Best travel tripods 2024: Lightweight and compact tripods

If you're a photographer who loves to take your camera with you when you venture outdoors, you will almost certainly want to pick up one of the best travel tripods. 

These tripods are an essential accessory whether you're hoping to capture stunning landscape shots or photograph the starry night sky. A travel tripod lets you frame the perfect shot, take your time to set up and, crucially, keep your camera stead if you're in low-lighting conditions and are shooting with long exposures. 

Unlike the best tripods, the best travel tripods are portable and lightweight, often made from carbon fiber, meaning you can save on space and weight in your kit bag. They also incorporate a telescopic design — collapsing into a compact package that fits in one of the best camera backpacks. 

Our expert reviewers have tested the best travel tripods in a range of real-world environments, assessing their ease of use, portability, and weight—making note of how easily they'll fit into your bag. They've also examined any trade-offs you'll make, with some, for example, restricting the payload. 

Remember, with Amazon Prime Day coming up in July, you should take the time now to research the best travel tripod for you; there's every chance that come the big day, you will find a great discount. The same can be said if you want to pair your travel tripod with one of the best cameras and best lenses. 

On Prime Day last year — Amazon's annual sale event that offers major discounts to its Prime members across thousands of products — we spotted some great deals on travel tripods. The JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit, for example, was available for less than half-price. There's every chance we'll see big discounts coming through in the run-up to Prime Day, so stay up-to-date with the latest updates from Space.com ahead of that all-important event.

The quick list

Best travel tripods we recommend in 2024

Best travel tripod overall

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The slim and compact design of the Peak Design Travel Tripod and high build quality earn it pole position in our guide thanks to the fact you can still guarantee stability – even when using heavy DSLR cameras. Its three legs and ball head meet seamlessly with no gaps when it's folded, which results in a compact package that measures 3.13 inches in diameter and 15.4 inches high. You can easily pack into int your camera bag or any luggage. But it does also come with a soft padded case that features a waterproof zip and carry handles that make life easier.

We loved this tripod's speedy setup and takedown during our Peak Design Travel Tripod review, although we were slightly less fond of the camera attachment. The ball head (one of the most compact we've seen) comes with a tripod plate that attaches to your camera using a hex tool. While this was incredibly stable for long hours when shooting star trails, we can't help but feel that a tool-free D-ring plate would have been easier.

The smartphone clamp can be cleverly stowed away under the center column, saving more space in your camera bag. True, with a tripod like this one you might not be likely to take smartphone pictures, but the option is there to take some snaps while you set up your camera. 

This tripod might not be the best option for tall photographers. With a maximum height of 60 inches/152.4cm, it's not the tallest tripod on this list, and while that keeps its overall weight down, it might be uncomfortable to use for those with a bit more height. 

It's worth noting that there are two versions of this tripod available: one with an aluminum body and the other with a carbon fiber body. The carbon fiber one is lighter than the aluminum one, but it's also much more expensive. As the aluminum option is already very light at 3.44 lbs/1.56kg, we'd question whether the extra expense is worth it.

• Read our full Peak Design Travel Tripod review

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Best for height

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The quality in the Benro Rhino FRHN24C+VX25 Head shines through, and is typical of the premium nature of the Rhino range – Benro's high-end tripods. It also comes with all the bells and whistles you could ask far from a higher-end model, including a phone mount, carbon fiber tubes and a detachable monopod.

In our Benro Rhino 24C Two series review, we called it an excellent tripod and praised its sleek design, reliability and portability. It's not the smallest tripod on this list, but since it folds down to 19.3 inches, it's still very compact and is TSA-friendly. When completely extended, it measures 169cm (66.3 inches) so it should be tall enough for most users. As mentioned, it can be configured into a monopod, making it versatile for different types of photography.

Although this tripod is more expensive than others on this list, many professional travel photographers would find it a wise investment. The great thing about Benro is the range of height and size options available for each product. The Rhino comes in four different sizes and a choice between either four or five leg sections, so photographers can choose whichever size best suits their needs. 

We found it easy to set up and take down in the dark. The rubber grips were soft on the hands, and the interchangeable feet were a nice touch—we found that swapping to the spiky feet helped with stability when we were shooting in windy conditions. The VX25 head also has some neat safety features to prevent your camera from slipping off or being dropped, something many other tripod manufacturers don't think of. 

Overall, we loved this tripod and gave it five stars. Although it's certainly an investment, we think it'll last you a very long time.

• Read our full Benro Rhino 24C Two series review

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Best compact option

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The weight and compactness of this tripod make it a compelling option, as we noted in our Benro Tortoise 24C Tripod review, so much so that we weren't sure why it wasn't their flagship tripod. Ultimately, the Rhino may be the superior option for those who favor height and versatility — but the Tortoise is otherwise an excellent option.  

The Tortoise doesn't have a center column, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, this lack of center column means the tripod doesn't extend very high; at 5'4 feet tall, our reviewer felt they had to stoop to use it even at full height. 

However, the absence of a center column also means the Benro Tortoise 24C tripod is lighter and more compact than some of the other picks on this list, so it's a great companion for travel photographers. Additionally, having no column in the center means the tripod's legs can spread out at almost 90 degrees, making it much more flexible than other tripods in this guide. As such, it's a great choice for those seeking to take photographers from unique angles.

The GX30 head features two safety elements to prevent the camera from slipping off when you're putting it on or taking it off, but we thought overall the head was bulkier than it needed to be. The main ball adjustment knob protrudes out a fair amount when, in our opinion, it doesn't need to. That said, it's not impractical, we just think it could do with being smaller.

• Read our full Benro Tortoise 24C Tripod review

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Best lightweight option

While the Vanguard VEO 3 GO 204CB tripod can only extend to a height of 51.6 inches (1.3 m), we were astonished by its lightness — with this model weighing just 1.8 lbs (0.81 kg). Although there are taller tripods in this guide, and those that can bear a weight greater than its 6.6 lbs (3 kg) maximum, you can do much worse for pure portability.

This tripod is perfect for travel or hiking, particularly if you're going to remote locations to shoot astrophotography under glorious dark skies. It can collapse down to just 13.6 inches in length, which is quite impressive. 

Although it may not be as tall as other tripods, its lightweight and compact design makes it an attractive choice. Photographers on the go will also appreciate its smooth-operating ball head, and overall, we think the build quality is top-notch.

The Vanguard VEO 3 GO is also a rather versatile tripod, given it can convert to a monopod and a selfie stick. Because of that, we think it's a great choice for videographers or photographers who like to get creative. 

Despite being a carbon fiber tripod, the Vanguard VEO 3 GO 204CB is surprisingly affordable. There is an aluminum model available, but it's not that much cheaper so in this instance, we'd recommend you go for the carbon fiber and keep the weight as low as possible (the aluminum version is a few ounces heavier at 2.1 lbs).

• Read more: Best mirrorless cameras

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Best for videographers

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We highlighted the excellent build quality of this tripod in our Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod review, especially the presence of a central column that makes it incredibly reliable. We should note that it isn't the lightest out there — weighing 3.28 lbs (1.49 kg) — but it earns its place on this list as an excellent option for videographers.

Aside from its sturdy design, we particularly appreciated how affordable the Manfrotto Befree tripod is. It's great value for money compared to more expensive carbon fiber tripods in this guide, and it even comes with its own carry case.

This tripod can reach a maximum height of 59 inches and collapses to 15.7 inches when packed up. It has a reverse folding design which works fine for transportation, but it's not as compact as some other tripods on our list, and there are noticeable gaps between the legs which could waste space when packing it in a suitcase.

It comes with a new and improved ball head that features 360-degree flexibility and the 200PL PRO base plate attaches easily to your camera using a D-ring, which can be done anywhere and requires no extra tools, which is great when you're using it in the dark. 

The four-section legs are versatile, with three angled positions that click neatly into place and sturdy rubber feet to provide grip. While it's not the smallest or lightest travel tripod out there, it's great value for the quality you get.

• Read our full Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod review

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Best for content creators

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This is an odd-looking tripod, admittedly, but we can forgive that thanks to the JOBY GorillaPod 3K Pro's lightweight and sturdy build — which we pointed out in our JOBY GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit review. The way the legs are configured means that you'll end up having a lot of fun using it — especially in the way you can attach them to almost anything to access new vantage points. This is ultimately a tripod that challenges you to get creative. 

The main selling point of the GorillaPod is that it's extremely portable, weighing only 8.7 oz/463g and measuring 12 inches/30cm. It can carry a payload of 6.6 lbs/3kg, which isn't the most generous, but it's certainly enough for a mirrorless camera and lens setup. This makes it an attractive option for travel photographers, vloggers and content creators, who can buy a separate mount to attach their smartphones to it.

Along with its unique legs, the GorillaPod comes with an Arca-Swiss compatible ball head that can be panned 360 degrees. Coupled with 90 degrees of tilt, you can capture from practically any angle you like, making this an excellent choice for creative photographers and those who like to experiment with composition. 

It's worth noting you'll need to make sure to evenly distribute the weight when setting it up to prevent any equipment from tipping over. Once everything was in position, we found it very secure and stable, even with a telephoto lens attached to the camera. Overall, it's an interesting alternative to conventional tripods and is highly portable for outdoor use.

We only regret that the GorillaPod 3K pro doesn't have a spirit level to ensure your shots are completely straight while you set them up. That said, most newer cameras have a built-in level feature, so that might not be an issue for you.

• Read our full JOBY GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit review

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Best stylish option

You may not be thinking about a tripod in terms of how it looks, but the Gitzo Legende Traveller Tripod Kit stands out from the pack as being an incredibly aesthetically pleasing model. This stunning tripod enjoys a premium design, but be wary that this comes at the cost of a premium price tag.

Gitzo's entire Legende series focuses on premium and visually appealing camera accessories. But like the rest of the series, the Legende Traveller Tripod kit isn't just designed to look fancy; it's also a tripod that offers stand-out performance. It's expertly crafted with smooth dials, knobs and adjustments to make it a joy to set up.

The Legende Traveller Tripod Kit impresses with its meticulous attention to detail, including features like the custom-designed matte silver aluminum Center Ball Head and the stylish leather strap, enhancing its premium feel. 

It extends to a maximum height of 65 inches with the central column extended and collapses to a compact length of 16.9 inches when folded. Four leg sections can support loads of up to 17.6 lbs.

If you're willing to spend the money on it, we think it's a good tripod. However, we do have one criticism: many other tripods available, many of which we've mentioned in this list, can perform the same functions at a much lower cost.

• Read more: Best camera accessories for astrophotography

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Best budget travel tripod

As one of the best manufacturers of tripods in the world, we've come to expect great things from Benro. And the MeFoto Road Trip Pro is no exception to that, which is a more affordable alternative to some of its cousins — while still boasting a great design and impressive real-world performance.

Of course, there are some trade-offs. Its smaller frame means it holds less weight than other tripods on this list. It's also not the tallest tripod on the market, extending up to 60 inches/155cm. But if you're on a budget and still want a quality tripod, we think they're trade-offs worth making. 

At just 3.6 lbs, the Benro MeFoto Road Trip Pro is very lightweight and easy to carry in a backpack or in luggage. It's also seriously versatile: In addition to being a tripod, it can be configured into a monopod, boom pole, selfie stick, high hat, and tabletop tripod. It's suited to practically every type of photographer and videographer, and with so many options to choose from, it promotes creativity and experimentation.

We find the tripod's graduated panning scale quite handy because it helps you maintain a level position for smooth panning in video or capturing panoramic shots of the scenery. The twist locks work effectively, but it might take longer to set up if you have to twist or unscrew each one individually. Nevertheless, it's a hassle-free choice that won't strain your budget, making it an excellent option for amateur travelers looking to take photos.

• Read more: Best cameras for beginners

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Best value for money

Danny Lenihan used his knowledge in photography and lighting to design versatile and lightweight tripods when he started 3-Legged Thing — a grassroots U.K. business. This 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey 2.0, available for $200, is a triumph and offers fantastic value for money

The Punks series of tripods from 3-Legged Thing is designed with travel in mind. Their body made from magnesium alloy mean they are very lightweight and compact and despite their portable size, they boast an impressive weight capacity of up to 30 lbs, more than 8x their weight. 

The Corey 2.0 Tripod is 54.3 inches when fully extended, and when it's collapsed, it's just 14.2 inches long. That's super compact, making carrying it or packing it away an absolute cinch. We also appreciate that its feet can be swapped out in favor of a low-level/tabletop setup — and if you prefer, you can remove the legs entirely to opt for a monopod setup.

Even though we liked the tripod's vivid colors, solid designs and general performance, some seasoned amateurs or professionals might be looking for more bells and whistles, such as more complex head systems.

• Read more: 3 Legged PUNKS Brian tripod review

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Travel tripods: Frequently Asked Questions

How we test the best travel tripods

To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best travel tripods to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every travel tripod through a rigorous review to fully test each product. Each travel tripod is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions and its performance in the field.

Each travel tripod is carefully tested by our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each travel tripod and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use.

We look at how easy each travel tripod is to operate, whether it contains the latest up-to-date material, and also make suggestions if a particular travel tripod would benefit from any additional equipment to give you the best user experience possible.

With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on travel tripods, whether you should purchase a travel tripod or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.