Peak Design Travel Tripod Review

Conclusion

With their first foray into the tripod market, Peak Design managed to deliver an impressive and innovative product.

Simply called the Travel Tripod, this product is available in both carbon fiber and aluminum. It is a high-end product with a medium-high price tag.

The Peak Design tripod targets travellers, hikers, and people in need of a compact tripod solution. Without being the lightest or the smallest on the market, it comes close while reaching an impressive balance between size, weight, solidity, and price. In fact, it compares on stability and price with many studio tripods, while keeping the size and weight of a travel tripod.

The list of innovations and differences between this tripod and a more standard one is long. To mention a few: the non-circular shape of the legs, the inverted ballhead which nests in the apex, the clamp and lock for the plate, the lock for the ball, the integrated cell phone mount.

Other elements are not innovations per se, but they are particularly well executed: the case, the flip locks, the bottom hook and the easy way to remove it, the open design of the head which allows multiple configurations.

In short, this is a solid product which is sure to please its users.

Pros

• Narrow profile with no protruding parts
• No need to reverse legs when folding down
• Among the lightest and most compact on the market
• 20 pounds (9.1 kg) weight capacity
• Easy and faster than usual to deploy and operate
• Fast release of the camera via button instead of screw knob
• Achieves a high level of robustness without adding too much volume or weight
• Includes ballhead, high-quality case, cell phone holder, slim tripod plate, repair tool
• Excellent build quality and craftsmanship
• Designed for easy repairs and maintenance by the user
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Expensive
• No panning control with the head
• No dedicated friction adjustment
• Requires a HEX tool to shorten the center column
• Two angle options for the legs (instead of usual three)

Who Is It For?

The Peak Design Travel Tripod's target audience is, quite obviously, travellers. More specifically, people who travel light, possibly with only a carry-on bag or suitcase. That being said, compact tripods, when they are sturdy and stable, can be useful for any photographer who sets a foot outside the studio.

In the US, the Travel Tripod's price is currently $349.95 for the aluminum version and $599.95 for carbon fiber. The price is the same if you purchase through the company's website.