Backpacking
The Best Ultralight Tripods (2027)
The best ultralight tripods for 2027: minimum weight for backpacking and hiking without giving up usable height.
The short answer
Backpackers should buy the Gitzo GT1545T: 2.27 lb with real rigidity is unmatched for the trail. Tight packers should get the Peak Design Travel Tripod for its tiny packed size, and budget hikers the Benro MeFoto RoadTrip S for tripod-plus-monopod versatility.
Our top picks at a glance
- Gitzo Traveler Series 1 (GT1545T)The carbon benchmark for weight and stability.Best ultralight
- Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum)The packability champion with a radical leg design.Best packable
- Benro MeFoto RoadTrip SThe versatile pick that converts to a monopod.Best budget ultralight
- Sirui Traveler 5CXA sub-kilo carbon traveler with a proper ball head in the box.Best ultralight
- 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0Carbon performance with punk-rock personality.Best carbon alternative
- Amazon Basics 60-Inch Lightweight TripodThe cheapest usable tripod on the internet.Best budget pick
What owners report
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Hikers in this lineup praise sub three pound kits that still deliver genuine rigidity at sunrise
- Packed diameter letting a tripod ride inside the pack rather than strapped outside is a trail advantage here
Common complaints
- Backpackers in this group accept shorter maximum height and lower load limits as the gram saving trade
- Outside pack mounting for longer folded models snags on branches and unbalances the load on trails
The picks, ranked
Every product in this lineup was picked for this use case, ranked with our strongest choices first. If a product from the wider category does not genuinely fit this scenario, it is not listed here.
| # | Product | Award | Max height | Folded length | Weight | Load capacity | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gitzo Traveler Series 1 (GT1545T) | Best ultralight | 60.24 inches (153 cm) | 16.73 inches (42.5 cm) | 2.27 lb (1.03 kg) | 22 lb (10 kg) | Carbon fiber, 4 leg sections |
| 2 | Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum) | Best packable | 60 inches (152.4 cm) | 15.4 inches (39.1 cm) | 3.44 lb (1.56 kg) | 20 lb (9.1 kg) | - |
| 3 | Benro MeFoto RoadTrip S | Best budget ultralight | 61.6 inches (156.5 cm) | 15.4 inches (39.1 cm) | 3.6 lb (1.63 kg) | 17.6 lb (8 kg) | - |
| 4 | Sirui Traveler 5CX | Best ultralight | 132 cm with center column | 31.5 cm | 0.92 kg | 6 kg | Carbon fiber, 4 leg sections |
| 5 | 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 | Best carbon alternative | 187 cm | - | 1.45 kg with head | 14 kg | 8x carbon fiber, 5 leg sections |
| 6 | Amazon Basics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod | Best budget pick | 60 in (152 cm) | - | 1.3 kg | 3 kg | Aluminum, 3 leg sections |
Best ultralight
Gitzo Traveler Series 1 (GT1545T)
The carbon benchmark for weight and stability.
At 2.27 lb with 60-inch height and genuine rigidity, the Gitzo is the backpacker's answer: light enough for multi-day carries, steady enough for sunrise long exposures. Nothing else here matches its strength-to-weight ratio.
Strengths
- 2.27 lb carbon build is remarkably light for its height
- 60.2-inch max height with excellent rigidity
- Gitzo leg locks are the industry reference for feel
- 22 lb capacity handles pro bodies and long lenses
Limitations
- Premium pricing for legs only; head sold separately
- 16.7-inch folded length is longer than the Peak Design
- Carbon requires care against hard impacts
| Max height | 60.24 inches (153 cm) |
|---|---|
| Folded length | 16.73 inches (42.5 cm) |
| Weight | 2.27 lb (1.03 kg) |
| Load capacity | 22 lb (10 kg) |
| Material | Carbon fiber, 4 leg sections |
Best for: Serious landscape travelers who will pay for the best strength-to-weight ratio.
Skip if: Budget matters, or you want an included head in the box.
Best packable
Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum)
The packability champion with a radical leg design.
A pound heavier than the Gitzo but packing to water-bottle size, the Peak Design fits inside packs rather than strapped outside. For hikers who pack tight, packed volume matters as much as weight.
Strengths
- Nests to the diameter of a water bottle: 15.4 inches collapsed
- Triangular leg profile packs tighter than round legs
- Deploys fast with ergonomic leg cams
- 20 lb load capacity handles full-frame kits
Limitations
- 60-inch max height is modest for tall shooters
- Proprietary plate system limits quick-release compatibility
- Center column raises height but sacrifices stability
| Max height | 60 inches (152.4 cm) |
|---|---|
| Folded length | 15.4 inches (39.1 cm) |
| Weight | 3.44 lb (1.56 kg) |
| Load capacity | 20 lb (9.1 kg) |
| Leg sections | 5 |
Best for: Travelers who prioritize packed size above all else.
Skip if: You need maximum height for eye-level shooting, or you dislike proprietary plates.
Best budget ultralight
Benro MeFoto RoadTrip S
The versatile pick that converts to a monopod.
Not the lightest, but the monopod conversion earns its weight on trails: use it as a walking aid and a support in one. Budget hikers get two tools for the price and weight of one.
Strengths
- One leg detaches to form a full monopod
- 61.6-inch max height is tall for the class
- Separate pan lock suits video work
- Strong feature set for the tier
Limitations
- 5 leg sections mean more twist locks to operate
- Fit and finish trails premium rivals
- 3.6 lb weight is average rather than light
| Max height | 61.6 inches (156.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Folded length | 15.4 inches (39.1 cm) |
| Weight | 3.6 lb (1.63 kg) |
| Load capacity | 17.6 lb (8 kg) |
| Leg sections | 5, one converts to monopod |
Best for: Budget travelers who want tripod plus monopod in one purchase.
Skip if: You need premium fit and finish, or the lightest possible kit.
Best ultralight
Sirui Traveler 5CX
A sub-kilo carbon traveler with a proper ball head in the box.
At 0.92 kg the Traveler 5CX undercuts even the Gitzo on the scale, and it folds to 31.5 cm, trail-pack friendly numbers with a real ball head included. The 132 cm height and 6 kg limit are the honest cost.
Strengths
- Carbon fiber legs keep the kit weight at 0.92 kg
- Folds to 31.5 cm for pack and carry-on friendly travel
- B-00K ball head with 360-degree pan and an Arca-Swiss plate included
- 6 kg load rating covers mirrorless kits with standard telephotos
Limitations
- 132 cm max height is short for tall shooters
- Light legs trade some stiffness in wind versus heavier rivals
- Four-section legs are slower to deploy than three-section designs
| Material | Carbon fiber, 4 leg sections |
|---|---|
| Max height | 132 cm with center column |
| Folded length | 31.5 cm |
| Load capacity | 6 kg |
| Weight | 0.92 kg |
Best for: Hikers and travel shooters who count grams but still need a full ball head.
Skip if: You shoot heavy pro telephoto rigs; the 6 kg rating is for travel kits.
Best carbon alternative
3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0
Carbon performance with punk-rock personality.
The Brian 2.0's carbon build at 1.45 kg stays honestly in ultralight territory for shooters who also need height: 187 cm extended and 14 kg of capacity buy back everything lighter tripods give up.
Strengths
- 14 kg load capacity is huge for a travel tripod
- One leg detaches to become a full monopod
- 187 cm max height, tallest in this roundup
- 8x carbon fiber weave legs
Limitations
- 1.45 kg is not the lightest carbon option
- Bold styling will not suit everyone
- Premium pricing versus aluminum rivals
| Material | 8x carbon fiber, 5 leg sections |
|---|---|
| Max height | 187 cm |
| Load capacity | 14 kg |
| Weight | 1.45 kg with head |
| Extras | Detachable monopod leg |
Best for: Travelers who want carbon weight savings and a detachable monopod.
Skip if: You prefer understated gear; the orange accents are loud.
Best budget pick
Amazon Basics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod
The cheapest usable tripod on the internet.
At 1.3 kg the Amazon Basics is lighter than several mid-tier travel tripods, so fair-weather hikers on a budget can carry full 60-inch height; its 3 kg limit and breeze wobble cap it at light kits and calm days.
Strengths
- 60-inch max height reaches eye level
- 3-section aluminum legs with quick-release levers
- Built-in bubble level and 3-way pan head
- Weighs under 3 pounds for easy carrying
Limitations
- 3 kg load capacity cannot hold heavy lenses
- Plastic head and locks wear with heavy use
- Wobbly at full extension in any breeze
| Material | Aluminum, 3 leg sections |
|---|---|
| Max height | 60 in (152 cm) |
| Min height | 22 in (56 cm) |
| Load capacity | 3 kg |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
Best for: Beginners who need a first tripod for very little money.
Skip if: You shoot in wind or with heavy gear; this is a fair-weather tool.
Questions, answered
What is a reasonable tripod weight for backpacking?
Under 3 lb is comfortable for multi-day trips; under 2.5 lb is ideal. Above 3.5 lb, most hikers start leaving the tripod behind, which defeats the purpose.
Should the tripod go inside or outside the pack?
Inside when possible: outside mounting snags on branches and unbalances the load. This is where small packed diameter, the Peak Design's specialty, pays off directly.
Do I need spiked feet for trails?
Helpful on soft ground and rock crevices. Many tripods include interchangeable feet; rubber for travel, spikes for wilderness. Check what ships in the box before buying extras.
Can a monopod replace a tripod for hiking?
For stabilization in good light, yes; for long exposures and self-portraits, no. The MeFoto's convertible design covers both, which is why it wins the budget backpacking pick.