Travistello.
SmallRig Portable Carbon Fiber Tripod, official product view
SmallRig, official product photography. Used for product identification and editorial analysis.

SmallRig ·50 to 160 cm

SmallRig Portable Carbon Fiber Tripod

A 1.17 kg carbon-fiber travel tripod that folds to 52.5 cm, reaches 160 cm, and includes a phone holder.

7.9/10 research score

Best for Buyers who want a carbon tripod and a head under EUR 150

Read the verdict

Research-based assessmentOfficial specifications and documented evidence. Not hands-on tested. Research score only. Not a Travistello Pick.

Weight
1.17 kg
Score
7.9/10

The short answer

Best for buyers who want a carbon tripod and a head under eur 150.

Roughly half the Ulanzi's price for a heavier, longer-folding tripod with a stronger rated leg capacity and a fluid head. It publishes less: one height range instead of three figures, and no plate standard. Held back from publication until now for exactly that reason, and released because SKU, price, and imagery are all now published.

Why it stands out

  • 12 kg rated leg capacity and a 5 kg head load rating
  • 1.17 kg in 8-layer carbon fibre
  • Carrying bag, phone holder, and wrench included, with a two year warranty

Know before buying

  • SmallRig publishes one working height range of 50 to 160 cm and does not say which figure is with the centre column raised
  • No plate standard is published, so third-party Arca-Swiss plates cannot be assumed to fit
  • The 3 kg figure on the page is a counterbalance rating, not a head payload, so the payload field stays empty
  • 525 mm folded is longer than the Ulanzi, and it appears in the page's feature copy rather than its specification block

Travistello research score

7.9/ 10

Why it earned this score.

Research-based, using Travel Tripod Research Model v1.0. No physical test is implied.

01

Rated support

8.4

A published 12 kg tripod load capacity and a 5 kg head load capacity, both from the specification block. The stronger leg rating of the two tripods here, as a rating rather than a tested result.

25% of overall score
02

Packed portability

7.8

1.17 kg is close to the Ulanzi, but 525 mm folded is 102 mm longer, which is the difference between fitting inside a cabin backpack and not. The folded figure appears in the page's feature copy rather than its specification block.

25% of overall score
03

Height range

7.6

A published working height of 50 to 160 cm. The top figure is higher than the Ulanzi's, but SmallRig publishes one range rather than separate centre column raised and lowered figures, so the height that matters for stiffness is not stated.

25% of overall score
04

Head and mount

7.2

A fluid head with an approximately 3 kg counterbalance, which suits panning video. No plate standard, leg angle set, or leg lock specification is published, so plate compatibility cannot be assumed.

15% of overall score
05

Value and ownership

8.6

An observed EUR 146.90 including a carrying bag, phone holder, and wrench, with a stated two year warranty and 30 day returns. Roughly half the Ulanzi for a tripod that publishes a stronger leg rating.

10% of overall score

Normalized specifications

The facts, in comparable form.

Variant: Carbon Fiber · SKU 5885

Weight1.17 kg
MaterialCarbon Fiber
Folded length525 mm
Published working height range50.0-160.0cm / 19.7-63.0in
Leg sections4 sections
Head typeFluid head with an approximately 3 kg counterbalance
Head maximum load5 kg
Leg or centre column rated load12 kg
Warranty termsTwo year warranty, with 30 day returns stated on the product page.
Observed official priceEUR 146.90

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Evidence & methodology

What we know, and what we do not.

A 0 to 10 research model for travel tripods. Height range (25%), packed portability (25%), rated support (25%), head and mount (15%), and value and ownership (10%) are scored from official published specifications. A load rating is a manufacturer rating, not a measured stability result: real steadiness depends on wind, extension, surface, and technique, and none of that is tested here. Damping, lock feel, and head smoothness are hands-on judgments and are not scored.

EvaluationResearch-based
Reviewed29 August 2026
Physical testNot yet conducted

Primary evidence