BEST Travel Tripod of 2023 - NOT Peak Design

Warning to Your Viewers: I’ve been waiting for almost a month for an order of two additional quick release plates from Heipi Vision. Even though their product page indicates that they are “In stock, ready to ship”, the delay is very annoying. Contacting support results in links to track the package, which has been in transit from China forever. Buyer Beware.

What a great video. I was about to buy the peak design tripod and you helped me change my mind. Thank you!

from the ulanzi link, it looks like there's a few options when buying--first seems to not have middle bar??

Wanna know how i found your video?! Looking for an add on solution to that damned ball head on the PD Carbon Fiber Tripod! I am sold on the Ulan now! Gonna sell the PD 😆

Loved the video, David. Could you have a look at the new kid on the block - namely, Neewer? They seem to be coming out with some interesting stuff (the TP65 is the one Im really interested in), but I've seen no-one do any reviews yet. My travel tripod is a CF Manfrotto whilst my larger one is Gitzo. 😉

Very true about the allen key/holder coming off - but PD replaced mine free of charge when I lost it. Still like the PD one but agree about the ball head.

not sure how this can be the best travel tripod, maybe for this price range. I have it for about half a year and on many trips and its becoming rather disappointing. Leveling only possible with the camera detached. so every time I move the tripod, I have to remove the camera to level it again. Screws and spike heads are not stainless steel, so after the first seascape session, everything got rusty quickly. Its also not sturdy in stable in windy conditions, even falls over when no camera is attached. For this price I probably cant expect this? not sure. As other mentioned the head is also not great and if you want to replace it, you need to buy a different center column by ulanzi.

Excellent review and side-by-side comparison. The iphone thing seems a gimmick. Who goes to the trouble of carrying a tripod without an SLR ? - that's an odd use case...

The intent us a travel tripod and some reasonable inconveniences should be accommodated. Also, PD is an American company and they add a lot of value in this space. I will buy PD, thanks for the excellent review.

HI, I own a DJI Action 4 and am looking to buy a fupl size Sony mirrorless camera. My goal is to purchase one tripod for both that raise to 60 inches ( give or take); any such thing?😮 Thx!

I was going to buy PD for A$650 in BF offers but now changed my mind

Gives a point for it being shorter then proceeds to give the other a point for being taller by the same amount 🤦🏾‍♂️

never lost the tool. And the issue you;'re having with unlocking, is that you're locking it "too hard", you even went past the "lock" symbol. if you just twist to the lock position, it wont go off, you dont need to "tighten" it. I like that you can pan only on the conan though

Very helpful. Thanks! What’s the little round tag hanging from your camera. Some kind of tracker?

Love your content and advise! I tried the Ulanzi link and it doesn’t pull up anything. Can you look and share which one it is from their site?

totally agree your point.

Why not just sell the PD and get yourself another Ulanzi?

Hi. Is this the 'Ulanzi Zero Y Lightweight Travel Tripod' model? Just followed your link and it then says kit 1, kit 2, all the way up to kit 5, though not showing what the kits are, which is weird. Thanks.

Great review. One spec addition - the PD has a much greater payload according to their spec sheet. 9kg vs 5kg

Needed this in upgrading my 6 year old Zomei tripod. Thanks for the insights! After a year from publishing, have you had a better tripod than Ulanzi?

is there a specific Ulanzi model for travel version? What is the difference between the Zero F38 and the Zero Y?

Excellence, David! But question: I heard that the Peak Design has zero center post jiggle; but Ulanzi has jiggle there. What’s you take in that?

Thank you. Made my mind up !

I have the Uanzi Zero Y on the way. Great video.

Excellent review. So glad you pointed out where they are made. I personally won't pay premium price for a made in China product. Do you have the weight capacity of each?

Hi David what a fantastic review I will go for ulanzi . I found you and hit subscription button . Thanks a lot for an amazing review and comparisons . ❤from Australia

You are not boring to watch & I loved the informational video. Thanks! New Subscriber 🎉

Thanks for your review. I think I’m going to buy one?

Run far from this Heipi. They have had my money since March, and I still have no tripod and they are refusing to refund my money or send the tripod. Total scam. I am out 339.00 at this point.

I bought this six months back. The F38 plate that attaches to the camera does not stay put because its rubber padding easily peels causing scratches to the camera. I asked Ulanzi to send a previous generation center column but they couldn't instead sent a video head to use with a generic center column.
I now use "3-Legged Thing AirHed Pro Ballhead" instead.
IMO they're stable but I don't think it's handling any vibration. maybe because of the size (diameter) of the tube? does anyone experience this problem?

Peak design is TRASH. After 3 weeks wouldnt hold my 5 pound setup.

LOL man you look like Mark Rober . i just orderered the ulanzi after watching this video thanks man

Wonderful review. What is the label maker you are using here :)

I don't prefer the lock on the Peak Design for securing your camera but it has a purpose especially for those who carry their camera on their tripod. You don't want your camera to fall off when during transport.

You shoot with a Japanese or German camera but you would prefer if peak design was American made?

A very comprehensive and well presented comparison. I think the Ulanzi wins in everything but th PD lifetime g'tee.
Thank you.
Subscribed.

You sir, just saved me 400 bucks, thank you very much.

You saved me a ton of money thank you

Wow I didn't realize the PD doesn't have a pan only option and wow does that feel ridiculous. I thought about it for a travel tripod but that us a deal breaker for anyone who does video much. The portrait orientation issues would also piss me off.

sooo where do you buy that label maker from lol

Where are all those 'no good Chinese cheap knock-off' gripers when you need them when the chinese brand is much better than the Americans? I'm in favor of supporting American hard-working companies who create great products, but at the end of the day, my money goes to whoever create a better product! We Americans have lost that creative ingenuity of design along time ago to the third world countries as our country fall behind in education, family value, and standard of living. Time to wake up, Americans! They are eating our lunches!
For disclosure,I'm Chinese-American, btw.

Do they still make those labelling machines !!?? That's vintage ! :-) ;-) ..but still going strong !

Where did you get this shirt from? Awesome content as always!

can one of the legs be removed and converted to a monopod?

Great review and fair assessment of both - hats off too for going against Peak Design that can be akin to bristling the likes of the Apple fanbase:). Was in the tripod hunt for a trip coming up and this stopped me in my tracks just before pulling the pin on the PD. Thanks!

Great review. But I feel as through most of this is personal preference. PD made a masterpiece, the only complaint I have is the weight. I wish it was lighter. So you are %100 correct there. It's my go to after a year of backpacking to different countries.

WTF is that made in USA talk. It is not a selling point.

What do you think about LEOFOTO RANGER LS-255CEX? Its much cheaper with weight ~1kg.