I have to admit that a tripod has never been high on my packing list. They take up too much room, and for me, their usefulness has never justified the added weight. But, the Pedco Ultrapod Go is a tripod that is built to travel. Weighing in at 2 ounces and taking up less space than a full size tube of toothpaste, it’s easy to fit this tripod into any pack. When you’re ready to use it, simply fold out the tripod head and legs, mount the camera and you’re ready to go. The simplicity and elegance of the design are really quite impressive.
I had my reservations at first. It is made out of plastic after all (well, to be precise, it’s actually made out of a rugged polycarbonate) and it’s so small. How could it possibly hold my camera? When it is folded up, it doesn’t even look like a tripod. Where are the three legs that flop around when you try to pack it in your bag?
Designed to work with cameras that weigh up to 1 pound, the Pedco Ultrapod Go should cover the needs of most amateur photographers. I tested it with a camera that weighed 6.5 oz. and it worked perfectly. I expected the ball joint on the tripod head to slip under the weight of the camera, but this was never an issue. Even when I positioned it at the most extreme angles it held everything nice and steady.
On the downside, I found it awkward to use the thumbscrew when attaching the camera to the tripod. It’s a tad too small, which makes it difficult for me to get my fingers around it and give it a turn. It was easier just to lock it in place and either, turn the whole tripod, or turn the camera until everything was screwed down nice and tight. Since both of those objects are small and lightweight this wasn’t too much of issue.
The tripod comes with a rolled up Velcro* strap that can be used to lock it down to a ski pole, tree branch, or the hand rail of the stairs that your skater kids are testing out your insurance policies on. It’s obvious that the Pedco Ultrapod Go was designed with action shots in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it for family photos, time lapse night sky shots or ultra close up macro photos of insects (if you’re in to that kind of thing). My favorite feature is the pistol grip design that gives you greater control and steadier camera shots when shooting video. All you need is a rolling chair and you can shoot your first dolly shot.
The only real drawback to this tripod is that it doesn’t come with an adapter for your phone. Pedco does make a universal CellPod adapter, but unfortunately that is sold separately and will set you back another ten bucks.
If you need a more robust tripod to handle larger cameras Pedco makes several other models that are worth checking out. Maybe one of them will be the perfect fit, but you’ll have to sacrifice a little more room in your pack.
the good:
- small
- lightweight
- easy to use
- easy to pack
the bad:
- thumbscrew is a little to small for adult size fingers
- CellPod adapter sold separately
Available from Industrial Revolution for $14.99
The more you know:
*Velcro was conceived by George de Mestral. A swiss inventor and amateur mountaineer. The hook and loop fastener system was inspired the the burs he found clinging to his dog and to his clothing after a day spent hiking.
boring stuff:
All images vie Pedco’s website. Pedco provided me with a free review sample. This did not effect the opinions expressed in this review.