Hiking Poles as Camera Mono-pod suggestions

[twocents]

Hiking Poles as Camera Mono-pod suggestions

I am looking to buy a set of hiking poles that can also act as a mono/tri-pod for use with my camera.

Several companies make great mini-pod for cameras…like:

http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/

and

http://www.amazon.com/POD-Camera-Pla.../dp/B00009UTQ3



and at least one company make a hiking pole tri-pod - http://www.trek-tech.com
(a bit more walking type staff …not so much a thru-hike worthy pole)

but do any companies make a thru-hike worthy hiking pole set that also has a mono-pod type attachment
that makes it both lightweight and hiker friendly first…and photographer friendly second but of equal quality????

Or does anyone make some attachment for my current Komperdell/ Leki/ Black Diamond???

Thanks

Two-Cents
GA-MA ‘95
MA- ME ‘96

[mark.k.watson]

I received a small tripod for Christmas that bends, wraps and forms around "anything" I am going to wrap it around my hiking pole from time to time and try this method.

[Powder River]

twocents,

I struggled with this search for a couple of months last summer. It seems simple that the pole makers could just stick a camera mount on a set of nice trekking poles, but alas they don't. I finally gave up searching, as any pole with a mount on it was a staff, like the one you linked.

My final decision was to get a set of Lekis along with an ultrapod I. It has a velcro strap that quite securely lashes it to the handle of the trekking pole, among other things. I found that the smaller ultrapod (the one linked) fits real nicely in the contours of the grip. This ended up being better because in the end I was free to choose a set of poles that suited my hiking needs better, without being limited in features. Hope this helps.

[jnohs]

I am gonna go to home depot and just screw in a camera hold down screw into jens trek pole. and wallah a monopod nice and easy.

[Bob S]

I am gonna go to home depot and just screw in a camera hold down screw into jens trek pole. and wallah a monopod nice and easy.

I was just thinking that, all it is, is a stud sticking out the end of the pole.
Easy to make, drill a hole, install a keyset (HeliCoil type thing) and screw a bolt of the right size (thread lock it) and hacksaw off the head of the bolt and it’s now a monopod. Like 30-min work to make it.

[rafe]

My final decision was to get a set of Lekis along with an ultrapod I. ...

Useful gadget, with or without the Lekis. I carried one on this year's hike and even got to use it a few times. The velcro is clever and useful. The whole thing is about 2 oz. as I recall.

[fiddlehead]

I have one. It's called a Komperdell Guide camera mount sytem Titanal. Telescopes down to about 23" (4 pieces) and the foam handle pulls off to access the stub (camera mount)
I have one of them here in Thailand that i use more as a monopod/camera tool than i do a hiking stick as i'm not a pole user (as in walking) but sometimes it's not practical to bring my big tripod.

don't know if they still make them but don't see why not as i think it should be a feature of all poles. why not? for video, it often makes the difference between whether i can use a scene or not.

[sarbar]

If you carry a digital SLR, the Trek-Tek is worth every dollar. My husband has one that we use on trips. The whole rare earth magnet system for the mount is priceless.

[rafe]

If you carry a digital SLR, the Trek-Tek is worth every dollar. My husband has one that we use on trips. The whole rare earth magnet system for the mount is priceless.

Pricey little devil. But I must admit my Manfrotto 3011 isn't really appropriate for hikes beyond a mile from the car.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

He-dino uses a wooden staff (yes, he's old school). He took our camera to a hardware store and found a 1.5" long machined screw that fits the camera. He drilled a hole in the end of his staff and carefully inserted it. He left about 3/8" sticking out and covers that with a little plastic cap he found at the same hardware store in electrical supplies.