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Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod Review | Lightweight & Innovative

If you're looking for a sturdy, lightweight and versatile carbon fiber travel tripod which is an alternative to Peak Design's, Heipi might have your answer.

Photography Gear Reviews | Tripod & Monopod Reviews | By Ashley Darrow

In the crowded world of the best travel tripods , it’s refreshing to see a truly innovative product released.

This Heipi Travel Tripod 3-in-1 review will walk you through the features, performance—and value of this interesting camera accessory .

Lightweight, sturdy and refreshingly versatile - a more affordable alternative to the popular Peak Design tripod with some extra tricks up its sleeve.

Travel photography is my all-time favorite genre to shoot, and unsurprisingly, a lightweight tripod is a staple in my camera backpack.

I feel like I’ve gone through every travel tripod available, from budget tripods  to the likes of Manfrotto and Peak Design.

Let’s see if Heipi is ready to roll out with the best of the best!  

Table of Contents

What is the Heipi Travel Tripod?

•  Very lightweight
•  Tripod legs and locks are sturdy
•  Built-in mini tripod gives you more options
•  Pan head great for filmmakers  
•  Design is thoughtful and well built  
•  Smartphone mount is very easy to set up
•  More features than are necessary for some
•  Taller than other travel tripods  

The Heipi Travel Tripod is a newcomer to the travel photography scene, but it’s already making waves.  

This travel tripod is built to make a statement.

It’s packed with more features than most travel tripods and still comes with a very lightweight build and a fairly small minimum size.  

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to a pro-level travel tripod, this is one option you should consider.  

Design and Build Quality

The Heipi Travel Tripod has a great build and design.  

It is made of a lightweight carbon fiber material that can stand up to the weight of most photography and videography setups. It also sports an anchor weight loop so you can make sure that your expensive camera gear isn’t going anywhere.  

All of the locking mechanics are sturdy and I never felt like my camera gear wasn’t securely attached to this tripod.

There’s no doubt in my mind that this tripod could support my gear even during a tough shoot.  

There are also little design elements that make it more secure. There are also small design elements that improve the overall build quality.  

The tripod feet are reversible and can turn into little spike feet.

This gives you something of a cleat to secure the tripod on loose soil or sand.

Height and Adjustability

This tripod has great adjustability. With a maximum height of 55.1 inches, it’s got a great reach.  

Adjusting the locking legs is a snap. They flip out easily to adjust the height of the tripod and can be locked by pressing them back into place.  

These locking legs have a little bit of a snap to them which makes me feel like they aren’t going to slip around like some budget tripods do.

You can also pop the legs out by pressing a little button on the side of each leg.

This lets you set up on uneven terrain and can even get you close to a “lay flat” fold-out.  

Weight and Portability

Here we have a tripod with a great design for travel, with one minor exception.  

The travel case is great and can protect this tripod while on the go. This is a good sign for the overall portability of the tripod.  

The weight is the star here. It’s practically featherweight compared to other tripods—especially metal ones.

While it is a great choice for throwing in your travel photography bag, you might want to double-check the minimum height first.

This tripod has a taller minimum height than its competitors.  

This may or may not be a problem for you depending on how you store your tripod.

If your tripod spends most of its time strapped to the side of your pack, this extra height won’t really matter.  

Stability and Load Capacity

I tested out this tripod on my Sony mirrorless camera, a large format film camera, and a vintage 120 camera.

No matter what I was shooting with, the Heipi Travel Tripod held up nicely.  

There really wasn’t a camera that I felt this tripod couldn’t handle.  

The locking legs were also steady which is something I loved.

There’s nothing that annoys me more than when a tripod leg slowly starts slipping mid-shoot.  

The ball head also performed nicely, but that deserves its own section.

Tripod Head

The Heipi Travel Tripod might have my favorite ball head out of any travel tripod.  

It’s a tightly designed ball with pan head features built in. Any videographers who are on the go will really enjoy this design.  

The head has 10-degree clicks while panning. This means you can lock in a specific angle and keep it there.

This feature can also be disabled if you want a smooth panning experience.  

The locks on the ball head are also about as tight as they come.

I had no worries that, even when at odd angles, my camera gear wasn’t going anywhere.  

Leg Locks & Joints

Any tripod is only as good as its legs. Thankfully, the Heipi Travel Tripod was built to stand up to its competitors.  

The level locks on the legs of the Heipi tripod are snappy and hold in place nicely.

You can flip them into place with one quick snap.  

This tripod is able to hold the weight of even the heaviest portable camera setups.

I loaded it up with a Horseman 450 large format camera just to really push it and the Heipi didn’t budge!

The leg joints and center column are very sturdy.

They move smoothly when adjusting allowing you to get the precise angle you’re looking for.  

Photographers will enjoy a great range of motion with the legs of the Heipi Travel Tripod.

It’s perfect for everything from macro photography to wildlife.  

Features and Accessories

The Heipi Travel Tripod is full of features.  

I first want to talk about how well-designed the smartphone attachment is. It’s always ready to go, built into the ball head.

Of course, I can’t go much further without talking about the built-in mini tripod.

All you need to do is loosen a collar near the base of the ball head to release a secondary, mini tripod.  

This is great for setting up a vlogging shot in your hotel or for those moments when you don’t want the full weight and size of the tripod itself.  

A few other features that stand out as highlights: the feet can be reversed and transformed into spikes for added support, there is an anchor weight hook under the ball head, and the legs have an impressive range of motion.

There are also some cleverly designed bubble levels built into the tripod.

These are usually too tucked away to be of much use, but with the Heipi Tavel Tripod they actually get some mileage.  

Now, to talk about something I’m a little less keen on.

This travel tripod comes with four different hex wrenches you need to operate different features.

If you want to make adjustments or turn off the 10-degree clicking on the panning head, then you’ll need one of these little wrenches.  

I would have liked to see these be built-in or something like that rather than just loose.

That means I have to carry and keep track of a small set of tools in addition to my other camera gear.  

At the end of the day, this is a very small complaint, but one that seems like it could have been avoided during initial R&D.

Ease of Use and Setup

The Heipi Travel Tripod practically sets itself up which is exactly what you want with a travel tripod like this. All you need to do is dial in your specific adjustments and you’re ready to shoot.  

The quick-release plate has a tight lock to it, but it comes free easily enough. That’s great for those moments when you need to quickly ditch the tripod to capture the perfect shot.  

Overall, this is a convenient and easy-to-set-up tripod for travel.  

How I Tested the Heipi Travel Tripod

I decided to test the Heipi tripod using a camera that has absolutely no tolerance for imprecision.

My over 100-year-old Kodak Brownie 2A.  

This camera has held up well over the intervening century, but along the way it’s acquired some very picky habits.

The slightest change in composition or vibration will ruin the exposure—that’s a worthy test for any tripod.  

After spending a day with this tripod shooting both on a picky vintage film camera and on my iPhone, I’ve got to say I’m pretty impressed!

This tripod is easy to get used to even when factoring in all of the features and different options it comes with.

I easily switch from “camera mode” to “smartphone mode” with way less hassle than other tripods with similar features.  

The panning head was also fantastic. It’s very nearly on par with filmmaking panning tripod heads.  

The lightweight build was a blessing. A whole day of hauling any tripod around is enough to make even the strongest backs a little weary, but the Heipi Travel Tripod weighs less than most of the cameras I plan on using it with.  

Besides being a little too tall for some camera bags , it passed the test with flying colors.

(You can always get around the height problem by detaching the panning head from the tripod body and storing them separately—if space is a priority in your camera bag.  

Alternatives to Heipi Travel Tripod

You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to travel tripods.

Here are just a few competitors of the Heipi Travel Tripod you should consider before handing over a chunk of your photography budget.

Click the names to read our in-depth reviews:

• 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey –Bold colors and a hardcore dose of aircraft-grade aluminum make this a tough alternative option  
• Manfrotto BeFree –Another lightweight option with plenty of features from a well-respected brand. This was my first travel tripod and I can’t tell you how many miles I put on this thing before I finally changed over to a Peak Design tripod
• Amazon Basics Lightweight Tripod –Nothing to write home about here, but it is technically your most budget-friendly option. A great choice for a quick replacement if your tripod breaks and you need a replacement before you can save up for something better

You might be wondering why I like Peak Design’s premier travel tripod line out of that list.

Well, that’s because they get their own section below!

Heipi 3-in-1 vs Peak Design Travel Tripod

Here’s a table that summarises the differences and similarities between the Heipi and the Peak Design tripod(s).

I’ve included both aluminum and carbon fiber Peak Design models, although we should really be comparing the carbon fiber Heipi with the carbon fiber model.

As you can see, the Heipi 3-in-1 tripod is the lightest, tallest and has the highest maximum load capacity.

However, the Peak Design Tripod Aluminum is the most affordable.

Both tripods feature lever locks rather than twist locks. This is mostly just personal preference, but I feel that lever locks tend to deliver more security than their twisty counterparts.  

All 3 tripods offer a lifetime warranty.

The Peak Design tripods are noticeably smaller. I own the aluminum version of the Peak Design Travel Tripod and even that is notably shorter than the Heipi Travel Tripod.  

If that extra height is a dealbreaker for your travel photography setup, then that might be the deciding factor for you.  

The Peak Design tripod does have fewer features—namely a more streamlined ball head and no built-in mini tripod. This makes it lighter but does mean that the Heipi Travel Tripod will give you more overall versatility.  

My last observation is a somewhat minor one, but the Peak Design tripods have their hex key built into the body of the tripod via a little clip on one of the legs.  

This means I don’t have to go digging for a hex key when I need to tighten or loosen, part of the tripod.  

The Heipi Travel Tripod doesn’t have a built-in hex key, but it does come with four of them.  

See our full review of the Peak Design Travel Tripod.

Value for Money

The Heipi Travel Tripod will cost you around $399. Is this worth it?

There are two things I considered when judging the value for money of this tripod: The tripod itself and its nearest competition.  

The tripod does everything an expensive travel tripod needs to do—and more.

If you’re spending $300 on a tripod, it’s going to look a lot like this Heipi tripod no matter what brand you go with.  

That’s a great start, but what about the competition?

The closest competition for the Heipi Travel Tripod has to be the carbon fiber Peak Design Travel Tripod.

They are neck in neck when it comes to stats, but Heipi is lapping the competition when it comes to price.  

You can pick up the Heipi Travel Tripod for roughly half of the price of the Peak Design equivalent.

This makes it one of the best value carbon fiber tripods I’ve come across.

FAQ’s

Does the Heipi Travel Tripod have a smartphone mount?

The Heipi Travel Tripod has a smartphone mount located under the camera mounting plate. This mount lifts up and can support most-sized smartphones.

Heipi Travel Tripod Review | Conclusion  

The Heipi Travel Tripod does a great job of creating a more budget-friendly competitor for the carbon fiber Peak Design version of this tripod.  

This travel tripod is a great choice for any photographer looking for a lightweight travel tripod at a great price. While it might be overkill for some, this tripod will handle everything from cross-country hikes to weddings.  

Do you have any questions about the Heipi Travel Tripod or other camera gear? Let me know in the comments!  

You'll Also Like These:

Ashley is a photographer, writer, and film critic. When Ashley’s not writing essays on photography, cinema, and theory, he’s out taking pictures with retro film cameras.

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Surprisingly Strong. Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod Review

The Heipi 3-in-1 travel tripod was a smash hit on Kickstarter. It received over 1 million USD in backing from a little over 3100 backers. It also collected about 1.28 million USD from Indiegogo. And while it may seem a little heavier than it looks, it still serves the purpose of a multifunctional travel tripod for photographers and bloggers. What I love about it is the integrated design combining the main and sub-tripods. While at first glance, it may look very similar to a travel tripod from an unmentionable brand, it does a one-up on this model. Read more to see what we loved about the Heipi 3-in-1 and what could have been better.

Every travel tripod promises the world for photographers on the go. Lightweight, multifunctionality, weather resistance, portability, and durability – these are just some of the features nearly all of them promise. On paper, it all seems hunky dory until you start using it out in the field. Some of them start showing their true colors even in barely challenging conditions. Others give up when it comes to the more extreme elements.

We’ve tested the Heipi 3-in-1 travel tripod to see if it can keep going despite being tested to the limits. We’re also pretty pleased with some of the innovations here, making work easier for photographers who are always on the move.

First up, though, what’s the meaning behind the name, and what is that bird logo supposed to be? As it turns out, it’s all linked together. The Heipi Club page on Facebook states, “Heipi, is a short Chinese name of the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor). It is a large white wading bird with a distinctively shaped beak-looking like a spoon, or a “pi pa” (Chinese musical instrument).” That post cleared up my confusion when I saw what first looked like squiggles on the logo of the box but turned out to be a bird with the word “spoonbill” in cursive handwriting.

The Big Picture

The Heipi 3-in-1 travel tripod is definitely heavier than it looks. So if you were expecting something that seems like it’s the lightest in its class, it’s certainly not that. But in some ways, this works to your benefit. Even when fully extended, the tripod doesn’t feel like it’ll tip over with the slightest gust of wind. I often used to get this feeling with various other lightweight tripods. It folds quickly and has a decent maximum payload capability of 25kg/55 lbs. What’s most impressive for me is the patented inbuilt, removable “sub tripod,” which doubles as the main tripod’s center column when required. But pull it out, and it turns into a 3-legged desk tripod which can work as a secondary smaller tripod for a smartphone or vlogging camera.

It definitely doesn’t look like a tripod that can take a few knocks. But that feeling tends to dampen a bit when you take it out of the bag. Suddenly it feels better than you expected it to be. While I wouldn’t call the material premium, running your fingers across the surface feels good. The build quality is mighty impressive. The tripod stood up to all our tests quite notably.

Based on initial feedback from pros, Heipi quickly redesigned the tripod to give it some improvements. We were initially offered the prototype to test, but this was replaced with the version backers will receive in the next few weeks. It’s versatile, has a compact design (albeit clearly inspired from somewhere else), and has an innovative inbuilt sub-tripod.

Although it’s a few ounces more than I’m comfortable traveling with, I’m giving the Heipi 3-in-1 tripod a full five stars.

• Compact at just under 18 inches when folded down
• Integrated secondary sub tripod, which doubles as a stable height extender
• Ballhead has a built-in, extendable smartphone holder
• Locking screw ring for stabilizing the central column/sub tripod at various heights
• Bubble levels on both main and sub-tripod
• Hidden spiked feet for quick access
• 25kg/55lbs load capacity ballhead
• Quick release plate locking ring on ballhead
• Ballhead pan clicks every 10 degrees
• Integrated counterweight hook
• Three 1/4″ accessory ports on main and sub-tripod
• Large additional quick release plate included
• Heavier than it looks. All together the Heipi 3-in-1 weighs 1.35kg/3lbs
• Patented leg-locking levers might not be all that quick the first few times you use them.
• The 1/4″ accessory port holes on the main tripod don’t perfectly line up with the ones on the sub tripod. The latter needs to be raised ever so slightly for you to be able to use these ports when the sub-tripod is still inside the main one. I can’t understand why this is the case, and it doesn’t seem right.
• The paint coatings on the central locking ring, the leg angle locks, and the leg locks are wearing off after just a few days of usage. If you’re someone like me who likes to keep their gear looking like new, this is going to be near impossible if the coating easily wears off like this.
• No Allen keys included

Innovations

Multi-functional tripods aren’t new, but this is the first one I’ve seen where the central column doubles up as a smaller second tripod. And it’s not something made as an afterthought or meant to be a mere formality. This sub-tripod can genuinely be a secondary tripod for your smartphone, pocket camera, or vlogging camera. This sub tripod also has a built-in smartphone holder for those times when you just need to get some quick, steady footage on your mobile. Extending this upward gets you extra height in what Heipi calls the High Mode. Flip it around and attach it under the center of the tripod for some macro photography in Inverted Mode. Heipi claims to have three central columns provided much better stability than when using the standard single-column model.

Shortly after Heipi shipped the 3-in-1 tripod to me, they sent me a note saying they sent a final prototype. But they also mentioned that the model going out to backers would have a few changes from this one. At this point, I asked them to intercept the shipment they sent out and send me the revised model instead. The main reason for this was that the tripod that backers would receive (different from the prototype) would have more quick-release plate compatibility. In addition to this, after listening to feedback from their first batch of reviewers, they increased the size of the pan knob on the ball head.

These are significant changes, not just cosmetic ones, so they agreed when I asked them to send me the revised version instead. The model I tested is the same one that Kickstarter backers will receive.

I tested the Heipie 3-in-1 tripod with a bucket of water, a freezer, sunlight, a flight of 10 stairs, a box of household items, and an 11lb dumbbell.

Many travel tripod models come with a small or often flimsy ball head. The one on the Heipi travel tripod is certainly not one of these kinds. About the size of a baseball and feeling as solid as one, this has multiple quick-release plate model compatibility.

It also comes with a quick twist ring that helps get the plate off faster. The rep still recommends using the Heipi plate over any other brand’s models because of the “unified design logic to it.” They’ve added two pins on the ball head to prevent the Heipi plate from falling off and noted that the anti-release screws on 3rd party plates might not work perfectly with this. The ball head has a standard 3/4″ screw thread at the base.

Right under the ball head is where the center column locking ring is located. This is what stabilizes the integrated sub-tripod when it’s raised for extra reach or placed upside down to get your camera closer to the ground.

The leg locks take a while to get used to. They are still not as quick as I’d like them to be when I want to extend a portion of a leg.

Skip The Specs. Let’s Do Some Tests

But enough about the tripod itself. Every tripod, when used right, can provide a stable picture. But travel tripods often get pushed to the limits. Conditions outdoors often fluctuate, and you never really know if a tripod can hold up to extreme weather. I tested the Heipi tripod in 5 very different and challenging scenarios to see if it could still continue working. After all, when you’re on a hike in the mountains, by a waterfall, or even trudging through hot sand dunes, your travel tripod needs to continue assisting you in taking amazing photos.

These tests are extreme, but they aren’t done to see if your tripod will start working perfectly right away. On the contrary, I gave each of these tests ample time and tested the tripod out after a considerable period of waiting. Just as any good artist would do with their valued gear. I mean, you wouldn’t go about grilling a prime steak right after you doused out a large fire on your bbq grill, would you?

The Freeze Test

This test was limited to the ballhead and sub-tripod. If I had a much larger freezer, I could have probably tested the whole tripod out.

Both these items were kept inside the freezer for 8 hours. Initially, I thought of protecting them with cling wrap. However, that’s not something you’d leave on your tripod when outdoors. Let’s say you lost your Heipi in the mountains during a blizzard and couldn’t retrieve it for a few hours. It would be out there, nakedly braving the wind chill and snow until you got back. I wish I could have gone to Ski Dubai to bury the tripod in the ice there. Too much red tape to be able to get that done, so into the freezer these went.

Even after being solidly frozen, the ballhead was as smooth as during regular temperatures. The sub-tripod had a bit of stiffness at first, but about 5 minutes later, it seemed normal. I guess you can expect some rigidity when using it in sub-zero conditions but nothing out of the ordinary, which may slow you down considerably. But hey, in sub-zero conditions, you’d be slowing down too.

Freeze Test – Passed

The Submerged Test

You’re on a fishing trip at your local lake. The Heipi tripod is attached to the back of your backpack. Heading back to the shore in the evening, a few meters from the banks, the buckle on that holding strap comes undone, and the tripod falls into the lake. You can’t dive into it or round up a search party until the next day, so the Heipi is sleeping with the fish for a night.

Except that I have no lake nearby and certainly no diving experience, so my Heipi tripod spent the night inside a bucket of water. With no fish of course. The next morning, I carefully took it out and left it upside down for half an hour to let the water drain out. Then I removed the ballhead and the sub tripod from the main tripod and kept these aside after wiping them down. I then extended the legs of the main tripod completely and went over the joints with an air blower. Once I felt I had puffed out most of the residual water, I thoroughly wiped it with a microfibre cloth. Everything looked alright at this point. This was around 830am in the morning, so I could continue right after this to my next test. (Note: I didn’t see any signs of corrosion even days later).

The Heat Test

If I were to take a day-long timelapse in Dubai, this would surely heat up the tripod. I didn’t quite get the 110-120F temperatures I was hoping for; the tripod arrived towards the onset of winter. Still, temperatures did peak at 105F or so for most of the day. So as soon as I wiped down the tripod after the overnight submerging test, I left it out on the balcony to enjoy a day of sunshine. This also meant that it took the full brunt of the dust in the air. It could only have worsened if I lived near the beach, which would have added a lot of salt to the humidity.

After a day’s work, I returned home and checked on the Heipi immediately. This time, the sub-tripod was perfectly fine. The ball head still seemed to hold some water in it, which I discovered while trying to blow the dust off it.

I noticed some stiffness in the main tripod’s legs while trying to collapse them. The legs extended like I expected them to, but various sections of two of the legs seems a little less reluctant to collapse back smoothly. This only lasted a handful of days, after which I couldn’t notice any difference between the resistance of the sections on all three legs.

I also took it out for an hour at noon on a sandy patch of land near home. If it could talk, I think the Heipi would ask me to put it through harsher tests.

Submerge and heat tests – Passed.

The Load Test

25kgs is a lot to keep up. It’s also not a weight that I could easily find at home. Luckily my folks were moving homes, so I was able to borrow one of their boxes full of stuff. This weighed in at under 20kgs. I added a 5kg dumbbell to the top, and with some acrobatic balancing, I tested the Heipi’s load capacity.

For 3 minutes, I balanced this box and weight on the tripod while my wife tried to get a picture at the best possible angle. After this, I expected to see the Heipi looking bow-legged. Got that one totally wrong; the legs remained perfectly straight. I didn’t notice any extra resistance while closing the legs up either. The ball head, too was as smooth as before. Still looks round, not like a squashed ball of pizza dough.

Well done, Heipi; you aced the load test too.

The Fall Test

I left this one for the last because it was the one that could really damage the tripod. Intended to mimic what could happen to your tripod if it took a tumble on a mountainside, I tipped it over a flight of stairs, without a camera on it, of course.

Before you try this (not something I recommend), remember to close any doors to the stairwell in your apartment building. Not just because the sound of a tumbling tripod can feel like someone is rolling down the stairs. But also so that no one can hear you when you scream in painful anguish at doing something like this to your camera gear.

I kind of felt that the main tripod could take the fall. The ballhead is of course, more easily replaced. The sub-tripod was the one I was worried about the most. Surprisingly, the ballhead and the main tripod were the ones that took the most scuffs. The sub seems relatively unscathed.

Just for good measure, I sent the tripod down the stairs a second time. Because, you know, butter-fingered people like me are more than likely to push a tripod more than once on a holiday.

I half thought the security guard or the cleaning staff of my building would rush to me; that’s how much noise echoed in the stairwell. And while I thought that the second fall spelled the end of the Heipi as a working tripod, it continued to impress me. Scuffs and scratches aside, it kept on going when I took it out for a shoot after that.

Who should buy the Heipi 3-in-1 Tripod?

If you’re looking for a lightweight but sturdy tripod that can take a few knocks when you’re globetrotting, this one could just be the tripod you’re looking for. It may look flimsy at first, but it’s far from that. The inbuilt sub-tripod is a genius idea for anyone who needs a smaller tripod to grab in a jiffy.

The ballhead contains a concealed smartphone holder for your phone photography or videography needs. And you have to love the fact that they also threw in a large QR plate. I only wish the sub-tripod legs could also have been made from carbon fiber instead of aluminum alloy. That could have shaved a few ounces off the weight. Also, those accessory ports on both tripods really need to line up when the sub-tripod is fully inserted into the main one.

The tests are a testament to its build quality and durability. The Heipi can get knocked down but will continue to get up and perform like a champ each time. It tucks away neatly when collapsed. Overall I’d say it’s a reliable choice for anyone looking for a new travel tripod.

Heipi Tripod review by SonyAlphaBlog: “excellent compact travel tripod”

• November 13, 2022

2 days left to get the world’s lightest 3 in 1 tripod on Kickstarter (click here) . SonyAlphaBlog tested the tripod and concluded:

The Heipi Tripod (319$ / 399$ retail) is an excellent compact travel tripod . Very good build quality , very good ergonomics, very stable , fully featured (spike, smartphone holder, , sub tripod…) Compared to the Peakdesign , it takes the same approach but implements it in a different way, with a smarter 3 pillars centre column , better rigidity , better ballhead, a sub tripod , better ergonomics and a much lower price Highly recommended

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HEIPI W28 3-in-1 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Review

Dustin abbott, october 13th, 2023.

I’ve been using the excellent Peak Design Carbon Fiber travel tripod for four years, and, to this point, I haven’t really seen its equal despite reviewing 5 or so other competing travel tripods. The HEIPI W28 may have just changed that, however, as there are some genuinely unique and clever design elements that just work. Find out my whole thoughts in my review here:

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Here are a few of the bullet points from the review video:

Price:  $549 USD (Tripod, ball head, case, QR plate, tools, spikes) – this undercuts the Peak Design CF travel tripod by $50. I’ve added the Peak Design comparison points in brackets for some of these points.

• Weight:  1.35kg | 3lbs ( 2.81lbs )
• Packed Length – 45cm | 17.7” ( 15.4” )
• Max Height – 150cm | 59” ( 60” )
• Min Height – 22cm (8.6”) M | Sub 14.5cm (5.7”) ( 13.2” )
• Payload = 25kg (55lbs) | ( 20lbs )
• Enhanced center column stability
• Built in Phone Clamp
• Arca compatible
• Table tripod part of design but can be used separately.
• Full panning
• Don’t have to extend center column to use ball head.
• Case includes space for tools and QR

There are few reasons why I’ve been reaching for the HEIPI over the Peak Design recently. The first is the built in phone clamp. Peak Design does included a phone adapter, but the W28 has an integrated design that means that I just have to pull it up if I want to get some B-roll footage with my phone.

The second reason is that I really like the ability to pull out the tabletop tripod portion and use it if needed. It’s more practical than trying to negotiate a larger tripod down to that level.

The third reason is that I like the ability to rotate the ball head without having to extend up the center column; something I can’t do with the Peak Design.

I like the Peak Design’s slighter wider base and prefer its leg section locks, but I’m enjoying the overall design of the HEIPI W28 just a little bit more. HEIPI raised over a million dollars in their Kickstarter campaign to launch the W28, and I can see why. It’s a very innovative design and well worth considering if you are looking for a high end travel tripod.

Purchase the HEIPI W28 here: https://tinyurl.com/buyHEIPI

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Keywords: HEIPI, W28, 3-in-1, HEIPI Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, 3-in-1 Tripod, Travel Tripod Review, Hands On, Review, Dustin Abbott, demonstration, photography, Peak Design, Kickstarter, #HEIPI, let the light in, #letthelightin, DA, #da

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HEIPI Portable Lightweight Camera Tripod Stand with Center Gimbal Head and Bag Compatible with Canon Nikon Sony DSLR (K2-60-B)

About this item.

• Versatile Function: Gimbal ball-head to switch between 3-dimension and 2-dimension quickly
• Tripod Head: Universal compatible with Arce-type
• Pro-level Stability: Patented locking system and 3K carbon fiber tube
• DSLR Camera Stand: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji & etc.
• Portable: Easy to pack in 20-inch case

Similar item to consider

Customers also viewed these products

Product Description

Innovative integrated tripod.

· Light: This tripod is with lightweight only 4.3lbs.

· Easy: You can carry it easily by fitting in 20inch case while travelling long distance.

· Steady: Pro-level stability supporting camera & lens upto 120lbs safey playload weight.

MAGIC BALL HEAD

Patented ball-joint structure;

Gimbal ball head with counterbalance;

Quick to switch between 2D mode and 3D mode;

Pan & tile;

EASY TO USE

· Friction: Adjustable

· Front Tilt: -45° / +45°

· Bubble Spirit Level: YES

· Pan Bar Included: YES

· Attachment Connection: YES

• Standard attachment connection: 1/4" & 3/8" screw
• Weight: 1.95kg (4.3lbs)
• Head Type: Ball Head
• Ball Size: Φ60mm (2.36in)
• Maximum Height: 1370mm (54in)
• Minimum Height: 160mm (6.3in)
• Folded Length: 560mm (22in)
• Legs Tube Diameter: 32/29/26/22mm (1.26/1.14/1.02/0.87in)
• Leg Sections: 4
• Leg Material: Carbon Fiber
• Counterbalance Weight: 1.5-4.5kg (3.3-10lbs)
• Safety Payload Weight: 55kg (120 lbs)
• Quick Release Plate Compatible with Arce-type

SWITCH BETWEEN 2D & 3D MODE

Put the knob outwards and turn anticlockwise untill the ball can rotate freely, it is 3-dimensional panoramic mode.

Put the knob outwards and turn clockwise to reach 2-dimensional pan and tile movement mode.

FRICTION ADJUSTMENT

Quick to adjust wanted friction by rotate this control knob.

It is supplied with pan bar dismantled.

Mount the bar by rotating the knob into the threaded hole.

PIN INSIDE FOOT

Stainless pin is put inside when foot mat connect with the leg.

Take the pin out and screw it oppisite of the foot to stabilize tripd in soft earth ground.

Compatiable with Most DSLR Camera and Lens

HEIPI Brand Founder.

A senior metallurgical engineer.

A wildlife photographer.

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

No customer reviews

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HEIPI Travel Tripod on Kickstarter – Compact 3-in-1 Tripod

While we’ve seen quite a few versatile travel tripods over the years, with the most innovative probably being the original Peak Design Travel Tripod ( article here ), there’s still room for practical and useful improvement. HEIPI is currently running a pretty successful Kickstarter campaign for its idea of what a good tripod should look like: meet the HEIPI Travel Tripod.

If you are on the road a lot, you know what it’s like to lug around a huge bag of gear. Therefore, a decent tripod for such a job should be reasonably lightweight plus it should be super versatile as well as easy and quick to use, right?

HEIPI aims to do just that, as their new HEIPI Travel Tripod is basically a modular tripod that consists of three different parts that can be used individually or together to create a pretty cool tripod with a lot of features. Check out the campaign video below:

HEIPI Travel Tripod

Although it looks quite similar to the aforementioned Peak Design Travel Tripod as well as the Ulanzi & Coman ( article here ), this new HEIPI Travel Tripod also has a few extra tricks up its sleeve.

Basically, the HEIPI tripod consists of three parts, the base tripod, a so-called inner tripod (aka 3-pillar center column), and the ball head. Together they make a complete tripod, but you can also use just the small inner tripod and the ball head for a minimalist setup. Or you can simply use the ball head with your existing slider or other equipment.

In addition, the inner tripod can be used as an extension of the base tripod, but with three legs instead of just one column (for improved rigidity) or in under-slung mode for shooting close to the ground.

An included phone holder allows you to attach a regular smartphone to the tripod (or to the smaller inner tripod, of course). If you want to weigh down the whole setup, the integrated hook can be used to hang your equipment bag on it, for example.

With the ball head, you can also align your camera vertically if needed. A nice feature is the click-pan function. In this mode, the ball head clicks every 10º (but you can also mute it) for perfect panoramic shots.

The whole HEIPI Travel Tripod is made of carbon fiber and metal, so it is seemingly pretty sturdy while being relatively lightweight at the same time (3 lbs / 1.35 kg – w/o inner tripod: 2.6 lbs / 1.2 kg). Its size is 17.5″ / 44.5 cm in its packed form, with a diameter of 2.7″ / 6.9 cm.

According to HEIPI, the maximum height is 59″ / 150 cm and the weight capacity is 24.95 kg / 55 lbs.

The accompanying Kickstarter campaign runs through November 16, and so far, the goal is well in the rearview mirror. At the time of writing, $366,000 has been funded, which translates to 3660% of the original goal of $10,000.

The Super Early Bird price is only $299, which seems pretty reasonable, and the regular price for the HEIPI travel tripod sold after the campaign ends will be $399. If this tripod lives up to expectations, it will certainly be a nice addition to any filmmaker’s gear bag.

We are saying this at the end of every crowdfunding-related article:  please be aware of the risks when backing a project on a crowdfunding platform. Please read the platform’s terms of use and keep in mind that there can be significant delays when delivering the product. Some projects don’t even get delivered at all.

Links: Kickstarter campaign | HEIPI website

For complete transparency: The Kickstarter HEIPI campaign link has a CineD Affiliate commission embedded in it.

What do you think of it? Would this travel tripod be useful for your workflow? Share your experience below in the comments!

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Olaf von Voss is a freelance cameraman who is in business for well over a decade. He is living in Berlin, Germany but has traveled the world as well while shooting mostly documentaries.

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Unique HEIPI 3-in-1 travel tripod announced

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Thursday October 27, 2022

By Ali Jennings

Kickstarter has been the launch platform for many exciting camera and accessory projects with the latest project to catch my eye being the HEIPI tripod, a quite unique 3-in-1 travel tripod.

What makes it unique is the way it splits down from a travel tripod in to three components that can be used in isolation, or at least two can the other is the head. As its core function it is a travel tripod, then remove the centre column, and you have a smaller compact tripod and that makes two very functional accessories from one. The third part is the removable head which can then be displaced and popped on top of another set of tripod legs. 

Aside from the design, which from the photos and video looks amazing, the main USP of the unit is the 3-pillar centre column that makes up the lightweight tripod section of the design. 

Essentially, the designers have replaced the standard tube-style removable centre column with one that quickly removes and transforms into a tripod. Then when it’s in place, it can be raised or lowered like any other tripod centre column, all be it looking a little different, which is all very clever. 

The centre column is, therefore, lightweight, very transportable in it’s own right and features spiked rubber feet to keep it steady when working out in the field. 

As a travel tripod, the HEIPI needs to be lightweight and easily transportable, and to this end, the entire tripod weighs in at 0.63lb/0.29kg while taking a maximum load capacity of 55lbs/25kg. It also features a 360º panoramic head with an audible click that highlights every 10º turn. This click has been added to enable users to accurately gauge the rotation of the head in lower light conditions. At present I’m not sure if the click is a permanent fixture or if it can be silenced, I’ll find out soon.

The three-pillar design centre column has also been designed to make the tripod more structurally sound than competitors with legs that fold tight under the head removing much of the negative space common with other manufacturers.

The legs themselves are tubed and offer angles of 22°/48°/69.5°. A simple button mechanism enables the adjustment of the leg and angles and lever locks to enable you to release and lock the legs into position. The sub-tripod features a single leg section with leg angle adjustment from 40°/85°. 

A HEIPI tripod is on its way to us here at Camerajabber.com, and I’ll update you on the tripod as soon as it arrives. 

Visit  https://www.tripod.HEIPIvision.com/  or the  Kickstarter campaign .

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PEAK DESIGN vs HEIPI – Which Travel Tripod is the Best?

November 7, 2022 By Morgan Leave a Comment

So a couple of weeks ago, we reviewed the HEIPI tripod. I took it around and shot with it downtown. It was really enjoyable to use. I found it really useful. But the questions that we got all through our comments and people emailing us was, how does it compare to the Peak Design? And that’s a legitimate question, because they are very similar in a lot of ways, but different in a lot of ways as well. HEIPI was in, going, sure, let’s talk about it.

(Go here to get your Heipi Travel Tripod !)

First is weight. You know, they are very similar in weight. The HEIPI tripod is 2.98 pounds, and the Peak tripod is 2.81 pounds. So you’re about .17 of a pound. You know, what does that translates to, it’s less than around an eighth of a pound difference between the two. But they’re very close. Who would I say wins when it comes to weight? Well, Peak Design is slightly lighter.

So the maximum weight capacity of these two tripods is very different. The HEIPI will handle 55.1 pounds, whereas the Peak Design will handle 20 pounds. That means that the HEIPI can handle more than twice as much camera weight than the Peak Design.

Peak Design has a knob on the side that allows us to release this column. It gets up here, I mean, it’s very small, but it’s pretty secure. I don’t find this unsecure. So there’s a difference in those. So that thought who wins when it comes to the center column? Well, the HEIPI is pretty revolutionary when it comes to that center column. And I think it gives you now two different tripods rather than just something that elevates your camera by a few inches. So the winner for me would be the HEIPI.

About Morgan

With more than two decades of experience Jay P. Morgan brings to his commercial studio two special qualities: a keen appreciation of the bizarre and a knack for flawlessly executing elaborate shots. Through The Slanted Lens, Jay P. shares his knowledge about photography and videography.

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3-IN-1 TRAVEL TRIPOD USER GUIDE

04 mounting the camera on the head, 05 the use of the ball head, 06 the adjustment of locking lever.

6.2 Attaching/detaching the Locking Lever of the Ball Head

07 Adjusting the Center Column

08 Removing the Center Column Fully Out of the Main Tripod

09 Inverting the Center Column

10 Mounting the Ball Head on the Main Tripod

11 The Use of the Spiked Rubber Feet

12 Built-in Smartphone Mount

13 Attaching Accessories 

14 Enforcing the Connection Between the Head and the Tripod

15  Adjust the leg tension of the main tripod

16 Installing and Align the Locking Ring

17 Case Storage Compartment for Kits

Let customers speak for us

Great. Exactly what I was looking for. Everything I need. Compact and light weight, perfect for adventure!

Muy bueno la verdad que tener varios trípodes en uno a ese tamaño es genial, estoy muy feliz con el. Es liviano, compacto, y podés tenér un pequeño trípode con soporte para celular, otro grande y ponerle otra Zapata, es genial. Si tuviera que pedirle algo más, me hubiese gustado que el pan o paneo se pudiera hacer desde arriba de la bola, y no desde abajo. De esa forma se conseguiría poder hacer fotos panorámicas sin una Zapata de nivelación. Creo que ese sería un acierto para futuras actualizaciones

Excellent tripod, easy quick release super light totally recommend to a professional photographer to a beginner

Solid solid solid product And the packing / presentation just looks top top quality.

Exactly what I was looking for 10/10