Gitzo Weekend Basalt Tripod Legs

Who Should Buy It?

Someone who wants a solid set of portable tripod legs at a reasonable price (comparatively).

the Cost

$350

the Good

Solid Gitzo construction; G-Locks; great travel or hiking weight/height

the Bad

Still a bit pricey; a little shorter than I’d prefer.

Gitzo is the premium name in tripod names. The Weekend Basalt tripod legs follow in that excellent tradition of quality and solid construction.

Made of Basalt (cooled lava), these tripod legs are light, yet fairly rigid (the quality is higher than aluminum but lower than their carbon fiber series). The set weights in at under 2 pounds, folds down to 22 inches and extends up to about 55 inches.

The Good

I purchased the set primarily for hiking landscapes and travel and they’ve performed wonderfully. Their construction is excellent and they handling them is a pleasure. They are small/light enough to easily place on a camera bag and fit well under an airplane seat or in an overhead compartment. Due to their lighter weight, in windier conditions, I had to put a weight (my camera bag) on the hook under the main post to anchor everything down.

One of my favorite features, though, are the patented G-Locks. They allow you to twist the lock, extend the leg and tighten the lock, without any unecessary leg rotation. The result is an incredibly fast set up and take down. When moving around for landscape shots, this is even handier.

The Bad

The only two downsides to this nice rig, forcing me to only give 3.5 stars, is the price and height. The set folds up small and as a result, the maximum height tops out at 55 inches. In some cases, I was wanting to stretch things a little further to increase comfort when standing behind the tripod or when trying to get a particular shot.

Also, at $350 for the legs only, they can be a bit pricey (the carbon fiber series is even more at $500+). You do get what you pay for, though. These legs will last a lifetime.

The Verdict

If you can spend the money and need a solid set of travel tripod legs at a good price, these will suit you well. The build quality, G-Locks, weight and general durability make them an excellent choice.