary features into something seriously small. But don’t think its tiny sizes reduces its usability: you can use it with your entry-level DSLR and devices up to 2.5kg. It offers two different leg angles complete with sliding selector, plus a two-section legs that can be adjusted in five simple steps to get your perfect shot.
Buy now £54.95, Selfridges
Vanguard Veo 3t+ 234ab aluminium travel sized tripod
Tried the 235AB but want something a little larger? Try Vanguard’s Veo 3t+, instead. If you’re a professional looking for something next level, this is the travel tripod to opt for. From mono to landscape photography: this VEO3T+ is suitable for any photography style and its included adapter means you can attach other accessories to the folded centre column. The three pre-set leg angles ensure a secure stand in seconds, while its multi-angle central column can be moved almost 360° in any direction.
Buy now £205.56, Amazon
Gitzo Traveler Tripod with Center Ball head
It’s hard not to be impressed by the versatility of this Gitzo Traveler Tripod with Center Ball head. With its 180° leg folding system, which enables its legs to reverse-fold around the centre column, this tripod is ultra-compact and designed to be squeezed into the smallest of travel bags. As well as being sturdy enough to capture incredible footage the traditional way, this tripod also goes lower for low-angle or macro shots. It can be carried horizontally or vertically with shoulder straps for ease of use.
Buy now £711.43, Amazon
Kentfaith Lightweight Aluminum Travel Tripod
This Kentfaith Lightweight Aluminum Travel Tripod might just be one of the most budget-friendly travel tripods around. Full to the brim with all of the necessary features and then some, its 28mm metal ball head can be rotated to any angle you want, helping to improve the range of camera activity during panning. The 360-degree panning dial lets you set up precision shots to capture the beauty of landscapes, while the design of this tripod means you can also manipulate it using just one hand.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
Verdict
A travel tripod designed to seamlessly capture all kinds of footage, the ever-impressive Peak Design Travel Tripod brings together everything you need no matter where you're heading or what you're hoping to shoot.
