Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Searching for a tripod

Heading to Montana next month (hopefully) for a DIY bear hunt. Any recommendations on a tripod for a spotting scope. Trying out an Athlon Ares 15-45 x 60 (which hopefully arrives in time). I’m getting analysis paralysis from researching. I’d like to have first hand info from guys that actually use this stuff for backpack hunting. Thanks

I wouldn't worry as much about the tripod as I would which head to use (did I say that out loud?), unless you only plan to use the tripod to get a better look at a bear you've already spotted.

Get something sturdy. I like carbon fiber, but aluminum is OK too. Twist locks almost ALWAYS work better than lever locks, especially with dirt and grime in there. I despise the little internal stabilizers that attach from the post to each leg, as those legs can't be spread (ha!) very far apart. I rarely need to stand when glassing, so I don't use a real tall tripod. I mostly glass when sitting.

With that in mind, most any brand is OK for what you need. Get a good head though. Pistol grips and ball heads have their place, but for extended glassing sessions, I wayyyy prefer a pan head because you can glass on a perfectly horizontal (or vertical) plane, without "migrating" up or down, if that makes sense. If you plan to only use the tripod when the spotter comes out to look at a critter that you've already spotted, then even a somewhat cheaper ballhead or pistol grip would be fine.

Slik CF634 is great for packing, light and has twist locks!

I've used a Slik Sprint Pro II with the factory ball head for going on 10 years. I take the center tube out of it....weighs about 30 ounces that way. Flip-locks that have never given me an ounce of trouble. I typically use it sheep or caribou hunting with a Swaro 20-60x65mm ATM HD (angled magnesium...not made any more). Used sitting, set up over my legs with the tripod legs flattened out to the second notch for a wider base and more stability, which is good when set up with only 1-1/2 to 2 legs used of the three. Legs have foam over the aluminum where you hang on to it.

I use it standing ffully extended or a quick look on occasion. Works, but not as stable as you'd like. I have a big heavy Bogen aluminum tripod with a Manfrotto pistol grip head for the truck, quad and window at the house. Probably a 10# unit that is great standing but only when you don't have to carry it.

good head is definitely important!!

I purchased a Sirui T-005X aluminum tripod, the difference in weight between it and carbon model was only a couple of ounces and the aluminum was much better priced- I stripped out the lowest section of legs (put rubber tips on the next section) and also the screw in center section and got the weight down to under 2 lbs w/ the ball head that came with it (which is very nice!)- they also make a pan head if a guy prefers that

I ordered a Slik sprint 2 with pan head. 2lbs 5 oz. seems to be pretty good quality. New spotter is coming Monday so I can see how it all balances out. Thanks for the recommendations