INTRODUCTION

Over the years, we’ve reviewed numerous Peak Design products  (see the list at the bottom of this post), including the brilliant Travel Tripod (Carbon Fibre and Aluminium), which was released in 2019 (see image below). This tripod accompanies us on all our photographic journeys, and one of these is permanently strapped to the bottom of our Peak Design 10L camera sling bags. These tripods are awesome, though there are a couple of shortcomings – nevertheless, they are light, compact, and functional for us as travel photographers.

We were actually a little surprised when Peak Design announced a Kickstarter campaign for a new tripod range – the Pro Tripod. Given that the Travel Tripod caters mostly to a market that wants a light, compact, and functional tripod, we shouldn’t have been too surprised that they released a product for those who want a heavier, and sturdier version.

To be quite transparent, if you’ve read any of our other posts, you know that we love Peak Design products. Now that sounds like a comment from a fanboy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We have never idolised a brand and have always based our opinions on its merits. The truth is, Peak Design just creates damn good products. Nevertheless, we will always remain neutral in our assessment, and all opinions expressed in this post are ours alone and may not necessarily align with other photographers’ opinions.

Peak Design kindly sent us the Pro Tripod for this review. Although we received the product free of charge, we have not been paid for this review. Some links in this post may earn us a small commission if you purchase the product using the link, for which we thank you in advance.

With 40 years of experience in the photographic industry, we have lugged gear all over the world and used a multitude of tripods and photography products. So we have a pretty good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of most of the products we review. The only thing we cannot guarantee is a product’s test of time. Only time will tell whether the product lives up to the contents of this review. Generally speaking, we have been using Peak Design products for many years and other than a few minor issues, they have never let us down.

THE TRIPOD/S

There are actually three models of the Pro Tripod: the Pro Lite, Pro, and Pro Tall. All models are pretty much identical, except for standing height and, obviously, weight.

The Pro Tripod is Peak Design’s answer to a simple but challenging question: What if you designed a tripod with no compromises on stability or height, but still incorporated every ounce of modern innovation possible? It sits above the Travel Tripod in Peak Design’s lineup, offering greater rigidity, height, and a more robust feature set in exchange for less portability. It’s not just a bigger tripod; it’s a fundamentally more professional tool.

The tripod arrived boxed, containing the tripod in a loose-fitting, weather-resistant bag (see below). This is a big change from the skin-tight-fit of the Travel Tripod. You probably won’t want to use the bag unless you are carrying it by the shoulder straps; however, it would be awkward using a backpack. If you are using a backpack camera bag, the tripod can be either inserted in a stretchy side pocket or attached using straps (depending on the bag). We have tested this with several Peak Design backpacks, and the only bags that comfortably fit the Pro Tripod are the 25L and 45L Outdoor Backpacks. Regardless, the tripod will possibly need to be inserted without this bag. Inside the tripod bag is a small pocket designed to hold either the supplied Hex Tool (4mm + 2.5mm hex wrench), which is normally housed inside the centre column of the tripod or the Phone Mount (sold separately). Obviously, if you are not utilising the bag and have both items, you will have to decide which item you want to store in the centre column, as it won’t accommodate both. We’re not sure how often you will need to use the Hex Tool, so this could be kept elsewhere in your bag if you own the Phone Mount (or vice versa).

The tripod feels substantial. Where the Travel Tripod is elegant and minimal, the Pro is confidently rugged. The carbon fibre legs are thicker, and the joints are larger. The build quality is, as expected from Peak Design, flawless. Every surface is meticulously finished, and every moving part operates with a satisfying, precise dampening.

Our first impression, and this didn’t take long to determine: this tripod is not really built for travel. Although it could be used in travel photography, it is not a tripod we would utilise for international travel, but more for a domestic road trip. That said, Peak Design does not advertise this as a Travel Tripod, so the point is moot.

Keep in mind that our primary camera bag is the Peak Design Everyday 10L Sling bag and not a backpack camera bag, making the Peak Design Travel Tripod ideal for us. But for those who use camera backpacks in their travel, this tripod may very well suit you as a travel tripod.

Please Note: All opinions expressed in this post are based on the Pro version. The “Pro Tall” and “Pro Lite” versions should be identical except for the height and weight.

KEY FEATURES & IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS

The most important part of any tripod is the legs. There is a delicate balance between choosing a lightweight material that will also be sturdy enough. Peak Design appears to have succeeded in this area with the use of 3K Weave Carbon Fibre (2×2 Twill), which is lightweight while still offering great strength and stiffness to the legs. When fully extended, the legs still flex, but only slightly.

Unlike the Travel Tripod, the Pro, Pro Lite, and Pro Tall tripods are only available with Carbon Fibre legs. This makes sense as an Aluminium version would only add even more weight. The legs are an identical up-scaled version of the Travel Tripod, but the Pro Tripod has 4 sections compared to 5 sections on the Travel Tripod. One less section allows the Pro Tripod to maintain a larger diameter in each leg section, creating considerably more stability. The last section of the Travel Tripod is extremely narrow and wobbles slightly, creating less stability. Just to give you an idea of the leg diameters, the largest leg of the Travel Tripod is the same diameter as the smallest on the Pro Tripod. 

• Performance: The mechanism is identical—pull back the lever to unlock, push back to lock. On the Pro, the action feels even more authoritative. The lock-up is absolute, inspiring immense confidence when using heavy camera/lens combinations.
• The Feel: The required squeezing force is more than on the Travel Tripod. This isn’t a downside but a reflection of its capability. You know, without a doubt, that the legs are secure.

The Centre Column

The Pro Tripod’s centre column, in essence, is pretty much the same as the Travel Tripod, although the shape is a little different, with more pronounced sides. and it naturally has a larger diameter. The centre column can be released using the knob on the side of the tripod legs. At the base of the centre column is a hook for hanging a bag for more stability. The hook can be removed by pulling down the area marked with the small white arrow. Once pulled down, and without releasing, twist and remove. Once removed, it will reveal the Hex Tool that resides in the centre column. As mentioned previously, if you own the Phone Mount, you may want to consider housing that accessory here instead. Negative: Unfortunately, the centre column will not accommodate both the Hex Tool and the Mobile Phone adapter.

• Performance: The more pronounced shape of the centre column allows it to move quite smoothly when extended
• Hook: The ability to hold the Hex Tool inside is a nice touch; however, it would have been nice to be able to fit both the Hex Tool and the Phone Mount. Unfortunately, the Mobile Phone adapter is not included with the tripod, although we doubt that many photographers who purchase a tripod like this would be using a Mobile Phone attachment that often.

The centre column was hard to photograph to illustrate the shape. Between the edges of the column, the column is slightly concave on all three sides.

At the bottom of the image is the hook from which you can hang a bag to give the tripod even more stability, especially if it is windy. The white arrow on the hook can be pulled down and twisted to remove the hook and access the Hex Tool that resides within the column

The Centre Column release knob plays an integral role in converting the tripod into Inverted and Low Modes. 

Inverted Mode – This mode is generally good for shooting straight down. To invert the centre column, remove the hook at the base of the centre column along with the Hex Tool inside the centre column. Then loosen the Centre Column release knob (pictured above) and remove the ball head and centre column completely. Now invert the centre column and feed it back into the opening from the other side, and then tighten the knob (pictured above). You can reattach the hook if you want, or attach it when you reconfigure the centre column after shooting. You can spread the legs to get it even closer to the ground. Alternatively, to shoot even lower, see below.

Low Mode – If you don’t want to shoot lower to the ground than Inverted Mode, you can remove the Centre Column completely. As above, remove the centre column, but instead of inverting the column, use the 4mm Hex Tool to remove the ball head completely from the centre column. To do this, rotate the ball head into portrait orientation and insert the 4mm Hex Tool into the small hole on the ridge above the ball head. When you are in portrait orientation, the hole should align with the bolt you need to loosen. Completely loosen until the Ball Head separates from the Centre Column. There will be 1″ (2.5cm) of centre column remaining at the bottom of the Ball Head, which can now be fed back into the tripod and tightened. Spread the legs of the tripod to their maximum setting to get to the lowest height. Naturally, this will allow you to shoot very low, but will not allow you to raise the head very much for full rotation of the Ball Head.

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The Ball Head: A Powerhouse of Integration

Above: Side view of the Peak Design Pro Tripod Ball Head. The QR Plate is released by rotating the Spirit Level in a clockwise direction. Make sure the Lock Switch is in the Unlocked position. Once the camera is securely attached to the head, flick the switch to the Locked position.

Above: Top view of the Peak Design Pro Tripod. We have removed the pins on both sides of the QR Plate, as we use a Silence Corner Atoll attached to our cameras.

To rotate the ball head, just turn the grooved tension ring at the base of the ball head counterclockwise to loosen and clockwise to tighten. This ring only moves about a 1/4 of a turn, and even when only slightly turned, it will give the ball head some movement.

The one thing we like on the Travel Tripod is the release knob for the centre column. This circular knurled knob pulls out, and when loosened, the centre column can be extended. Once extended, the knob can be tightened and pushed back in, making it sit fairly unobtrusively. However, on the Pro Tripod, they have reverted to a different style knob that is a bit more obtrusive. We feel this change may have been made due to the occasional failure of the knob on the Travel Tripod. In fact, the knob on our Carbon Fibre version can no longer be pushed back in, but can still be tightened, so not really a big deal. 

• The Ball: The larger ball diameter provides smoother control and a higher load capacity (a massive 40 lb / 18.1 kg). The grooved tension ring is oversized, allowing for micro-adjustments with ease.
• The Camera Plate & Lock: It includes a foolproof Arca-Swiss plate that automatically aligns and locks your gear. For a pro, this isn’t just a convenience; it’s a reliability and safety feature that prevents costly accidents. The plate is not necessary for those who use an L-Bracket or Atoll (or similar) attached to their camera body.

• Independent Panning: A critical Pro feature the Travel Tripod lacks. The Pro Tripod’s head has a separate, silky-smooth panning base that operates independently of the ball lock. This is essential for panoramic stitching, video panning shots, and precise composition. This is one of our bugbears with the Travel Tripod.
• Spirit Level – which also acts as the release for the Arca-Swiss QR plate
• Levelling Base: For those who shoot a lot of panoramas, there is a Levelling Base that can be purchased separately. This is ideal for stitching panoramas.

Note: The Ball Head has two vertical pins installed. If you are using the provided Arca-Swiss Quick Release plate, then these can remain attached. However, if you use an L-bracket or a Silence Corner Atoll (or similar), you will need to remove these using the Hex Tool provided.

Stability and Height: The Core Mission

This is the raison d’être for the Pro Tripod. As with any tripod, stability is crucial when buying a tripod. So many times, when travelling, we have seen photographers who cut corners with their tripods’ stability. Stability these days is more important than height, as most modern DSLR and Mirrorless cameras have articulating screens. With the centre column fully extended, the Peak Design Pro Tripod remains extremely stable. There is a slight wobble, but less than that of the Peak Design Travel Tripod when the centre column is fully extended. 

• Height: Without raising the centre column, the Pro Tripod stands at a commanding 54.3″ (138 cm). With the column extended, it reaches 66.3″ (168.4 cm), making it easier on the back for those tall photographers who shoot using the camera viewfinder. This is a full 6 inches taller than the Travel Tripod (with the centre column fully extended), a game-changer for comfortable all-day shooting. Paul is 6ft (180cm) tall, so this is a definite advantage for him

• Stability: The combination of thicker carbon fibre legs, larger joints, and a wider base diameter makes the Pro Tripod exceptionally rigid. Vibration dampening is superb. While it may not have the stability of a massive professional studio tripod, it provides all the stability you could realistically need for most genres of photography, such as travel, landscapes, portraits, commercial work, and astrophotography. As mentioned, even with the centre column fully extended, there is considerable stability. We have always recommended to students to never fully extend a centre column, especially if it is windy; however, in most instances we would make an exception with the Pro Tripod.

In our opinion, this tripod is pretty close to perfect, and some of the Cons below will not be an issue for many photographers and videographers.

Optional Accessories

There are a few extra accessories that you can purchase separately for the tripod.

• Smart Phone Mount: The mobile phone mount is an optional extra. This accessory was included with the Travel Tripod and stored in the centre column. But, as mentioned, Peak Design has instead opted to include the Hex Tool with the Pro Tripod range. If you do purchase this accessory, it can be swapped out with the Hex Tool in the centre column based on your preference.
• Feet: You can purchase spike feet as an optional extra. The rubber feet are large and provide excellent grip, but if you want the spike feet, they screw off easily. Personally, we have never used spike feet; however, those adventurous outdoor photographers may find that the spike feet provide better grip in some circumstances.
• Levelling Base:  A levelling plate can be purchased separately. This is ideal for stitching panoramas.
• Tilt Mod: The Tilt Mod can be purchased separately. It instantly converts your Peak Design Pro Tripod ball head into a fully-functional and buttery-smooth fluid pan/tilt head.

CONCLUSION

The Peak Design Pro Tripod marks a shift from “travel first” to “performance first.” While it retains the signature space-saving architecture that put the Travel Tripod on the map, it swaps ultra-light minimalism for the sheer mass and stability required by both working professionals and serious amateurs. It is no longer just the tripod you bring because it’s small; it’s the tripod you bring because you trust it to hold a high-payload cinema rig or a 600mm lens in a crosswind.

The addition of a smooth pan and the optional Tilt Mod transforms this from a stills-only tool into a legitimate hybrid platform. For those who found the original Travel Tripod lacking in stability, the Pro line is the answer.

It is a robust, over-engineered powerhouse that finally brings Peak Design into the big leagues of professional studio and field support. It isn’t just a bigger tripod; it’s a better one.

Now, we realise there are a lot of tripods in the market, and obviously, we can’t compare this tripod to ALL tripods currently available. We’re sure many brands and models come close, and may even be better than the Peak Design Pro Tripod, but in our opinion, this tripod is pretty close to perfect for the vast majority of photographers. It may be a large investment for most, but rest assured, you will never need another tripod.

Personally, we love the Peak Design Pro Tripod, but unless we are taking a road trip, it is too heavy for our travel kit. In hindsight, the Peak Design Pro Light may be a better tripod for our Travel Photography. The Pro Light tripod is shorter and 200g lighter than the Pro. Nevertheless, the Pro certainly will be used when we need a rock-solid tripod, and on occasions when we carry a backpack, it might be promoted to the kit, but for the time being, the Peak Design Travel Tripod is sufficient. For those of you who carry a backpack camera bag and want a premium-quality tripod, this tripod should be at the very top of your list.

PRICING & SHIPPING

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