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3 Legged Thing Leo Travel Tripod Review

My hands-on review of the smallest in 3 Legged Thing's new Equinox line of carbon fiber travel tripods: the Leo.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Ratchet Angle Lock

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods
Tags: 3 Legged Thing
Last updated about 2 weeks ago // Originally published about 4 years ago

Taking a tripod with you when you travel isn’t always particularly convenient. Some of them can be big, heavy, and cumbersome. But thanks to the combination of affordable carbon fiber and an innovation by Gitzo several years ago that has been copied by many other tripod manufacturers, today’s travel tripods can be very sturdy yet very light and fold up into a surprisingly small package. It’s led to the new generation of travel tripods, which has become quite a crowded market.

The one I’m looking at here is a new model from 3 Legged Thing, a small British company that specializes in travel tripods. I’ve reviewed some of their other tripods before. All of their models have boys’ names. This one continues that tradition—it’s called the Leo.

The Leo is the smallest in 3 Legged Things’ Equinox series. Like the others in the series, it’s made of carbon fiber and uses twist locks for its leg and center column extensions. And they all share a new, distinctive color scheme that stands out next to most other boring black tripods, with bulging bronzed twist locks that remind me of furry leg warmers.

3 Legged Thing Leo Travel Tripod fully extended

The 3 Legged Thing Leo at full extension.

It folds up into a small travel-sized package but still manages to boast an unusually high load capacity. So it manages to combine portability with usefulness with larger and heavier cameras (that’s relative, of course–it’s still a relatively lightweight travel tripod, and there’s a limit to how still it can hold heavier loads).

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Brand Label

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Folded Up

Legs of the 3 Legged Thing Equinox Leo Tripod

The legs have a manual ratchet lock at the top that can lock them in one of three shooting angles: 23°, 55°, and 80°.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Shoulder Joints

The ratchet lock at the top of each leg is manual, not spring-loaded.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Shoulders

There’s a bubble level on the legs and another on the ballhead.

The traditional tripod stance has the legs at a 23° angle. That gives you the maximum potential height, but the narrower footprint also means that the center of gravity is more critical.

You can broaden it to a mid-level 55° angle. And for low-level shooting you can remove the long center column and splay the legs wide at 80°. That way, you’ll get a lot of stability and a low vantage point just a few inches off the ground.

With five sections that can extended, the Leo gives a maximum shooting height of 51.5 in (131.1 cm) or can go down to near ground level less than 5 inches off the ground.

The feet are detachable, so if you want to swap the default rubber ones our for steel spikes, you can. You can also replace the rubber feet if they become damaged.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Detachable Feet

The feet are detachable and just screw out.

Center Column

One of the distinctive things about several of the 3 Legged Thing tripods is that they add more extension sections to the center column. In this one, there are two, each with a twist lock.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo

Monopod. And as with some other travel tripods, you can also use it as a monopod. The central column comes out, and one of the legs unscrews. Connect them together, and you end up with a monopod. You can use it with or without the ballhead—just screw the head clamp in directly if you want to use it without the ballhead.

Head Options for the 3 Legged Thing Leo

The Leo is available bundled with either the lightweight AirHed Switch ballhead or the heavier-duty AirHed 360 ballhead which is both more robust and adds better pano rotation. Another option is to just the legs alone and attach another head of your choice.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo AirHed Light Ballhead

The AirHed Light ballhead is pretty straightforward and compact, but it’s also very strong.

The one I used–and the one pictured in these shots–is the AirHed Light. There’s a similar version with a lever-style locking mechanism, the AirHed Light. It’s compact but very strong, with a load capacity of up to 88 lbs (40 kg). It uses a single large knob to clamp down on the ball.

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Ballhead Lock

A single large knob controls the clamp on the ball.

3-Legged Thing products have always been designed to work well with Peak Design products. The Airhed ballheads are fully compatible with the Peak Design QR plates, which are themselves designed to be Arca-style compatible.

Specs

Maximum Height: 51.5 in (131.1 cm)
Minimum Height: 4.75 in (11.9 cm)
Folded Length: 13.75 in (34.8 cm)

Load Capacity / Legs:

  • 23°: 66.1 lb (30 kg)
  • 55°: 44.1 lb (20 kg)
  • 80°: 22 lb (10 kg)

Weight: 3.2 lb (1.45 kg)
Quick Release: Arca-type
Legs Made of: Carbon fiber
Leg Sections: 5
Leg Extension Lock Type: Twist Lock
Warranty: 5-Year Global Warranty

What’s in the Box?

It comes with a canvas case and shoulder strap.

3 Legged Thing Leo vs Albert

Another tripod in the Equinox series is known as the Albert. It’s much taller and a little longer when folded. I’ll be posting a review on it soon, but in the meantime here are some side-by-side photos.

3 Legged Thing Albert and Leo Side-by-Side

At left is the is the Albert. At right is the Leo.

3 Legged Thing Equinox Travel Tripods

At left is the is the Albert. At right is the Leo.

3 Legged Thing Albert and Leo Fully Extended

At left is the is the Albert. At right is the Leo.

3 Legged Thing Leo and Albert

At left is the is the Leo. At right is the Albert.

Compared To

 Gitzo Traveler Kit (Series 2)Gitzo GT1542TMeFOTO GlobetrotterManfrotto BeFreeInduro Grand Turismo CGT114Sirui T-2205XBenro GoTravel 2Benro C1682TV1 Travel Angel II3 Legged Thing Leo3 Legged Thing Brian3 Legged Thing Rick3 Legged Thing RogerOben CT-3581Sirui T-1024XLVaravon Baby T3Kirk MiniMeFOTO Globetrotter Air
Gitzo Traveler2Gitzo GT1542T Travel Tripodmefoto globetrottermanfrotto befreeinduro-grand-turismo-tripod
Sirui T2205X
benro_gc269tb2_gotravel_carbon_fiber_1146453benro travel angel tripod3-legged-thing-leo3 legged thing brian3 Legged Thing Rick3 legged thing rogeroben_ct_3581_be_126t_5_section_foldable_carbon_1398723641000_864571
Sirui T-1024XL travel tripod
Varavon Baby T3 Product Shot
Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod
MeFOTO Globetrotter Air Tripod
ReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReview
Model No.GK2580TQDGT1542TC2350Q2TMKBFRC4-BHCGT114T-2205XGC269TB2C1682TV13LLEOKITE3BRIAN3PKRICKE3ROGERBLCT-3581SUT1204XLBABY T3TT-1GTAIRBLK
Made ofCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberAlloyCarbon fiberCarbon fiberAluminumAluminum/Stainless SteelAluminum Alloy
Leg Sections44544554 (also version with 5)555554315
Folded length16.9 in
43 cm
16.7 in
42.5 cm
16.1 in
41 cm
15.8 in
40 cm
17.3 in
44 cm
14.6 in
37 cm
16.5 in
42 cm
17.7 in
45 cm
13.75 in
34.8 cm
15.75 in
40 cm
12.6 in
32 cm
15.75 in
40 cm
16.9 in
42.9 cm
18.3 in
46.5 cm
10.8 in
27.5 cm
4.4 in
11.3 cm
16.7 in
42.5 cm
Weight4.19 lb
1.9 kg
2.2 lb
1 kg
3.7 lb
1.7 kg
2.4 lb
1.1 kg
3.5 lb
1.6 kg
2.6 lb
1.2 kg
4.1 lb
1.9 kg
3.5 lb
1.6 kg
3.2 lb
1.45 kg
4.1 lb
1.9 kg
2.7 lb
1.2 kg
4.5 lb
2 kg
3.9 lb
1.7 kg
2.2 lb
1 kg
1.8 lb
820 g
9 oz
255 g
3.2 lb
1.4 kg
Max height60.6 in
154 cm
58.7 in
149 cm
64.2 in
163 cm
56.7 in
144 cm
62.6 in
159 cm
56.9 in
145 cm
64.6 in
164 cm
63 in
160 cm
51.5 in
131 cm
76.4 in
194 cm
56.7 in
144 cm
68.6 in
174 cm
67.9 in
172.5 cm
63 in
160 cm
17.3 in
44 cm
4.4 in
11.3 cm
68.1 in
173 cm
Max load15.4 lb
7 kg
17.6 lb
8 kg
26.5 lb
12 kg
8.8 lb
4 kg
32 lb
14.5 kg
26.5 lb
12 kg
30.9 lb
14 kg
30.8 lb
14 kg
26.4 lb
12 kg
26.5 lb
12 kg
17.6 lb
8 kg
100 lb
45 kg
17.6 lb
8 kg
Available w/Head?YesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes (not removable)NoYes (not removable)
Monopod?NoNoYesNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
List Price$1,099$750$399$350$490$415
$525$419$349.99$499$249$369
$349
$370
$150
$120
$225

More Photos

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo Leg Locks

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo

3 Legged Thing Travel Tripod Leo

Wrap Up

I’ve found all of the 3 Legged Thing tripods I’ve used to be well-made and thoughtfully put together. Once again, 3 Legged Thing has gone for distinctive styling, which comes down to a matter of personal taste.

Without the center column extended, the legs provide good stability for a DSLR or mirrorless setup, with the usual qualification that a small, light tripod like this simply doesn’t provide the same rock-solid base as a big, heavy tripod beast. Extended the center column increases the likelihood of movement with the shutter or in the breeze, something that will be more pronounced the heavier the load.

A big feature of the Leo is that it has an unusually high load capacity. The rating is at its highest when the tripod is in its most upright stance and reduces significantly when the legs are splayed wide, but its maximum load capacity of 66 pounds is significantly higher than many other tripods.

Folded, it compacts down to a size in a similar range to several of its competitors.

Fully extended it comes in on the short side of many of its competitors—with a maximum height of a little under 52 inches–so it’s not going to be a good choice if you’re tall and hoping to shoot at eye level.

Overall, I’ve found the Leo to be a good, portable travel tripod, but overall it’s on a par with several other tripods on the market.

Find Them At . . .

There are several buying options: legs alone, bundled with one of 3 Legged Thing’s ballheads, and a choice of two QR bracket styles. So make sure you’re getting the specific combination you’re after.

It can be found at B&H Photo and Amazon.

3 Legged Thing Equinox Leo Carbon Fibre Tripod with AirHed Switch Ideal for...
3 Legged Thing Equinox Leo Carbon Fibre Tripod with AirHed Switch Ideal for...
  • Winner of the Lucie Technical Awards Tripod of the Year
  • Ultra-compact professional travel tripod
Check Price at Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-01-24 at 04:59. 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.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on January 8, 2021

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods
Tags: 3 Legged Thing

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News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

Comments

  1. Jim Burnham says

    October 13, 2017 at 9:57 am

    I got a 3LT Leo with the Airhed LIght last year and only use it on long distance trips where I fly (I just throw it in my suitcase). Overall, I am happy with the tripod even though I have to bend over a bit to take photos (I am tall). I would suggest if you are tall, get the Albert. The huge problem I had was with the Airhed Light. I only used the tripod on three trips, 10 days total, out of the last year and the blue base ring with the degree markers became slightly separated from the main casing (do to stress, I assume, but I only use a D7100 with a mid-range tele-zoom so weight should not have been a problem). During my whole last photo trip, the camera rocked on the tripod and I had a horrible time recomposing to compensate. Plus, I had to shoot on timer to be hands-free. I’m told these Light models had some design problems, which is probably why they no longer sell them. They are instead shipping me an Airhed Switch. We’ll see how that goes.

    Reply

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I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

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