Best Tripod for Vlogging in 2021 [ Top 5 ]

With YouTube opening up as a massive platform for people all around the world, it has become a great place for people to show their talent. One of the genres that have been gaining massive popularity these days is vlogging.

When starting as a vlogger on YouTube, you need to keep all the little things in mind if you want to rise to the top. Even if you have a high-end camera, unless you shoot at the right angles or make the video stable, everything will be worthless.

The best way to improve your video quality is to use a tripod, as it is helpful in adjusting the camera properly. That is why, today we are going to talk about the reasons why you should have a tripod in your vlogging kit, how it is useful for vlogging and what are the best vlogging tripods that you can find on the market.

Are Tripods Essential for YouTube Videos?

If you see vlogs of any established YouTube vlogger, you will see how he/she seamlessly moves around with the camera in hand. You can also see lots of wide-angle and cinematic shots with beautiful time-lapses.

The way they do that is by using tripods. They are like a cheat code to improve your video quality in an instant.

Taking stable footage in proper heights and angles is what makes them stand out among others. So, if you are planning on making a career on YouTube vlogging, buying a tripod and learning how to use it to take amazing shots is vital.

What Makes a Tripod Best for Vlogging?

You may think that you can shoot videos by holding the camera at hand. Well, you can do that, but the footage may not be perfect. Also, you will not be able to hold the camera for longer periods of time, especially if you are shooting videos with something bulky like a DSLR.

If you place a camera on a tripod, it becomes highly stable. But that is not everything it can do.

Say you are sitting somewhere and talking to your audience. If you hold the camera all the time, you will have difficulty presenting a product to your viewers. A tripod makes your work a whole lot easier. Simply set the camera on the tripod, select the best height and angle and push the record button.

When you are somewhere outside, recording videos while holding the camera can be painful for long periods of time. That is why it is better to use a monopod, selfie stick, or Gorillapod when recording video outside.

Vlogging tripods can be extremely useful if you want to place the camera somewhere fixed and take special shots like time-lapse and panning shots.

Tripods are very affordable, and you can find lots of varieties on the internet. They are extremely light, and you can shrink them easily. So, you will have no difficulty carrying them everywhere, and most of the tripods can be used for multiple purposes at once.

Which is the Best Tripod for Vlogging

When you look for tripods on the internet, you will be overwhelmed by the large range of models present there. However, the model you are going to choose will be highly dependent on what type of vlog you are planning to make. If you are planning on staying indoors in a studio-like setting, you don’t have to focus on factors like durability or mobility. The opposite thing happens when you are shooting outdoors.

Now let us take a detailed look at all the factors that you need to consider when buying a tripod.

1.  Functionality

You may think of buying a cool or expensive tripod. While it may look good at your hand, make sure that you buy something that will actually help you in creating better videos.

The first thing that you need to decide is what kind of video you are going to make. Then look for tripods and their functionalities and then decide on something which will make your life easier.

2.  Durability

If you spend money on a tripod that breaks easily, that’s basically a waste. If you plan on shooting videos indoors, you can buy cheap tripods since they don’t have to endure much wear and tear. However, if you are going outdoors for vlogging, it is better to go for the durable variants.

3.  Camera Type

Vloggers use different cameras when shooting videos. You can use a DSLR, mirrorless cameras, or simple smartphone cameras. You need to choose a vlog camera holder based on the type of camera that you are using.

When outdoors, if you are using mirrorless cameras or DSLRs, you can go for tripods, Gorillapod, or monopods. If you are using a phone, a selfie stick with remote control will do just fine.

Make sure that you buy a tripod that will be compatible with your camera. Else, it will be a pain to replace it and get a new one. Find vlogging tripods that have a standard fit for all types of cameras.

4.  Weight of Tripod

You will need lighter tripods for mobility, while heavier tripods will give you more stability. It’s one or the other. However, carrying a heavy tripod to shoot sports or adventure vlogs is highly impractical.

If you plan on shooting videos in a controlled studio environment, go for heavier variants, as most of the time, the camera will remain in a fixed position.

If you are shooting sports or adventure vlogs, then lighter variants will be a better choice. However, make sure that you don’t compromise stability too much, as a shaky video is worthless.

5.  Height

Choosing the right height of the tripod is important. Buying too long or too short can cause an inconvenience.

Generally, tripod height does not matter to most vloggers, as all of them are portable, and your feet are not visible most of the time. But if you make vlogs that contain movement and action, then you need to take this factor into consideration.

If you plan on walking around holding your camera or want to shoot a video while sitting on a table, go for shorter variants as they are light and not too tall.

If you want to shoot videos like DIY videos, tutorials, or videos where you want yourself to be fully visible, you should go for taller variants.

6.  Type of Photo/Video

If you want to take beautiful panning shots, then you should go for video tripods that allow smooth movement in every direction. If you want to make simple time-lapses and static shots, a photo tripod will do just fine.

7.  Weight of the Camera

The last thing that you need to consider is whether your tripod can handle the weight of the camera, especially the handheld tripods for DSLR. The last thing that you want is your expensive camera to fall off the tripod.

Make sure that the tripods have stronger holders and can handle the weight of your camera, especially if you are using a DSLR. When using a tripod for mobile, make sure that the clamps are strong.

Top Five Best Tripods for Vlogging

Now that you have considered all the factors, you might be looking for a tripod for YouTube videos. To help you out, here are our five picks for the best tripods for vlogging that you can find on the market.

We did not make a list by using a bunch of tripods and rank them according to how good they are. Instead, we picked the best product from four categories – traveling, handheld, studio setup, and smooth cinematic shots. Besides that, we added our pick for the best vlogging tripod overall.

The Best Vlogging Tripod Overall

Joby GorillaPod Tripod with Ball Head

If you are looking for a tripod that is packed with amazing features, then this is the one. It is one of the unique vlogging tripods that you can find on the market, as it looks like an octopus.

What makes Joby GorillaPod special is its bendable legs. Unlike other tripods that have straight legs, you can adjust its legs to fit in any object or position.

These bendable legs allow you to adjust your camera in a way that you can add a lot of reaches when recording in selfie format. You can take wide-angle shots using your camera, which allows you to capture more inside the frame and give you more room for error.

This unique design has inspired other tripod designers to make GorillaPod alternatives, which are cheaper. So, you can get access to its flexible features even if you are tight on budget.

With so many features packed in a single tripod, it easily solidifies its position as the best tripod for vlogging.

Best Travelling Tripod

Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A

When looking for a tripod that is suitable for vlogging, you will need something that is light but can be extended to great lengths. Also, it must be stable enough to do some serious photography and durable enough to withstand the harsh conditions. The tripod needs to have a strong grip to remain stable on any surface.

You can get all of these features on this traveling tripod. It has a decent folded length and can be extended up to 165 cm. Thanks to its aluminum body, it weighs only 1.95kg. There are four legs, and each foot contains pads that are interchangeable with spikes to keep it stable on loose surfaces. You can unscrew one leg to use it as a standalone monopod.

It contains a pivoting column that can rotate 180 degrees and has a lot of locking angles in small increments. There is a bubble level fitted onto the tripod platform so that you can set up the tripod easily. It can take loads up to 10kgs.

Best Handheld Vlogging Tripod

SwitchPod

This is a unique tripod designed for shooting videos when walking. You can easily convert this tripod from a handheld to a tabletop one by opening up its legs.

You can even detach two of its legs to make it a standalone monopod. Its collapsible design makes it highly portable, and you can set it up in a few seconds. The cool and sleek design makes it appealing to everyone.

Since the legs are already balanced, you don’t have to spend any time adjusting the legs to find the perfect angle. You can set up the camera flat easily. The bent design of the legs allows you to capture more information in a single frame.

The frame is made of aluminum allow so that it can make a perfect blend of lightweight and durability.

A product that originated from a Kickstarter became so popular that it was an instant hit among popular vloggers. You can call this tripod the perfect hybrid of Gorilla Pod and conventional tripod, which makes it our pick for the best handheld vlogging tripod.

Best for Studio Setup

Manfrotto 190XPro4

When looking for studio tripods, you need something that is extremely stable and can take a big load. That’s what makes 190ProX4 our best pick in this category.

The body is made of aluminum with four legs. This full-sized tripod can reach up to 175 cm but can be folded into just 57 cm.

The latest versions have a faster 90-degree pivot facility which makes it easier to use, and you can swap to horizontal boom in a few seconds.

The legs are very rigid even when operated at maximum height. The tripod can take up to 10kg of load, including the ball head.

The selling point of this tripod is the ball head. It is highly solid and comes with an adjustable friction damper and pan-only release.

This tripod leans to the heavier side and can be bulky. But with high load capacity, lofty operating height, and image stability makes it one of the best tripods for vlogging in a studio environment.

Best for Smooth Cinematic Shots

Manfrotto BeFree Live Lever Kit

Manfrotto produces some of the best and pocket-friendly tripods that you can find on the market. The Live Lever kit contains three aluminum legs that are clamped down using levers. You can also go for twist-lock variants.

Manfrotto has kept the perfect balance between weight, price, and features. The body is extremely light, and it can be shrunk to only 40 cm, making it easier to carry. If you want, you can even go for expensive carbon fiber variants.

The head is very smooth, and you can take smooth cinematic shots with no difficulty. The only thing missing in this tripod is pan and tilt drag adjustment.

The cons may disappoint you a bit, but this tripod provides the best value at this price range and is a great pick for beautiful panning shots.

Wrapping Up

When you look at it, you don’t need any expensive or cool-looking tripod to record videos for your vlogs. As long as you buy a tripod that serves all your needs based on what kind of content you are going to make, that’s enough. Thank you for reading till the end, and have fun creating.