What was only seen as a gimmick a few years ago, has now become a necessity. Using a tripod for hunting, not only helps you to keep your gun steady on uneven terrain or open plains when there are not other obstacles to aim over, but also helps to keep your binos steady when you are glassing for a big buck. In fact, once you feel how steady a rifle on a tripod is or how steady a tripod for binoculars is, then you will want to go without one.
What used to be a piece of photography equipment, that was modified to be used with rifles, has not grown into a dedicated market segment, with most of the top manufacturers making specific hunting tripod stands or precision rifle tripods just for the purpose, in fact, there are some companies that have started just for that market segment only and do not even make tripods for the photographic market.
The versatility of the hunting tripods means that you are able to use one to shoot standing, kneeling, sitting or eve lying down in the prone position, that make any shooting position possible, and more than that, stable.
Even guy culling, use tripods on the back of vehicle, as it allows them to stably pan left to right or vise versa to shoot many animals on the same plain.
Let us now look at the newest and the best hunting tripods available currently on the market, to help you decide which one suits your needs.
The Tripods We Tested
1. Leofoto SA-324CL+MA-30 Tripod
With 4 section extending legs, and the largest being 32mm in diameter, this capable hunting tripod folds up small and compact, but is still sturdy to you can shoot of it even when fully extended and standing upright.
The quick lever-adjustable inverted ballhead, ensure lightning fast rifle panning and aim adjustments and then freezes securely into position when the lever is locked. All easy to do without having to lift your eye off the rifle or scope.
Because the ballhead attaches to the tripod through the small socket instead of the usual large 75mm ballhead, this allows the leg anchor area of the tripod to be smaller so it folds up into a smaller package than the other hunting tripods we have used.
This 324CL model also has longer leg sections than the 324C, so it allows fully upright shooting for the taller shooters, without compromising too much folded length thanks to the 4 leg sections. The ballhead clamp can also attach to either a picatinny rail or a arca rail, so it should work with most aftermarket rifle stocks and chassis. If you are looking for one hunting tripod to double as both your hunting rifle tripod as well as your binocular or spotting scope tripod which you can trek with you through the field, this is the one to get.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
2. Primos Trigger Stick Apex Carbon Fiber Shooting Tripod
Primos originally innovated shooting sticks and hunting rests in a big way when they came out with the trigger sticks. Not only were they much quicker to deploy than conventional tripods and shooting sticks, but they also quickly self leveled whilst deploying on uneven terrain. The only drawback that have always had, is that they are not very steady, and quite wobbly. This is fine for close range shooting and hunting, but for longer shots, stability is crucial.
This Trigger Stick Apex, innovates again, and combines that game-changing quick deploy and self-leveling features, with thick tripod legs for stability, and made from carbon fiber to keep the packing weight down.
When it comes to general mountainous and walking hunting, this is the best tripod for the purpose without a doubt. It features a rifle clamp so not addition arca or picatinny rail is needed on the bottom of your rifle stock to attach it to.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
3. SUNWAYFOTO T3240CS-P Hunting Tripod
As Sunwayfoto has silently started gaining market share in the photographic world, thanks to their well-priced, but quality manufactured tripods and attachments, they are relatively unknown in the shooting and hunting industry. We came across a few of their products, and decided to give them a go as the price and features looked attractive. We were pleasantly surprised at the tough, well-made, stable and quality tripod and mount we received. Packaging is good with a great included carry bag with sling. We thoroughly recommend it for hunters looking for quality and light yet stable hunting tripods.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
4. Leofoto SO-282C SOAR Series Carbon Fiber Tripod + YB-75LK 75mm Leveling Half Ball Adapter
When utmost stability matters to you, and you want to also be able to quickly deploy your hunting tripod without compromising stability, this is the most stable hunting tripod and ball combo on the market. It will work as well for PRS and other precision rifle shooting competitions too, we use it as our chosen PRS tripod.
The tripod features 2 section inverted legs, pioneered by Leofoto which allow for the fastest individual leg deployment of any tripod on the market without giving up any stability.
The 75mm half ball with built-in Acra clamp, has a low center of gravity to the leg mounts on the tripod, further adding to stability.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
5. FatBoy Traverse 2 Section Tripod + FatBoy Invert60 Ball Head
Being a newcomer in the market, Fatboy has not really gotten known well yet in the industry, but they have started right firstly by recognizing the great utility of a 2-section leg tripod as pioneered by Leofoto. Their pricing hints at a top-tier product, and after use, we can confirm that they certain are very stable and well made. Whether that premium price is worth it just because they are made in the US? That is for you to decide, as they do not offer anything more than the Leofoto inverted leg tripods, but for some the premium for locally made products are well worth it.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
6. BOG DeathGrip Realtree Excape Camo Tripod
Having been around for quite a while, and being one of the first companies to offer a rifle specific tripod with rifle clamp, the DeathGrip by Bog is well-known, proven and well priced. This realtree camo model, not only looks great, but also fits in well with the surroundings, as well as your other camo hunting gear. It is a great hunting tripod for guys with rifles that do not have any attachment options like a picatinny rail or an arca rail.
Bear in mind though that as the tripod has the deathgrip dedicated rifle clamp, it will not easily attach to a spotting scope or binoculars without additional attachment accessories.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
Are tripods good for hunting?
Tripods are excellent for hunting, in fact, they have basically revolutionized hunting as we use to know it. They allow you to find a stable shooting position no matter the terrain, keep your rifle steady for longer distance shots, and even help you to keep your binoculars or spotting scope steady when glassing a hill or field for animals.
What is a hunting tripod?
A hunting tripod, is a tripod that you can take with you when you go to hunt, to mount either you binoculars or spotting scope to so you can glass for animals, as well as your rifle so it is steady for shooting in uneven terrain. The best hunting tripod, is one that can function as both, as well as pack light and small to be carried attached to your backpack, be able to deploy quickly when needed, and be steady to take long range shots from.
What should I look for in a hunting tripod?
When it comes to hunting tripods, you should look for stability, weight, ease of deployment and packing size. You need a stable and steady tripod without a lot of play, to get a steady shot on an animal, especially at longer ranges. You need to be able to quickly deploy the tripod when you spot an animal you want to hunt without creating too much commotion and without taking too long because it can move off. You need to be able to carry the tripod with you, possible attached to your backpack without causing too much back and shoulder strain and fatigue.
What is the lightest hunting tripod?
The lightest hunting tripod we tested that is still steady enough to shoot long range from is the Leofoto SA-324CL+MA-30 Tripod. It packs light and compact, deploys and attaches quickly, adjusts quickly, and when locked is very stable, and gets our vote for an ultralight hunting tripod.
What is the best budget hunting tripod?
The lowest priced hunting tripod, if you just have a rifle and need a steady tripod to clamp it too, is the BOG Deathgrip tripod, as it does not require any other rails or attachments to get your rifle mounted on it and it is the lowest priced of all tested.
Are tripods for hunting rifles the same as tripods for spotting scopes?
Essentially a tripod is a tripod, so all tripods are the same three-legged supports to rest something on. What makes one tripod a rifle tripod and the other a spotting scope tripod, is the attachment method it has on top, to either attach to a rifle or a spotting scope. This is why is it recommended to get a rail like a picatinny rail or an Arca rail on the bottom of your rifle stock forend, as well as on your spotting scope mount, so then you can attach either to the same tripod with a picatinny or arca clamp. Some of the newer ball head tripod clamps can accept both a picatinny or an arca rail.
What is the best portable hunting tripod?
The best portable hunting tripod we tested is the Leofoto SA-324CL+MA-30 Tripod, which packs light and compact thanks to it’s 3-section carbon fiber legs, deploys quickly, and is very stable when locked in position.
What is the best coyote hunting tripod?
For the longer ranges that coyotes are mostly shot at, and the stability required to shoots such relatively small target at those extended ranges, we prefer the Leofoto SO-282C SOAR Series Carbon Fiber Tripod + YB-75LK 75mm Leveling Half Ball Adapter as the best tripod for predator hunting. With the super stable inverted 2-section legs, and the large 75mm video ball clamp, it is one of the most stable of the bunch.
What is the best hunting tripod for binoculars?
The Leofoto SA-324CL+MA-30 Tripod, is our top choice for a hunting tripod for binoculars that you can also trek long distance and mount your rifle to as well, but to mount it to the binoculars, we recommend this universal binoculars Arca mount that we use on ours in the image above. Low priced and very strudy.
What is the best hunting tripod for spotting scope?
The Leofoto SO-282C SOAR Series Carbon Fiber Tripod + YB-75LK 75mm Leveling Half Ball Adapter is the most stable of the bunch for mounting any form of optics like a spotting scope or binoculars too, as it has the large 75mm bowl ball head which is mostly used for professional video work where smooth adjustment and stability are a must.
To Sum Up
Thanks to the popularity and great benefit of it, there are now quite a few high-quality options available on the market to choose your perfect hunting tripod from. We have tested what we thinks are the top currently available, and hope that the guide helps you in deciding which one is best for your purpose and your pocket.
