Customers are delighted by the TravelSmart 50 50" Tripod's ease of use, light weight, and affordability. Many appreciate its compact size, perfect for various uses. However, some users express concerns regarding its stability in outdoor conditions and the sturdiness of the mount. A few describe the tripod as somewhat lightweight in construction.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 1,166 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Compact
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
WOBBLY (not for DSLR) Good for Light/Small Cameras
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This tripod is very inexpensive and rickety. It's not very tall or stable. The shoe that goes under your camera is very small.
This makes me question the integrity of the tripod if you had to put something wider/heavier onto the shoe and have it balance on its own. I would definitely stand guard and carefully watch this tripod incase it loses balance and falls over. Especially if you use this outdoors, the winds can easily knock this frail Jenga tower over if fully extended.
LEGS:
The legs have 3x stopping points. Each leg getting slightly thicker as you go up. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT are the FIRST LEGS closes to the floor. They are THIN AS CHOPSTICKS.
This definitely contributes the the concerning integrity of the tripod standing still.
After one session of photos with standard basic DSLR with stock lens (EOS T6 w/ 18-35mm lens) the bottom first legs are already BENDING OUTWARDS. This camera with lens is a little under 2lbs and it's already doing this to the tripod under an hour of use.
I honestly would avoid using the bottom legs and stick the the 2nd and 3rd legs for raising height. This limits how tall you can raise the tripod, but might as well work with what you got, since that's the great part of photography.
PANNING/TILTING VIDEO:
For Video, Don't expect to get great panning shots. It's more frustrating having to redo so many video shots and review halting and non sturdy footage. I would keep it for photography.
NOT FOR DSLR OR MIRRORLESS :
I wouldn't risk expensive or heavy equipment on this tripod.
IF YOU HAVE TO USE IT, then I would NOT EXTEND all three legs. The first LEGS are really bad. At that point, get a better / sturdier tripod. No point in risking your expensive equipment if you already spent so much money on it.
I would recommend this tripod to Point and Shoot cameras & GoPros. These wouldn't break the performance of the tripod.
The only thing I like about it, is that it is compact and it comes with a carry bag. You can sling it around your shoulder. Larger/heavier tripods are a pain to carry all day. So this will be good if you go out on small dates where you will want to take photos and not worry about burdening equipment on you for hours long.
I honestly bought this tripod on a whim, because of its price and didn't have my main tripod with me. I had to go somewhere and needed a tripod for a quick photo or two.
I would always keep this in the trunk of my car incase I need a tripod.
PROS:
+ COMPACT FOR TRAVELING
(small and comes with a sling/bag. I dont realize its on me when I walk for hours)
+ SECONDARY DESPERATE TRIPOD
(stays in car if I ever needed it, but still watch it closely when using or use none of the legs to create a more sturdier performance)
+- INEXPENSIVE???
(Price is cheap and worked out if you need it last minute: save up for a better one)
+- LIGHTWEIGHT???
(Great for taking out on long hour days so it isn't a burden. This +positive has nothing to do with the performance)
+ Self Defense Stick
(this is more of a joke, but since I keep it in my car, it can easily be used more of a self defense stick or a "Hey! Come over here! Stick" )
CONS:
- TERRAIN
(must use flat, I wouldn't trust it on various hills/slopes)
- LIGHTWEIGHT
(so light, a windy day will knock it over or if you're not careful)
- INEXPENSIVE
(hooray for price, but at the same time, save your money for a more solid/stable tripod)
- HEIGHT
(definitely handicapped from the unstable first legs)
- SHOE
(base plate is smaller than expected)
- VIDEO
(not recommended for panning or tilting, unless its stills for video)
- DSLR/MIRRORLESS
(Nooooo way Jose. If you must, just superglue yourself to the tripod)
FINAL :
I would only use this if I ever have to in a last ditch effort or if I am in a controlled indoor environment.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Engagement Pictures and Video
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Bought this tripod and Bluetooth remote to capture “the moment” when proposing in Hawaii. Let’s be honest, photographers are expensive and it’s hard to coordinate timing on a secret engagement. I think I was like 60$ all in on tripod, remote, and heavy duty phone mount. Over the course of three days I had her conditioned to me setting up the camera and taking trial pictures so she was blown away when it happened. Set the tripod up and placed my phone on video mode. Took screen shots of the moment for family. Saved hundreds on a photographer and was able to get different shots in different locations. The tripod does come with a camera mount but I didn’t want to risk breaking it before I popped the question.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great tripod for iPhone!
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
For my 19 year wedding anniversary I wanted my husband and I to take silly pictures like awkward family photo style. I bought this tripod and used my iPhone 12 and they turned out awesome! Great little tripod!!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The size of a small umbrella.
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Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Professional quality here. Easy carrier and travel light. Set up less than a minute And it's ready to go make you a pro. For self productions
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Broken Lock
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought this stand hoping to get better family photos. Used it twice worked great. The last leg extension is thin and wobbly. The only problem I had with this is top locks. For some reason they won’t close all the way. Makes it really easy to unlock. I’m glad I just had my iPhone in it. I think if I put my actual camera in, it would have just dropped and damaged the camera.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
1 Month - Fragile, Wobbly & Broken
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Less than a month this fragile, wobbly tripod is now broken and due to Best Buy's policy can no longer return it. The top snapped off and I cannot screw it back on. It won't stay on. It is no longer usable.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Came apart, breaking my camera in the process
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Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Really upset, used this tripod for a while fine, but recently the glue that connects the head from the body must have not been good quality, and it fell off when my camera was attached, breaking my camera! Definitely will never buy a cheap tripod like this again.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Didn’t last long
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Disappointed. Broken in the bag it came with at the top. Only used a few times. Shocked when I pulled it out of the bag to use it
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Works but seems a little flimsy
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Posted . Owned for more than 2 years when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I needed a lightweight travel tripod for my cameras and I came across this one. It works but a little on the flimsy side. Great for holding a GoPro or Cellphone but I wouldn't trust it with my Canon 70D.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Compact, Ease of use, Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Lightweight Construction_Easily Portable
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This item is not for those who want a robust camera stand for action shots. I only need a stand a few times a year, fixed in a single position, and have to travel with the stand. This stand is lightweight construction, but has held up well, more compact than other stands, and was quite cheap. For the price this is a great and it is a easy stand to pack.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Terrific starter/student tripod
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
It's compact, lightweight, and surprisingly versatile.
The lightweight quality is a double edged sword, unfortunately, as you may experience balance or panning issues with prosumer DSLRs or larger. My suggestion is to also invest in a remote, work out your arm muscles, or stick to the smartphone mount that comes with the tripod.
Remember, the price tag informs the quality, and while this tripod does have a few issues (stability), the price makes up for it as a starter accessory.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Light to carry, but troublesome when windy
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought this lightweight tripod for travel adventure to Iceland. I was hoping to capture the Northern Lights and spent hours researching the best photographic technique and of course a tripod was needed. It assembled as expected, a little stiff - but it was around 30F. The trouble came once my DSLR Olympus camera was attached and I aimed for the sky. It was a windy night and within 30 seconds the wind gusted and the camera & tripod was heading for the ground. Luckily I caught the camera strap before the lens hit the mud. The rest of the night I had to hold the strap and pray when I pressed the shutter that no gust would come during the next 10 - 20 seconds of exposure time. If it did the strap saved the camera, and I had to reset the tripod & camera and try again. I also realized if I had been using my telephoto lens that its weight and length would topple the tripod since its wouldn't have enough weight to counter the camera and long lens.
In summary, think twice about using this for a DSLR, especially if you plan to use long/heavy lenses. And know that since its light to carry it won't stand up well to windy conditions. It was such a good price I'll keep it, but mainly as a backup or to use if I want to play around with a cell phone camera... better than a selfie stick ;-)
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Price, Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good for the price point
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Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Pretty good for the cost, although a little unstable. Very lightweight, which is nice for light use and for ease of transport, but if you're doing a lot of panning back and forth it makes it a bit choppy. Nothing has broken or failed though - just not for any sort of heavy use.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Item
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Posted . Owned for more than 2 years when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great tripod and super easy to use. Gets the job done. It’s not flimsy, but definitely not for taking out rock climbing.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Price, Size
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Budget Tripod
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is our first ever tripod. For the price, it’s a great value. Bought it to use with our GoPro, smartphone mount, and sound calibration microphones.
It’s small enough to fit in our travel backpack which also carries our other GoPrp accessories, medications, water bottles, charging and A/V cables, iPad, and USB power bank. LOVE how compact this is. It can be taken and used in a pinch anywhere we go.
Since it’s a budget item, I don’t have high expectations for its durability as it feels flimsy. But again, for the price, this is an excellent buy.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Needed a quick tripod.
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I neded to do record a demo lesson for a teaching gig and I was planning on using my gopro to record it, however I realized I didn't have a stand. I rushed to Best Buy and I was looking at all their stands. I didn't want to spend a lot of money since I don't record video too often. I needed something affordable but that wouldn't break down on me fast.
I was hesitant to make this purchase because I have a small desktop tripod made by the same company and their gopro attachment didn't work. I decided to buy it anyway. When I opened the box I noticed the same attachment, bummer. When I was prepping the stand to record I was happy to find the attachment was much better. Worked out.
I had to extended the legs all the way and they are very flimsy if you do that. I just of wind can probably knock it down. I would recommend just extending the legs out once.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Price
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Decent for Traveling
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is a decent, compact tripod for the price, if you're traveling. However, perhaps due to the low cost, it does feel cheaply made and isn't the sturdiest by any means.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Works for Me
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have a much larger tripod which I use daily, but due to size and weight, it's not convenient when flying. I bought this specifically for that purpose. Although it is too long to fit in my camera bag, it is lightweight, comes with a thin carry bag and conveniently attached to the bottom of my camera bag.
The legs are a little too flimsy for my comfort and the max height too short, but it suits my specific need. While I would feel better if it had a bag hook to add some weight, for the price and convenience, it was a worthwhile purchase.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Price, Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great for couples and travel
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is not the best tripod out there, or the sturdiest, but it does the job and for a great cost and light weight. Great for travelling.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Size, Weight
Cons mentioned:
Stability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great travel size tripod
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Posted . Owned for 9 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Small handy light weight tripod. Originally purchased for my GoPro Hero 5 for time lapse shots, when i forgot the mounting plate to my other tripod on a trip. Do to it being light weight and smaller in size i won't leave a dlsr or mirrorless camera on in breezy conditions, mainly for quick shot purpose use.