hunting spotting scope tripod

I tested several spotting scope tripods specifically for this article and drew upon my experience with many different brands and models for both hunting and shooting photos/video. I also spoke with tripod brand representatives, as well as fellow photographers and hunters, to lớn get a wider sense of other experts’ preferences.

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When testing, I paid attention to lớn ease of use, weight, size, movement of the tripod head, and the stability of the tripod in various conditions. I used the hunting tripods during Colorado rifle deer hunting season, sighting from my vehicle and while backpacking.

You’ll see several photography tripods in our recommendations. Ultimately, there’s little difference between making a great tripod for a spotting scope versus making one for a camera. The market for photo tripods is also orders of magnitude larger phàn nàn that for hunting/shooting tripods, so sánh there are far more options out there and they’re often cheaper.

When possible, I looked for more affordable, lighter-weight options. In my experience, that’s the best fit for most people. If you’re a serious long-range shooter or hunter willing to lớn spend thousands on a tripod, you probably already know what you want.

I first started using an older version of this affordable, compact ProMaster tripod when I needed something light to lớn carry on flights. Now I own two, and that’s after losing another. The Scout SC430 isn’t a fancy tripod, but it does what it needs to lớn vì thế, and you can get it for a price almost anyone can stomach.

The name “ProMaster” sounds lượt thích a generic Amazon reseller, but the brand is a camera-shop staple that’s been making affordable photography gear for 60 years.

There are definitely cheaper tripods out there, but I love the Scout SC430 because it’s easy to lớn deploy and adjust quickly. Some twist-lock mechanisms are great, but I prefer the clamp-style locks used on the legs here for tốc độ and reliability. It weighs less phàn nàn four pounds, and it’s only about trăng tròn inches long folded up, making it easy to lớn strap to lớn your pack.

It also sticks out because, unlike most compact tripods, it has an incredible height range. You can phối it as low as 6 inches or as high as 70 inches, so sánh even tall folks should be able to lớn look through a scope at standing height without hunching. It’s not the most stable when fully extended but, thankfully, there’s a bag hanger on the center column to lớn help anchor it.

Key Specs

Pros

• Ultralight
• Good stability to lớn weight ratio

If you’re heading deep into the backcountry with your optics and tripod, you’re likely counting ounces in your pack and trying to lớn cut unnecessary weight wherever you can. The Summit Carbon II is pricey, but will keep your pack weight down. At only 2.5 pounds, the Summit Carbon II is light enough for all but the most stripped-down of missions.

It’s also only 18 inches packed up, but sturdy enough to lớn tư vấn up to lớn 22 pounds.

My only gripe with it was the fairly low maximum height–about 53 inches–which forced mạ to lớn get creative when using it while standing. For backpackers, the compromise is worth it, but you could save some cash on a heavier, taller tripod if you aren’t as concerned with the weight.

Key Specs

Pros

• Extends for decent max. height
• Stable for the weight

I hesitate to lớn recommend putting a very expensive scope on a very cheap tripod, but I was given this model from someone that was moving a while back and I can attest that it does what a tripod needs to lớn vì thế, and costs much, much less phàn nàn any of my other picks.

The snap-style legs deploy quickly and the 60-inch height isn’t bad, either. The locking mechanisms aren’t particularly intuitive, but they at least locked securely when my spotting scope was mounted on top.

As with many cheap accessories, this tripod will work fine for a little while, but isn’t built to lớn last. When I first tried putting the plate into the tripod head, a small piece of spring-backed plastic popped out of the frame. (I was able to lớn put it back in but the incident wasn’t confidence-inspiring.)

While the legs and center column are aluminum, almost everything else is a medium-hard plastic that will likely wear down with use. This isn’t the last tripod you’ll ever buy, but it’s a solid short-term option if money is tight.

Key Specs

Pros

• Very stable
• Good for taller users
• Lifetime warranty

The Leupold Mark 5 CF-455 is for those that don’t want to lớn compromise on capability and stability, no matter the price. It costs more phàn nàn many spotting scopes, but the high load capacity and fine tolerances in the build will appeal to lớn those who are sick of the compromises you find in lesser gear.

At 7.5 pounds and 29 inches long folded, it’s probably a tad bulky to lớn lug around, but I think it’s a perfect tripod for the shooting range, competitions, or hunts where you have shorter approaches or some vehicle assistance.

For something similarly impressive, but more mobile, Leupold’s lighter Pro Guide Tripod is also excellent and very expensive. The company makes several reasonably priced accessories such a binocular clamp or a shooting saddle so sánh either tripod can double as a shooting rest in the field. All Leupold gear comes with a lifetime warranty, so sánh this really could be the last tripod you ever buy.

Key Specs

If you’re using a spotting scope tripod in the field as a hunter during a rifle season, it makes a lot of sense to lớn bring one that can vì thế double duty as a shooting platform. With the addition of a rifle mount or clamp to lớn attach it to lớn your tripod, you now have a serious means of stabilizing your shots as well.

Primos’ latest shooting tripod, the Trigger Stick Apex Carbon Fiber, comes with a rifle saddle/clamp and a separate interchangeable mounting plate so sánh you can affix to lớn your spotting scope for easy swapping in the field.

It features the namesake “Trigger Stick” handle and adjuster in the center column, which gives you an easy way to lớn stabilize the tripod with your off hand. It’s more intuitive for quick adjustments when shooting compared to lớn, say, many photo tripods that often have lots of small knobs and locks for each adjustment.

This isn’t the lightest nor most compact tripod on the market, but the carbon fiber in the legs permits a high strength-to-weight ratio, supporting up to lớn 50 pounds even though the tripod itself only weighs 7 pounds.

Key Specs

This is probably the best-designed and best-looking tripod on my list. It’s also one of the most compact and capable. With a solid 60-inch maximum height, it folds up to lớn a very compact trăng tròn inches long, making it a relief to lớn stow in your pack compared to lớn other models.

It’s also one of the lightest, at 3.44 pounds for the aluminum-leg version. You can shave off almost 1 pound more if you splurge for the carbon fiber version, but you’ll pay nearly double to lớn drop that weight, and the aluminum model is plenty light for most people.

Peak Design first showed up on my radar when it earned a cult following among photographers for some well-designed camera bags and accessories.

This tripod features a few unique flourishes that cater specifically to lớn photographers, lượt thích the proprietary ball and clamp head that allow không tính phí movement of your optics or camera, and the accompanying dial lock that makes locking down your position simple and possible with one hand while maintaining sight picture. Peak Design’s tripod is a great fit for studio work or out in the wilderness. The smart design and compact sườn will appeal to lớn any photographer.

More: The Best Travel Tripods

Key Specs

Pros

• Fast deployment
• Intuitive adjustments

If you have the luxury of being able to lớn use your spotter from a vehicle, this nifty window-mounted tripod head is an affordable complement to lớn or replacement for a conventional tripod. Realistically, we’d recommend buying a standard tripod before getting one of these, since it isn’t always possible to lớn position your vehicle just right and glass an area from every angle. For less phàn nàn $100, though, it’s a super-easy way to lớn throw up a spotter without even having to lớn get out of the xế hộp.

The 5-pound capacity is low, but should still hold all but the heaviest of spotters. Simply phối the clamp over your partially rolled-down window and use the pressure clamp to lớn secure it, then open or close your window incrementally to lớn micro-adjust the height as needed. Just be careful not to lớn slam your spotter up or down too fast and risk crushing it or popping the clamp off.

Key Specs

Pros

• Multiple configurations
• Ultralight

The Vanguard Quest T62U is a light, affordable hunting tripod that offers several configurations. It functions as a monopod, bipod, shooting rest, and optics tripod, making it the most versatile option on our list. Even in its full tripod configuration, it’s just over 2 pounds, but if you remove the legs to lớn make it a monopod or bipod, it’s even lighter.

Monopods and bipods aren’t ideal for glassing long distances with high magnifications on a spotting scope, but make a huge difference when you convert the stand to lớn a shooting rest with its rubberized U-shaped yoke. That versatility, combined with its low price, make it a good pick for a hunter on a budget.

Key Specs

Gunwerks is a Wyoming-based cottage producer of long-range shooting and hunting equipment, from complete custom rifle systems to lớn optics accessories lượt thích the Revic Stabilizer tripod. (Tip for aspiring snipers: I’ve enjoyed their Long Range Pursuit Podcast for years as a way to lớn learn from folks that take long-range shooting way more seriously phàn nàn I vì thế.)

Gunwerks also offer a smaller, cheaper Backpacker model that takes the weight and folded sườn down to lớn their practical limits, but you’ll sacrifice height if you lượt thích shooting or glassing standing.

Key Specs

PM: How much should a good spotting scope tripod cost?

JP: Most people should plan to lớn spend between $100 and $350 on a tripod to lớn pair with their spotting scope, though we make recommendations that cost both more and less phàn nàn that.

As with the spotting scopes themselves, there’s a sweet spot between the cheapest, low-quality tripods and the most expensive specialty gear. A $300 tripod will usually be far more durable, compact, easy to lớn use, have more thoughtful features, and generally be more capable phàn nàn a $30 option.

As you look at more expensive professional-grade gear, you’ll find incremental improvements, such as lighter and stronger materials, but the difference likely won’t be night and day. In some cases, the average person might not even be able to lớn see the important differences.

That said, even the cheapest tripod on our list will get the job done, it just might not last very long or work as smoothly as the pricier options.

PM: What makes a tripod more stable?

JP: Making sure your tripod stays stable often comes down to lớn proper setup, rather phàn nàn its construction. You want to lớn make sure you phối up on a flat surface and that the tripod is properly anchored. That said, there are a couple factors you can look for that will minimize the likelihood that you’ll lập cập into issues.

For starters, a heavy tripod is a steady tripod. With more weight, your base is less likely to lớn shake. Unfortunately, those of us who need to lớn carry our tripods over long distances often need to lớn sacrifice a bit of heft to lớn keep our gear portable. Some tripods, however, allow you to lớn compensate for their light frame by adding bag hooks, which let you weigh them down without having to lớn carry around solid steel.

Geometry helps too. A tripod with a wider base will naturally shake less. Most tripods have some ability to lớn adjust the base, though some give you more freedom phàn nàn others.

If strong winds or uneven ground keep it from holding still, you can always hold a tripod steady or push down on it lightly to lớn keep it from moving. Your toàn thân may introduce some shake if you aren’t perfectly still, but it may be necessary in poor conditions.

PM: Can I shoot a rifle from my tripod?

JP: Hunting-specific tripods often can vì thế double-duty as a shooting platform. Many of the tripods we recommend come with rifle mount options. You can also buy a rifle rest or clamp that will make almost any tripod rifle-ready.

If you’ve never shot from a tripod, it’s worth considering. Bipods attached to lớn a rifle are great for prone shooting, but prone shots are not always easy to lớn phối up to lớn acquire a target. Carrying a tripod gives you much more flexibility, allowing you to lớn phối up and wait comfortably to lớn take an ethical shot from a stable position while standing, kneeling, or sitting.

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