Originally posted by taktoon Very good point. I think every tripod is different. On my current tripod both the last leg section and the center column are the weak spots.
With my tripod, extending the center column definitely makes it more likely to flex. Of course, some tripods might manage to reduce center column flex through robust design.
Based on my experiences with tripods, another thing to consider is the size of the tripod when it's collapsed. If you're travelling by air, a tripod that is too big to fit into your luggage will have to be checked separately, incurring an extra fee on many airlines.