Tripod (cheap and sturdy, weight is not an issue within reason)

After shooting a night HDR with long exposures and HDR I realised that my manfrotto digi crappy tripod cannot cope with my 70-200 2.8 IS and gripped 40D. All the pics came out with slight motion blur and it was a night that I don't think will happen again for a long time

I need a new tripod.

I want it to be as cheap as possible (already blew budget on 70-200 2.8 IS this year), but be sturdy as... A weight hook would be handy, as it was windy then and I think weighing it down would have helped (not with the digi, the legs probably would have broke!) I don't really mind how heavy it is as I am not planning on taking a tripod on any treks or anything like that...

So I want a tripod that compromises weight for cost and sturdiness, recomendations?

Manfrotto 055 is the most recommended.
Next step up would be a Gitzo.
Also heard some good things about the Velbon El Carmagne and off course, there are the Gitzo knock offs like Amvona/Benro.

You can't go much cheaper than...

Look at used Manfrotto 3001 and 3021 (series) tripods on eBay. You can usually pick one up for under a hundred bucks with a decent head and can often find one a lot cheaper than that. They are plenty sturdy enough for your uses.

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

and many more....