There’s no doubt that when we travel, we all like to take pictures of the places we visit and the things we see so that we can treasure the memories and share them with friends, family, and followers. And there’s no arguing that smartphone cameras have made travel photography easier and more accessible for everyone than ever before.
A very important mobile camera accessory to have with you when you travel is a tripod for your smartphone. Having one with you will enable you to take steady shots that aren’t blurry, take pictures of yourself when nobody else can hold the camera for you, and it will also help you take brighter pictures in low-light conditions.
And because space is often a problem when travelling and scenarios differ, not every tripod is suitable for travel photography using a mobile phone. Below are some smartphone tripods which, for one reason or another, can be perfectly suited for you and your next travel adventure.
Joby GripTight ONE GP
Joby is a well-known name in the world of photography. They are known for their GorillaPod series of flexible tripods. The GripTight ONE is a flexible tripod that is made for smartphones and, just like the bigger versions, it is a very durable piece of equipment.
The tripod is easy to carry around because it’s pretty small in size and only weighs about 56g. However, it can support any smartphone and other devices up to 325g.
Smartphones can be attached to the GripTight ONE via the provided smartphone mount. Other devices such as lights can be attached using the standard 1/4-inch screw.
The cool thing about this tripod is its flexible legs. Thanks to them, you can position your tripod almost anywhere by just wrapping the legs around an object. You can wrap them around a tree, a pole, a chair, or a fence. Anything!
By keeping the tripod legs closed, you can also use the Joby GripTight ONE as a grip to take selfies or for mobile videos. And since creating video content is a big part of smartphone street photography and urban exploration these days, this can be pretty useful.
Why it’s good for travel
The Joby GripTight ONE is particularly good for smartphone travel photography because of its size and versatility. It weighs very little and can easily fit in your pocket, handbag, or backpack.
And the way you can just wrap the tripod legs around almost anything opens up opportunities for some very interesting camera angles and composition.
The downside
If you’re in an area where there’s nothing to wrap your tripod around, then you’re pretty limited for choice. And since the tripod is so small, you’ll be limited to shots taken at ground level or whatever elevated surface you can find.
Also, the GripTight ONE can’t carry heavy cameras. Although it is perfect for all types of smartphones, if you travel with other devices and cameras weighing above 325g, then you might want to consider getting the bigger Joby tripods that can handle the weight.
Check the price of the Joby GripTight ONE at:
Manfotto PIXI
Manfrotto’s PIXI is a fantastic mini tripod for smartphones. It is designed specifically for people who are looking for something that’s portable, lightweight, and easy to use. And because it’s a Manfrotto product, you can rest assured that the PIXI does the job it’s designed to do well.
The body of the tripod has a minimal design style and is made from stainless steel and Adaptor plastic for a fantastic and high-quality tactile finish. Not only is the Manfrotto PIXI well-built and solid, but it also has rubber feet to ensure that it remains stable and doesn’t slip.
The PIXI mini tripod has a ball head and a push-button mechanism that is designed to enable you to position and lock the ball head very easily. Pushing the button allows you to to move the ball joint freely. Releasing the button locks the ball head in position. This is useful for switching between landscape and portrait orientations.
Closing the legs of the PIXI allows you to hold it comfortably in your hand and use it as a handgrip for capturing great videos with your smartphone. You can use it with any smartphone or digital camera under 1kg.
Why it’s good for travel
The Manfrotto PIXI mini tripod is small enough to carry in a handbag or backpack and weighs very little, so you don’t have to worry about it weighing you down.
Using it with the legs closed makes it a useful handgrip for stabilizing your mobile travel videos and for taking selfies in all the exciting places you visit on your travels.
The downside
Because it’s so small, the Manfrotto PIXI is very limited when it comes to height. So, unless you can find high surfaces to put it on, you’ll be limited to shots from down low.
Check the price of the Manfrotto PIXI at:
Fotopro UFO 2
Fotopro is an award-winning global brand that designs and makes equipment for photographers. The UFO series is part of their product range, and it is suitable for use with any smartphone and certain digital cameras.
A 1/4-inch screw allows you to attach your mobile camera to the 360° swivel head, which enables you to take horizontal and vertical photos with ease. All you have to do is adjust the head by turning the locking knob on the tripod.
The Fotopro UFO 2 flexible smartphone tripod is a sturdy and durable piece of equipment. Its high-density rubber-coated legs are robust and can be bent and attached almost anywhere. And weighing in at only 0.28kg, you can travel with it comfortably and store it easily.
What really sets the Fotopro UFO 2 flexible tripod apart is that it’s waterproof. That’s right, you can use the UFO 2 for snorkelling, diving, or anywhere near water without worrying about it getting rusty.
Added to that, the UFO 2 comes with a wireless Bluetooth function, which requires no additional third-party app to work with your smartphone.
Why it’s good for travel
In some instances, travelling means going to places where there’s water such as oceans, rivers, or swimming pools. The Fotopro UFO 2 is waterproof, so you can take it with you on those adventures and take photos underwater with your smartphone without worrying about the tripod getting damaged.
Its flexible legs mean you can wrap it around almost any object to get the perfect shot that you want. The Bluetooth remote makes it easier to take group pictures or pictures of yourself from a distance.
The downside
Just like with the Joby GripTight ONE, the Fotopro UFO 2 is pretty amazing until you encounter a situation where there’s nothing near you around which you can wrap your tripod. Then you’ll have to do with shots from however high you can elevate the tripod.
Check the price of the Fotopro UFO 2 at:
Adonit Photogrip
The Adonit Photogrip Qi is a rather unique addition to this list because it’s not necessarily a tripod. The Photogrip Qi is actually a smartphone grip that makes it easier for you to hold your phone when you want to capture photos.
I included the Adonit Photogrip Qi to this list because it comes with a mini tripod included, so you can set it up and leave the phone to stand on its own. What’s more, you can attach the Photogrip Qi to any other tripod using a 1/4-inch thread.
The Photogrip Qi also has a removable Bluetooth shutter remote that can be used to take photos from up to 10 metres away. But what’s really cool is that the Photogrip Qi can charge certain phones wirelessly while shooting.
The Adonit Photogrip Qi is made exclusively to fit a wide variety of smartphones. It cannot support any other type of digital camera.
Why it’s good for travel
Firstly, the whole system itself is pocket-sized, so travelling with it is no issue at all. Secondly, the handgrip makes it so much easier to hold your smartphone and have a tighter grip on it when taking photos.
This can be especially useful in crowded tourist areas where someone could accidentally bump your phone from between your fingers when holding it the conventional way.
The downside
The Adonit Photogrip’s mini tripod is very tiny. This limits the number of places and instances where you can use it. It’s definitely not the best suited for outdoor use or for adventurous people, although the handgrip itself can be.
Check the price of the Adonit Photogrip Qi at:
BlitzWolf BW-BS10
The BlitzWolf BW-BS10 is an innovative premium selfie stick with a slick design that looks good. It is only about 20cm long when retracted and weighs a light 170g. So carrying it around and travelling with it is as easy as just slipping it into your pocket.
The reason why I have included a selfie stick to a list of smartphone tripods suitable for travelling is that the BlitWold BW-BS10 can also function as a tripod. So, you get the convenience of a selfie stick (which many people love travelling with) and the added benefit of having a tripod when you can’t hold the camera.
The BW-BS10 is made of aluminium and can extend up to about 80cm. The handle of the selfie stick can spread out and become the legs of the tripod with non-slip footing. It has a smartphone mount that can be rotated for horizontal and vertical shots, as well as stretched to accommodate phones of various sizes.
This selfie tripod combo comes with a detachable Bluetooth remote shutter control so you can take pictures from a distance of up to 10m.
Why it’s good for travel
The BlitzWolf BW-BS10 can be used as a tripod and a selfie stick, so you don’t have to carry around two accessories when you can kill two birds with one stone.
Also, the entire system retracts into an unassuming yet stylish 20cm cylinder that’s very light and easy to carry around.
The downside
The biggest drawback of the BlitzWolf BW-BS10 is its base of support. Not that it’s slippery, it’s just not wide enough. The more you extend it, the more unstable it becomes to the point where a little wind could knock it over.
This pretty much means that it is better suited for indoor use, where there’s little wind, or as a mini tripod just to be on the safe side.
Check the price of the BlitzWolf BW-BS10 at:
Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod
Similar to the BlitzWolf BW-BS10 above, the Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod can be used as a selfie stick or a smartphone tripod. It also has a Bluetooth remote for taking pictures from a distance.
But unlike the BlitzWolf, the Ubeesize selfie tripod has a much wider base of support so you don’t have to worry as much about your phone falling over. It also stretches out up to 137cm, which is more than a lot of other selfie stick tripods.
This tripod is made out of premium aluminium alloy and has sturdy, non-slip rubber feet. It’s only 44cm when folded and has five sections to stretch out.
Why it’s good for travel
The Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod is a two-for-one deal so it saves you on space. You don’t have to carry a tripod and a selfie stick. It is sturdier than the average selfie tripod and can stretch out even further.
It has a wide base of support when used as a tripod, which is good because you can rest assured that your phone is balanced and steady.
The downside
If size matters to you, then this might not be the ideal solution for you. Its length of 44cm when folded is much longer than that of the BlitzWolf selfie tripod and some other tripods mentioned in this article.
Also, this tripod is about function, not design. So, if you are looking for something slick and polished, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Check the price of the Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod at:
Altura Photo 6-in-1 Tripod Kit
This 6-in-1 camera support kit from gear maker Altura Photo has a lot going on. It includes:
- A lightweight aluminium telescoping monopod with a rubber grip handle
- Fluid monopod base encased ina heavy-duty non-skid rubber
- Mini tripod with non-skid feet and metal reinforced legs
- Ball head with padded mounting plate
- Universal smartphone mount
- Action camera mount
That’s a lot for something so portable. And that’s what makes it so great. Whatever your needs are for smartphone camera support while you’re travelling, you can be sure that the Altura Photo kit will have you covered.
For example, you can combine the ball head with the smartphone mount and attach them to the monopod to use as a selfie stick. Or you can shoot low angles with just the tripod and ball head. Plus, you can mount an action camera such as a GoPro. It’s a really versatile kit.
The monopod has five sections and extends to about 116cm from about 26cm when folded. The ball head is easily adjustable and locks into any position. It can support any smartphone or compact camera. You can even use it to mount an LED light or wireless smartphone flash.
Why it’s good for travel
The Altura Photo 6-in-1 Tripod Kit might sound like it’s a lot to carry around but it’s not. The entire kit folds down to quite a small size and comes with a carry bag. It only weighs around 500g, so it’s not much extra weight at all.
The cool thing about this kit is how the various parts come together to give you different camera support solutions to suit a number of scenarios.
The downside
There really isn’t much to not like. Personally, I would have liked it more if it was a little bit bigger and could support slightly heavier cameras. But strictly for smartphones and action cameras, it’s perfect.
And because the tripod is rather small, the base of support is not that wide when using it as a base for an extended monopod.
Check the price of the Altura Photo 6-in-1 Tripod Kit at:
KobraTech Apex A70
Of course, not everyone who travels is pressed for space or spends time in places with man-made infrastructure and level surfaces. If your type of travel takes you to all sorts of environments and terrain, and you don’t mind carrying a little extra, then I recommend the Apex A70 tripod from KobraTech.
The Apex A70 is an excellent smartphone tripod that’s designed for adventure. It is made from premium material including high-strength aluminium, so it’s built to last. It can support any camera that weighs up to 4kg.
The length of each leg can be adjusted individually, so you can still get a level shot on uneven terrain. Plus, there’s a built-in monopod that can stretch out to 165cm. So, if space and mobility are an issue, it’s good to know that you have the option of a monopod included.
Other extras that come with the KobraTech Apex A70 are two base plates, a universal smartphone mount, Bluetooth remote, and a travel bag.
Why it’s good for travel
The KobraTech Apex A70 is great for travel because it’s an adventure tripod that you can use it in various types of environments. It also comes with a built-in monopod that could come in very handy on some adventures.
What’s also great about this tripod is that it can be stretched out really high (177cm) and has a wide enough base of support so as to not fall over easily.
The downside
The obvious disadvantage of this tripod compared to the others on this list is the size. At 50cm when completely folded, the Apex A70 is much bigger than some tripods on this list when they’re fully set up.
And weighing in at about 1.8kg, it’s definitely heavier than other travel tripod options for smartphones. However, if the size and weight don’t bother you, then this is a mighty fine tripod to have for your travels.
Check the price of the KobraTech Apex A70 at:
Conclusion
No matter where in the world you go on your travels, I recommend that you always take a tripod with you. You never know when it might come in handy. And with the wide variety of options to suit different environments and needs, there’s no way you can’t find one that is perfect for you.
Using a tripod will definitely help you take better photos with your smartphone but that’s just only part of it. To be able to take amazing travel photos with your smartphone, you need to have a smartphone with a good camera, have the right mobile camera accessories, and also the skill to capture good mobile photos.
If you would like to improve your photography skills and how your mobile photos look, I recommend you download the 5 Ways To Improve Your Mobile Photography ebook for free. It is simple and easy to understand yet very informative. You can download your FREE copy here.
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