This travel tripod will help you get the shot you want.
We’ve all been there. You’re at your dream destination and want to commemorate the moment with a photo of yourself and your traveling companions. So you ask the bystander who looks the least likely to do a runner with your phone to take a photo of your group.
When they ask you which button to press (holding your phone as though it were an alien object), you realize you’ve tapped the wrong person. So you force a smile, tell him or her the photo that cuts off the top of you and your friends’ heads looks great, and wait for your impromptu photographer to leave so you can start the process all over again with someone else.
Face it: Most people aren’t great at taking photos, or they’re reluctant to tell a stranger to move, smile, or switch positions to get a better shot. That’s fine; it’s not someone else’s job to take a great photo of your vacation. It’s yours.
That’s why you should travel with a miniature tripod.
Joby’s line of GorillaPods range from a tiny $15 option with a built-in smartphone holder…
to one that can hold an 11 pound DSLR…
with plenty of options in-between.
The GorillaPods feature flexible legs that can be moved independently, enabling them to stand on uneven surfaces or wrap around railings, posts, and tree branches. With such a wide range of positioning options you’ll almost always be able to take the shot you want; you’ll never need to ask someone to take your photo again!
Looking for something that would work with my cell phone, Husband’s small travel camera, and our GoPro, I settled on Joby’s $30 Starter Kit.
In addition to the tripod, it includes:
-smartphone clamp (held in place with an elastic band)
-1/4”-20 thread screw camera mount (good for a small DSL camera weighing up to .7 pound)
-GoPro mount
-flashlight and cold shoe accessory (light or microphone) mount
The tripod is little under six inches long and weighs only three ounces, so it’s easy to carry in my pocket or bag.
In addition to keeping a firm grip on my cell phone and Husband’s small travel camera for photos and videos, the Joby has held my flashlight when I had to change a bike tire in the dark and my phone for Netflix and Facetime binges.
Twist’s Take: Don’t rely on the kindness of strangers when it comes to your photos and videos. Get a miniature tripod instead.
