There are times when a big, burly tripod just isn’t necessary or even practical. Fortunately, there’s a new tripod line on the market by MeFoto (a Benro brand) that provides many of the same benefits of a full-size tripod but in a lightweight, compact package: the MeFoto Travel Tripod with Ballhead.

I’ve been using the MeFoto BackPacker, the smallest tripod in the line, for several months and have found it to be a useful addition to my camera kit. When not in use the legs fold up and around the center column and ballhead to create an extremely compact package measuring about 12.5” in length. At its widest point, it’s only 3.75” across when folded and the whole thing weighs less than 3 pounds. Toss it in a suitcase or backpack and you’ll hardly even know it’s there until you need it. And yet, for a tripod that packs down so small, the BackPacker tops out at a respectable 51” at maximum extension.