MeFOTO Globetrotter S 61.6" Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod/Monopod w/Case, Twist Locks, Dual Action Ballhead w/Arca Swiss Plate for Mirrorless/DSLR Sony Nikon Canon Fuji - Titanium (GTSCTTN)

Very good/durable travel tripod. I upgraded to the MeFOTO Globetrotter from the MeFOTO RoadTrip and while it's not much larger, the entire tripod has a more substantial build. Here are all the Pro's and Con's:PROS- More substantial build quality than the RoadTrip- Bigger ball head for larger cameras- Ball head is very smooth and strong- Slightly taller than the RoadTrip- Stronger legs- Reliable leg locking mechanisms- Compact design- Comes with a carrying case- Comes with attachable ground spikesCONS- Heavy for it's overall size (but they do offer a Carbon Fiber option)- Locking mechanisms don't have the best weather sealing (allows sand and other elements to get inside)- Not the cheapest option (but it's worth it really)Overall, I love this tripod. It's very compact for how big it can get and fits right on the side of my LowePro Whistler 450 AW. I abuse my tripods quite a bit as an outdoor/adventure photographer, and it's not the most common thing where you get a very reliable tripod to work with. I've dropped it on rocks, in water and stuck it in sand, and it still continues to perform. Since the Globetrotter doesn't have much in the way of weather sealing around the locking mechanisms, I do have to take it apart every once in a while to clean the sand out, but most tripods require that anyways. For the $246 I paid for the Globetrotter, I feel as though it's money well spent. Would definitely continue to purchase MeFOTO products and recommend to friends.

I'm used to my Manfrotto 055 but very impractical to take on long trips, especially overseas. After much searching, I found the Globetrotter. My must haves were folded size and monopod option. Weight less an issue, but it's also very good.The main apprehension was how it performs with a D750/D500 and the Nikkor 200-500mm attached, and I'm very pleased. Granted, I used it on flat ground so far, and would be cautious on uneven or sloped terrain. Even in those situations I think with just some extra care it should not be too problematic. It's less confident than the Manfrotto but a very reasonable compromise.Using the 200-500mm with the monopod was a true joy. Rock solid, confident handling. Highly recommended if considering this tripod with similar gear.

Check your order carefully! I received an aluminum tripod with a carbon fiber sticker attached to the leg in a carbon fiber box. The carbon model has a helix pattern on the legs, the aluminum one is powder coated and is uniform in appearance.Additionally, the carbon fiber tripod actually weighs 3lbs 15 oz (3.9 pounds) out of the carrying case, without the metal feet attached. This is 4oz more than the claimed weight for a carbon fiber unit of 3.7lbs. So, instead of saving 0.9 pounds over the aluminum ($166/lb), you are only saving 0.7 pounds over the aluminum ($214/lb). This is weighed on a digital baker's scale that I just calibrated to verify that 4 cups of water weighs just slightly over 2lbs.

This tripod is the first serious one I have purchased. Oh, I bought the $60 two pack Manfrotto from Best Buy, and the small travel tripod, but realized that when I got my Nikon D750 and Nikon 200-500 lens I needed a "serious" tripod. I looked at several, read reviews, and decided that what I wanted was one that held at least 12 pounds securely, was light to carry on a backpack, and was not crazy expensive. I think I got them all here. I created a spreadsheet that had all the key characteristics, and included weight of Tripod and weight it was rate dto hold, and the only other one that came close was the Sirui T025X, which weighs half as much, and holds about half as much. The safe bet, though a bit heavier was the MeFoto reviewed here. I have since been using it with the Nikon D750 and Nikon 200-500 lens, and a $50 gimbal purchased at Amazon, and it is very steady; no concerns whatsoever.

I like the amount of thought that went into the design of this tripod. It is small enough to fit into my medium-sized backpack. I keep it in the carrying case when not in use, and it isn't too difficult to set up. I have the carbon fiber version, and the weight is not as light as many would prefer, but it's a full-sized tripod that can be converted into quite a small form factor. I am sure the two shorter versions would be a significant reduction in size, but I don't mind carrying the GlobeTrotter around, even on long trips.I rest my D810 with the 28-300mm FX Nikkor lens, and there is no problem about front weight causing instability while on the tripod. I love the addition of a hook on the bottom, allowing me the option to add additional weight to keep the tripod even more stable.Using it as a monopod is pretty easy, and takes about 3 minutes to set up.If you have used screw-type legs before, then you know it can sometimes be an adventure when you forget to tighten the leg extenders, or when they unscrew on their own. One of the drawbacks to the design, but as long as you do keep a hand ready to support the camera while mounting/carrying the tripod, a collapsing leg should not be a big concern.The ball-mount head is smooth, and stable. I prefer a level "tube" instead of the bubble, and it can be out of the way, depending on which direction you set your camera. However, it's better than no level. The gears easily twist and untwist easily, while also maintaining a good grip once tightened.Overall, it's a very nice tripod. If you want a smaller, more compact design, I am sure Mefoto's smaller offerings on this product line would also be a good choice.

As Moose Peterson says, if you've got an expensive camera and a cheap tripod, you're nuts.Did my homework before buying. I really wanted a Gitzo, but couldn't afford one. I'm not saying that the MeFOTO is up to the quality of a Gitzo but amazingly it's not that far behind.Folds up small and is fairly light. Comes with a nice carry bag.The ball head is okay, a little fiddly, but can take a lot of weight compared to similar priced competition.If it's not stable, there's no point to a tripod. The MeFOTO is a rock.Really nice quality tripod. I've had cheap tripods before, when I first go interested in photography. They are a waste of money.For the money, the MeFOTO Globetrotter seems to be the best tripod out there.If you're rich, get a Gitzo.

New edit:-6 years since purchase. Used a lot. Still going strongEdit:-It's been over 3 years since I bought this tripod, and so I thought I would add some additional comments having used it all this time.First of all, it is still working perfectly. This is a durable, hard-wearing and long-lasting product, make no mistake about that! It is quality.Next, despite my reservations below, I have not dropped my camera and so the lack of a failsafe hasn't caused me any issues - I would still like one though...Finally, I have used it with the Pentax 55mm-300mm WR lens, and more recently the excellent (and very heavy) Pentax HD FA 150-450mm lens. It holds both with no problems.Would I buy again? Yes. Simple.Original review:-As always with Amazon, product arrived quickly and as described.This is a nice tripod. I'm using it with a Pentax K-3 with 50mm lens (have just ordered a 55-300mm lens so will see how it copes with that when it arrives - I know it will be fine, I'll still be well under the max. weight allowance)I have to remember this is a travel tripod, it folds down very small - almost, very almost, fitting inside a Lowepro 400 AW backpack, and even strapped to the outside of a bag it is very portable.It's sturdy for what it is - I've had no movement from the wind or anything - easy to use and straightforward to set up. The aluminium one I bought is light enough, don't bother with the carbon fibre unless you've got money to throw away it's really not necessary. and the easy monopod conversion is a big plus with this tripod.It's not perfect however. The head is a little fiddly to set to just the right amount of resistance, but that's definitely not a deal breaker, and once done doesn't need changing again for a while. The biggest issue I have with this product is the plate you mount your camera on, one quick turn of the screw and your camera could drop to the floor, there's no failsafe to stop your camera just falling. This hasn't happened to me yet, but ask me again in a year and we'll see...Would I buy this again? Probably, but not definitely. I would do loads of research again, and most likely would still end up with this. It is a quality product after all - 5 stars if it had a catch or something on the plate to stop potential accidents

Great travel tripod, and a bargain price for carbon. Sure you'll get sturdier, or lighter tripods, but they'll either be much bigger, or much more expensive.The ball-head is "OK", but for the price you can't really complain. Would perhaps have been nice if they offered it without a head so that you could fit your own.The main reason I don't give it 5 stars is the leg locking mechanism. They're a friction, twist to lock, which you have to make sure you've tightened fully. I would have preferred some form of snap to lock mechanism. There are also only two angle positions for the legs, three would have been nice and it wouldn't even have needed to add to the price.

I love the compact size, and also that it is just a couple of inches shorter than my Manfrotto 055 without the centre column extended on either tripod. With the centre column extended, the Manfrotto is about 6 inches higher but I rarely use a tripod with the centre column extended so that's ok. It is a couple of pounds lighter than the 055 too. Straps easily to my camera rucksack. I couldn't justify the extra cost of the Carbon Fibre version as it is only one pound lighter. This one works fine for travelling as it will fit in a carry on bag. Overall very pleased and it will be my go to travel tripod unless it is really stormy weather, then I might use the 055 but if the weather is really bad, I'd probably stay home. Would recommend this tripod for travel and general outdoor use, certainly value for money.

An absolute gem of a tripod. Rock solid, portable and easy to use. I use this with either a 5dmk2 or 5dmk1 so fairly weighty camera. The engineering is fab and all movements, adjustments etc feel very positive. The drag adjuster is maybe the only weaker area as it's pretty tricky to get a sensible level of drag but it does work with a little perseverance in getting used to it. One feature i have found that doesn't seem to get a mention in any of the reviews or descriptions of the tripod is that you can take the centre column out and invert it meaning you can set the leg spread a little higher and still get the camera really close to the ground, albeit upside down! :) . Some comparison and group test reviews commented that the leg catches aren't spring locked but to be honest I haven't found this to be an issue whatsoever. In fact I'd go as far as saying I'm glad they aren't and operating them feel natural. I did do a lot of research before buying this and i'm 95% sure I have the made the right choice. Time will tell. Off on a trip soon so will update if I find any issues . Great product. Thoroughly recommend.