Manfrotto Befree Travel Tripod – Hands-on Review

Manfrotto’s Befree carbon fiber travel tripod aims to be lightweight, and lightweight it is. At only 2.4 lbs–and that’s including the head–it qualifies as ultralight. Here’s my take on how it performs in real-world use.

Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod. Photo by David Coleman " havecamerawilltravel.com
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Filed Under: Reviews, Travel Tripods
Topics: Manfrotto

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The Manfrotto Befree Compact Travel Tripod is tiny and light. The carbon fiber version retails for about $350. The aluminum version is 0.6 pounds heavier, at 3 pounds, and sells for $200.

Like most of the current crop of compact travel tripods, it folds back on itself. The plate adapter is specially designed with deep notches so that the legs will fold straight. But that only works if the quick release plate is not attached—not really an issue, since normally the quick release plate would be on the camera anyway.

Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod

Legs

The legs are thin. Spindly even, especially the bottom section.

Angling the legs out uses a locking system I haven’t seen before. There’s a kind of rotating latch with three possible positions: folded, normal angle, and splayed wide. Basically, whatever position it is in blocks it from moving any further. It’s surprisingly simple, and it’s certainly novel, but I’m not sure I’m sold on it. I found that the catch sometimes missed, which can be a problem at times when you’re focusing on other things like what’s in front of you.

When extending the legs, the locks use a traditional Manfrotto lever style. They’re bulkier than most of the rotating twist locks on the Gitzos or the MeFOTO Globetrotter. On other Manfrotto tripods I’ve used with the lever locks, they can sometimes loosen over time, although it is possible to tighten the screw to adjust the tension. The levers can also snap off, in which case you can order a replacement lever. I also dislike how the levers tend to catch on things like camera straps.

The feet are fixed–you can’t remove them and replace them with spikes or some other kind of foot.

There’s no weight hook under the central column, a feature that can be used to add heft and stability to an otherwise light tripod in a breeze.

Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The lever locking mechanisms for the extension of the legs are quite bulky.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
Like many of the newer travel tripods, the Befree folds back on itself. Here you can see the legs folded back past the head.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The locking dials at the top of the legs. The silver dials are 3-position locks for the angles of the legs.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The feet are fixed–you can’t unscrew them and replace with something else.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The unusual locking mechanism at the top of the legs to determine the angle of the legs.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The unusual locking mechanism at the top of the legs to determine the angle of the legs.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The lever locking mechanisms for extending the legs.

Head

The ballhead that comes with the Manfrotto Befree is very lightweight, and I found it a bit underwhelming. Overall, the head feels and looks a bit cheap and plasticky.

There’s a single plastic knob to lock and loosen that controls both the lateral rotation and loosening the ball. I found that getting a really secure lock for, say, using a heavy camera or making sure that it doesn’t creep during a timelapse shoot wasn’t easy. In fact, I found it almost impossible to get it to lock as tight as I’d like and am used to with other ballheads. It works well for mirrorless cameras, but it is less suited to heavier DSLRs, especially when you’re using them in portrait orientation with the ballhead angled to the side.

Manfrotto has several different quick release systems. The one that comes with the Befree is the RC2 system with a 200PL plate.

Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The tripod ballhead.
MeFOTO Globetrotter Travel Tripod
From left to right, a Markins Q-Ball Q3 Traveler, MeFOTO Q2, and the ballhead for the Manfrotto Befree.
Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The tripod head.

Case

It comes with a case that fits snugly. It doesn’t have much padding and isn’t sturdy enough for me to consider checking it as luggage in a pinch. The zipper is also a bit flimsy and unlikely to stand up to regular use. Overall, the case is more of a storage case than a daily use case.

Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod
The soft bag that comes with it.

Options

The carbon fiber version comes in black with white and red racing stripes. The aluminum version comes with various trim colors (black, blue, green, grey, and red).

Key Specs

  • Model: Manfrotto MKBFRC4-BH
  • Made of: Carbon Fiber
  • Load Capacity: 8.8 lbs (4 kg)
  • Max Height: 56.7 inches (144 cm)
  • Folded Length: 15.75 inches (40 cm)
  • Weight (with tripod head): 2.4 lb (1.1 kg)
  • Includes: carry case

Wrap Up

Pros

  • Ultralight and highly portable
  • Works well with smaller cameras

Cons

  • Level locks for leg extension
  • Somewhat quirky locking mechanisms
  • Not stable enough for use with DSLRs or larger mirrorless cameras

The Manfrotto Befree Compact Travel Tripod is tiny and light. The carbon fiber version retails for about $350. The aluminum version is 0.6 pounds heavier, at 3 pounds, and sells for $200.

The Manfrotto Befree succeeds in being very lightweight and is impressively compact.

For a lightweight mirrorless system like a Fujifilm X-T1 or a Panasonic Lumix GH-4 it works well.

But I found it too lightweight to be useful for DSLRs. It’s smaller and lighter than some other alternatives in its price range like the MeFOTO Globetrotter. But while the Befree wins on weight and size, the Globetrotter wins on just about everything else. You can find my review of the Globetrotter here.

There is also now an upgraded version: the Manfrotto Befree Advanced. It has twist-lock legs, more conventional locking mechanisms, and a higher load capacity. I prefer the Befree Advanced over the basic Befree. You can find my hands-on review of the Manfrotto Befree Advanced tripod here.

Price & Availability of the Manfrotto Befree Travel Tripod

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Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-09-27 at 12:57. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a professional freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my travel photography here. More »