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10 monopods to help better balance heavy loads

The best monopods can provide photographers and videographers with a tremendous amount of shooting versatility compared to a tripod. While these singlelegged supports don’t have the same rock-steady stability, they are far lighter and less cumbersome than tripods, and can easily be taken places that tripods cannot.

A monopod can be carried with you easily, even dangling by a simple wrist strap, it can also give you just that little bit of extra support that you need to nail a tricky shot. Having a monopod by your side can make the difference between a sharp shot and a blurry mess! They enable you to react much faster than tripods, which can take a decent amount of time to set up.

Moving forward

What’s even better is that manufacturers have certainly not rested on their laurels when it comes to monopods, and new models are coming out all the time that push the envelope when it comes to what monopods are capable of. Vanguard made a big splash a few years ago with its triple-footed monopods, a couple of which you’ll see on this list, but there have been more recent developments too. We’re big fans of the recent Benro MSDPL46C Supadupa carbon fibre monopod, which adds several innovations – such as a free-spinning foot – into the mix.

Of course, which monopod is right for you will depend on your specific photographic needs… Different models have different maximum heights, which you may want to factor in if you are especially tall. You also want to consider how much a monopod weighs and how small it folds down, as it’s you that’s going to have to lug it around on your excursions! Maximum payload is a concern as well, especially if you’re using hefty telephoto lenses. Let’s get cracking with the best monopods you can buy for your Nikon!