Gear

[MarbleEyez]

Looking for a high quality tripod for my spotting scope. What have you guys had the best luck with? The vanguard I have is going to get ditched in the garbage! Looking for something that's not to heavy so a person has the option to throw in on the backpack on any backcountry adventures. Anybody use the bog pod's??

 

[Kurtr]

slik are what alot of people like. The outdoors man are also good. Manfroto be free is also a good one. they are expensive

 

[tsioux]

Cabelas has a killer deal on one of their tripods that I'm having trouble linking to. Called the Cabelas Quick Draw Tripod. Has a built in shooting rest that I'll be removing to shed some weight. I believe it's a rebranded Manfrotto. $300 off the Carbon Fiber version

 

[DirtyMike]

please, please do not have any deals on these today.

 

[Lungdeflator]

I have a cheaper Vortex tripod that I bought same time I bought the spotter. Works well and is lightweight. Ill be looking for a decent fluid head to put on it though. Panning around with the spotter with what is on it now can be frustrating, especially trying to get on something quick and steady at the same time.

 

[Whisky]

Slik Pro 634 CFL (the model with the flip locks) is what I'd recommend. I have the twist locks, and much prefer the flip style of my older tripods.
The 634 is tall enough to use standing up. But light and compact enough to throw in the pack. If you didn't care about standing use, the 624 CFL would be the way to go. It's more compact yet.

 

[MarbleEyez]

Which heads do you prefer for the Slik's? I want something that when I'm on the target, when I let my hand off of it, I'm not looking 100' above it!

 

[Whisky]

Which heads do you prefer for the Slik's? I want something that when I'm on the target, when I let my hand off of it, I'm not looking 100' above it!

Does price matter?

And what spotter do you have?

 

[Fly Carpin]

please, please do not have any deals on these today.

You can try mine out next week. Just ordered a couple

 

[MarbleEyez]

Does price matter?

And what spotter do you have?

Price is up for debate. I'll spend money on a quality item once, instead of buying several of them trying to get close to the quality product. It'll be for a Swarovski STS 80 HD

 

[Kurtr]

Outdoors man

 

[huntorride365]

You asked about the Bog Pod; I have one. I have the quick detach so I can interchange camera, spotter, and then have the head on for rifle tripod use. It is solid. I use it for most of my hunting. Don't use it in the mountains because it is heavy and I feel I can get my pack down for a rest or use a tree, or use my trekking sticks to shoot off of.

 

[Whisky]

Outdoorsman is a good one. I have the micro and use it with a 85mm scope that's about 10 oz heavier then yours. Sometimes I wish I had their regular pan head to try as the micro is better suited for 65mm and smaller spotters. But it looks down solid and holds my scope fine. Just gets a little shaky in high wind. I don't think you could go wrong with either their regular or micro pan head. Another concern with the regular is having 2 separate levers for the tilt and pan, plus the handle... On the micro the tilt is built into the handle which I'm find of.

 

[MarbleEyez]

Is the Outdoorsman a lot beefier than the Slik's?