This collapsable Travel Tripod is generating waves online, surpassing its Kickstarter goal by millions of dollars.
The Travel Tripod from Peak Design is making serious waves online, already generating over US$6 million in Kickstarter funding and eclipsing its goal of US$440,000. What's the buzz about? Unlike most traditional tripod models that can be a pain to lug around, this one is lightweight and portable. And it has all sorts of clever little engineering details that make it especially efficient for travel or wildlife photographers.
It's described as a full-featured tripod that collapses down to roughly the size of a water bottle (just 3.25 inches/8.26cm in diameter) and weighs just over three pounds so it's light enough to take anywhere. It’s also stable and offers great balance of size, stability, and versatility. Not to mention it's easy to set up and break down with levers that can be operated without the need to mess around with twist locks.
Designers say the tripod can lower to almost ground-level when used in a low and inverted configuration, even on uneven surfaces. The included ball head adjusts with a single control and locks down securely with a lightning-fast, quick-attachment release plate. In fact, the Peak Design team say they've timed the whole operation and the current office record is 9.4 seconds from packed to legs deployed.
Peak Design CEO Peter Dering said he inspiration for the lightweight Travel Tripod came from years of carting around a big and bulky tripod on his travels. "The thing was full of negative space and knobs, and I felt like something designed for portability could do much better," he explained. "It took years of development but the outcome is a camera tripod that seamlessly integrates into all aspects of travel and adventure."
The Travel Tripod comes in two models. The aluminium model retails at US$289 (£228), while the carbon fibre model costs US$479 (£378). Both models come with legs, ball head, quick-release plate, smartphone mount, load hook, hex key and protective case. They're available for pre-order.
