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Best value tripod.

B

BOISCOID

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 9, 2018
153
62
Flat out want a tripod for all position practice and call in hunting, mainly coyotes. Wish I could go with an all RRS set up but it isn’t in the cards at the moment. Need that kind of funds for more glass down the road. Tbh weight isn’t a huge concern, I’m young and don’t pack my gear all that far anyways.

Want a good ball head and arca mount to pair with my 6mm xylo and 22lr mpa chassis. Kinda wanna keep things south of $700 as much as possible.

I’ve read about the pig0311 from Hog saddle and leaning that way. All my rifles are less than 16lbs. Don’t live in a populated area where guys can let me try out their gear.

That said help me spend my money wisely.
 
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Leofoto, PVA, TwoVets, Innorel, and probably a half dozen others are all made by the same OEM in China. I’ve used all of them and you’d be hard-pressed to point out many differences besides the name on them. These are all massive 40+mm carbon tripods and they will hold just about anything you hang on them. Not nearly as light as the RRS, and the fit and finish are very “meh” in comparison, but they all do the job very well for the money.

As much as these are good options as far as the tripod itself goes, I would HIGHLY recommend spending the money on an RRS head at the very least. You’re going to come in very close to that $700 total investment regardless, and honestly you’ll be glad you didn’t cheap out on the head. The various chi-com leveling bases and ball heads are really subpar to put it nicely, and that is where you’re going to notice the largest difference in performance and reliability.

Personally I run the Innorel RT90C with a TA-U-LC universal leveling head. My set up is more optimized for Binos, though it works for shooting as well. If your primary use will be hunting or shooting, I think you’d be better off going with the @midwestoffroad adapter plate and an Anvil-30. You should be able to keep it right around your max budget, and you’ll have a very serviceable setup either way.
 
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just browsing said:
Leofoto, PVA, TwoVets, Innorel, and probably a half dozen others are all made by the same OEM in China. I’ve used all of them and you’d be hard-pressed to point out many differences besides the name on them. These are all massive 40+mm carbon tripods and they will hold just about anything you hang on them. Not nearly as light as the RRS, and the fit and finish are very “meh” in comparison, but they all do the job very well for the money.

As much as these are good options as far as the tripod itself goes, I would HIGHLY recommend spending the money on an RRS head at the very least. You’re going to come in very close to that $700 total investment regardless, and honestly you’ll be glad you didn’t cheap out on the head. The various chi-com leveling bases and ball heads are really subpar to put it nicely, and that is where you’re going to notice the largest difference in performance and reliability.

Personally I run the Innorel RT90C with a TA-U-LC universal leveling head. My set up is more optimized for Binos, though it works for shooting as well. If your primary use will be hunting or shooting, I think you’d be better off going with the @midwestoffroad adapter plate and an Anvil-30. You should be able to keep it right around your max budget, and you’ll have a very serviceable setup either way.
Click to expand...

Definitely planning the bulk of the budget for quality mount and ball. The anvil 30 does seem the best way, thanks for the suggestion on @midwestoffroad and innorel. Will be looking into them this weekend.
 
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I have the Leofoto ls-284c with their ball head mount and it’s really great for the price.... is it really right stuff quality? No but it’s solid enough to mount rifle to and it goes all the way flat is roughly the same height as 9 inch harris bipods
 
Anvil 30 and one of the budget tripods. That's what I have till I get a RRS tripod.

Although some like the traditional ballhead, but get a big one.

And, a leveling bowl is best, but much less range of elevation angles.
 

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Im in the same boat as OP. I have a hard time shelling out 1400 on the RRS but I also have a hard time buying from a Chinese company who blatantly ripped off of the RRS. I like the idea of getting the anvil 30 for now on a cheaper pod and then grabbing the RRS when the time is right
 
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The Leitz Tiltall. I've used them most of my life and love them. Of course I use Linhof and Bogen/Manfrotto tripods most, but the Tiltall is sold as a rock for its size and light weight, and adjusts to about eye level if you're around 6' tall or so. Last I looked, they were in the $100 range. I believe Slik and Canon make nearly identical versions.
 
KEbravo4 said:
Im in the same boat as OP. I have a hard time shelling out 1400 on the RRS but I also have a hard time buying from a Chinese company who blatantly ripped off of the RRS. I like the idea of getting the anvil 30 for now on a cheaper pod and then grabbing the RRS when the time is right
Click to expand...

think I’m going the anvil, @midwestoffroad plate and rt90c route personally.
 
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I went with rt90c Midwest adapter and anvil 30 very solid setup. Just email Jermey about the plates.
 

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In your opinion, what's the best value tripod not made in China? Before Spring I wouldn't have hesitated to buy the RT90c, but my feelings have changed. I am willing to buy something made in most any other Asian Pacific country, just can't buy Chinese.
 
Downtown said:
In your opinion, what's the best value tripod not made in China? Before Spring I wouldn't have hesitated to buy the RT90c, but my feelings have changed. I am willing to buy something made in most any other Asian Pacific country, just can't buy Chinese.
Click to expand...
From my limited research you’ll be hard pressed to find anything in the budget tier that’s not imported. Gitzo is made in France/Italy but at their price point you’re inline or just a stones throw away from a RRS.
 
as for not made in China I haven’t dived down the internet rabbit hole to know between the various brands
 
BOISCOID said:
From my limited research you’ll be hard pressed to find anything in the budget tier that’s not imported. Gitzo is made in France/Italy but at their price point you’re inline or just a stones throw away from a RRS.
Click to expand...
I understand it's not always possible to "buy American", especially with a budget. I'm okay with that. Just won't buy Chinese anymore. I blame China for messing my year up so much. 😁
 
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BOISCOID said:
Flat out want a tripod for all position practice and call in hunting, mainly coyotes. Wish I could go with an all RRS set up but it isn’t in the cards at the moment. Need that kind of funds for more glass down the road. Tbh weight isn’t a huge concern, I’m young and don’t pack my gear all that far anyways.

Want a good ball head and arca mount to pair with my 6mm xylo and 22lr mpa chassis. Kinda wanna keep things south of $700 as much as possible.

I’ve read about the pig0311 from Hog saddle and leaning that way. All my rifles are less than 16lbs. Don’t live in a populated area where guys can let me try out their gear.

That said help me spend my money wisely.
Click to expand...

I have the pig0311/FB 52 ball head shown in link below. I have the pig saddle on in the pic but only run my AR10 in that configuration now. Everything else attached direct to ball head via Arca rail

Absolutely love mine. But I haven’t used the others mentioned above

stores.hogsaddle.com

GNN FB-52 Ball Head

Sunwayfoto GNN FB-52 Tripod Ball Head for Shadow Tech, LLC, HOG Saddle, PIG Saddle, PIG0311-G, PIG0311-GS, and PIGlite-CF4 Carbon Fiber Shooting Tripod Systems
stores.hogsaddle.com stores.hogsaddle.com

1E3376D8-7C5D-4C28-B310-E6EB68776124.jpeg
221DE504-BE27-4E45-B565-AF29AF7B1EC7.jpeg
B1E8D6FD-EFCE-4BC2-9075-3C29713D8430.jpeg
 
hafejd30 said:
I have the pig0311/FB 52 ball head shown in link below. I have the pig saddle on in the pic but only run my AR10 in that configuration now. Everything else attached direct to ball head via Arca rail

Absolutely love mine. But I haven’t used the others mentioned above

stores.hogsaddle.com

GNN FB-52 Ball Head

Sunwayfoto GNN FB-52 Tripod Ball Head for Shadow Tech, LLC, HOG Saddle, PIG Saddle, PIG0311-G, PIG0311-GS, and PIGlite-CF4 Carbon Fiber Shooting Tripod Systems
stores.hogsaddle.com stores.hogsaddle.com

View attachment 7383726View attachment 7383727View attachment 7383728
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That paint job from AI?
 
hafejd30 said:
The rifle was in this configuration when I bought it. Also have the original AT Buttstock that matches the forend.

@malsa82 May be able to provide more info to the source of the paint job
Click to expand...
Yeah i just picked up a KRG W3...would like that look on her
 
The older I get the more my definition of value changes. Value doesn’t always equate to lower cost. I’ve tried all the cheaper tripods and heads, and sold them for a loss. If I had just ponied up for a RRS setup from the get-go, I’d have saved a lot of money on trial and error over the years. I bet you can get by without one for a little while longer, I’d urge you to reconsider your budget and save a little while longer.
 
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20200726_170453.jpg
I was pumped to try this out today...within 20 mins of playing with it, the tensioner knob of the ball head is locked in the lock position but the ball head is spinning freely...20 mins and it broke. There goes $200. Im def leaning towards rrs
 
I have the PIG0311 and for the money it’s a hell of a good tripod. Too it off with a good arcs head or mount and you’re well under your $700 budget.
 
Crews said:
The older I get the more my definition of value changes. Value doesn’t always equate to lower cost. I’ve tried all the cheaper tripods and heads, and sold them for a loss. If I had just ponied up for a RRS setup from the get-go, I’d have saved a lot of money on trial and error over the years. I bet you can get by without one for a little while longer, I’d urge you to reconsider your budget and save a little while longer.
Click to expand...

pretty much my plan. Already got the adapter plate from midwestoffroad. Anvil 30 and rt90c will be in the next month or so. Eventually I’ll pay up for a RRS tripod and keep the innorel for binos/ spotter
 
BOISCOID said:
pretty much my plan. Already got the adapter plate from midwestoffroad. Anvil 30 and rt90c will be in the next month or so. Eventually I’ll pay up for a RRS tripod and keep the innorel for binos/ spotter
Click to expand...
Yeah dude like I said, I bought a generic carbon tri on Amazon. Its pretty solid but the head completely shit the bed after 20 mins of fucking with it in my apartment...wouldve been fine for a camera but my 14lb rifle at extreme angles did it in. Anvil 30 here I come
 
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KEbravo4 said:
Yeah dude like I said, I bought a generic carbon tri on Amazon. Its pretty solid but the head completely shit the bed after 20 mins of fucking with it in my apartment...wouldve been fine for a camera but my 14lb rifle at extreme angles did it in. Anvil 30 here I come
Click to expand...

That sucks, hit up the merchant on amazon and then amazon support team of the merchant doesn’t come through. Tbh I’ve never been left hanging or even questioned by them on previous purchases. That includes hundreds of dollars on mobos, ram, and gpus for my computer builds. Hell one time I dropped $300+ on a new series of 16g ram drives only to open the box to find balsa wood inside. One email to amazon support and they credited back my money, they didn’t even ask for pictures just sent a rma.
 
BOISCOID said:
That sucks, hit up the merchant on amazon and then amazon support team of the merchant doesn’t come through. Tbh I’ve never been left hanging or even questioned by them on previous purchases. That includes hundreds of dollars on mobos, ram, and gpus for my computer builds. Hell one time I dropped $300+ on a new series of 16g ram drives only to open the box to find balsa wood inside. One email to amazon support and they credited back my money, they didn’t even ask for pictures just sent a rma.
Click to expand...
Yeah ill give them that. Thats nuts. I just had a kayak cart delivered and then stolen at my apt. I submitted a ticket with Amazon and was refunded immediately...no questions asked. That shows how much product they are pushing.
 
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KEbravo4 said:
Yeah ill give them that. Thats nuts. I just had a kayak cart delivered and then stolen at my apt. I submitted a ticket with Amazon and was refunded immediately...no questions asked. That shows how much product they are pushing.
Click to expand...
I agree, with how much they sell it’d be nearly impossible for them to net a loss nationwide for a single day. Keep customers happy and their friends will surely buy as well.
 
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