When the opportunity comes to travel with photography gear, this is where you have to determine what is actually important. This can be difficult because bringing everything you have is not ideal. Of course, there are the go-to lenses, camera bodies, chargers, and memory cards, but many tend to overlook the tripod. It is actually an important accessory and can make a huge difference when trying to capture certain moments.
Nowadays, there are many different types of tripods. From small flexible kinds to the ones that can withstand any type of environment. But what about something in between? Well, MeFOTO has created the ideal travel tripod that is light and won’t take up too much space in your luggage, the MeFOTO BackPacker tripod.
MeFOTO is a young brand that launched one tripod but in different sizes – the Backpacker (smallest), the RoadTrip (medium), and GlobeTrotter (largest). But for those looking for a small, compact tripod, here is a breakdown of what the BackPacker has to offer.
Design
The tripod measures about 12.6 inches when it is packed down, so a little over one foot, and extends to 51.2 inches. This can be a downfall for some photographers but not a complete dealbreaker. Although it does not extend as much as its competitors, it only weighs about three pounds, making it the lightest against other tripods. It weighs so little because of the high-grade aluminum alloy it is made of. This makes the build not only light but of good quality as well.
The plate of the tripod has a Q0 ball head with an Arca-Swiss release system. You can depend on this plate to keep your DSLR secure but at times, you might have to constantly tighten which made it tedious to use.
Legs
To operate the legs, all it takes is some twisting. You can extend the legs, and the center column, by twisting the rubber stopper making it easy to use. But you have to be careful as well since moving the tripod around can move the pieces and loosen the tripod completely.
The legs extract independently and can be adjusted to the environment. This is extremely convenient if you find yourself in uneven terrain. You can lock to legs in two forms: one is extremely close to the ground or the standard tripod configuration.
A small metal key goes at the base of the tripod which holds these stages in place. It is not spring loaded so it can take some getting used to for some since most tripods have springs. These stages are stable so there is no need to be concerned about that but you are limited to only two positions.
In Use
The MeFOTO BackPacker is a good tripod to use and is practical with its weight. There is no hassle when using it as it is easily adjustable. The main issue might be the height of the tripod when extended completely but it is all personal preference.
You should be aware that this tripod was made for those looking to have something compact and easy to use. It is also the smallest in its collection so the weight it can handle is not as heavy as other tripods. There is a maximum load of only about nine pounds so it is best for mirrorless cameras and not DSLRs that use extremely large lenses.
How Does the MeFOTO BackPacker Compare?
| MeFOTO BackPacker Travel Tripod | MeFOTO RoadTrip Tripod |
| Easier to travel with due to size | Can double as a monopod |
| Has a maximum height of 51.2 inches | Has a maximum height of 64.2 inches |
| Can handle 8 pounds | Can handle 17.6 pounds |
| Made of aluminum | Has carbon fiber which makes it tougher |
Conclusion
While the MeFOTO BackPacker tripod comes with some great features, there are some setbacks to it that can be a deal breaker to some photographers. It can be the fact that the tripod only allows two stages or the ball head on the camera plate that can use some improvement.
Sure, with the good also comes the bad, but to be honest, the bad is not that bad. The MeFOTO BackPacker is extremely travel-friendly. It can withstand rigorous daily usage and its performance won’t disappoint. Another thing is, it is cheaper than other tripods.
