Tripod Spikes?

What are the advantages of using the spikes on the Tripod? I'll be shooting landscape next weekend and was wondering if it would help. Thanks

I seldom use the spikes which are part of my Giottos NT-8180 tripod unless I am in soil and the rubber tips don't hold the tripod securely.

One accessory available for Giottos tripods which I find handy are the "snowshoes". These tips allow you to work in snow, sand or mud in which "normal" rubber or spiked tipe would sink...

http://www.amazon.com …rd_r=0GN9T5WVQZ​H444C739AY

Another accessory which is great for marble, tile or other slippery surfaces is the Multifunction Shoe

http://www.amazon.com …rd_r=0GN9T5WVQZ​H444C739AY

Spikes in theory allow the feet to penetrate through things like grass to a more solid base. I say in theory because in my experience they tend to be more fuss and bother than they are worth. They get dirty and need careful cleaning OR you forget to remove/retract them and the next time the tripod is used is on someones polished wood floor (been there, done that).

They once proved handy when I was confronted by a Himalayan sloth bear.

Other than that, they're pretty much useless.

I'm stunned....pretty much useless? try using a tripod in strong winds and muddy ground using a long exposure....then the spikes are amazing.

anyone who calls spikes worthless either doesn't landscape or doesn't landscape in bad weather (when the best shots come out)....

this is what you want:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ractable_Spiked​_Feet.html

• ice
  
• wet rocks
  
• grass
  
• sand
  
• leaves
  
• tree roots
  
• basically ANYTIME I'M OUTSIDE!!!!
  
• NOT when I'm doing archatecture......
  

Thanks for your input people.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11302423
this is what you want:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ractable_Spiked​_Feet.html

Those only work for gitzo tripods? I have a mofrotto tripod so I might have to get these for the Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 Tripod

emagana02 wrote in post #11302641
Thanks for your input people.

Those only work for gitzo tripods? I have a mofrotto tripod so I might have to get these for the Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 Tripod

No, they can be used with any tripod that has feet that can be unscrewed and have a measurement of 3/8"-16

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11302423
anyone who calls spikes worthless either doesn't landscape or doesn't landscape in bad weather (when the best shots come out)....

this is what you want:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ractable_Spiked​_Feet.html

$30 for the set and they fit induros too. Once on you never need to swap again (you want worthless, spikes you have to swap on/off, THOSE are worthless )... You spin them one way and they're nice and rubber. Spin them the other way and you get spikes. You CAN NOT spin them off the spike and lose the rubber though.


I use them on:

• ice
  
• wet rocks
  
• grass
  
• sand
  
• leaves
  
• tree roots
  
• basically ANYTIME I'M OUTSIDE!!!!
  
• NOT when I'm doing archatecture......

Amen!

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11302423

My Vanguard CF tripod came with this kind of rubber/spiked feet right from the factory. My Vanguard monopod has one also.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11302423
anyone who calls spikes worthless either doesn't landscape or doesn't landscape in bad weather (when the best shots come out)....

this is what you want:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ractable_Spiked​_Feet.html

$30 for the set and they fit induros too. Once on you never need to swap again (you want worthless, spikes you have to swap on/off, THOSE are worthless )... You spin them one way and they're nice and rubber. Spin them the other way and you get spikes. You CAN NOT spin them off the spike and lose the rubber though.

I use them on:

• ice
  
• wet rocks
  
• grass
  
• sand
  
• leaves
  
• tree roots
  
• basically ANYTIME I'M OUTSIDE!!!!
  
• NOT when I'm doing archatecture......

Yeah, those look a little more functional than the usual swap on/swap off set of spikes (which is why I'm calling them useless).

Not that you can't take decent landscapes while balanced on ice-covered rocks without them, though:

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Great Pic!

Spikes gave me a decent stability in winds that even when standing up was a problem. A 5 second exposure and the image is tac sharp....that's what a decent tripod and a set of spikes does for yas

Those Gitzo spikes are convenient but not optimal for soft ground. I have have similar Markins spikes on my Gitzo G1228 and the exposed spike is a bit on the short side (see pic below). They're less convenient, but I think I prefer the longer spikes that you have to screw in. They work better.

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Do a search on eBay. They're fairly cheap.

Example: http://cgi.ebay.com …ain_0&hash=item​2eaf71cd01