Travel Tripod help: Thoughts on the Manfrotto Befree Advanced and Mefoto Roadtrip?

Mykeprime

New member
Hi, I’m taking a trip to Snowdonia in September and have decided that, wanting to enjoy the walks without feeling over encumbered, I need to invest in a travel tripod.
I've got a Manfrotto 055x pro b that’s never let me down, but it’s too big and heavy to lug about. I did that last time I was there and even with a carry handle it wasn’t the best experience. The idea is that I get something that can unobtrusively strap to the side of my Lowepro Flipside 300 AWII 300, with one leg slipped into the side pocket. (It has a dedicated set-up on the back, but I don’t really want to be swinging the extra depth around).

I know travel tripods are a compromise and will never be as stable or vibration resistant as my big 055, but I want something that will be there if I need it, being stable enough to do the job and not useless due to vibration. There’s bound to be some wind at some point so I’ll try not to extend center columns to help. My backpack, at an estimate of its potential heaviest, should be around 4kg, so as ballast with the camera it should still come in under the max load of the tripods I have my eye on.

I’m not professional, I want to get back into the hobby. I use a Nikon D90, usually with the 18-105 it came with but also a Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-5.6g, which is likely to be the biggest thing I’ll ever try to use on the tripod for the foreseeable future. I’ll have some cokin P filters on the end occasionally too.


Looking at various options:
I have become very keen on the Manfrotto Befree Advanced. Unfortunately there is very little in the way of reviews for the advanced model. No user reviews on amazon, just a handful of videos on youtube that suggest it’s pretty good. It’s rated for 8kg, so should easily support the weight, but whether or not it’s stable is another matter. I’ve read that the Advanced legs are improved and more rigid than the original befree (of which I’ve noted people saying they're susceptible to vibration at top height), but I have very little to go on other than that. It seems to have a loop on the side between the legs so I might need some sort of cord to hang my backpack.
This guy seems to have found it suitable for where I’m going, but it’s a Manfrotto publicity video, so probably not the best for impartiality!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxjnfNFoxmo

The Mefoto Roadtrip is also looking like a strong contender, with lots of good user reviews and a number stating to have used it well with DSLRs and bigger lenses (though they didn’t really mention how high it was when using it). But there were some questions over the build quality, and I wonder whether the 5 leg sections will make it less stable than the manfrotto, which has 4. I’ve also read that the last section of the legs seems quite flimsy, some people even mentioning that they can flex a bit at the end. On the other hand, it is a bit taller than the Befree Advanced, has the detachable monopod, and a hook at the end of the center column, which seems like it may be more convenient for hanging the bag from.

I’ve also seen the Manfrotto element traveller big… I’m not sure why this exists as well as the befree range. It looks like it might be a rebranded Sirui, which may or may not be a bad thing (I keep seeing the name pop up). I can only find a few user reviews, but they have been positive, and say that the legs are very stable and rigid, though the head may not be great. The Carbon version would weigh the same as the befree and stand taller, but there’s not much reference to judge how much chunkier it might be to carry on the bag.

I briefly had the 3 Legged Thing ‘Brian’ in contention too, but I thought the triangular plate under the ball head might tug and tear the stretchy mesh on my backpacks side pocket if I’m not careful.

Unfortunately, There’s no where near me that has the Befree Advance in store, nor anywhere stocking the mefoto within easy reach. So I can’t really get my hands on them to evaluate.

Could anyone with experience of these tripods offer some insight? How do they compare? Are they stable enough to use with my set of gear? Are they usable when it’s a bit windy? Etc

Thanks!

 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Welcome.

I have a Mefoto Globetrotter and have not other travel tripod to compare. The d7100 with the 24-120 F4 is the most common configuration used. No complaints with that configuration. With the 70-300 some torquing has been observed but it is was on sand with a decent breeze. No other wind experience. The only concern is in the vertical mode it requires quite a bit of torque on the tightening knobs especial the with 70-300 at 300. The design for vertical also puts the weight off to one side.



The fact that is is also a monopod is a plus. Hope this is of some help.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I can't comment on the particular Manfrotto model as I haven't used that one, but I have had the Mefoto Roadtrip and still travel with the Mefoto Globetrotter.

For the Roadtrip, I've had a D610 with Tamron 150-600mm (attached via the lens tripod collar) without any issues. When necessary, I've used the hook on the bottom of the tripod collar to hang my camera bag to add extra weight and stability to the tripod while shooting.

I bought the Roadtrip via Amazon while I was on a roadtrip where I had forgotten to pack a tripod. The only reason I sold it instead of the Globetrotter was because my Globetrotter is a carbon fiber unit, and the lighter weight and extra strength won out. But the Roadtrip is a very capable tripod and one I would not hesitate to use.
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Thanks, can you explain what you mean by "torquing"?

With the 70-300 some torquing has been observed but it is was on sand with a decent breeze.
Twisting, you could see the lens move from its original position and back again, but like I said it was in sand certainly not your most stable surface.

The only concern is in the vertical mode it requires quite a bit of torque on the tightening knobs especial the with 70-300 at 300
Just need to make sure you tighten them up enough.
 
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