Benro Go Plus Travel FGP28A

It likes to rest with its feet up

£259, $390

We’ve seen a growing trend in travel tripod design where, for stowage, you extend the centre column to its full height and swing the feet up so that they encompass the head. It’s a clever trick that reduces the carrying length by about 15cm. Indeed, thanks to this and the fact that the Benro Go Plus Travel has four sections in each leg, it folds up 20cm shorter than the Benro Classic, while also extending 6cm taller, to a maximum operating height of 174cm. With the detachable leg screwed into the centre column, the maximum monopod height is also greater, at 187cm.

As well as being both shorter and taller than the Benro Classic, the Travel has a substantially greater maximum load rating, at 14kg for both the legs and the upsized head. The head has the same extensive range of features, but sports a longer Arca-Swiss compatible quickrelease plate, and its larger ball and socket are better suited to heavier camera and lens combinations. The downside of the flip-over legs is that it takes a little longer to set up the tripod, unless you habitually shoot with the centre column extended, or with it in pivot mode.

Performance

Despite the extra section in each leg, the Benro Travel is impressively rigid, even at its maximum height. It out-performs the Benro Classic for rigidity, and the larger head is a real winner.

Specs Maximum operating height: 174cm Folded height (with head): 49cm Weight with head: 2.3kg Max load (legs, head): 14kg, 14kg Leg section diameters: 28mm, 25mm, 22mm, 19mm Pivoting centre column : 180º, stepped Ball head: Benro B1 Head mount diameter: 52mm Locking leg angles: Three angles Feet: Retractable spikes

Verdict

Features Build/handling Performance Value for money

Overall

Unbeatable for versatility. The aluminium/ magnesium build quality is fabulous.