Tripod recommendations

[matt]

I have an outdoorsman tripod that is an awesome tripod. It just isn’t sturdy enough for my STS 80. I need something super sturdy but also very light. Any recommendations?

[Swivelhead]

Your tripod should handle an STS 80 without issue unless windy.  Likely the tripod head is the issue.  What are you using for a head?

[matt]

I had the outdoorsman pistol grip. It didn’t handle it well so I bought the sirui v5 fluid head. The head seems super sturdy but with any wind, the tripod post just seems to wobble way too much. I definitely think it’s the tripod though, not the head. 

[HuntHarder]

It's the tripod.  Get yourself one of the bigger manfrotto carbon's.  I use the 290 carbon and it handles my 80mm scope pretty well.  

[Swivelhead]

1 hour ago, matt said:

I had the outdoorsman pistol grip. It didn’t handle it well so I bought the sirui v5 fluid head. The head seems super sturdy but with any wind, the tripod post just seems to wobble way too much. I definitely think it’s the tripod though, not the head. 

Sirui is a decent head.  Not sure which Outdoorsman tripod you have but in my experience the tripod center column height must be relatively short on any tripod when glassing in the wind.  A medium Outdoorsman tripod it too short for stand up work unless conditions are very good (no wind).

[matt]

I have the outdoorsman tall. It wasn’t any better with the medium at all. Even with the center post down, I still get quite a bit of movement. 

[Swivelhead]

Make sure all your legs are tight at the center yoke.  Surprised a tall Outdoorsmans does not work for you.  Apparently, you do need a beefier tripod.

[hunthard]

Look in to rekon gear. I love the theirs and it’s a hunter owned company out of UT.

[matt]

11 hours ago, Swivelhead said:

Make sure all your legs are tight at the center yoke.  Surprised a tall Outdoorsmans does not work for you.  Apparently, you do need a beefier tripod.

I made sure everything was right. With no wind it’s fine but any breeze at all and it renders the spotter useless. I changed out the head to eliminate that and it didn’t change at all. I think it’s just not stiff enough.