A good spotting scope tripod provides excellent stability, especially if you’re using your scope at higher magnification since the tripod provides a solid and sturdy base for your spotting scope.
The two parts of a tripod are the head and the legs, which supports the spotting scope and keeps your equipment grounded. You can purchase the head and the leg set separately, although this option is more expensive but recommended if you’re using a heavy spotting scope. You can also purchase the tripod head and legs as a complete unit, which is the route that I recommend since it’s a lot easier and not to mention, more affordable.
Before you start looking for the right tripod for your spotting scope, you need to keep in mind your intended purpose for your scope. Will you be using it for birdwatching, hunting, target shooting, backpacking or hiking? This helps determine if you need a lightweight and compact tripod for easy portability (recommended for backpackers, hunters, and hikers, or a heavy-duty tripod for prone and target shooting. Compact tripods are ideal for stabilizing spotting scopes of 70mm or less, whereas heavy-duty tripods are recommended for spotting scopes with an 80mm objective lens or more.
I would refrain from using the tripod that often comes bundled with spotting scopes as they’re made with cheap plastic. They’re often small and intended to use as tabletop tripods so they lack the ability to extend height.