travel tripod by peak design

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Peak Design Travel Tripod (5 Section Aluminum Camera Tripod)

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

• The Travel Tripod brings you pro-level stability, load capacity, and deployed height, yet packs down to the diameter of a water bottle.
• Unique design allows quicker, easier setup/takedown. Secure, fast, and ergonomic camera quick release. Fast-locking, low profile leg cams.
• 20lb weight capacity (optimized for a full-frame DSLR + telephoto lens). Low and inverted modes position your camera inches off the ground
. Integrated load hanging hook
. Nonslip, shock-absorbing feet
.
• Built-in and stowable mobile mount. Securely grips any phone/case
.
• Weather and impact-resistant materials. All parts are serviceable, cleanable, and replaceable. Includes a padded, weatherproof case. Guaranteed for life.

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Product Description

LIGHTNING-FAST DEPLOYMENT

• Unique design allows quicker, easier setup/takedown.
• Secure, fast, and ergonomic camera quick release.
• Fast-locking, low profile leg cams.
• Legs deploy in seconds, without having to flip over like traditional travel tripod legs.

ERGONOMIC BALL HEAD

• Ultra-smooth, omnidirectional Compact Ball Head.
• One single adjustment ring. No bulky or confusing knobs
.
• Simple locking ring for total security.

PRO-LEVEL STABILITY & FEATURES

• 20lb weight capacity (optimized for a full-frame DSLR + telephoto lens).
• Stability and vibration damping performance comparable, if not better, than most tripods in its class.
• Low and inverted modes position your camera inches off the ground
.
• Integrated load hanging hook
.

ONLY THOUGHTFUL DETAILS

• Anchor attachment points for carrying with Peak Design straps (sold separately).
• Built-in and stowable mobile mount.
• No protruding knobs.

Lighting-fast

Ergonomic Ballhead

Pro-Level Features

Thoughtful Details

(Please note that the Bushing Removal Tool is supplied in a small, initially hard to find, internal pocket of the Weatherproof Soft Case.)

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Customer Review: DONT BUY!!

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Honest Review Of Peak Design Tripod After 6 Months Of Use

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ULTIMATE Travel Tripod & 2 Year Review: Peak Design Tripod

✅ Kevin Recommends

Why this Travel Tripod beats Other Travel Tripods

Posh Reviews, Unboxings, & More!

What's in the box

Product information, customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the durability, size and appearance of the camera tripod. For example, they mention it's a very solid product, compact enough and pretty. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, value and weight.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the durability of the camera tripod. They say it's a very solid product, of good quality, and functional. They also say the attachment to the head is very secure, and the whole thing is impressive.

"...it is expensive --but it is one of the most thoughtful, compact, well-constructed , stable, and confidence inspiring tripods, with an advantage “in..." Read more

"...And feels good to use !I'm confident I'll have this thing for quite a while. Great to travel with, easy to set up, great build quality...." Read more

"...The whole thing is very impressive . It feels and looks worth the money. The weight doesn’t bother me much...." Read more

"...it is not the very lightest out there, the functionality, and build quality make it the best thing I found...." Read more

Customers like the size of the camera tripod. They say it's light and compact enough that it fits great on their camera bag. They also love the size and weight of the tripod. Some mention that it'll fit within the water pockets of their backpack.

"...Still in search of the perfect tripod. With low cost, low weight, compact for hiking , easy deployment, tall enough for near eye level work, and..." Read more

"I like how compact it gets — Wowzers! I also like the stowaway cell phone holder too. The whole thing is very impressive...." Read more

"...It is short enough to fit into any of my backpacks or shoulder bags...." Read more

"...I love the way it folds into a small cylindrical shape that makes it very convenient to pack. It is steady ,sturdy and well built...." Read more

Customers find the tripod easy to set up and use on the go. They say it's excellent for backpacking and a great addition to any camera gear.

"...What it is is a portable , sturdy, thoughtfully-designed system using an incredibly convenient quick release system usable with other Peak Design..." Read more

"This is almost the perfect travel tripod . I love the way it folds into a small cylindrical shape that makes it very convenient to pack...." Read more

" Great portable tripod …very well designed with adjustable leg tension makes it solid in spite of it’s size...." Read more

"...it's lightweight and compact enough to be excellent for backpacking , and indeed I've used it in that capacity a number of times...." Read more

Customers find the tripod easy to use. They say it's quick to set up, has a delightfully easy to operate ball mount, and is intuitive. They also say it has s great design for quick deployment, and the lever locks mean the legs can be quickly deployed.

"...With low cost, low weight, compact for hiking, easy deployment , tall enough for near eye level work, and sturdy enough for a heavier setup...." Read more

"...It's quick to set up , has a delightfully easy to use ball mount allowing for free rotation in all three directions, supports flipping the center..." Read more

"...This PD model is surprisingly sturdy. The legs are fast to deploy and the leg clamps are not only good, they are adjustable so they will not just..." Read more

"...Twist to unlock, the camera pop in, twist to lock, a very easy and secure operation , the best I have used. Twist to raise the center column...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the camera tripod. They mention that it has a brilliant design, is pretty, and convenient. Some say that the tight tolerances and satisfying design have additional value. Overall, most are happy with the product's appearance.

"...lightest among them, and it is expensive --but it is one of the most thoughtful , compact, well-constructed, stable, and confidence inspiring tripods..." Read more

"...What it is is a portable, sturdy, thoughtfully-designed system using an incredibly convenient quick release system usable with other Peak Design..." Read more

"...This is where peak design shines. It is all about convenient design . Popping the leges out are quick...." Read more

"...They've thoughtfully designed a rare , solid backpacking tripod option--except exercising that option will likely break the tripod...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the weight of the camera tripod. Some mention it's low weight, compact for hiking, easy deployment, and light enough to be a travel tripod. However, others say it'd be better if it was made of reinforced nylon and not plastic.

"...Still in search of the perfect tripod. With low cost, low weight , compact for hiking, easy deployment, tall enough for near eye level work, and..." Read more

"...Folded, it's quite compact, though it's not the lightest tripod I've encountered. (I have the aluminum model, not the carbon fiber.)..." Read more

"...the way it folds into a small cylindrical shape that makes it very convenient to pack . It is steady ,sturdy and well built...." Read more

"...This is so much lighter and easier to deal with while still offering a very steady base!..." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the value of the camera tripod. Some say it's worth the hefty price tag, while others say it feels like an 80 dollar tripod.

"...The PD aluminum tripod is not the lightest among them, and it is expensive --but it is one of the most thoughtful, compact, well-constructed, stable..." Read more

"...The whole thing is very impressive. It feels and looks worth the money . The weight doesn’t bother me much...." Read more

"Let's be real: this thing is not cheap , it's not a Manfrotto, it's not the most fully-featured...." Read more

"... Not the cheapest , but I think it's worth it - and it'll probably last forever...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the performance of the camera tripod. Some mention it works great, easy to use, and they love the functionality. The ball head works well for them, and it's perfectly good for every-day use. However, others say that it completely unusable, not the most fully-featured, and the leg extension locks failed in a very short period of time.

"...The ball head works well for me . The tightening mech on the ball works as expected, even with a Sony a7r-IV with a heavy Sony 200-600mm zoom...." Read more

"...real: this thing is not cheap, it's not a Manfrotto, it's not the most fully-featured ...." Read more

"...Found this and although it is not the very lightest out there, the functionality , and build quality make it the best thing I found...." Read more

"...camera back on required two hands twisting and turning two levers, very stupid when you are holding a camera among rocks and trying to get it..." Read more

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Peak Design Travel Tripod review – triumphant unique design

A unique design creates a compact if pricey travel tripod.

TechRadar Verdict

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is well-made, stable, compact and lightweight, so it provides all of the key attributes photographers typically look for in travel tripods. If you can get beyond the high price and the slightly peculiar head that takes a little getting used to, the unique design and stability can’t be faulted.

Incredibly compact

Lightweight

Considered design

Snap leg locks rather than twist locks

Head takes getting used to

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Editor's Note

Two-minute review.

• Should I buy?
• How I tested

• Original review date: June 2019 • Still available new, and still unique • Launch price: $599 / £559 / AU$1,170 • Official price now: $599 / £559 / AU$1,170 (carbon fiber)

Update: February 2024. We first looked at the Peak Design Travel tripod during a hands-on review in 2019 , and many years later there's still no design quite like it, which is a little surprising given how considered and successful the design concept has been delivered to create a super-compact tripod for your travels and one of the best travel tripods period. It remains available from retailers with a largely similar list price that goes all the way back to launch. 

A tripod’s a tripod – three legs and a head to secure a camera – pretty simple really. So how do you improve on a tried and tested design? The Peak Design Travel Tripod undoubtedly follows this fundamental construction, but four years of research and development has delivered a unique travel tripod as well as being incredibly compact and lightweight; its folded footprint when compared to similar-sized travel tripods, is about half in terms of diameter.

The Peak Design’s legs fold in neatly thanks to their shape, which drastically reduces the profile of the tripod when folded making the diameter similar to that of a can of soda; it may not sound exciting, but it’s impressive and makes the Peak Design a highly portable travel tripod if you’re willing to pay the premium price the tripod commands.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in two flavors with the carbon fibre leg option costing $600 / £560 / AU$1170, and the aluminum alternative coming in at a slightly more modest $380 / £350 / AU$670. But that’s still a high price for an aluminum travel tripod. To be fair, it certainly isn’t cheap, but the overall design is what you’re paying for and as well as looking pretty smart and, indeed unique, the Peak Design provides impressive stability despite the legs being made up of five sections.

Cost aside, the main difference between the carbon fibre and aluminum options is weight. The former comes in at just 2.81lbs / 1.27kg, while the latter is slightly heavier at 3.44lbs / 1.56kg. The aluminum model is still lightweight despite the legs being made of heavier material, so this remains an option worth considering if you can’t afford the carbon fiber version. All other aspects of the tripods are the same, including the folded length of 15.4in / 39.1cm with a 3.1in / 7.9cm diameter.

With such a lightweight and compact folded size, you may be thinking that this tripod is short and flimsy, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. These were my initial expectations, but I was hugely impressed with the overall sturdiness and the ability to shoot low to the ground with the center column inserted upside down into the legs or as high as 60in / 152.4cm with the center column fully extended. The center column also offers a hook for adding weight and there’s an integrated phone mount that stows away in the bottom of the center column above the bag hook for adding weight to the tripod to increase stability when required.

This is a tripod that’s intended for professional use and offers a maximum payload of 20lbs / 9.1kg, so it can handle a wide variety of camera and lens combinations. With this, you could get away with using some long telephoto lenses for wildlife photography, and the head can support the weight, but the design of the head wouldn’t provide the most efficient and comfortable shooting experience for this type of photography. Plus, the head isn’t interchangeable so you couldn’t swap it out for a gimbal head instead.

Ultimately, this is no big deal because it’s clearly not a tripod that’s designed for this type of photography, but something to bear in mind if this would be an intended use. The head itself is low profile, which helps to reduce the overall bulkiness of the tripod and employs a novel design that takes getting used to if you’ve only experienced what you might call standard tripod heads in the past.

The head itself fulfils the clear desire to create something that’s compact and in keeping with the overall design of the tripod, but being a fixed head means that you have to be 100% sure that it’s something that you can get on with. What makes it different is that despite being a ball head, is that it provides two locking/adjustment rings; one for the ball mechanism and another for the tripod plate. Once you get used to which is which and you’ve used them a few times they do become intuitive, but they are undoubtedly a break from the norm.

The tripod plate uses the Arca Swiss design so it’s compatible with L brackets, which is great. And even if you don’t use an L bracket, the head and plate can be set vertically to the side for portrait format shooting with the notches of the socket providing additional stability. This is a clever design that mirrors that of the tripod as a whole.

When it comes to operation, the Peak Design is quick and easy to set up. And when I say quick, I really do mean quick because it simply needs to be extended rather than unfolded and then extended like many travel tripods. The leg locks are the older style clip locks rather than twist locks, but with the unique leg shape that facilitates the compact folding of the tripod, this is clearly the only option. It certainly doesn’t impact usability and these can be easily dismantled for cleaning and maintenance which is always useful.

Should I buy the Peak Design Travel Tripod?

Buy it if...

You want the most compact travel tripod Despite offering a maximum height of 60in / 152.4cm, this tripod folds down to an incredibly small size making it one of the most portable travel tripods available.

You value great design The Peak Design Travel Tripod may follow the fundamental design of tripods, but the way the legs have been built alongside the ultra-lightweight make it a unique option.

You use an L bracket L brackets typically use the Arca Swiss style attachment and although the Peak Design head can’t be changed, it does use an Arca Swiss style plate for connecting cameras.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget This is an expensive tripod whichever option you go for, so if you’re on a tighter budget there are many alternatives available that follow a more traditional travel tripod design.

You require additional features The Peak Design Travel Tripod undoubtedly offers some unique features such as the integrated phone holder, but apart from the unique overall design it’s a fairly basic tripod.

You need a heavier tripod Travel tripods are typically lightweight but some are, of course, heavier than others and some photographers prefer a little extra weight to increase stability in windy conditions.

How I tested the Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Peak Design Travel Tripod was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my 'f-stop' brand backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed February 2024

James Abbott is a professional photographer and freelance photography journalist. He contributes articles about photography, cameras and drones to a wide range of magazines and websites where he applies a wealth of experience to testing the latest photographic tech. James is also the author of ‘The Digital Darkroom: The Definitive Guide to Photo Editing’.

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Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum) review

Peak design's unconventional design has resulted in a very compact yet strong and stable travel tripod.

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is a tripod you won't mind carrying just in case you need it. It takes a little while to get used to the unconventional head design, but overall it works well, and it's capable of holding a heavy load still in a breeze. We love the carbon fibre version, but the aluminum one is only a little heavier and saves a heap of money.

Extremely compact

Stable for its size and weight

Fast to deploy

Centre column must be raised to allow head movement

Supplied tool is easily lost

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Peak Design make two versions of the Travel Tripod, one made from carbon fibre (£599/$649.95) and the other, reviewed here, from aluminum. Aside from the pattern of the carbon fibre weave, the two tripods look identical and have the same maximum and minimum heights, but at 1.56kg, the aluminum version is 290g heavier than the carbon fibre version (see our separate review of the Peak Design Travel Tripod Carbon Fiber ).

The Travel Tripod has 5-section legs that enable it to pack down to 39.1cm, but its narrow diameter of less than 8cm is what really impresses. Rather than round, the leg tubes are shaped to fit closely together around the centre column to reduce the packed diameter. 

With the legs fully extended and the centre column at its longest point, the tripod is 152.4cm high. Dropping the centre column but keeping the legs at full length gives a height of 130.2cm. At the other end of the scale, the main section of the centre column can be removed to reduce the height to 14cm, or the column can be reversed for super-low shooting.

Peak Design has used a very unusual design for the tripod's head as the ball is visible at the top of the centre column beneath the pivoting top section with the release plate clamp. When the tripod is collapsed fully, the ball is surrounded by the top of the legs and the three struts that mount the clamp onto it slot neatly between the legs. This means that the centre column must be extended a little before the head can be moved.

Peak design supplies the tripod with a dual hex key tool and a stretchy bag. Also, if you remove the hook at the bottom of the centre column, you'll find a phone holder that can take the place of the Arca-Swiss quick release plate in the clamp.

Specifications

Material : Aluminum 

Folded length : 39.1cm

Maximum height: 152.4cm

No. leg sections: 5

Weight: 1.56Kg

Maximum load: 9.1Kg

Build and handling

Because of the unusual shape of the legs and the novel head design, the Peak Design Travel Tripod looks quite different from other tripods, but it feels great, and the aluminum legs are robust.

The legs have clip locks, and it's easy to flip open all four locks on a leg with one movement. This, plus the fact that the legs don't flip over the head and centre column for storage, means the tripod can be ready for use in a matter of seconds. 

The centre column is locked and unlocked using the small knob between the tops of two of the legs. Once the column has been extended a little, the tripod head can be angled for shooting. A knurled ring above the head ball locks and unlocks the head's movement, and just above it there's a lock for the quick release plate. 

Peak Design has used the same Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plate as it uses for its clips. This requires a hex key to mount it on a camera, and the supplied tool comes in handy. However, this tool slips quite easily out of its plastic holder on one of the legs, especially if the tripod is inverted for any reason.

Many backpacks have a side pocket for carrying a water bottle, and the Peak Design Travel Tripod slips neatly in. Alternatively, there are mounting points on the tripod and its bag for Peak Design's Anchor Loops for attaching one of the company's straps. 

Performance

Peak Design spent four years developing the Travel tripod, and it was clearly time very well spent because it's an excellent tripod. It can bear a maximum payload of 9.1Kg, and I've captured sharp long-exposure images using it to support a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. It's even delivered sharp long-exposure results with a medium format camera.

The only weak point I've encountered is the quick release plate mount on the camera. If the camera is in landscape orientation, it's fine, but if the camera or lens is very heavy and you're shooting in portrait orientation, it's hard to tighten the plate on sufficiently to avoid it slipping. 

In terms of performance, it's difficult to discern a difference between the aluminum and carbon fibre versions of the tripod. However, even when the tripod is added to a backpack full of camera gear, it is possible to tell the difference in weight between the two models.

With around $270 difference in price between the carbon fiber and aluminum versions of the Peak Design Travel tripod, the aluminum tripod makes a desirable alternative to its more expensive sibling. The difference in weight, 290g, is noticeable, but it's only about the same as a bottle of water. If you're going to walk long distances, then the carbon fiber version may be more attractive, but many photographers will be happy to accept the extra weight for the cost-saving.

Whichever model you opt for, the Peak design Travel Tripod is an impressively well-designed and well-made tripod. It's small and light enough to be taken on most photographic expeditions, and it's ready for use in seconds.

• The best tripod
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Angela has been testing camera gear from all the major manufacturers since January 2004 and has been Amateur Photographer’s Technical Editor and Head of Testing for Future Publishing’s photography portfolio ( Digital Camera Magazine ,  PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine ,  N-Photo ,  Practical Photoshop ,  Photography Week and Professional Photography magazines, as well as the Digital Camera World and TechRadar websites). She is the founder of SheClicks - a community group that encourages and supports female photographers.

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Peak Design Travel Tripod Review

Last updated: November 24, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

As a professional travel photographer, I’ve used a lot of travel tripods over the years, including models from Manfrotto and Vanguard.

Today, I’m going to be reviewing Peak Design’s travel tripod , which I’ve been using in the field for the past several months to see how it compares to other travel tripods.

I’ve actually been a fan of Peak Design’s products for a long time. They make a range of photography accessories, and I particularly like their carry strap system which I’ve been using for years on my cameras. They also have a range of popular bags.

My experience to date with their products has been very positive, they are well made and backed by an excellent warranty and support program. Let’s see if that quality has extended to their travel tripod. I’ll share my thoughts on using one of their travel tripods for the first time.

Peak Design launched their travel tripod (via Kickstarter) in 2019, with general availability coming in 2020. This was their first and is currently only tripod.

It’s now been on the market for some time, and I thought it was about time I gave it a good test and review. Let’s start with the specifications.

Peak Design Travel Tripod Specifications

There are two variants of the Peak Design travel tripod on the market at the moment, an aluminum model and a carbon fiber model.

The only difference between the two is the material in use, which affects the weight (and price!). All the other specifications are the same. Here’s a quick overview of the main specifications.

• Load capacity – 20lbs (9.1kg)
• Max height center column raised – 60″ (152.2cm)
• Max height center column down – 51.25″ (130.2cm)
• Weight aluminum model 3.44lbs (1.56kg)
• Weight carbon fiber model 2.81lbs (1.29kg)
• Packed height: 15.4″ (39.1cm)
• Packed diameter 3.125″ (39.1cm)

The retail price of the aluminum model is $379.95, and the carbon fiber model is $599.95. You compare the latest prices and buy it direct from Peak Design here , on Amazon here , and from B&H Photo here .

This tripod certainly fits what we look for in a travel tripod , which is a blend of portability and a good load capacity.

As well as the raw numbers, there are a few additional features of the Peak Design travel tripod I wanted to highlight.

First, the tripod is designed from the ground up to be super portable. The main way this is achieved is with the head design, which is very compact. The ball head basically fits flush into the tripod when packed away and takes up barely any space.

The flip locks, triangular leg design, and small center column also all contribute to allowing this tripod to fold down really small.

I have used a lot of travel tripods over the years, and this one is definitely one of the best designs I’ve used in terms of how it packs away to take up a minimal amount of space.

The ball head is also pretty smart. There’s an integrated bubble level to ensure your camera is flat, and the flip lock design makes attaching and removing your camera very easy. You can also lock your camera into place with the flip of a toggle, which gives great peace of mind.

Another neat feature is the integration of a phone head mount. This lives inside the center column, and has a quick-release mechanism for easy installation.

It then attaches directly to the tripod mounting plate and allows you to use your tripod with your smartphone. This should work with pretty much any smartphone on the market today.

It’s a nice value add and is also well designed and sturdy.

One last thing I wanted to highlight is the carrying case. This is often an afterthought with tripods, if you even get one at all.

Well, Peak Design is known for their bags and their tripod case is lovely. It looks great, the tripod fits inside securely, and it’s both padded and weatherproof. It is missing a strap, but there are add-ons to make it compatible with the Peak Design carry system.

Ok, so those are the main features. What is this tripod like to actually use in the real world? Let’s find out.

Peak Design Travel Tripod – Thoughts on Real World Use

I prefer to do a review based on real world experience, so I traveled with the Peak Design travel tripod as my main tripod for several months to see how it performed in the field.

As this is a travel tripod, I expect it to be something I can carry with me when hiking, so I took it with me on a number of hikes up various Welsh mountains as well as other slightly less strenuous strolls. It has also been on more leisurely trips in the UK, France, and the USA.

When I’m testing a travel tripod, there are a few things I’m interested in. First, it has to be lightweight, because no one wants to carry more than they need to.

This tripod definitely meets that requirement, even the aluminum version is light enough that I don’t have to think twice about adding it to my gear for a trip.

The next thing I look for is how easy the tripod is to set up and put away. When I’m hiking, I don’t want to have to spend a lot of time putting a tripod up and down whenever I see an opportunity for a shot.

The Peak Design travel tripod definitely works in that regard as well. I’m normally not a big fan of flip-lock legs as they can catch on my camera bag when setting up and putting away.

However, in this case they are well designed so that doesn’t happen, and they make set up and put down a breeze.

The way the camera attaches to the head also works well. This is something that other tripods don’t always do as well at, especially when using the Peak Design carry system which has the carry strap attached to the tripod plate.

The Peak Design carry strap hooks on the camera base plate can sometimes get in the way of easy attachment to the tripod head. Obviously, this being a Peak Design tripod, that issue has been thought through, and the camera easily attaches to the tripod head even with the strap still attached.

There’s also a handy locking mechanism on the tripod head that makes it easy to ensure the camera is properly attached to the tripod head.

Of course, any tripod is only worth its salt if it actually provides a stable platform for shooting from.

I’ve used it with a full-frame mirrorless camera paired with a heavy 100-400mm lens, and it performed very well. I also used it with my more normal landscape wide-angle lens, and even with the smartphone adaptor.

All around, this tripod performed very well and let me get the shots I wanted, even the long exposure shots where the tiniest movement can ruin everything.

The final thing I need in a travel tripod, or any tripod for that matter, is ease of operation.

Now this one was a bit of a learning curve for me. The design of the Peak Design tripod head is that it slots down into the legs. However, you have to partially extend the central column (around an inch), to get full movement.

Before I got used to the tripod, I would try to move the head to the position I wanted, but not be able to because the head only has full freedom of movement once the central column has been partially extended.

Extending the central column isn’t hard, but it is an additional step to remember to do.

Once the head is extended, adjusting the head is easy. It’s a ball-style design, and to adjust the angle of the head you loosen the control ring, move the tripod head to the angle you want, and then tighten the control ring.

This is all very easy and intuitive once you get used to it. This is really important, especially if you plan on doing any astrophotography or Northern Lights photography , as you might need to operate the tripod in very dark conditions where you are working by feel.

So that is a lot of positive things. Are there are issues I encountered? Well, yes.

The main downside I discovered, which is the main negative of this tripod, is a lack of separate pan and tilt controls.

When you loosen the control ring to adjust the head, you can move the camera up, down, left, and right. However, you can’t pan or tilt separately.

So, for example, if you have your shot framed almost perfectly, but want to shift the view a few degrees to the left, you have to be careful not to tilt the camera up or down at the same time.

This also makes tasks like shooting panoramas a lot more challenging. Many tripod heads, including many ball heads, offer separate pan and tilt controls, so you can pan independently of the tilt control.

Now, honestly, whether or not this is a big deal will depend a lot on the photos you like to take. If you take a lot of panoramas, then this will likely be a bigger issue.

The good news is that the control ring also controls the friction, meaning you can loosen it only a little and then just be careful as you move the camera, with friction on your side to prevent unwanted movements on the wrong axis.

However, with a heavy camera setup it can be challenging to only move in one direction.

The other thing to bear in mind is that over time the flip locks on the tripod leg sections can become loose, meaning that the legs don’t stay extended. This is just an overall issue with all flip lock legs on tripods I have used.

This can happen with any tripod, but Peak Design have thought ahead and included both a tool to adjust the leg flip lock tightness, as well as a handy clip which allows you to attach the adjustment tool to a tripod leg.

You just want to remember to bring this with you when you travel, in case a leg needs tightening up when you’re in the field.

Finally, whilst the addition of the bubble level is appreciated, the light color and way it is positioned means that my camera covers most of it up, making it difficult to see and not very useful once my camera is set up.

Honestly, most cameras and smartphones these days have a built-in level feature anyway, so I rarely use the bubble level on a tripod, but I wanted to mention it in case it was important to you.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed using this tripod in the field, and it has earned a place in my photography bag for sure.

Peak Design Travel Tripod Pros and Cons

Having covered my experience using the Peak Design travel tripod in the field I wanted to share a quick rundown of what I felt to be the main pros and cons of this tripod from a travel photography perspective.

• Lightweight, even the aluminum version
• Folds down very small
• Works well with the Peak Design clip system
• Really nice tripod bag
• Can convert to tabletop tripod
• Built-in smartphone holder
• Lifetime warranty
• Expensive, especially for carbon fiber model
• No easy panning control
• Some constraint on portrait orientation shot

Overall,l I definitely think it’s a good travel tripod. The main downside is the cost is pretty high, especially if you are considering the carbon fiber model, which costs a lot more but only offers a modest decrease in weight.

I think most people would be happy with the aluminum model as the features are the same.

Peak Design Travel Tripod Alternatives

When you start researching tripods, you are going to quickly learn that there are a great many tripods on the market, and honestly, it can be hard to tell them apart.

The main decisions will come down to how much you want to spend and how important specifications like maximum load capacity, maximum height, minimum height, folded height etc. are to you.

Most tripods play around with these specifications, so you should be able to find the perfect tripod for you. I wanted to highlight a few options to consider, and you can see more options in our guide to the best travel tripods .

Gitzo Traveler Series

Any comparison of tripods, especially high-end tripods, is going to include mention of Gitzo. These are generally regarded as some of the best tripods on the market, although they tend to come with a fairly eye-watering price tag.

Still, the Peak Design carbon fiber tripod isn’t exactly a budget model, so I feel it’s fair to compare it against a tripod of this caliber.

There are quite a few tripods in the Gitzo Traveler series. I’d say the most comparable model would be the Gitzo Traveler, series 1, 5 section tripod .

This carbon fiber tripod has a maximum height of 58.46″, a folded size of 13.98″, a weight of 3.13lbs and a max load capacity of 22lbs. It has a retail price of $719.99.

So compared to the Peak Design carbon fiber model, the Gitzo has a slightly smaller folded height, weighs slightly more, and has a slightly lower maximum height.

Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235CB or 265HCB

A quick note, I’m a Vanguard Ambassador and have been since 2014, and I’ve used a lot of their gear over the years, many of which I’ve also reviewed .

I think their products offer a lot, and I’ve been very happy with their gear in use around the world.

The two main tripods I think they currently produce which you might consider instead of the Peak Design Travel Tripod would be from the Vanguard VEO 3 Go range, and specifically the 235CB or 265HCB models .

These are both carbon fiber tripods, but with a retail price around half that of the carbon fiber Peak Design Travel Tripod model.

The 235CB is the smaller tripod, with a maximum size of 53.5″, a folded size of 13″, a weight of 2.3lbs, and a max load capacity of 8.8lbs. It has a retail price of $269.99.

The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a much higher load rating and a higher maximum height, but also weighs more and doesn’t fold up as small. It’s also more than twice as expensive. One to consider if you have a smaller setup that won’t challenge the maximum load rating.

The 265HCB is the taller tripod, with a maximum size of 65.5″, a folded size of 16.1″, a weight of 3.1lbs and a max load capacity of 22lbs. It has a retail price of $339.99.

The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a similar load rating and a lower maximum height, but weighs less and folds up a bit smaller. It’s nearly twice as expensive.

Both Vanguard tripods also convert to monopods and come with a smartphone adaptor and Bluetooth remote shutter trigger. They’re also available in aluminum, at a lower price point and a higher weight.

The aluminum VEO 3 Go 235AB retails for $219.99, and the aluminum VEO 3 Go 265HAB retails for $269.99. Generally the easiest way to save money on a travel tripod is to choose an aluminum model over a carbon fiber one.

If you’re interested in this product, or any of the other Vanguard products, you can save money using  our exclusive Vanguard discount code . This will give you 20% off everything in the  Vanguard store.

Just use the code  FindingTheUniverse  for your discount! This Vanguard discount code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

Should you Buy the Peak Design Travel Tripod?

Honestly, only you can answer this question! However, having used it for a number of months I can definitely say that it is a well-made tripod. It works very well and has enough clever design features to make it stand out in a very crowded market.

When you add up all the little extra things like the nice bag, smartphone holder, and compatibility with other Peak Design products, it ends up as a really well-rounded product.

Of course, there are many other tripods on the market at other price points, but I don’t think you will be disappointed if you decide to go for it.

You can buy it direct from Peak Design here , on Amazon here , and from B&H Photo here .

Further Reading

That’s it for my review of the Peak Design travel tripod – I hope you found it helpful. Before you go, I wanted to share some of our other content which we think you will find useful.

• Our  review of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod  after three years of regular use.
• A  review of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM , the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB .
• We have a guide to  why you need a tripod , a guide to  choosing a travel tripod , and a round-up of our  favourite travel tripods
• We have a guide to  how to use a compact camera ,  how to use a DSLR camera , and  how to use a mirrorless camera . We also have a guide to  how a DSLR works
• Knowing how to compose a great photo is a key photography skill. See our guide to  composition in photography  for lots of tips on this subject
• We have a guide to what  depth of field  is and when you would want to use it.
• We are big fans of getting the most out of your digital photo files, and do to that you will need to shoot in RAW. See our guide to  RAW in photography  to understand what RAW is, and why you should switch to RAW as soon as you can if your camera supports it.
• You’re going to need something to run your photo editing software on. See our guide to the best  laptops for photo editing  for some tips on what to look for.
• If you’re looking for more advice on specific tips for different scenarios, we also have you covered. See our guide to  Northern Lights photography ,  long exposure photography ,  fireworks photography ,  tips for taking photos of stars , and  cold weather photography .
• If you’re looking for a great gift for a photography loving friend or family member (or yourself!), take a look at our  photography gift guide ,
• If you’re in the market for a new camera, we have a detailed guide to the  best travel cameras , as well as specific guides for the  best cameras for hiking and backpacking , the  best compact camera ,  best mirrorless camera  and  best DSLR camera . We also have a guide to the  best camera lenses .
• If you want a camera or lens, but the prices are a bit high, see our guide to  where to buy used cameras and camera gear  for some budget savings options.

Looking to Improve Your Photography?

If you found this post helpful, and you want to improve your photography overall, you might want to check out my  online travel photography course .

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 students learn how to take better photos. The course covers pretty much everything you need to know, from the basics of how a camera works, through to composition, light, and photo editing.

It also covers more advanced topics, including astrophotography, long exposure photography, flash photography, and HDR photography.

You get feedback from me as you progress, access to webinars, interviews and videos, as well as exclusive membership of a Facebook group where you can get feedback on your work and take part in regular challenges.

It’s available for an amazing one-off price for lifetime access, and I think you should check it out. Which you can do by  clicking here .

Note: We were sent this product for free to see how we liked it. I chose to write this review based on my own personal opinion of the tripod after using it for a while. All opinions are our own.

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There are 4 comments on this post

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tony adams says

25th March 2024 at 12:49 pm

Hello, I received the peak design travel tripod for christmas and so far have had a good experience. your review is really good. It is my first tripod. I am wondering what case or bags you would recommend for carrying it around when traveling. Locally I just put in a carrying case I got with it but want something more for city walking and travel abroad. any recs welcome. thanks

Laurence Norah says

25th March 2024 at 6:51 pm

Thanks very much, I’m glad you found the review helpful and are enjoying your new tripod. I was actually out shooting on my Peak Design travel tripod only today 🙂

So your question is a very good one but a hard one to answer without knowing a few things. I do intend to write a guide to photography bags but I haven’t quite gotten round to it yet. So the main things you will need to decice is what you want to carry (camera gear + anything else). This will inform the size of the bag. Next you need to decide the shape of the bag, so that’s backpack, shoulder bag, sling bag etc. You have already mentioned you would prefer a more city style bag, so that is a good thing to know as style varies a lot, from more hiking style bags, to bags that look good around a city.

Other things to consider are if you want the bag to meet airline requirements (and if so which airline, as different carriers have different standards), what sort of access you want to your gear (side access, top access, back access), and any other features such as waterproofing, reconfigurable interiors etc.

I appreciate this is a lot to think about. I’m an ambasssador for Vanguard Photo who make a wide range of photography bags and I talk with people in person about choosing a bag quite a lot, so I know there is quite a process to go through to find the right bag. In addition, may photographers end up with multiple bags for different scenarios!

So I would recommend checking out the Vanguard bags as a starting point. Peak Design also make photography bags which are good, although a little more expensive in my experience. I do use on of their backpacks, it’s not quite as comfortable as my Vanguard bag but it certainly looks nice.

If you’re interested in Vanguard products, you can save money using our Vanguard discount code. This will give you 20% off everything in the Vanguard store. Just use the code FindingTheUniverse for your discount. This Vanguard discount code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

If you did have some thoughts about the type of bag you want based on my criteria above, I’d be happy to give some more focused recommendations. Just be aware there are a LOT of photography bags to choose from, at a wide range of prices!

WILLIAM WANG says

19th December 2023 at 12:37 am

Too expensive

19th December 2023 at 2:31 pm

Hi William,

Thanks for your comment! It is definitely at the higher end of the pricing spectrum for a tripod. The good news is there are lots of alternatives on the market, so hopefully you can find the right tripod for you 🙂

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Travel Tripod

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All gear bought on the Marketplace is guaranteed for life by Peak Design. We also guarantee that the seller has accurately represented the item's condition, or you may return the item for a full refund.

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Material: Aluminum Condition: Like new

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Ulanzi Travel Tripod Tested (Compared to Peak Design)

The Ulanzi Travel Tripod, designed in partnership with Coman, is a lightweight five-section carbon tripod with a built-in inverted ball head. The tripod clearly takes design cues from the Peak Design Travel Tripod and the RRS Ascend-14 tripod, but it hits a much lower price point than either of these options. When Ulanzi offered a tripod for testing, I was keen to see how it fared.

Disclaimer: The tripod was provided at no cost for this review. No money changed hands, and Ulanzi was not allowed to see the review before it was published. This review is my honest opinion, and I pull no punches. We’ll take a close look at the tripod’s features, and then I’ll put it head-to-head with the Peak Design Travel Tripod to see whether it holds its own.

Table of Contents

• Confusing Tripod Options – Zero Y vs. F38?

Ulanzi x Coman Zero Y Travel Tripod Specifications

Portrait orientation, center column, hidden hex wrench & hook, included spiked feet, included tripod bag, included center column, can you use a regular ball head on the ulanzi travel tripod.

• Ulanzi Tripod vs. Peak Design Travel Tripod

Where to Buy

The confusing ulanzi tripod options.

The Ulanzi Travel Tripod is available in two configurations. One is the Zero Y Travel Tripod and the F38 Quick Release Travel Tripod . The two look identical without close inspection of the images, but there is a critical difference. The Zero Y Travel Tripod features a standard Arca-Swiss compatible built-in ball head. The F38 Quick Release Travel Tripod features a built-in ball head that uses Ulanzi’s own non-standard F38 quick-release system. A system that uses smaller plates than the Arca-Swiss standard.

• Ulanzi Zero Y Travel Tripod -> Arca-Swiss Compatible.
• Ulanzi F38 Quick Release Travel Tripod -> NOT Arca-Swiss Compatible.

The vast majority of people will want the Arca-Swiss compatible variation of the tripod so that they can use industry-standard camera plates, lens plates, and L brackets on their cameras. Those that end up with the F38 version of the tripod, by choice or by accident, will be limited to using the very small Ulanzi F38 plate that comes with the tripod.

Ulanzi supplied me with the F38 version of the travel tripod for this review. Even after looking at their website, I wasn’t aware that there were two different versions of the tripod when they asked me if I’d like to review it; otherwise, I would have requested the Arca-Swiss compatible version.

Looking at the tripod photos, it simply never occurred to me that they would make their own slightly smaller-than-Arca plate standard. Why would anyone want that when there is also an Arca-compatible version available? The answer is that they wouldn’t. But unfortunately, they might not know that until it’s too late, and they try to buy an L bracket for their camera sometime down the road.

Ulanzi manufactures a range of photography and videography accessories that use quick-release systems built around three sizes: F22, F38, and F50. This includes things like microphone and monitor mounts, as well as cages, top handles, and ball-joint arms. The accessories look very useful, and I can see why Ulanzi created smaller-than-Arca quick-release plates for these small, lightweight items.

However, having tested the F38 plate on a Sony mirrorless camera with only a small 24-70mm lens, I cannot recommend it. The F38 plates are not large enough for even the smallest of mirrorless cameras in my collection. Let alone the larger Canon and Nikon ones I also own . I could not get enough friction from the plate’s small surface area to stop a camera from rotating when positioned at 90 degrees for portrait orientation shots.

This put my review of this tripod in a strange place. I can tell you immediately that I do not recommend the F38 Quick Release version of this tripod. Anyone buying this version is just shooting themselves in the foot by not having access to standard Arca-Swiss compatible accessories. As we will see further into the review, the small F38 head on the tripod is also not without issues, even if you put aside the fact that the plates are too small and frustratingly non-standard.

But here’s the thing. And this is a major SPOILER ALERT : This is a great tripod! And by that, I mean the tripod legs are great. So, despite not recommending the F38 version of the tripod, I do think the Arca-Swiss compatible version, called the Ulanzi Zero Y Travel Tripod, is an option worth considering. And for that reason, I urge you to continue reading this review.

After all, the legs of the two tripods are the same. That means the stability, weight, length, and height of the two tripod versions are also the same. And when I compared the stability of the legs to the similar Peak Design tripod, I was in for a surprise. More on that in a later section of the review.

• Folded Length: 423mm
• Maximum Height: 1567mm
• Minimum Height: 153mm
• Official Weight: 2.4lbs/1.1Kg
• Capacity: 39.6lbs/18Kg claimed
• Leg Sections: 5
• Head Capacity: F38 version = 3kg , Zero Y version = 5kg claimed
• Price: $396

Ulanzi Travel Tripod Features

As noted earlier, the version I was sent for review is the F38. I’ve already explained why I think the Arca-Swiss version would be a better buy for most people, but I’ll also outline my findings and feelings about the F38 head. I’m hoping to get my hands on the Arca-Swill compatible head at some point in the future, and I’ll update this review if/when I do.

The F38 head uses a compact inverted ball head design with a locking lever to loosen it. Sitting above the ball is a panning clamp that rotates 360 degrees and is locked by a much smaller locking knob. Unfortunately, the head is a victim of its own compact design. The locking knob for the panning base contacts the bottom of the camera when placed in the orientation shown in the photo below. The knob can be pulled out and repositioned, but the whole thing is just too fiddly. While you can position the camera at 90 degrees to this orientation in the clamp, surely the bubble level was designed to face the photographer?

Speaking of the bubble level, its side-mounted location means you can only level the camera on a single axis. The benefit of a panning clamp above the ball on an inverted ball head design is that it’s good for panoramic photography. However, the panning clamp must be perfectly level for accurate panoramic stitching, which cannot be achieved with a single-axis bubble. The head needed a bubble level on the top of the clamp. With that, you could create a perfectly level panning platform, leveling your horizon and fore-aft tilt.

To make things worse, inexplicably, the Arca-Swiss compatible version of the head does have a top-mounted bubble level just as such a head should do! Yet another reason why the F38 version of this tripod should be ignored.

Normally with a lightweight travel tripod, it’s much more stable to use an L plate on your camera to flip its orientation 90 degrees for portrait shots. However, as we already discussed, the F38 head uses Ulanzi’s non-standard F38 plates, and there are no L plates. This means the above configuration must be used for portrait orientation. Even with this relatively small Sony mirrorless +24-70mm f/2.8 setup, it creates huge torque on the quick-release plate. No matter how hard I tightened the base plate, I could not stop the camera from drooping. I really found myself getting frustrated with this F38 standard and the F38 head. It unnecessarily hampers what is otherwise an excellent set of tripod legs.

A lever on the side of the tripod, similar in design to one found on a Really Right Stuff Ascend-14 tripod, allows you to raise the center column. Note that you must raise the column at least a small amount to allow the ball head to move freely. The lever locks securely, but I will always caution readers about center column use, as with any other travel tripod review.

More than anything else, raising the center column will lower the tripod’s stability. For the sharpest images, particularly in windy conditions, you should always try not to raise the center column unnecessarily. In this case, it must be raised slightly to release the ball head, but only go beyond the minimal amount if it’s absolutely necessary.

Flipping the integrated ball head to one side reveals a hole in the ball. When the included 2.5mm hex is inserted into the hole, you can unscrew the lower section of the center column. You could do this to save some weight, or you could do it to allow the tripod to reach a lower minimum height. Generally, I try not to use skinny center columns on travel-sized tripods as they add huge instability. I usually run a shortened center column if the option is available.

The Ulanzi travel tripod’s five-section legs feature four metal leg locking levers. These leg locks are great. They are easy to operate, even with gloves on, and they lock the legs securely with minimal effort—top marks in this area. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Unscrewing the hook on the bottom of the tripod’s regular center column reveals a small hidden 2.5mm hex wrench. This wrench is used to remove the center column’s built-in inverted ball head and tighten the screw on the included quick-release camera plate.

This tool is poorly designed and has the feel of a feature that someone thought would look good on a spec sheet or in photos. A 2.5mm size is non-standard for tripod quick-release plates. 5/32″ is used for almost all camera and lens plates, so you may find that any existing camera tools you use will not work well with this tripod.

The straight design of the 2.5mm tool also gives you zero leverage when tightening the quick-release plate or loosening the built-in head, forcing you to try and tightly grip -with your fingertips- the sharp-edged hook. I could not get the F38 plate tight enough with this tool, and I had to find a proper right-angled hex wrench in my toolbox.

What’s silly is that the complexity of this hidden screw-in hex wrench costs far more money than including a simple right-angled hex wrench in the box with the tripod. The tool I ended up using from my toolbox probably had a value of just a few cents. The fiddly custom screw-in tool isn’t an efficient use of manufacturing cost.

And if we’re comparing this tripod to the Peak Design Travel Tripod, which Ulanzi clearly wants us to do, Peak Design includes a perfect, foldable right-angle hex wrench that is so good I keep it in my bag even on days when I’m not carrying the PD tripod.

The tripod comes with three tiny spiked feet that screw into the tripod legs using the included hex wrench for leverage. Spiked feet are always helpful in shooting on soft ground, such as wet grassy areas or mud. Some spiked feet can be beneficial in icy conditions, but such feet must have very sharp spikes. The spikes on the Ulanzi Travel Tripod are not sharp enough for use on ice. While they may have limited uses, it’s always nice to see spiked feet included with a tripod. Many other companies will charge you extra for these accessories.

The Ulanzi Travel Tripod comes in a simple padded bag with a skinny shoulder strap. The bag is nicely made but offers little in the way of impact protection. It’s a great little bag if you want to keep the dings and scratches off your shiny new tripod, but I would pack mine into something more substantial if I put this into a checked duffel bag for air travel. Either that or I’d make sure it was carefully wrapped in clothing. The bag has no internal or external pockets, so there is no convenient place to store the tripod’s accessories, such as spiked feet.

As I have already mentioned, buying the Ulanzi Travel Tripod has been made overly complicated by the multiple versions and then the multiple packages available for these multiple versions. If you buy the F38 version of the tripod, you will also receive an additional center column. If you buy the Zero Y version of the tripod, you must spec the center column as an additional option. At first glance, this looks like it would be a good way to mount a standard ball head onto the Ulanzi Travel Tripod legs. That is until you realize that the stud on the center column is a 1/4″ 20 stud instead of a 3/8″ 16 stud.

Every ball head and fluid head I have ever used has a 3/8″ 16 thread. I have absolutely no idea why Ulanzi would put a 1/4″ 20 stud on this column! None whatsoever. I thought perhaps they made heads with 1/4″ 20 threads, but even the U-190 Fluid Head, sold as a package with this very tripod , has a 3/8″ 16 thread on the bottom! To use this additional center column with any ball head or fluid head, even Ulanzi’s own heads require you to fit a 3/8″ to 1/4′ reducer bushing.

I don’t consider this an acceptable full-time solution. Bushings are easy to break and easy to get stuck. I will use one in a pinch to temporarily solve a problem, but I would never buy a product or recommend a product where you are essentially forced to use a reducer bushing. As such, I consider the included additional center column useless and of zero value when considering the tripod cost. When I asked Ulanzi about this and whether they would be making a column with a 3/8″ stud, they said, “we’re considering making one as lots of users are complaining about this.”

A secondary issue with the optional flat-topped center column is that it cannot be shortened to get a lower shooting angle. The center column with the attached ball head can be shortened to reach a minimum height of 15.3 cm, but if you want to use your own ball head, and thus this optional center column, your minimum height will be substantially greater at 29cm.

Accessory Thread

Small accessories with a 1/4″ 20 thread can be mounted to the side of the tripod. However, they should only be extremely lightweight items, given the relative instability of any travel tripod. I wouldn’t go much beyond something like a lightweight shotgun mic.

Technically, yes, you can use a regular ball head on the Ulanzi Travel Tripod. Both the F38 version of the tripod and the Zero Y version are available in a bundle with the optional center column that allows you to use your existing ball head. The column can also be purchased at a later date for $29.95 .

Having said that, as I detailed in the previous few paragraphs, you will need to use a 1/4″ to 3″8 bushing to mount your head on that column, and I do not recommend doing that. In other words, until Ulanzi delivers a center column with a native 3/8″ 16 stud, I do not recommend buying this tripod to use with your own ball head. That’s a shame because the tripod legs are fantastic. It’s a real disappointment that I can’t use other ball heads on it satisfactorily.

Ulanzi Travel Tripod Vs Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Ulanzi Travel Tripod takes more than a few design cues from the popular Peak Design tripod, so many people are interested in how the two compare. I have been using the Peak Design tripod for several years, so I’m able to make a direct comparison.

The Ulanzi tripod is noticeably more stable than the Peak Design tripod at all heights. There is less flex in the Ulanzi tripod’s cylindrical legs, and vibrations are dampened much more quickly. In terms of overall stability, it’s a win for the Ulanzi tripod. Interestingly, the Ulanzi tripod manages to do this while being slightly longer and lighter than the Peak Design Travel Tripod.

The base configuration of the Ulanzi tripod weighed 1127g on my scales, whereas the Peak Design Carbon tripod weighed 1307g. Perhaps even more interesting it the price difference: The Ulanzi is just $369 , whereas the Peak Design tripod is $649 . The Ulanzi tripod, made from carbon, actually undercuts the aluminum version of the PD travel tripod by $10.

In summary, the Ulanzi tripod is lighter and more stable than the Peak Design tripod while offering increased maximum height at a price that is 43% less. This is quite remarkable. The biggest issue with the Ulanzi tripod compared to the Peak Design tripod is that the Ulanzi optional center column inexplicably comes with a 1/4″ 20 stud instead of the 3/8″ stud you’ll need if you want to use your own ball head.

Peak Design, on the other hand, got this right. Their optional Universal Head Adapter has the correct 3/8″ 16 thread and pairs well with small and medium-sized ball heads. The center column can still be shortened when using their Universal Head Adapter, meaning those that use their own ball head can still reach the same minimum height as those that opt for Peak Design’s built-in head.

This is a difficult conclusion for me to write because I was both frustrated and delighted by what I found while testing the Ulanzi Travel Tripod. On the one hand, the carbon legs are remarkably stable for their size and weight, easily outperforming the Peak Design Travel Tripod, which costs considerably more money. I honestly wasn’t expecting that result.

However, this tripod is not without issues. The Ulanzi Travel Tripod is available in two versions: The first is the F38 Quick Release Travel Tripod which pairs the excellent carbon legs with a built-in ball head that uses Ulanzi’s proprietary F38 quick-release system. The F38 plates are smaller than Arca-Swiss size, making this head completely incompatible with a whole world of standardized Arca-Swiss accessories such as L plates, camera cages, and lens plates. I do not recommend this version of the tripod at all. Unfortunately, this is the version of the tripod I was sent for testing.

The second version of the tripod is called the Zero Y Travel Tripod. This pairs the same excellent carbon legs with an Arca-Swiss compatible head that should be a much better fit for most people. The problem I have right now is that I have not tested this head. Judging by the pictures, it solves the issues I had with the F38 head, but it has to come with the caveat that it is, at the moment, untested. I’d like to test it in the future .

The other thing you must be aware of when considering the Ulanzi Travel Tripod is its botched compatibility with regular ball heads. There’s no other way of saying it. The optional center column with the flat base, designed to be used with your own existing ball head, has a 1/4″ 20 stud on it instead of the 3/8″ 16 studs found on 99.9% of ball heads. Even Ulanzi’s own heads have a 3/8″ thread, so I have no clear idea how this passed from the drawing board to production. Secondly, the flat-topped option center column cannot be shortened, leaving its minimum height larger than desirable.

It’s clear that Ulanzi went after the Peak Design Travel Tripod and the RRS Ascend-14 when they created this product. Elements of both can be found in the tripod’s design. In part, they succeeded, having produced a remarkably stable set of carbon legs for a fantastic price. Unfortunately, they stopped short of creating a better solution for using 3rd-party ball heads. Something that was done perfectly well by Peak Design and RRS. I’m hopeful Ulanzi will release a new center column to correct this issue. They were so close to hitting a home run with this tripod!

As always, I appreciate it when you use our links for your purchases. The Ulanzi Travel Tripod is available directly from the Ulanzi web store, or on Amazon at the following links:

• Ulanzi Zero Y Travel Tripod * BEST OPTION * *Arca-Swiss Compatible* : Ulanzi Store / Amazon
• Ulanzi F38 Travel Tripod: Ulanzi Store / Amazon

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14 thoughts on “Ulanzi Travel Tripod Tested (Compared to Peak Design)”

Wow — caveat emptor, baby! Me thinks some engineer someplace gonna be in trouble tomorrow….

Really fantastic evaluation and write-up, Dan. I bet this was as uncomfortable to write as it must be for Ulanzi’s top brass to read, and I sympathize with everyone involved. But clearly somebody didn’t do sufficient research, and equally clearly, “Deciders” all up the line and pecking order were equally naive.

Maybe they intend their primary market to be Russia….

Best regards, and happy new year to you. It’s good to see your reviews coming through again.

Thanks, Michael. It’s a tricky one. As I said, they were so close to a home run with this; the legs are fantastic. If they make a new center column, and the Arca-Swiss version of the head turns out to be good, it’ll be an easier recommendation.

And yes, I’m dedicating more time to reviews and other content this year. I’m glad you have noticed already!

Thanks for the thorough honest review! I bought the F38 tripod for an upcoming trip, Amazon did t have the Zero Y tripod listed, and Ulzani shipping time was uncertain. I bought some of the combo F38/PD plates so I can use my PD Capture clip. I also got a Neewer Aluminium 50mm Quick Release Plate QR Clamp 3/8-inch with 1/4-inch Adapter and Built-in Bubble Level. I mounted this to the F38 plate, and clamped it into the Ulzani ball head. Now I have an Arca Swiss compatible head, and best part is it fits in the tripod bag. I’ll carry the additional F38 plates just in case. Also got a Leofoto MPL Handy Photographers Survival Multi-Tool Tripod Allen Wrench Kit, it’s a tool with Allen keys built in, screwdriver head, all in a carabiner style clip. Includes a 2.5mm Allen key, that Ulzani one does not tighten things well.

Thanks for sharing your setup.

Great write-up, Dan! It is nice to see more critical reviews of the Ulanzi compact series coming out – the first wave of reviews when I bought my Coman Y, in hindsight, carries a little bit too much hype. A review of the Coman Y (with some fun damping tests) from PlanIt Photo on Youtube is also similarly critical for very different reasons from yours. I will bring up some of them here, but you could consider checking out their video.

As the (former) owner of the Coman Y, I can say that it solves most of the issues with the F38 EXCEPT the potential drooping problem, as the panning base can never be fully locked. However, the larger arca-standard plate size and lower center of mass of the Coman Y head seem to alleviate this problem significantly.

How does the center column stack against PD? It feels more quobbly for me – but I did not have both tripods at the same period. PlanIt demonstrated and argued that the Ulanzi is less stable than PD when both columns are extended.

Do you find any smoothness issues with the locks? Both the column’s and the ball head’s flip locks go from very tight when engaged to very loose when unlocked for me. I found it difficult to adjust the ball tension. The legs’ locks are similarly tight, making it harder to pull the fast one-hand opening and locking trick PD has. Some people also complained about quality control with the leg locks being slightly misaligned or having differential tightness (which are adjustable). These are not major issues that detract from my enjoyment, but they make me more appreciative of PD & RRS’s precise machining.

And, as a final caveat, do you find that they have “innovated” themselves enough not to be called a PD copycat? That label has been thrown around since they were launched, and I already saw your thoughts on PMG vs Leofoto gimbals. The Ulanzi’s price undercuts PD’s a lot despite both being manufactured in China.

Hi Khoi. I found my leg logs to be acceptable. Stiffer than PD but still workable. As for head tightening issues, honestly, I hated the F38 head so much, and since it couldn’t support any camera I owned, I stopped the testing results short on that head. Ulanzi is sending me the Arca head, so I will do more detailed testing on that one, assuming it can hold at least a mirrorless body and a standard zoom lens. Have they innovated enough? That’s also a good question. There isn’t any real innovation here, but I have to give them credit for creating a sturdier set than the PD legs. When Lefoto copies RRS and PMG products, you get a copycat product with lower quality. When I have the other version of this tripod I will spend more time on it and update this review with further thoughts. Thanks for adding your own experience.

It should be able to hold that a mirrorless body and a standard zoom lens well. I used it often with my Z50 + 200-500 combo during the time it was in my hand.

That was a great article and very helpful. The Ulanzi website says the F38 is arca swiss compatible, but will I have an issue using an L-Bracket with it unless I get the zero Y version? I have the PD aluminum, so I would love a cheap carbon fiber alternative, but essentially always have my L-bracket on my camera. Again, thank you so much for your help.

The website actually states that it is NOT compatible. It is “compatible to the Arca-swiss tripod head” in the sense that you can replace their proprietary head with the center column adapter, which Dan has demonstrated to be very flawed.

Got it. Thank you so much. This gets a little confusing.

Khoi already beat me too it! Confusing is the word. As I said in the review, Ulanzi made all of this more confusing than it needed to be as soon as they made an F38 version of this tripod.

So Dan. Have you received the new arca swiss model? I was ready to pull the trigger on the pd, but recent prince increases has turned me away from it

Thank you Dan, this is the best review I have seen and I have watched and read a lot. I use L bracket with my mirrorless Nikon and large lenses so “Y” model would be the choice based on your article. I also use Acratech GPSS ball(0.9 Lb), the same you have in your picture, so my plan is to buy the center column so I can use it with my own ball head time to times. So would you know the weight of the tripod with the center column(without the ball-head ) ?

Hello, Dan! I’ve had time to compare “Y” and F38 models, and concluded that they have same legs and other parts, except ballhead. The F38 head are little lower, so the tripods have different length. F38 base plate is compatible with arca swiss, but not vice versa. I.e. you cannot install standart arca swiss plate onto F38 head, because it have unique locking mechanism. The area of the Y and f38 plates contacting with the camera almost the same, but f38 plate have almost flat and plasticky rubber inserts. This may be the reason of camera rotating, despite how tighten it. Best regards

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Ulanzi F38 Travel Tripod Review | A True Peak Design Alternative

Ever take a less than optimal shot because you didn’t want to be bothered with lugging a heavy tripod along?

Or suffered more than you needed on a long and arduous hike because of the weight of your camera gear?

Or left your tripod at home because it just wouldn’t fit in your pack?

Enter in the Ulanzi & COMAN Zero F38 travel tripod.

Tall, strong, customisable and amazing value for money. Cheaper alternative to Peak Design Travel Tripod.

It’s super compact, crazy light, and at a price point far below its closest competitors.

I’ve been using it for just about two weeks now, and it’s definitely an incredible improvement over anything I’ve ever used before…

(Although granted, I’ve never had the funds to splurge on the Peak Design Travel Tripod – Ulanzi’s biggest competitor right now.)

If you’re a landscape or cityscape photographer, often shoot in low light, or love macro photography on the run, you’ll want to give this travel tripod some serious consideration.

Let’s take a look at what the Ulanzi F38 has to offer to see whether it’s the best travel tripod of 2024 .

Table of Contents

Ulanzi and COMAN Zero F38 Travel Tripod Review

• Extremely small and light
• Fantastically portable
• Quick to set up/tear down
• Well-designed
• Beautiful build
• Leg joints and locks work smoothly
• Great height range
• Numerous configuration options
• Quick release plate can be awkward
• Some center-column wobbling when fully extended

Ulanzi F38 Specs

• Materials: Carbon Fiber and Aluminum
• Ballhead load capacity: 6 kg (13.2 lb)
• Leg locks: flip-lock style
• Max height (with center column raised): 1590 mm (62.6”)
• Low mode: 180 mm (7”)
• Net Weight 1.1 kg (2.4 lb)
• Folded Length: 425mm (16.7”)
• Legs: 5 leg sections
• Leg Angles: 20/55/75

Build Quality

Instead of using knobs, twist locks, or buttons, Ulanzi has chosen to use levers to release both the center column and the ball head. (The release for the center column can be seen here.)

At first touch, the Zero F38 feels so small and light that it might not hold up to extended use, but spend a little time with it, and you’ll realize this is one high-quality build.

The majority of the components are made of carbon fiber and aluminum – the legs being entirely carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber can’t take impacts as well as aluminum, but it’s incredibly strong and light (which is why the Ulanzi F38 tripod can hold 6x its weight).

Ulanzi says the legs are also abrasion and scratch-resistant, but I haven’t had it long enough to put that to the test.

Of course, there’s no way to really know how much abuse the legs and center column could really take, but all in all, everything feels exceptionally well-built.

I expect that with a reasonable amount of care, this tripod will be with me for a long while.

It’s in the design that this tripod really shines. Ulanzi and COMAN have paid attention to every detail.

Of course, one of the main goals was to keep things light with an extremely small form factor. In this, they’ve far exceeded any expectations I could have thrown at them.

The entire tripod weighs just 1.1 kg/2.4 lb! Literally! At the same time, its load capacity is 6 kg – almost 6x its own weight. You’re not going to find a lot of quality tripods that are as light as a literal kilo.

In a pack, the Zero YF38 is hardly noticeable, either in terms of weight or footprint. Folded up, the entire unit is only about a foot and a half and only 3.5 inches at its widest point. The ball head is no bigger than the width of the legs when folded up.

All together – case and all – I can easily fit this tripod into the water bottle pocket of my LowePro Photosport 24L , the smallest bag I use with my Sony A7III gear:

With or without its case, the Ulanzi & COMAN F38 fits nicely in the small  side pocket of my Photosport 24L – the smallest of all my camera bags.

The leg locks are clip-style and are positioned in a way that they can all be opened at the same time with one hand.

For me, it’s much quicker than using twist locks. Another benefit to having levers for leg locks is that you know when a leg is fully secure.

You can get really close to the ground by taking the center column apart and reinserting the smaller piece.

Another cool aspect of the design is that the center column splits in two so that you can use the shorter section to shoot close to the ground.

The tool for taking it apart and putting it back together is cunningly hidden in the gear hook at the bottom of the center column.

You can also put the center column in upside down if you need to get even closer to the ground:

Additional configurations include a side portal for attaching a cell phone and, with the additional ¼” center column piece, the ability to turn the tripod into a video set-up or change to another ball head.

Another feature is that the quick release plate is supposedly compatible with Peak Design’s quick-release system.

I didn’t find this to be true on the Peak Design Capture Clip , however. The F38 is a hair smaller than the CC plate and doesn’t sit snugly inside.

(I’m a bit bummed about this as I use the Capture Clip from time to time and having to change base plates all the time is a serious killjoy.)

While the F38 quick release plate is supposed to be compatible with the Peak Design system, I found it a hair too small to work with the Capture Clip.

Speaking of the ball head…

The Ulanzi and COMAN F38 ball head comes with a panning screw (left) and a Safe Lock button (right) that allows you to lock the quick release plate into place.

The Ulanzi F38 Falcam ball head gives the shooter 360-degree positioning when the center column is slightly raised.

Both the top plate and the base mount are designed to be fully compatible with the Arca-Swiss mount system.

The ball-head tension is controlled by a lever that sits horizontally on the head, just below the pano numbers.

(In the photo above, opposite the branding and therefore out of sight.) There’s also a panning screw for additional side-to-side action.

Additional features include a slot for turning your camera on its side and shooting vertically, a level, and a “safe lock.” The safe lock is supposed to prevent any accidental releases.

While I like the idea, I’m not a big fan of this safe lock button yet. I’ve been finding it hard to move the button into and out of Deadlock mode.

Leg Locks & Joints

The leg joints are controlled by flip locks.

The multi-angle locks on the Zero F38 are pretty standard, offering three different angles: 20 degrees, 55 degrees, and 75 degrees.

I find them a bit stiff and “pinchy” for my taste, but again it might just be a question of getting used to them.

The five leg sections are controlled by aluminium flip locks. At the base of each tripod leg is a removable rubber foot (for smooth floors) that’s interchangeable with the included metal spikes (for soft and/or rough ground).

Each rubber foot unscrews and can be easily replaced by the metal spikes that come with the Zero F38.

I gotta say, I really love how smoothly the leg joints move – they slide like silk yet aren’t overly slippery.

I also enjoy how easily the leg locks open and close. I have tiny hands, yet I can open and close all four locks easily with just one hand.

Size & Handling

With a Nikon D7000 attached, the Zero F38 easily reaches eye level of Michael, who’s 5’10”. (Abraxas the cat included for additional perspective.)

Being used to the Zomei Z699c , I was truly surprised, not just by the lightness of the Zero F38 but also by its maximum height.

I’m only 5’4″, and the Zomei was never tall enough to reach eye level for me.

With the center column fully extended, the Zero F38 easily reaches the eye level of someone who is 5″10, let alone lil ol’ me.

With both tripods fully extended, the  Zero F38 (left) is much taller than the Zomei 699C (right).

As mentioned earlier, there’s not a twist lock to be found on the Ulanzi & COMAN Zero F38 tripod.

I’ve never worked with a tripod that used a lever for the ball head as well as for the center column, and it definitely takes some getting used to.

To me, the lever seems less sensitive than the large(r) knob I’m used to using on my Zomei 7699c. That being said, it hasn’t been hard to get used to it. This last time out, I didn’t even notice it.

I find the panning screw more problematic, however. On mine, the screw points in the “up” position when locked down, interfering with where my hands need to be to get the quick release plate on and off.

I’ve tried taking it out and reinserting it to get it to lock down in another position, but no luck yet. A minor annoyance, but repeatedly so.

My greatest challenge with handling this tripod is working with the quick-release plate. It’s just not easy to get it locked into the ball head. I actually ended up missing out on a few shots last night because it took me so long to get it lined up.

Part of this is because there only seems to be one way that the plate goes on. Another part is, as mentioned before, the panning screw is often in my way. While I’m used to a larger plate, I’ve never struggled this much so consistently with getting a quick release plate on and off any tripod no matter its size.

Another minor issue I have with the quick-release plate is that its screw doesn’t come with a handle (unlike the Zomei).

I’m used to easily being able to loosen and tighten the plate. This one’s come loose a number of times now (especially when I’m shooting in the vertical position with a telephoto).

All this being said, I really love how this tripod works overall and suspect I’ll get used to its quirks. (For example, I’ll just have to carry a quick plate tightener on a key chain like so many other photographers.)

Other reviews mention that there’s some wobble at the joining section when the center column is fully extended.

I haven’t encountered that yet, but maybe that’s with heavier setups? The heaviest I’ve used so far is a Sony A7III + Sony FE 70-300mm.

Alternatives to the Ulanzi F38

The F38 (top) is considerably narrower than the Zoom Z799C travel tripod. It’s also fantastically lighter and has a much greater maximum height.

If you’re not sure if the Ulanzi & COMAN F38 is the right travel tripod for you, there are a few alternatives out there, though none are as reasonably priced.

The first of which is Peak Design’s carbon fiber travel tripod . It has similar features and a comparable footprint, though it definitely trumps the F38 in terms of its weight limit – 20 lb vs. 13.2 lb.

That being said, the Peak Design travel tripod comes in at a much higher price point: around $650 vs. just upwards of $360!

You could also take a look at the popular yet even more expensive Gitzo Series 1 Traveler  (upwards of $550 without the  ball-head) . I haven’t used it before, so I can’t speak to it. I do notice, however, that it’s more than twice the weight of the F38.

If you’re on a tight budget, the Zomei Z699C retails for less than $120 these days. It’s not as small nor as tall and certainly not as light, but it’s a fine option for those who don’t want to shell out the $350-$700 for one of the more expensive options listed here.

• Peak Design Tripod review

Value for Money

Given that Ulanzi & COMAN F38 travel tripod is almost $300 less than its nearest competitor, I’d have to say that it’s an extraordinary value for the money.

Of course, not everyone is going to have upwards of $300 to spend on a travel tripod, but those of us who shoot HDR, do night photography, and/or are seriously into landscape photography will find this a more than reasonable price for the extreme portability.

Ulanzi F38 Travel Tripod Review | Conclusion

Honestly, the Ulanzi and COMAN F38 travel tripod is (mostly) a delight to work with.

The quality of the build, coupled with how small and light it is (yet tall when fully extended), makes it more than worth the purchase.

For me, it’s remarkably reminiscent of going from playing the trombone to playing the penny whistle. (Well, it would be more like moving to the trumpet, but having never played the trumpet, I’ll settle for penny whistle…)

After being weighted down for so long, I feel like I’m virtually flying.

There are, of course, the issues I’ve had with the quick-release plate, but as I mentioned before, I expect to get used to it in time.

But back to the question of whether it’s right for you…

In the end, what matters is 1) whether it will work for your kit and 2) whether it is light enough and compact enough for you to take with you when you have the choice.

For me, the answer is a resounding yes on both accounts.

My camera + largest lenses all fall well within the load limit, and the Ulanzi F38 is so much lighter/smaller than what I’m used to that I’ve been going out of my way lately to do more night photography.

If you work with large prime lenses and/or long telephotos, though, you’ll definitely want to pay close attention to the 6 kg/13.2 lb weight limit on the F38.

Otherwise, this is a fantastic tripod, and I’m excited to add it to my kit. I hope to be using it for a long, long time to come.

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Teryani Riggs (they/them) is an adventure, who loves all things wild and free. Teryani can often be found in the midst of a social/eco-justice campaign, hiking through wild backcountry, or hitchhiking around the world listening to other people’s stories. While their focus has historically centered on landscape, travel, and wilderness photography, they’ve also been hired to shoot genres as varied as historical fiction reenactments in the studio to product and food photography.

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Travel Tripod

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We spent 4 years redesigning the tripod from the ground up, creating a travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottle—without compromising height, stability, or features.

Traditional tripods have always suffered from needless bulk and wasted space, so we made it radically faster to setup and takedown. Our tripod features ergonomic adjustment points, built-in mobile compatibility, and thoughtful details at every turn. Plus, it’s built for life on the road: durable, 100% serviceable, and backed by the Peak Design lifetime guarantee.

Tripod includes legs, ballhead, protective soft case, ARCA-compatible Standard Plate, mobile mount, hex tool with carrying clip, and bushing removal tool for maintenance. See Specs section below for details.

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Pro performance. half the size..

The Travel Tripod brings you pro-level stability, load capacity, and deployed height, yet packs down to the diameter of a water bottle. A ground-up redesign of the traditional tripod, the Travel Tripod is the result of 4 years of engineering.

Groundbreaking Architecture

Spatially efficient design eliminates wasted volume when packed down. Packs down to the diameter of a water bottle. No protruding knobs.

LIGHTNING-FAST DEPLOYMENT

Unique design allows quicker, easier setup/takedown.

Secure, fast, and ergonomic camera quick release.

Fast-locking, low profile leg cams.

Legs deploy in seconds, without having to flip over like traditional travel tripod legs.

PRO-LEVEL STABILITY & FEATURES

20lb weight capacity (optimized for a full-frame DSLR + telephoto lens). Stability and vibration damping performance comparable, if not better, than most tripods in its class. Low and inverted modes position your camera inches off the ground
. Integrated load hanging hook
. Anchor attachment points for carrying with Peak Design straps (sold separately).

ERGONOMIC BALL HEAD

Ultra-smooth, omnidirectional Compact Ball Head.

One single adjustment ring. No bulky or confusing knobs
.

Simple locking ring for total security.

Compatible with all PD plates and most 3rd party Arca-type plates.


Removable pins allow use with most Arca-type L-brackets
.

For your phone, too

Built-in and stowable mobile mount.

Securely grips any phone/case
.

Built to Last

Weather and impact-resistant materials.

All parts are serviceable, cleanable, and replaceable.

Includes a padded, weatherproof case.

Guaranteed for life.

What is in the box

• Tripod (Legs + Compact Ball Head) x1
• Weatherproof Soft Case x1
• Standard Plate x1
• 4mm + 2.5 Hex Wrench x1
• Mobile Mount x1
• Bushing Removal Tool x1

SKU/Part Number:

TT-CB-5-150-AL-1 (Aluminum)

TT-CB-5-150-CF-1 (Carbon Fiber)

Alloy: 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs) Carbon: 1.29 kg (2.81 lbs)

Weight Capacity:

9.1 kg (20 lbs)* *Optimized for pro setups, up to full-frame DSLR + telephoto lens

Instruction

Product Manual

Collapsed Dimensions:

Length: 39.1 cm (15.4”)

Diameter: 7.9 cm (3.125")

Deployed Dimensions:

Max height (center column raised): 152.4 cm (60")

Max height (center column down): 130.2 cm (51.25")

Min height (low mode): 14 cm (5.5”)

Tabletop Mode (center column raised): 57.2 cm (22.5")

Tabletop Mode (center column down): 35.9 cm (13.125")

Leg Sections

Aluminum cams

Ball Head, Hub, Load Hook: Powdercoated A380 aluminum

Legs: Anodized 6061-T6 aluminum (Alloy), Carbon F’n fiber (Carbon)

Quick Release, Adjustment Ring, Center Column Knob: Anodized 6061-T6 aluminum

Locking Ring: Polycarbonate/ABS blend

Feet: ShoreA60 TPU

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• Payware Airports and Scenery Reviews

Scenery Review : Moscow City XP by Drzewiecki Design

• drzewiecki design

By Stephen September 24, 2016 in Payware Airports and Scenery Reviews

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You fly for hours, anticipating your arrival, wanting to take in the area and the views of another country far away from your departure airport. The airport and the area you leave from is detailed and visually full, and you know you have a great airport scenery waiting for you at the other end of the flight, then when you arrive...

...  Nothing, but flat plain emptiness and the same boring standard X-Plane basic scenery, worse there is no OSM (Open Street Map) data in the tile either, so there is no road or autogen detailing in there as well, just well nothing.

When Drzewiecki Design released their UUEE Sheremetyevo Airport XP , I loved it because it was like a visitor from the Cold War past, the Soviet era, and it was also great scenery and great choice of a destination to fly to from any of the capitals of Europe...  but that was it, just this great airport in the middle of nothingness, bland....   zero ville.

Now Drzewiecki Design has released "Moscow City"  a scenery package to compliment their UUEE Sheremetyevo, and boy how much a difference this release has done to this totally boring area.

To get the full first impression effect I flew JARDesign's A320neo from EFHK Vatnaa, Helsinki to UUEE Sheremetyevo which is flight Finnair AY153 which is a daily 9.25am service.

First Impressions

I was surprised to start picking up scenery still quite away out from central Moscow, as I approached my 6000ft transition altitude. Here there was buildings and houses and the physical visual notes you were arriving somewhere.

Looking hard at the horizon through the A320's windows and you could see the iconic silhouette of Moscow city.

The scenery provides lite versions of all Moscow's Airports, this is UUWW Vnukovo, which was easily recognisable as you flew over. As you fly closer to the centre of the city the density of the objects below becomes quite heavy as the landscape fills in. You have all kinds of infrastructure including, blocks of flats, tower blocks, factories, housing, skyscrapers and almost everything that makes up an urban landscape, in all there is 2000 custom-made buildings that makes up this impressive scenery.

A note here in that you don't get that rolling as you move feeling effect where as it just suddenly appears in front of you and then quickly disappears behind as soon as you have flown out over the area. There is a slight effect of that as there has to be, but only in the far distance and as you can see from the images the views in every direction are widespread and visually it is very good to excellent.

The "Seven Sisters" or "Stalinist skyscrapers" built from 1947 to 1953 are all in the scenery with their "Wedding Cake" architecture or officially  Russian Baroque               - Gothic style. Most famous is the Moscow State University, front and centre of the image below.

Central Moscow is excellent and extremely realistic, and you really need a travel guide to pick out the landmarks and detail, but it is hard to miss the Red Kremlin complex  and St Peter's square from the air.  Both sides of the aircraft is visually full until you have crossed right over the city.

I am not a fan of the generated 3d OSM scenery, but this is very good in blending in perfectly with the X-Plane default scenery and giving you a smooth transition from country to urban and back again with great realism.

Over the city and turning north towards Sheremetyevo, another Moscow airport UUMU Chkalovsky is represented on the turn.

The city skyline is now easily visible on landing at Sheremetyevo, and that really helps in the arrival factor, more so in that the cities building infrastructure spread now comes up and around the airport to fill the gaps to the city itself, and making the original  Sheremetyevo scenery that was so open and lonely in the old X-Plane view is now a big part of the whole in this combination. No doubt it really brings this always good scenery now alive and very usable.

Sheremetyevo Airport

Before we move on to the city itself. It is important to note the area around UUEE Sheremetyevo itself.

Compare the large image above to the earlier image at the start of this review to see the amount of change there is around UUEE Sheremetyevo with the addition of this Moscow City package. The two sceneries are of course meant to be used together, and in reality it would look odd if you had Moscow City scenery installed without the Sheremetyevo scenery included to fill out the northern areas. A highlight is that both sceneries together form a single whole, as the areas between the airport and the central city area are well filled in and that gives you a huge area of coverage and the full visual aspect.

To get a closer lower look at the Moscow Center I commandeered Dreamfoil's lovely Bell 407.

There is a 4.000km² total area covered with this scenery here, and you have expect some sort of building replication to cover all that ground. There is of course but as well in the fact there is also enough variations as to not keep it all interesting and not obviously visually obvious.

The closer you go to the central area, the variations in the buildings change there in style and density as well. And then more of the iconic buildings start to appear as you get closer in again to the middle. The business district is excellent, with a lot of business towers and the more modern futuristic skyscraper architecture that stands out in every view point in eye scans across the city.

The more recent is in tune with the more older Stalinist era that makes up the Moscow skyline.

The Kremlin Complex and the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed (St Basil's) is excellently represented and so is "Red Square"

There are Orthodox churches everywhere and all the big icons in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium, Otkrytive Arena and department stores, museums and power stations and more....

I did have issues with many buildings floating, including the Kremlin. I tried both "Runways follow terrain contours" on and off with no flattening of the objects and there is no information in the manual either on how to fix the problem.

Night lighting is very good, yes there is again a repeatable pattern to the majority of the hundreds of the apartment blocks that does stand out, but the more individual buildings do all have that personal touch and some buildings look really very good.

The highlight here is the business district which looks magnificent and is very realistic from any direction at night as is the lit Stadium.

Although away from the central area the Ostankino Tower that stands 540.1 metres (1,772 ft) tall, and is the tallest freestanding structure in Europe and it looks great at night and is a very good position indicator from the air from any direction.

Included Moscow Airports

As noted also included in the scenery are seven airports and several helipads.

UUWW Vnukovo

The futuristic Vnukovo International is very good for a lite version, with great terminals and lots of small detailing. Only thing missing is the static aircraft and a bit more ramp equipment, but otherwise it is highly usable.

UUDD Domodedovo

The oldest of Moscow's International airports is Domodedovo. Again it is quite devoid of static aircraft and I am not crazy about the blue terminal glass work, but it is still a very workable scenery to use and has a lot of well made objects.

UUBW Zhukovsky

Zhukovsky was a major aircraft testing facility since the  cold war years, with most of the major Russian Experimental Design Bureau's having facilities here. It is also now used by the Ministry of Emergency Situations! and cargo carriers. It was also used as a test site for the Soviet Buran  reusable Spacecraft because it has the world's second longest pubic runway at at 5,402 m (17,723 ft). Mostly it is a collection of very large hangars but has a lot of static aircraft in storage.

UUMO Ostafyevo International Business Airport

A former military airbase. Ostafyevo features a new modern glass terminal, and caters primarily to business aviation.

UUMU Chkalovsky

Chkalovsky is a military logistics airport that is famous for it's support for the Russian Space program and transport to Star City and the Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center. Yuri Gagarin left here on his final flight before crashing by the town of Kirzhach.

UUBM Myachkovo Airport

Myachkovo is a small General Aviation Airport that is owned by the Finpromko company. Cargo aircraft up to the size of the Ilyushin ll-76 freighter can also use the airport.

UUMB Kubinka

Kubinka has been a significant Russian military airbase and large airshows are held here to show off the Russian military might.

There is also provided UUU1 Kremlin Airport, within the Kremlin walls, but I couldn't get it to work? There are two pads in H1 and H2.

Your first thoughts after reviewing this excellent Moscow scenery is not with this actual package. You then wish that you could have this extensive scenery at London, Rome, Madrid, Berlin and the list could go on with any of your favorite European Cities, and don't count a load in the Middle East and Asia. But a London scenery like this would certainly be a godsend in our X-Plane world. Drzewiecki Design has already done Warsaw and Manhattan, so there is always hope.

It is not cheap either and you need to add in their UUEE Sheremetyevo scenery package on top of that as well. But you get an awful lot of ground covered here for your money, with the area covered here that is extensive...  huge and flying into Moscow will never be the same again.

A few areas to note in one that in my case a few of the buildings floated, the download is huge load at 1.4gb and this Russian area is not the best for navigation aids and programming FMS units as most waypoints are not recognised. Most of the airports ILS coordinates also have to checked and recalibrated (Drzewiecki Design do provide all the correct coordinates) so there is a little work to do to set up repeat services but the work is worth the results.

Not only is the actual Moscow city and all it's buildings supported, you also get seven (if lite versions) of Moscow's other airports included as well, but the framerate processing of all this huge amount of objects and scale is pretty good to excellent. Framerate does hurt more on a lower (helicopter) level and certainly you need a computer with a little extra power is in no doubt required, but overall for the size of the area the scenery is extremely efficient.

Yes I was impressed by this Moscow City Scenery, as this once very barren area of X-Plane is now a very attractive repeat destination as nothing can give you a greater fulfilment than seeing your destination appear in the distance and then give you a huge visual experience as you fly over and approach your destination.

Moscow City certainly delivers that and more...  Just more sceneries like this please!

Moscow City XP by Drzewiecki Design is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store here :

• Extremely detailed model of Moscow metropolitan area in Russia
• Almost 2000 custom-made buildings and other objects, all high quality, FPS-friendly and with night textures
• Whole Moscow center done in 3D as well as all other important landmarks - museums, palaces, skyscrapers, towers, bridges, railway stations, Zara stores...
• Trains, ships, 3D people, cars, airport vehicles, static aircraft - anything you can imagine
• About 4000 sq.km of photoreal 0,5-1m/pix terrain with autogen
• Sceneries of all surrounding airports including UUWW Vnukovo, UUDD Domodedovo, UUBW Zhukovski, UUMO Ostafyevo, UUBM Myachkovo and UUMB Kubinka, with all airport buildings, detailed layouts, people, airport vehicles and more
• Very detailed Kremlin model with newly constructed heliport

Requirements

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Installation and documents:

Download for the Moscow City XP is 1.47gb and the unzipped file is deposited in the "Custom Scenery" as four files:

DDZ Moscow City XP (3.99gb) - Yes GIGABYTES!

DDZ Moscow City XP Layer 2 (30.20mb)

DDZ Moscow City XP Documents (1.0 mb)

ZZZ_DDZ Moscow City XP Terrain (20.10mb)

Installation for Windows comes with an .exe installer that deposits the files in the correct order required (however I still moved the ZZZ- folder to the bottom via the INI text install list.

Installation Instructions are provided for Mac and Linux

You need to check all airports ILS coordinates are correct, instructions are provided.

Documents: Two documents include

Moscow City XP MacLinuxinstall

Moscow City XP Manual (seven pages)

Review System Specifications:

Computer System : Windows  - Intel Core i7 6700K CPU 4.00GHz / 64bit - 16 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - GeForce GTX 980/SSE2 - Samsung Evo 512gb SSD 

Software :   - Windows 10 - X-Plane 10 Global ver 10.50

Addons : Saitek x52 Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose  Soundlink Mini

Plugins: JARDesign Ground Handling Deluxe US$14.95 : WorldTraffic US$29.95

Scenery or Aircraft

- Airbus A320neo by JARDesign ( X-Plane.OrgStore ) - US$59.95 : A320neo Sound Packs by Blue Sky Star Simulations ( X-Plane.OrgStore ) - US$19.95

- Bell 407 by Dreamfoil Creations ( X-Plane.OrgStore ) - US$34.95

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• 7 months later...

Thank you for this very thorough (as always) review. I just bought it (it's on sale) and have only one disappointment so far: Red Square has no ILS or any landing aids at all for that matter. And what a nightmare of an approach! Also I was hoping the package would include an add-on that gives my c172 a big cup holder for my Stoli. Otherwise the scenery is gorgeous. What a country!

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