If you need a specific type of support for certain photography situations, we also have recommendations for photographers who use multiple cameras, those who frequently shoot sports or wildlife, photographers who work in wet conditions, and frequent travelers. However, all the suggested tripods are designed for full-size cameras. If you’re looking for a tripod for a smartphone, check out our guide to the best tripod for iPhones and other smartphones.
Our choice
The Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100 provides excellent stability, ease of use, and versatility with its angling center column, offering greater height and more leg-angle positions compared to other models.
The Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100 is the best choice in terms of size and stability among all the tripods we tested. It reaches the tallest height among our picks (up to 68.2 inches), its legs can be adjusted at four angles, and its angling center column allows for low camera positioning. This combination ensures a stable shooting position on various surfaces, whether the camera is positioned high or low. The included ball head, which connects the camera to the tripod legs and allows for camera position adjustments, is of higher quality compared to what is typically included with tripods in this price range; it offers smooth adjustments, a secure locking mechanism, and a quick-release plate for easy camera attachment and detachment. With a weight limit of 15.5 pounds, this tripod is suitable for any camera-and-lens combinations we recommend.
Also excellent
Smaller and lighter than our top pick, this tripod can also support two devices at once. However, it’s slightly less stable and comes at a slightly higher price.
If you’re an on-the-go photographer, or if you like shooting with two stabilized cameras simultaneously, the Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234AB is the ideal tripod for you. It is smaller and lighter than our top pick and offers the same features, including a multi-angle center column. Additionally, it includes an adapter that allows you to mount a second camera to the center column when it’s in the horizontal position, enabling you to shoot with two devices at once.
Also excellent
This tripod is extremely sturdy, has a higher load capacity than any of our other picks, and is waterproof, making it a worthwhile investment for regular underwater use.
If you anticipate regularly submerging your tripod in water, it’s worth investing in Sirui’s W-1004K10 Tripod Kit River Runner, as it is designed to prevent dirt or sand from affecting its moving parts. Solidly constructed and easy to set up, the W-1004K10 features a ball head that provides smooth adjustments, and its impressive 33.1-pound load capacity ensures it can handle even the largest lenses for unique nature photography experiences. Although it lacks a tilting center column like our other picks, this feature is unlikely to be missed during water-based photography activities.
Also excellent
The Element MII easily transitions from a backpack-sized to a tall tripod and offers sturdy support at a lower price compared to our other picks.
Manfrotto’s Element MII is an excellent travel tripod, providing substantial height and support in a highly portable package. Despite collapsing to just 16.7 inches in length and weighing only 3.4 pounds, it can extend to a maximum height of over 62.9 inches and support up to 17.6 pounds of equipment. Among the travel tripods we tested, it was one of the most stable, and it comes at a lower cost compared to much of the competition. The Element MII includes other essential features for a travel tripod, such as user-friendly twist leg locks and easy control of the ball head. It also offers additional features, including two bubble levels to assist with maintaining accurate perspectives.
Also excellent
This monopod is sturdy and stable, making it perfect for capturing subjects that require movement.
If you enjoy capturing birds and other wildlife, or if you prefer photographing fast-moving sports, a tripod may be cumbersome. In such situations, a monopod is more suitable, and our top pick is the Sirui P-204SR due to its height, strength, and adaptability. The removable base features three robust feet for stability when equipment is mounted, and it can even function as a tabletop tripod with an included accessory. With the base attached, the P-204SR reaches 63.5 inches in height, and without the base, it still stands at a respectable 57.9 inches.
