This is a travel tripod, pure and simple, so size and weight are key. This thing is small and light, even though it isn't super spiffy carbon fiber. Lots of reviews on this tripod list the stats, but here is a better way to get a feel for it.
This is the folded Backpacker next to a Nikon 70-200mm/F2.8 VR1 lens. Pretty much the same size, and the tripod is actually lighter by almost a pound. (lens is 3.24lbs, tripod is 2.6lbs) So if you have a slot in your camera bag that can take a 70-200 with the hood on, you can slip this tripod in. If you don't feel like making room for it in your camera bag, that's ok, it comes with its' own pretty convenient carry case.
Getting the picture yet? It's small, light and I cannot imagine a more portable tripod setup. Despite being so miniscule, it extends up to a hair over 51 inches tall in the high position. Which brings me to the next feature. The way it gets so small is that the legs fold up 180 degrees in the stow position. There is a small tab that you pop out to unlock for leg rotation, pop it in to lock it in position.
When you unfold the tripod for use, they lock in one of two positions. There is full height, with a pretty narrow base, and a low/wide position that leaves the head a couple feet off the ground. Good for macro shots or more stability if you need it, but I didn't really use the low position for anything because it never came up (or in this case down).
The head is another nice surprise. It's Arca-Swiss, so there is a good chance you already have plates on a lot of your gear that will slide into the supplied ball head with no issue. The head alone is worth the price of admission. It isn't a high end head by any means, but a similar level head would set you back close to $200 on its' own, even without the rest of the tripod. (note- I haven't used the RRS BH-30, so maybe it is light years ahead of this head, but this is the closest visual comparison I have seen) It even has a built in level.
So. Lots of value for the price, really light and portable. But how well does it perform? As long as you use it the way it meant to be used for, it is flawless. It isn't rock solid, but it holds up really well. For a point and shoot it is more than sufficient. I would have no problems throwing any smaller bodied DSLR on it with almost any lens you would be likely to use with a prosumer level body. I didn't even think twice about throwing the D3200 on it with a 17-55mm/2.8 for some remote release family vacation shots (hand in the pocket has remote....)
But how well does it play with the big boys? The first time I used it, for shooting the fireworks, it held up just fine with the D4 and a 24-70/2.8 mounted on it. The specs say it is rated for 8.8lbs. That really is lightweight when it comes to tripod stats. Pro level tripods are rated more than three times that or greater. So, just for review purposes, I decided to go heavy on the tripod and see what it could hold. The pictures below are pretty much the heaviest configuration I normally shoot with in the wild, the D4 with a 70-200/2.8 with the SB910 mounted on top. When I did the math this combo only comes out to 6.76lbs (that was a surprise to me, it sure feels heavier than that after an 8 hour day of festival shooting...) so would the backpacker take it and hold it? See for yourself.
No problem. Held the setup just fine, didn't slip, rock, anything.
Not just level balanced either. Put a tilt in to see if the head would hold, and it did, just fine.
This isn't a setup I would recommend as a regular use for this tripod. The legs weren't bowing from the weight, but with the full height setup the legs are fairly close together, and a gentle bump would easily overbalance the rig and tip it over. If you had a remote trigger though, this tripod would be stable enough even in moderate winds with this heavy of a load.
So, there you have it. It won't replace a full size tripod for regular use, or for hard core landscape shooters, or heavy setups in windy or crowded locations. But for those times when you are travelling light and think you may want a tripod but don't feel like carrying your huge Manfrotto around town or through the airport, the backpacker will certainly get you through. Hell, this thing will fit into the water bottle carrier on your backpack without missing a beat.
Ok, technically that is the tripod pocket on my Think Tank Airport Accelerator, but you get the idea. For the record, until this tripod came along, that pocket only saw use as a water bottle pocket.
Conclusion- this tripod isn't a replacement for a full size tripod. But for $139 bucks, you can't beat it for a backup or travel tripod. MeFoto also makes two bigger brothers for the backpacker, the Road Trip and the Globe Trotter. Both of those have the cool option of transforming from tripods to monopods in around sixty seconds as well as offering a significantly more robust build. I haven't had the chance to play with them, but when it comes time to replace my main tripod I am definitely going to give the globetrotter a look. But if you are looking for a small, light, portable tripod to throw into your pack for a trip, this is your tripod. Also, for what it's worth, this (and it's slightly larger brother the Road Trip) are the only tripods around that come in something other than your basic, boring black/grey, if you want to throw a little color into your world.
UPDATE:
Ok, having used this tripod for a while now, there are a couple more things I have to add. This is still my go to travel tripod, I still love it for what it is, but for full disclosure I have to note a couple of small things I have found after more use:
1- Pay attention when you extend the legs. It is is really easy to get distracted and not tighten the leg segment twist locks all the way down. This isn't a failing of the tripod as much as f the photographer, but it is easy to leave one segment a bit loose and have a leg start to collapse on you if you aren't paying attention.
2- There is a little play in the ball head. Ironically, it is harder to notice with a massive load like the 70-200 setup pictured above in the review because it actually balances pretty well with the tripod mount on the lens foot. But when you are mounting the camera body onto the tripod, there will be a millimeter or two of sag after you tighten the ball head down. It isn't anything you can't compensate for, it's just a minor droop so you have to remember to lock it a little above the point you want it to ultimately rest at.
Neither of these factors really changes my conclusions in the initial review. Not the first choice for a main tripod, but the minor issues are more than made up for by the convenience of having this along just in case you need it. If you do decide to buy one- please consider buying from one of the links in this blog, so I can get a little bit back.
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