Effate Loc: El Dorado Hills, Ca.

Seemingly, when people travel they are spending more money and being exposed to some of their best photo opportunities so why haul around a tripod that may compromise those opportunities. If I am going to travel half way around the world and spend thousands of hard earned dollars packing thousands of dollars of equipment I am packing the best tripod I can afford. I generally take a Really Right Stuff 34L.

AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC

Easy answer. My light weight travel tripod is a Manfrotto BeFree. It holds my full frame Canon and 24-105 very nicely. I used it on a trip in Cuba for night shots and they were extremely sharp. My friend with an Olympus also has one and uses it all the time. I did not go for carbon fiber. The cost was not worth the extra few ounces to me. It also has a nice carrying case.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

First one would need to know what kind of gear you're "gonna" intend to put on it!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I use the incredible and lightweight tripod, Manfrotto 190 (Aluminum as the carbon was out of my price range) and the 4 leg section. It fits in a small shoulder bag that is easy to carry. fits in a small suitcase very easily to go anywhere. I also love the 3 way pan tilt head that I got with it. The tripod has an integral level and the head has one too. The legs can be spread wide to lower the tripod to ground level and the center post is rotated horizontally to get incredible close-ups of small low objects near the ground. a very versatile, steady and very well built tripod that is light, compact and easy to travel with. Do it all the time as it is so easy to bring everywhere.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

I completely agree with you on this, and I also pack the same way but I also take two kinds of vacations one for photographers and one with family

As above stated I'm looking for something compact with a good amount of support to nearly or completely fit into my think-tank camera bag

AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC

I'm skeptical about whether something that fits into a camera bag will also provide a "good amount of support" even for a lightweight camera and lens. I recommend you go to a camera store with your camera and the largest lens you will be using and try out a few tripods, starting with the smallest. And don't forget that wind can be a factor with a flimsy tripod. Better to carry a little more tripod that you want than to carry a tripod that doesn't do the job you need it to perform.

taxman Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Got my wife the Mefoto Roadtrip. Small, relatively light and an excellent ballhead.