At some point after getting a little more serious about landscape photography, I realized that a tripod would have to become part of my backpacking and hiking kit. No amount of Photoshop filters or “stylized” looks could compare to the satisfaction of taking a genuinely good photograph with deep depth of field. I tried using the tiny, 4 oz.
Pedco Ultrapod II for a time, and it’s a brilliantly designed product that serves its intended purpose well. However, it cannot in any way compare to a “real” tripod with the versatility of height, angle, leg positions, etc. I knew I didn’t have the budget for a “pro” tripod of the Gitzo Traveler variety, but I also knew I wanted something of decent build quality and design. Having owned the Slik 700 DX for ten years without any negative issues, I knew Slik made durable, well-designed products at excellent price points. I suppose this was the deciding factor in my purchase of the Slik Sprint Pro II (the ballhead version.) The Sprint Pro II has been my main set of backcountry sticks for the past year or so. These sticks aren’t the lightest design out there, even at their price point. They are, however, totally reliable, well-made, and smartly designed. I’m happy to sacrifice some weight for those virtues, especially considering they pack down to only 18.5 inches, small enough to fit inside even most day packs. Speaking of their size, let’s go ahead and take a look at all of their specs:
