I've got a Zeiss 65mm scope and outdoorsman's tripod w/ the pistol grip head. The combo came in at 6.45 lbs. Can you get much lighter w/o giving up too much quality and stability?

I have a couple different setups for spotting scope/tripod setups that I take depending on hunt type and animal I am after.

I have access to 3 different spotting scopes.

First is a Swaro 80mm 20-60 zoom this setup is mainly used when moose hunting which usually involves a wheeler and a boat and I use a large Manfrotto tripod with a pistol grip head. The whole setup is upwards of 9 lbs. Heavy but worth it when looking over a LOT of moose hunting and needing to count browtines up to 2 miles away...if the lighting/heatwaves/and wind allow for it.

The second setup is my main setup. Its a Zeiss Diascope 65mm 15-45 zoom weighs about 51 oz or 3.2 pounds with the Neoprene cover with a Velbon Maxi-F tripod which is about 2.2 pounds. For a total weight of 5.4 pounds. This is mainly for sheep hunting and moose hunting when not wheeler hunting when determing if a animal is legal is VERY critical.

here is a link to the velbon tripod. I like it a lot. Able to extend tall enough to be able to stand up and just it but still collaspes down to 14".

http://www.amazon.com/Velbon-Ultra-Maxi-Tripod-4-Way/dp/B00022UE8Y

My third setup is a Nikon XL II 16-48 zoom and weighs 31 oz. Along with a Promaster Ditigal tripod (D2 model) weighs in a 22 oz. For a total setup weight much of 3.5 pounds. This is used for ultralight sheep hunting and caribou or bear hunting when determinig size is less critical. Still a great little scope, just lacks the clairty and brightness at times when compared to the Zeiss, but at nearly 2 pound savings and much more compact setup taking up less volume in the pack its worth it at times.

My big setup is a Nikon 82ED spotter with a Manfrotto 190 tripod and a RC2 head. 4lbs 6oz for the spotter and 4lbs 15oz for the tripod and fluid head.

The little setup I use is a Leupold fixed 25x50 with a tiny no-name tripod. 1lb 6oz for the spotter and 1lb 8oz for the tripod.

There is a large difference in both weight and performance no doubt, but the big setup gets a lot more use. I'm going to Wyoming to look for deer tomorrow and the big guy will get packed along for sure.

I am using a Leupold Compact 15-30x50 with a cheap Nikon silk tripod together comes in at about 3 lb total. I couldn't be happier with the setup.

There is a highly entertaining and educational thread on this somewhere if you can find it with a search. It gave me a complex about my little Leupold 25X Compact BUT I am not a real trophy hunter and don't go on sheep hunts or the like. If I did, I would consider something bigger. As it is, I don't carry the spotter on many backpacking hunts. I have that Velbon tripod mentioned above that I bought for photography with compact cameras. It is a great tripod for the weight and particularly for the height it provides. I'm going the other way and going to get something lighter and more compact that I'll be more likely to pack with the Leupold.

alaska lanche, you look to have to the perfect set up to choose from. The right tools for the various jobs.

I broke mine down and the tripod weighs 2.95lbs and the scope weighs 3.55lbs.

I like the look of that Velbon. Looks like it has a lot of versatility w/o a lot of weight.

Is this the thread CCH?

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2537596/1

Scope and tripod, 3lbs 13oz's.

20x60 fixed glass... early 1990's Celestron with ED glass.

Slik Sprint Pro Tripod.

2 lb 14 oz total for scope and tripod.

Nikon Fieldscope 13-30x50 ED Straight Spotting Scope

Spotter weighs 1 lb 3 oz
tripod weighs 1 lb 11 oz

well guys I don't have my scale handy, but I roll with a carbon fiber tripod from amvona and a micro ball head. I will guess it at sub 2 pounds and very stable. I sold my spotters last year and now have the leica 12x50's and the swaro 15x56's. the 12x50s can replace the spotter and bino's for me on a true light hunt and are amazingly good......every bit as useful as my 25x60 leuy I sold and the 15x56's can hang with my 20-60x80 ed.

sorry for the tangent. but do check out amvona

What tripod are you running, SU?

Thanks

I don't know what my setup weighs but it's light (under 3lbs guessing).

Leupold packer tripod

Leupold 20X50 Compact spotter

Neither are offered by Leupold anymore, works fine for antelope, muleys and elk. (never hunted sheep)

MtnHtr

Hi Carl,

An inexpensive Vanguard MK1 I picked up at Sportsmans.

It works great for me.

oldslowdog, Probably. I can't read through it right now but if it involves trophy elk hunting along with buxom blondes bearing beer then that is it.

That it does....there's also some stuff in there about tripods, spotting scopes and such.....

The sherpettes have been deleted or moved by Photobucket. Very disappointing, if I do say so.