That’s the end of my list for the top 7 best travel-friendly tripods that are tried and tested! I would also like to remind you that you can also use the tripods with your smartphones or GoPros while you’re shooting during your journeys.
With the exception of the Ballachy tripod, you will have to get a smartphone adapter for the other tripods as they do not come with one. But for that reason (and many others), the Ballachy tripod is my recommended choice for the best travel tripod especially considering the great features it comes with for an excellent price point!
I’d like to leave you with a few tips and tricks for traveling with your tripod.
On a Plane:
As stated in the TSA guidelines, tripods can be carried on flights in carry-on bags or checked bags as long as it meets the requirements of the airline. It may happen that an inspector asks you to check-in your tripod because it can be considered as a weapon. It happened a few times to me, so I always call the airline before flying and have a back-up plan in case I need to check mine in. Don’t check-in your camera though, it can get stolen, keep that with you in your carry-on bag.
In a Public Location with lots of Tourists and Visitors:
While visiting certain locations such as museums, monuments, government or religious buildings, the use of a tripod may be forbidden. I recommend to call ahead, potentially limiting any risks of having entry denied due to your tripod.
If you plan to go to a beach or any similar locations, it’s always a good idea to wipe your tripod with a washcloth after going to dusty, salty, rainy and muddy locations.
As part of my yearly cleaning routine, I throughly clean out my tripod. This helps extend the life of my tripod while keeping it in a pretty good condition. I have tripods that look brand new even though they are a couple years old!
Happy travels and don’t forget to take tons of shots to forever capture those everlasting moments! 🙂