Recommend a monopod suitable for hiking

[rosspb]

So as the title says I'm looking for a reasonable monopod for when I'm hiking in the Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite etc in May...

Ideally lightweight, under £50/$65 and suitable for use as a hiking stick, any ideas?

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

Well, I'm searching for the exact same thing the last few weeks, so hopefully this will save you some time ;-)

First of all, don't buy a monopod that doubles as a hiking stick, but buy a hiking stick that can be used as a monopod. These sticks are made for walking, monopods are not. You can hike with them but they are simply too heavy.

Don't go cheap, in the mountains your life depends on it. And with a backpack full of camera gear a hiking stick is even more important for your balance.

Now comes the tricky part. Many camera compatible hiking sticks are for mirrorless/superzoom cameras and can't handle the weight of a DSLR. If you don't intend to use a DSLR buy the Manfrotto sticks. They have a very small base for the camera to rest on. The same applies to the Leki Photosystem.

The older Leki Sierra has a large round steel plate to support the camera. I have this one for eight years and it has served me well when shooting landscapes with my DSLR. Besides, the Leki Sierra has the twist lock system, which makes it easier to pack. But that's a personal thing. The big brown wooden knob looks a bit odd but I did a lot of mountain hiking with and it works.

There are some shooting sticks that also function as a monopod and hiking stick, like the Stoney Point Monopod or the Nitehawk. You can rest a tele on it or use it as a tradtional monopod. More diverse but not the best for hiking.

My choice now is the Novoflex system. The Triopod is a tripod base that can be supported by alu or carbon legs or by hiking sticks. The hiking sticks (QLEG Walk II) can also be used as a monopod.

How does this work, you buy a triopod base and a carbon/alu leg with a total weight of about 600 grams. Buy two Novoflex hiking sticks and you have yourself an ultralight tripod. All the components can be packed separately. The ideal set for hiking. Novoflex is made in Germany, their products are of extremely high quality. Expensive but will last a lifetime. The Novoflex 2-way tilt head I have is great. Amazon sells the TRIOPOD 4-Sec Carbon fiber Leg Kit (TRIOC2840). The aluminium versions are less expensive.

The QLEG Walk II is made by Leki, so it is a safe hiking stick. I am ordering everything at the moment, don't have any field experience yet.

--
TheBlackGrouse
Active Outdoor Photographer

 

[Bobby49]

There are many trekking poles on the market. A few of them come with a screw head on top that will fit to your camera body. Some don't have that screw head, but there is an adapter that will create the screw head on top. Even if your existing solid walking stick does not have a screw head on top, and even if there is no adapter to create that, you can still install a "double ended screw" into the top.

I think what you really want is a solid hardwood walking stick with a quick release on top.

 

[BBbuilder467]

So as the title says I'm looking for a reasonable monopod for when I'm hiking in the Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite etc in May...

Ideally lightweight, under £50/$65 and suitable for use as a hiking stick, any ideas?

From past posts, it seems you are looking for a good all-purpose monopod and tilt-head for travel, not specifically a hiking pole. You aren't going to walk around NYC, Chicago and Vegas with a hiking pole, and that's where you will find good use for the monopod.

Based on your luggage, that might dictate what the maximum compressed length can be, and the extended length with a monopod is very important. It's safe if you measure to roughly your chin or eyes. You can lose 3 or 4 inches in soft or rough terrain.

$100 US is about the least you'll have in a decent monopod with a simple tilt-head. Look at Induro, Manfrotto, Sirui as popular models. With a dslr and big, heavy zoom lenses, you want something stout.

 

[rosspb]

From past posts, it seems you are looking for a good all-purpose monopod and tilt-head for travel, not specifically a hiking pole. You aren't going to walk around NYC, Chicago and Vegas with a hiking pole, and that's where you will find good use for the monopod.

Based on your luggage, that might dictate what the maximum compressed length can be, and the extended length with a monopod is very important. It's safe if you measure to roughly your chin or eyes. You can lose 3 or 4 inches in soft or rough terrain.

$100 US is about the least you'll have in a decent monopod with a simple tilt-head. Look at Induro, Manfrotto, Sirui as popular models. With a dslr and big, heavy zoom lenses, you want something stout.

A wo/man who pays attention lol although appreciate the well written advice above too..

Yes ideally after a monopod over a hiking stick with attachment as the trip involved cities in the second half of it. I am taking a Sirui t-025x tripod but don't intend to lug it around Zion, GC & Yosemite and was advised to get a hiking stick/monopod instead.

Now I'm 6ft so something that goes up to at least 160cm i guess & I'm using a DSLR (70D).

Looked at the Velbon UP-400, Vanguard cm-284 or cm-324, manfrotto mm290c4 & Sirui P326 and all meet ideal size but whether they are suitable for hiking etc?

 

[petrochemist]

I brought a walking stick that had a screw thread for use as a monopod.

I guess it's OK as a hike stick - but it's rubbish as a monopod!

To use a monopod to it's maximum you need to be able to use it at an angle - this can give much better support. I would want a monopod to reach at least to the top of my head if vertical.

 

[BBbuilder467]

From past posts, it seems you are looking for a good all-purpose monopod and tilt-head for travel, not specifically a hiking pole. You aren't going to walk around NYC, Chicago and Vegas with a hiking pole, and that's where you will find good use for the monopod.

Based on your luggage, that might dictate what the maximum compressed length can be, and the extended length with a monopod is very important. It's safe if you measure to roughly your chin or eyes. You can lose 3 or 4 inches in soft or rough terrain.

$100 US is about the least you'll have in a decent monopod with a simple tilt-head. Look at Induro, Manfrotto, Sirui as popular models. With a dslr and big, heavy zoom lenses, you want something stout.

A wo/man who pays attention lol although appreciate the well written advice above too..

Yes ideally after a monopod over a hiking stick with attachment as the trip involved cities in the second half of it. I am taking a Sirui t-025x tripod but don't intend to lug it around Zion, GC & Yosemite and was advised to get a hiking stick/monopod instead.

Now I'm 6ft so something that goes up to at least 160cm i guess & I'm using a DSLR (70D).

Looked at the Velbon UP-400, Vanguard cm-284 or cm-324, manfrotto mm290c4 & Sirui P326 and all meet ideal size but whether they are suitable for hiking etc?

The Sirui would make a nice match for a "hiker" who would be concerned about the short compressed length and weight. But, a "hiker" will be carrying it hundreds if not thousands of miles. A "hiker" will make a lot of concessions just to have the monopod.

Get whatever you could use every day at home and that should be fine for the type of "hiking" you will do. If you can't use it in your own backyard, you won't use it in the National parks in the US.

 

[rosspb]

From past posts, it seems you are looking for a good all-purpose monopod and tilt-head for travel, not specifically a hiking pole. You aren't going to walk around NYC, Chicago and Vegas with a hiking pole, and that's where you will find good use for the monopod.

Based on your luggage, that might dictate what the maximum compressed length can be, and the extended length with a monopod is very important. It's safe if you measure to roughly your chin or eyes. You can lose 3 or 4 inches in soft or rough terrain.

$100 US is about the least you'll have in a decent monopod with a simple tilt-head. Look at Induro, Manfrotto, Sirui as popular models. With a dslr and big, heavy zoom lenses, you want something stout.

A wo/man who pays attention lol although appreciate the well written advice above too..

Yes ideally after a monopod over a hiking stick with attachment as the trip involved cities in the second half of it. I am taking a Sirui t-025x tripod but don't intend to lug it around Zion, GC & Yosemite and was advised to get a hiking stick/monopod instead.

Now I'm 6ft so something that goes up to at least 160cm i guess & I'm using a DSLR (70D).

Looked at the Velbon UP-400, Vanguard cm-284 or cm-324, manfrotto mm290c4 & Sirui P326 and all meet ideal size but whether they are suitable for hiking etc?

The Sirui would make a nice match for a "hiker" who would be concerned about the short compressed length and weight. But, a "hiker" will be carrying it hundreds if not thousands of miles. A "hiker" will make a lot of concessions just to have the monopod.

Get whatever you could use every day at home and that should be fine for the type of "hiking" you will do. If you can't use it in your own backyard, you won't use it in the National parks in the US.

Cool thanks, yes its more for use as a monopod thank a hiking stick, just something i can use on this trip for that, can always borrow/buy a proper stick in addition if needs be when there if I discover I need one lol

I'll get the Sirui one as I liked the tripod I have so will match lol