Best Travel Video Tripods for Filmmakers on the Go

Travel video tripod manufacturers face a difficult problem. They have to provide a product that can both collapse into a compact package and become a solid video tripod that offers smooth pan capabilities. Most "travel" tripods accomplish one part of this equation very well, but either fail to deliver in terms of the second half, or neglect to make sure the tripod can stabilize a decent-sized video camera.

While all tripods for travel are going to be limited by design in terms of their ability to support heavy loads, this article will help evaluate several different options that offer the best compromise of portability and stability for shooting video on-location, starting with the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod as the overall pick.

What Matters When Choosing a Travel Video Tripod

While the amount of weight a tripod carries and its packed length can seem important factors in choosing a travel tripod, they are only part of the overall picture when shooting video. In reality, a key factor is the stiffness of the tripod and the type of head used.

A light tripod that packs nicely into a backpack or carryon, but wobbles badly on the pan bar during a 70-200mm shot isn't doing you much good. That's why we're going to focus on the head quality and stiffness of the tripod.

Weight, Payload, and the Real Carry Test

When shopping for a travel tripod designed for video, you want something that falls within the 2.5-4 pound range. Any lighter than that, you start to sacrifice payload capacity and stiffness for any type of cinema-style camera. Anything heavier than that, and you've lost the whole concept of traveling with a lightweight tripod.

The maximum payload rating listed by the manufacturer is typically conservative for still photography, and completely unrealistic for video. A tripod that lists a maximum payload of 11 pounds can hold a 6-pound camera-and-lens combination statically, but you'll still see tiny movements through your smooth pans. We recommend using about half of the rated payload for serious video work.

Head Types: Fluid vs. Ball Heads

There is one major distinction when evaluating tripods intended for video. Fluid heads versus ball heads. Fluid heads feature adjustable drag levels and are capable of producing a smooth pan. Ball heads with panning bases are simply locking onto a horizontal axis, but lack drag damping and therefore translate any nudge into the shot.

If you plan to use your travel tripod to shoot moving subjects, a fluid head is a requirement. Even a small one will significantly improve the appearance of your shots. If you primarily intend to shoot static interviews or timelapses, a ball head will suffice and will likely save you some weight.

Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod (Best Overall for Mirrorless Cameras)

The Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod packs down to approximately 15 inches in length, weighs about 2.8 lbs, features five-section carbon legs with cam-lever folding, and includes an integrated ball head. The maximum height achieved by extending all three legs exceeds 60 inches without utilizing the center column.

To transition from capturing still photos to video, replace the provided stills plate with Peak Design's optional video plate accessory. This provides a pannable, lockable platform that can accommodate a Sony FX3 or Canon R6 II with a 24-70mm lens.

The user community frequently praises the packed size as a unique advantage over competing products in regards to fitting in a carry-on luggage compartment, and compliments the build quality. However, many users criticize the price and minor learning curve associated with operating the cam-lock mechanisms. Refer to B&H and Amazon for comparison pricing, as both retailers currently sell both carbon fiber and aluminum versions of this product.

Manfrotto Befree 3-Way Live Advanced (Best Dedicated Video Head)

On the opposite end of the spectrum lies the Manfrotto Befree 3-Way Live Advanced, which ships with a fluid-drag pan/tilt head and an optional removable side-handle. It collapses down to approximately 16 inches and weighs approximately 3.5 lbs.

Although Manfrotto's fluid drag system on the Befree is not as sophisticated as others available in higher-end tripods, it produces significantly smoother pans than any ball head on the market. Users of the Manfrotto Befree on B&H report reliable performance when shooting solo-interview setups or walking-and-talking B-roll. The most frequent criticism voiced by reviewers is that on certain kits, the fluid head is permanently mounted and thus cannot be swapped out.

Choose this product if you are focused primarily on filming video content on-location with a small mirrorless camera body. See the Befree Live at B&H.

Strong Alternatives Across Price and Weight

For shooters who need a different balance, three other tripods round out the picks. SmallRig delivers a budget video-capable kit, Sirui leans on weight savings for stills-first hybrids, and Benro provides a heavier hybrid option for trekking with telephoto glass.

SmallRig CT150 Travel Video Tripod (Budget Video Pick)

SmallRig has been making significant strides into creating high-quality tripods and accessories for videographers. Their latest offering, the SmallRig CT150 Travel Video Tripod Kit, represents perhaps their most compelling product yet. A complete carbon-fiber leg set paired with an extremely compact fluid head and a built-in monopod leg, all bundled together at an affordable price.

This tripod offers tremendous value for run-and-gun travel-based videographers working with mirrorless systems. Users reviewing the SmallRig on B&H praise the additional drag stages found on the fluid head relative to other products priced similarly to this product. Additionally, users note that transitioning back-and-forth between monopod mode and standard tripod configuration happens quickly and efficiently. The primary criticisms regarding this product revolve around potential longevity concerns related to the leg locking mechanism relative to similar offerings from Manfrotto or Peak Design.

As such, if you are new to shooting video or need a second or third tripod for backup purposes, this SmallRig CT150 bundle may prove to be an attractive option. Compare with the SmallRig CT150 on Amazon.

Sirui AT-125 with KS-5 Ball Head (Lightest Carbon Tripod Option)

Sirui's AT-125 with KS-5 ball head represents an extreme example of a still-camera-centric travel tripod designed specifically for photographers who wish to take advantage of their ultra-lightweight camera gear. With a total weight of only 2.4 lbs and packing down to approximately 14 inches, this product will appeal strongly to photographers who use lightweight equipment for landscape shoots and drone-based B-roll capture.

Unfortunately, this product is not ideal for video applications due to its lack of a fluid head. However, it could serve as an excellent option for videographers who prefer to utilize external fluid heads for panning. Many reviewers complimented Sirui on delivering excellent leg lock functionality along with high-quality finishes on their components. The majority of reviewer complaints centered upon the fact that Sirui did not include adequate drag control on their KS-5 ball head for video-specific panning requirements.

Therefore, this Sirui product serves as an excellent solution for photographers who are interested in using their ultra-lightweight camera gear for still photography applications, and potentially occasionally capturing short videos using an external fluid head.

Benro Rhino Carbon Fiber with VX30 Head (Hybrid Solution)

The Benro Rhino carbon fiber tripod paired with their VX30 ball head is positioned directly between Peak Design and Sirui in terms of size while providing improved payload capacities. The Rhino 3-series legs combined with the large and sturdy VX30 ball head can support a full frame camera body equipped with a 70-200mm telephoto lens, an uncommon capability among many travel tripods.

As mentioned previously, Benro marketed this as a hybrid travel and trekking style tripod. The numerous reviewers confirmed that this was accurate, noting that while carrying larger telephoto lenses for wildlife photography or trekking and hiking were advantages to purchasing the Rhino, they noted that its overall size pushed it beyond what would be considered practical for carry-on travel.

Select this product if you are planning to carry longer telephoto lenses for wildlife or nature-based photography and desire a sturdy tripod that can keep pace with you as you hike or travel as opposed to merely shuffling between airports. Browse Benro options on Amazon.

Choosing Among These Options

Ultimately, your selection process boils down to how often you shoot video as part of your overall production workflow. Mirrorless cameras are particularly suited for travel-based filmmaking due to their reduced size and lower weight relative to full-frame cameras. Therefore, if your mirrorless body is primarily used for video-related projects and minimizing pack size is paramount, then the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is your best bet.

On the flip side, if you require a tripod featuring a fluid drag-based video head without sacrificing too much money from your overall budget, select the Manfrotto Befree Live 3-Way. It delivers near-professional grade performance at nearly half the price of most other competitive solutions. At the other end of the spectrum is SmallRig, an entry-level brand offering budget-friendly solutions with surprisingly advanced features. Select this product if your main concern is finding an affordable way to add a basic video-enabled tripod to your collection.

Sirui represents another budget-friendly solution with excellent still-image centric designs that may occasionally accommodate low-weight video equipment. Select this product if you are already invested in Sirui products and only occasionally plan on shooting video. Lastly, select Benro if your primary objective involves taking an ultra-sturdy hybrid trek and travel based tripod that can withstand rough terrain and support heavier-than-average telephoto lenses.

If you want to advance further toward more cinematic-grade heads while accepting increased leg sizes, check out the Benro BVX16 video tripod for upgrading purposes. If you primarily create interview-based productions where the tripod will remain stationary throughout each project, also consider our 3 Legged Thing Patti review, best video camera for wedding, and best lens for wedding video guides as additional reference points to assist in rounding out your overall kit.

Additionally, filmmakers who are responsible for transporting multiple pieces of equipment should be aware of how they fit into their respective bags. See our travel camera backpack review for that part of the kit. Since many readers are currently researching which mirrorless camera to purchase for travel-based filmmaking applications, please refer to our best mirrorless camera for filmmaking guide as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I always use a fluid head when filming travel video?

Yes, if you ever pan your camera while recording. Stair-step pans occur when using ball heads with panning bases due to lack of drag damping. Locked-off interviews, timelapse captures and purely still photography applications don't necessitate a fluid head. Ball heads are acceptable options in these cases.

However if you're capturing any form of B-roll movement, even if it's just slow panning motion, adding even an entry-level fluid head will drastically enhance the visual quality of your footage.

Should I choose aluminum or carbon fiber construction for my travel tripod?

Aluminum provides greater resistance against impacts sustained during shipping in checked luggage. Carbon fiber saves customers approximately 25% in weight compared to aluminum constructions, resulting in superior vibration suppression during long-lens video capture.

Carbon fiber constructions provide more portability benefits while allowing users to achieve more cinematic-quality images during long-lens video capture. However they cost more than aluminum construction counterparts.

What is my true maximum payload capacity when using any given travel tripod?

Approximately half of the published payload ratings offered by each manufacturer is suitable for real-world video usage. For instance, if you're filming with a 6-pound camera-and-lens combo, even though your 11-pound-rated tripod can support your load statically, you'll still see minute shake and movement through smooth pans via playback.

Will these tripods be allowed in carry-ons by airline personnel?

All major carriers permit tripods carried onboard provided they fit inside your carry-on bag and your carry-on bag meets airline dimensions and requirements. All five tripods reviewed here pack down under 20 inches, therefore they should fit inside most standard-issue 22-inch carry-on bags.

However international budget carriers may possess tighter restrictions and limits. Always verify policies with your chosen airline prior to flight departure.

May I utilize these travel tripods with cinema cameras?

Depending on specific circumstances, yes. An FX3 equipped with small zoom lenses and minimal accessories can operate effectively on all five reviewed tripods. However, if you plan to equip your cinema camera with heavy duty rigs (e.g., FX6), then neither payload nor stability will meet minimum standards required by professional cinematographers.

Is the SmallRig CT150 actually as good as the Manfrotto?

It is in the same conversation, not identical. The SmallRig fluid head has more drag adjustment than expected at the budget price point. Manfrotto's fluid system on the Befree Live feels more refined for fast pans, and the brand's parts ecosystem is bigger. If you need a video-capable travel tripod at the budget tier, the SmallRig CT150 is the value pick.