MEFOTO Globetrotter

£180/$219 The biggest in the MEFOTO Classic range

The Globetrotter is the most heavyduty tripod in MEFOTO’S ‘Classic’ range. It’s comes in a range of colours. The aluminium kit tips the scales at a moderate 2.1kg, yet has a hefty maximum load rating of 12kg, while a carbon option sheds 400g in weight.

The tripod folds down to 41cm, making it small enough to stow in a bag, thanks to fivesection legs that swing upwards for stowage. The bottom leg sections have a diameter of 15mm, which isn’t overly thin, and the tripod remains impressively rigid even at its maximum height of 165cm.

One of the legs can be used in conjunction with the centre column as a monopod. There are only two lockable leg angles instead of the usual three and there’s no pivot function nor a secondary short centre column (or ‘low angle adapter’) supplied. On the plus side, you do get a set of interchangeable metal spikes and rubber pads.

Performance

The ball head has an adjustable friction damper and pan-only release that performs well with heavy loads. The twist-action leg section clamps are quick to release and tighten, which is just as well because there are 12 of them. It’s a smart buy for anyone who wants a ‘full-sized’ tripod that packs really small.