Peak Design Travel Tripods Vs Pro Tripods – How to Choose

Peak Design’s Travel Tripod has long been a favorite for those seeking a compact, well-crafted tripod. The non-circular leg design with a non-circular center column profile was revolutionary when it launched, combining to create maximum packed space efficiency without sacrificing features. Now Peak Design has advanced these concepts further, expanding the tripod lineup with three new models: Pro Lite Tripod, Pro Tripod, and Pro Tall Tripod.

In this guide, we compare the two lineups: Travel Tripod vs. Pro Tripod. I have used all Peak Design’s tripods extensively, so I’ll share my experiences and thoughts along with the data I’ve collected during my hands-on time with each model. If you’re trying to choose between a Travel Tripod and a Pro Tripod, you’ll find all the information to make your decision.

Peak Design Tripod Dimensions and Capacities

Before we discuss these tripods and my experiences with them, I want to ensure you have all the relevant data at your fingertips.

Tripod Configuration and Component Weights

If you really want to get down to the nitty-gritty while comparing the two versions of the Peak Design Travel Tripod to the three versions of the Peak Design Pro Tripod, you need to consider the modularity of both systems and the weight of the options you would choose for your own needs. Both Travel and Pro tripods have removable center columns and multiple head options. Peak Design doesn’t provide all of the component weights, so I created the following list of weights on my own digital scales.

Peak Design Pro Tripod and Component Weights

Peak Design Travel Tripod and Component Weights

Do You Really Want a Travel Tripod?

I really want to emphasize this point. When the Travel Tripod was launched, too many people got caught up in the hype and bought it, thinking it was some magical tripod, only to find out later that it wasn’t stable enough for their needs, whether that was the size and weight of the camera they wanted to mount or the environment they planned to use it in. Stick a big 70-200mm on it during a windy shoot in Iceland and you’re going to have a bad day.

A travel tripod prioritizes lightweight and compactness over stability. That’s the simple truth. Just because a tripod looks sleek or is made from carbon fiber doesn’t mean it can defy the laws of physics and mechanical engineering. Yes, the Peak Design Travel Tripod performs well compared to many other travel tripods. It is also incredibly compact compared to others, but let’s be clear: Its stability doesn’t match that of most standard tripods, which prioritize stability over weight and folded size. In other words, you should only buy the Travel Tripod if stability is, at most, your third priority in a list of tripod features.

I can hear some of you saying, “I want a light, compact, AND stable tripod!” Well, my friend, you’re in a pickle, then, aren’t you? That’s not how tripods work, and I’m sorry that someone (probably someone in marketing at a tripod company) has led you to believe this. Generally speaking, size brings weight, and weight brings stability. Particularly when comparing tripods from the same company that use all the same leg design tricks. When choosing a tripod, you’re trying to find the best balance of specifications for your needs.

What I do not want you to do is look at all the specifications of one of the Pro tripods, like the Pro Lite, decide this is what you should get, but can’t afford it, and then “settle” for the Travel Tripod simply because you want to get a Peak Design tripod. This would be a bad idea. If that’s where you land on this decision tree, you either need to walk away for a while until you have saved up a little more for the Peak Design Pro Tripod, or look for a tripod with similar capacity and dimensions as the Pro tripod from a cheaper brand, such as Robus or Leofoto.

The Only Realistic Comparison

While I provided data for all of Peak Design’s tripods in the tables above, only one comparison really makes sense to me: comparing the Travel Tripod lineup to the Pro Lite Tripod. The difference between the capacity specifications and the price of the Travel Tripods and the larger Pro and Pro Tall tripods is too significant. If you need the size or capacity of the Pro or Pro Tall model, then that is what you need, and one of the Travel Tripods would not be suitable. End of Story. Maybe there’s a good reason to own both a travel tripod and a larger pro-style tripod like I do, for different days with different gear setups, but go for the larger one if you can only afford just one.

The Pro Lite tripod has legs with a smaller diameter than the Pro and Pro Tall models. This saves about 8 ounces (225 g) in weight compared to the Pro and reduces the collapsed diameter by about a third of an inch, making it very slightly easier to pack into a suitcase or duffel bag. Due to this reduction in weight and size, the Pro Lite is half an inch shorter than the standard Pro model when collapsed and has a very slightly shorter maximum height. The Pro Lite’s capacity is 35 lb, compared to the 20lb capacity of the Travel Tripod.

Peak Design Travel Tripod vs. Pro Lite Tripod

With all this in mind, I’m pulling out the key dimensional specifications for the Travel Tripod and the Pro Lite Tripod for your review below. There are still some significant differences in capacity and pricing between these two models. However, the maximum height, diameter, and minimum height are all somewhat similar. If you compare the weight of the aluminum Travel Tripod to the Pro Lite Tripod, the difference is only 3.2 ounces.

The Travel Tripods prioritize lighter weight and compact size over stability. You should only choose one of these tripods if you fully understand the sacrifice you are making. Owning the lightweight Travel Tripod makes you more likely to carry it with you for a day of photography, and it’s better than having no tripod at all. However, there will be times–particularly when the wind is blowing–when it doesn’t provide enough stability for sharp long-exposure images. On the other hand, a tripod from the Pro lineup is heavier, far more stable, and suitable for use with larger camera and lens combinations, as well as for video.

As I said, the toughest decision is between the Travel Tripods and the Pro Lite model, since both emphasize weight and portability, but to different extents. In use, the stability difference between the two is still night and day. The Pro Lite is a clear winner, and given the only 3.2 ounce weight difference between the aluminum version of the Travel Tripod and the Pro Lite, if price is less of an issue to you, the Pro Lite is the hands-down winner. Still, that price difference is significant. The Pro Lite is twice the price of the aluminum Travel Tripod ($399 vs $799).

Comparing the Pro Lite tripod to the carbon Travel Tripod does show a much more significant difference in weight: The Travel Tripod is 14 ounces (398g) lighter, and 3.7″ shorter when collapsed. Those two things combine to create a significant feeling. Personally, I think the Pro Lite is a much better all-around tripod, and the $200 price difference between the two feels easily justified by the increased stability and the exceptionally smooth fluid panning function of the Pro Lite’s included Pro Ball Head. Still, it must be acknowledged that the size and weight will make a difference to some.

Ultimately, I’d think of it this way: If you shoot video, opt for the Pro Lite. That’s an easy one. If you shoot with lenses bigger and heavier than a 24-70mm f/2.8, opt for the Pro Lite. If you plan to shoot in landscape locations where wind can be a problem, opt for the Pro Lite. If you shoot with smaller full-frame lenses or APS-C systems and are (be honest!) prone to leaving a tripod at home if it seems like it might be a hassle to carry, opt for the carbon Travel Tripod. If you want to pack a tripod for a trip “just in case” and want it to blend into your bag without feeling like a burdensome anchor you’ll end up carrying for no reason, choose the carbon Travel Tripod. If you’re only planning long-distance backcountry hikes, go with the carbon Travel Tripod. But if you plan to use the tripod for various purposes, pick the Pro Lite and accept the extra weight on your hikes.

Final Thoughts

I can see how you got here. Peak Design’s tripods are eye-catching, well-built, and full-featured. If you’re in the market for a new tripod and researching options online, they’re impossible to ignore. What’s most important, though, is that you choose a tripod that suits your needs. From that perspective, there are some significant differences between the Travel Tripod line and the Pro Tripod line, and, to be perfectly honest, most of you shouldn’t be here comparing these two tripod lines. It’s not apples to apples.

Comparing these two tripod lines is like choosing between a lightweight wide-angle prime lens and a telephoto zoom. Each serves a different purpose. The zoom offers more versatility, but a lightweight wide prime lens can still do things a telephoto zoom cannot. How do you decide? Ideally, owning both is best, as you’d cover all your bases. In practice, if you can have only one, most should pick the more versatile choice, which in this case is the Pro tripod. And what if you are not “most” photographers? If the weight and packed size of a tripod are critically important to you, and you don’t plan to shoot video, the carbon Travel Tripod remains a solid option.