Really Right Stuff TFA-01 Ultra Pocket 'Pod Review

There are a lot of tiny, pocket tripods out there. But most of them can't hold much weight. Nearly all of them can hold a compact camera or GoPro but struggle with a DSLR or large mirrorless setup. You can step up to a heavier-duty tabletop tripod, but that often adds bulk.

Really Right Stuff has recently come out with some new products designed for travel photography. First was the Multi-Clamp, similar in many respects to the venerable Manfrotto Super Clamp but smaller and lighter. It also allowed for various configurations when paired with other RRS accessories.

They've also released their Pocket 'Pod, a small table-top setup designed for use on the go.

There are two versions of the Pocket 'Pod legs. The basic version (model TFA-01) splays the legs in a single position. You can also stand it more upright, but because there's no way to locks the legs in a more upright position the stability will vary by the amount of grip on the surface and the weight of the camera rig you put on it. But it's also very strong--with the legs fully splayed it has a load capacity of up to 100 pounds.

The one I've been interested in and have been using recently is similar but adds locking mechanisms to each of the legs that allow each leg to be splayed in one of three positions. That allows for a lot of different options.

These shots include the BH-25 Pro ballhead, which is an optional extra.

Basics of the Really Right Stuff Ultra Pocket Pod

The legs fold up neatly when not in use, and it doesn't take up much space in the camera bag.

For a sense of size, this is with a Fujifilm X100T (and without a tripod head, obviously).

The main body parts are made of anodized aluminum, while the internal parts are stainless steel. It's solidly made, and feels it, but is still extremely portable.

At the top of each of the legs is a silver slider that locks the ratchet for the leg angle.

One of the core features of this tripod is that the legs splay and lock in place with a ratcheted lock at the top of each leg. Each leg can be opened to one of three positions.

There are two benefits to that. One is that you can safely use the legs in a more conventional upright tripod stance. That gives you a few inches of extra height, which can be more comfortable at ground level and can be better with wide-angle lenses. It does, though, narrow the base and make the center of gravity more important.

The other benefit is that it's much more flexible for use on uneven surfaces because you can lock each leg in a different position.

The drawback of having the locks is that it also lowers the load capacity of the legs down significantly. Whereas the basic Pocket Pod has a load capacity of up to 100 pounds with the legs fully splayed, the Pocket Pod Ultra has a load capacity of up to 15 pounds. But that's still plenty for a great many DSLR/lens combinations.

The tripod's feet are wrapped with a rubber strip that adds grip.

Rubberized feet provide more grip than exposed metal.

Using with Larger Cameras

The load capacity with the legs fully splayed is 15 pounds, which is more than enough for most mirrorless and even DSLR setups, even something like a Nikon D810 with a 70-200mm f/2.8 telephotos. Smaller lenses are no problem at all.

But you also have to keep an eye on the center of gravity, especially if you're using one of the upright positions.

When you splay the legs wide, it covers quite a bit more area, which adds lateral stability (ie. it's less likely to tip over).

Tripod Heads

The TFA-01 Ultra refers only to the legs. And you can, if you like, attach the camera directly to the legs.

But that's not going to give you much flexibility in framing the shot. Adding a compact tripod head solves that while adding a little height.

I've paired mine with the RRS BH-25 Pro, which makes for a perfect match for me—that's the one you see in many of the photos I've included here. It's small, strong, beautifully made, and uses an Arca-style quick release.

You could pair it with an even smaller and lighter RRS model, the BC-18 Micro Ball. And RRS offers the Pocket Pods in packages with some of their heads.

But there's no reason you have to stick with RRS--it will work well with just about any other small, detachable tripod head. There's a standard 1/4-20 stud attached to the top of the legs, and it includes a 3/8-16 adapter. So it's compatible with just about any tripod head out there.

That said, the attachment point is pretty narrow, and the whole point of the Pocket Pod is to keep things light and small, so it doesn't make much sense to use a large, bulky tripod head. A larger, heavier head also risks making the whole combination too top heavy.

Specs

Leg Material: 6061-T6 black anodized aluminum
Number of Leg Sections: 1
Load Capacity: 15 lb / 6.8 kg
Platform Diameter: 1.3" / 34mm
Number of Leg Angle Positions: 3 (1st angle stop, 2nd angle stop, fully splayed)
Stud: 1/4-20 with 3/8-16 adapter
Folded Length with Stud: 5.9" / 150mm
Height at 1st Angle Stop: 4.7" / 119mm
Height at 2nd Angle Stop: 3.3" / 84mm
Height Fully Splayed: 1.5" / 37mm
Weight: 4.8 oz / 135g

What's in the Box?

RRS don't waste money with fancy packaging. It comes in a small, white cardboard mailing tube with a sticker indicating the model number.

• TFA-01 Ultra Pocket Tripod
• 2 x T10 Torx Keys (required to loosen/tighten leg angle tension)
• 1/4"-20 to 3/8"-16 Stainless Steel adapter bushing
• User's Guide. You can find a digital version of the manual here.

You can buy the legs alone or in bundles with some of RRS's small ballheads.

Random Notes

• The Torx keys can be used to tighten or loosen the tension of the legs. The tension is preset at the factory, but there might be usages where you want to customize that.

Compared To

But it's also not inexpensive. The legs alone are $120. Heads are in addition to that. The package with the BH-25 Pro ballhead, pictured here, is $255.

So it's worth considering what the alternatives might be.

Disregarding some of the lightweight pocket tripods that have load capacities of under 10 lbs and aren't well suited to use with a DSLR, the closest competitor is probably the Kirk TT-1. Both collapse into very small packages, and both mount the camera at about the same height, give or take.

The Kirk model is much stronger, with a load capacity of a massive 100 lbs, but the RRS model is much more flexible because the leg angles are adjustable. The basic RRS Pocket 'Pod, without the ratcheting locks, is more directly similar to the Kirk.

The Varavon Baby T3 Mini Tripod is another small but strong option, but it is still a lot larger than the Pocket Pods.

Joby's Gorillapod series is another popular option for ultra-portable supports. The largest in the series, the Focus, has a load capacity of up to 11 pounds. So that's getting close to the Pocket Pod's load capacity. You do gain even more flexibility in the legs, but my experience with using DSLRs on Gorillapods is that they simply don't offer the amount of rigidity I'm after to really hold the camera still. And the price is still in the same ballpark as the RRS Pocket Pods, although that does include the very rudimentary ballhead that comes with them standard.

Left to right: Joby GorillaPod SLR Zoom, Joby Gorillapod Small, and the RRS Ultra 'Pod (TFA-01 Ultra).

Another option, which takes quite a different approach, is the new Platypod Pro Max. Both rank very highly in terms of stability and portability, and the prices are comparable. The Platypod Pro Max, though, can handle far higher loads. Here's my recent review of it.

Wrap Up

Really Right Stuff have a reputation for beautifully made gear, and the TFA-01 Ultra Pocket Pod is no exception. All of the parts fit together perfectly with no looseness or give that can lead to movement.

After using the TFA-01 Ultra Pocket Pod for a while now with both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, I love it. It obviously doesn't give you the height you get with a regular travel tripod, so you'll need to be shooting either at ground level or putting it on something else to get some height, but for sheer pack-and-go convenience it's hard to beat. It has quickly become a staple of my travel kit. I've found it to be a shot saver in a low-light pinch and stable enough for captures with anything from DSLRs to GoPros.

Available At

Until recently, Really Right Stuff only sold their gear directly. Quite a few of their offerings are now available at B&H Photo, but the Pocket Pod isn't . . . at least for the moment. So you'll need to order directly from the RRS website.

It's available in several configurations from leg's alone to packages with RRS's smallest, lightest ballhead, the BC-18 and the heavier-duty BH-25 Pro.