3 Legged Thing Airhed Pro

From £140/$160 www.3leggedthing.com

lthough they tend not to come as cheap as some other options, 3 Legged Thing’s ball heads and tripods have a reputation for exceptional carrying capacity and stability. As the firm’s flagship ball head, the Airhed Pro is able to handle a huge 40kg of kit (which is more than you’re ever likely to actually need) without issue.

It’s milled from aircraft-grade magnesium alloy, meaning it’s not only strong but also light, weighing just 408g. Two colour options are available: blue and grey.

The Airhed Pro comes with an integrated detachable 360-degree clamp that allows for smooth panning, even on rough terrain, and its quick-release plate is Arca-swiss compatible. The standard Airhed Pro uses a knob to tighten and release the quick-release plate, but you can also opt for a lever-based design. This head is an extraordinary piece of kit that does everything you need from a ball head and more. While it’s more expensive than some other heads here, the Airhed Pro certainly represents fantastic value.

APROS Uncompromising build; exceptionally smooth panning; massive load capacity

CONS Available colour options may not match other manufacturers’ tripods