Kraftgeek Variety Tripod – Is It Worth Buying?

The KraftGeek Variety Tripod is a multifunctional lightweight tripod that can be used as a tabletop tripod, hand grip, and long ground tripod. The accessory is aimed at people who want to flexibly mount compact cameras or small flash units in addition to smartphones. We take a closer look at it.

In Practice

The tripod features a standardized 1/4-inch thread on top, operated via an integrated locking wheel. This mount not only accommodates the separately available smartphone clamp but is also suitable for compact system cameras, vlogging cameras, or analog viewfinder cameras. The maximum load capacity is specified by the manufacturer as two kilograms.

Furthermore, the tripod head features integrated accessory shoes, so-called cold shoes. These mounts allow attaching a microphone or compact LED lights.

For those working with smaller system flashes or hotshoe flashes, the tripod can be used as a mobile light stand to position the flash off-camera. The mount holds the accessory securely, as long as the total weight does not exceed the specified limits.

The telescopic pole is made of aluminum and can be continuously extended from a total length of just under 28 centimeters to a working height of about 158 centimeters. The integrated ball head allows rotation of 360 degrees and tilting up to 110 degrees. This allows cameras to be oriented in portrait as well as landscape format. When the ball head clamp is released, the head can be moved directly; it is stepless, so the head falls to the side if you don't hold it.

The fold-out legs at the base provide the necessary footprint on level ground. Rubberized feet prevent slipping on smooth surfaces. For more stability, the feet can be extended a bit further.

When folded, the construction serves as a hand grip for handheld shots or as a selfie stick. Another nice extra is the integrated remote control for smartphone shots.

The weight of about 420 grams remains moderate in a backpack, while the packed size of about 30 centimeters allows for easy storage. However, when the telescopic pole is fully extended, the center of gravity shifts.

Slight swaying in wind or during manual camera operation cannot be avoided at full height. Additionally, heavy DSLR cameras or long telephoto lenses naturally hit the physical limits of the construction.

KraftGeek FlexyMount Device Holder

A practical extension to the tripod is the KraftGeek FlexyMount Device Holder. The universal mount is suitable for common smartphones as well as tablets with display diagonals from 4.7 to 13 inches (such as an iPad Pro). It is attached via the standardized 1/4-inch thread and, thanks to two mounting points, allows flexible horizontal and vertical alignment.

Rubberized contact surfaces and a locking mechanism hold the mobile device reliably in position, while the mount itself allows tilting up to 180 degrees and 360-degree rotation.

An additional integrated cold shoe on top accommodates further vlogging accessories such as microphones or compact video lights when needed, rounding off the setup especially for streaming, video recording, or reading digital notes and scripts.

Conclusion

The KraftGeek Variety Tripod is especially suitable for small cameras or smartphones. The big advantage is the relatively low weight and compactness in transport mode. It is also quite practical for positioning a small flash somewhere. Here it is particularly handy that the tripod can be used relatively low and has a small radius.

Additionally, the tripod is very quick to set up or fold down again. If you have a small action camera, you can of course leave the camera attached to the tripod. For larger cameras, purchasing a tripod head with a quick-release plate would be an idea.

For larger cameras or in rough weather, the tripod is not suitable, as it does not provide the necessary stability. This is the trade-off for the compactness of the tripod.