Trekpod, combination walking stick/tripod..

Someone should buy one of these, and let the rest of us know if it really works!

http://www.trek-tech.com/products_hiki​ng/index.php


It looks pretty nice, but I've been fooled before!

Jeff.

Hi Jeff. I'm an engineer at Trek-Tech, the makers of the TrekPod. Thanks for the kind words.

To be sure, since the TrekPod is light and the apex of its legs are far from the camera body, it isn't as stable as a full-size tripod. That said, I think it fits the outdoor/hiking photographer niche pretty nicely. After all, people are actually willing to take it with them!

I see you're in "SW Washington". Since we're in Portland, you're invited to come down and see one in person. We're always interested in feedback.

Patrick

I'm not going to even think about it until they say what load they rate the magnets (and the TrekPod as well) at, and whether the staff has any shock-absorbing capability for walking.

The TrekPod comes with a standard 3/4" ball head that is not yet rated. Please note that rating of the ball head has no effect on the magnet. The magnet provides mount and release of the camera with the ball head. Mating "adapters" are attached to the bottom of the camera. These adapters come in two strengths. The "Light Force" adapter releases from the magnet under a load of one foot-pound of torque. The "Heavy Force" adapter does so at twice that much. For heavier applications, the TrekPod also comes with something called a "Safety Clip", which mechanically attaches the adapter to the ball head, thereby making the magnetic attraction moot. The Safety Clip has not yet been rated (we need to buy a larger force gauge).

The largest thing I've seen a user place on it so far is a 4" reflector telescope. I have no idea how much that weighed.

Patrick

It seems to be a very useful concept. That being said, I really don't like the idea of having a magnet anywhere near my digital camera. Do you make a version sans magnet?

Although we don't have a version without a magnet, the magnet can be removed by removing the ball head. Doing so exposes a 1/4-20 threaded stud where you could mount a head of your choice.

Also, for what it's worth, PC World published an article last year called Myth Busters that gave the reasons why a magnet can't harm digital media such as Compact Flash and SD cards. Of course, magnetic tape, such as VHS, is another story...

Patrick

Since all the DSLRs and some of the high-end P&S (G series, Pro-1, S1-IS, for instance) accept micro-drives, magnets are still a little risky for some of us.

Jon,

That's what I used to think as well. However, the PC World article at
http://www.pcworld.com …ticle/0,aid,116​572,00.asp
says otherwise:
"'In the real world, people are not losing data from magnets,' says Bill Rudock, a tech-support engineer with hard-drive maker Seagate. 'In every disk,' notes Rudock, 'there's one heck of a magnet that swings the head.'"

Patrick

Hi Patick,

Since there isn't an email address for contact on your website I'll just use this thread to make a suggestion (or more like a wish list) for perhaps a 2nd product?

I am a photographer and I have long wanted a product simliar to TrekPod. However since I am not a hiker, what I always wanted was a monopod that can be changed into a tripod quickly. There's a product like what I described, at least functionally, on the market for a long time(Bogen 682, see link below) however the main problem with that design is that one has to unscrew the bottom then manually reverse the hidden tripod legs to turn it into a tripod, which is very time consuming and cumbersome.

Now with your product, since you have the "turning into a tripod" problem solved, if you could just make the stem retractable like a regular monopod then you have a perfect Monopod->Tripod at hand. A monopod is usually 24"-35" retracted. Of course if you could make it near the 24" as opposed to the 35" range so it could easily fit into luggage when traveling then it would be ideal.

Anyways, I can't tell if others wanted and whether there's a market for something like what I described but I for sure have always wanted one. So if you would consider making something like that then please let me know and I would definetely be interested.

Rgds,

John

www.bhphotovideo.com/b​nh/controller/home?O=p​roductlist&A=details&Q​=&sku=5494&is=REG

John,

You may send e-mail to "info" at trek-tech.com for comments/complaints/et​c.

Thanks for the comments. I've briefly used the Bogen 682, and know what you mean about its use. I think we fair very well in comparison. Yet, you're right, this version doesn't reduce down to a easy-to-pack length. The upper tube easily slides out of the lower tube, giving a packing length of 35.5 inches. So it requires a full-size suitcase. Frankly, we weren't thinking of traveling when we came up with this design -- just casual hiking and bird watching. I think the consensus from photographers is that we need a version that telescopes higher, packs shorter, and has a more robust head. That should make for a pretty interesting design project in light of the fact we want to keep our products under two lbs.

This is good info. Please keep those suggestions coming!

Patrick

Is there any further news concerning a telescopic TrekPod? I am looking for the lightest possible travel tripod/monopod for my video camera and would buy one if it would close up.
Otherwise - has anyone any ideas?

And do the latest video cameras fit on all new tripods and monopods or am I likely to buy something that won't fit?

Any advice gratefully received - from the UK by the way!
Susan

Just to add my 2c worth to this thread - the Velbon ultra-maxi SF can't really be used as a trekking pole but it is a great tripod for hiking. Packs down to a miniscule length and weighs almost nothings. It's very versatile (The G6 can be mounted on the reversed central column to within a few centimetres of the ground). Fully extended it's a little wobbly but on the whole you don't need to use it at it's full height when your camera has a flip out screen like the G-series cameras.

I dont fancy using funny little legs in the wind.
I use a Brasher Hillmaster walking pole, which is made to serve as a monopod, made in Austria.I often attach a small ball head.

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