A review of the new hiking pole tripod by Ulanzi, offering 5-in-1 functionality
Intro
Ulanzi first caught my attention a few years ago when I was searching for carbon fiber tripods and stumbled upon a YouTube review showcasing one of their amazing travel tripods. Their growing popularity has had a big impact on the industry - such high-quality carbon fiber tripods have never been available at this price point before, and it was a breath of fresh air in a market that seemed dominated by over-priced brand-name products.
Recently, they sent me over their new hiking pole hybrid tripod to review, the Ulanzi TT35. I wasn't paid for this review so it will remain balanced and honest. There are many things I like, and a few small things I wish were different, but overall, I think it's an amazing tripod and potentially worth your purchase.
First Impressions & Design
The biggest issue for hiking and photography is the weight, carrying all that gear leads to a significant increase in energy expenditure and subsequent tiredness, and this is especially true for multiday hikes. Before Ulanzi released this tripod, I often found myself wishing such a product existed, I stopped bringing my tripod because of the extra weight and always thought my hiking poles could be designed to function as a tripod. They've done really well at engineering this - it combines three trekking poles, a monopod, a selfie stick, a mini tripod, and a full-sized travel tripod into a single package. The build quality feels solid, with lightweight yet durable carbon fibre construction. It's intuitive and practical, the tripod extensions are clip-based rather than screw-based, making it fast and easy to set up.
The Hiking Poles
The hiking poles are everything you could want from a verticle grip hiking pole - strong and sturdy, lightweight, clip-style extensions, and a comfortable grip. They are perfect for most hikers, except for me haha - my main reason for using hiking poles is to reduce stress on the knees while going downhill, this means I prefer the horizontal grip for my hiking poles. But it appears that I'm in the minority, with the majority of grips on the market using the vertical style, so for most people this is a non-issue. These hiking poles feel at the same level as the upmarket poles you'll find at outdoor shops, they have an amazing build quality.
The Tripod
The tripod itself is just as sturdy as the hiking poles. The ballhead is part of the mini pod section, and poles connect securely and instantly to form the full tripod. It can easily support 5kg of weight and has an attachment so you can stablise the tripod with additional weight. It's quick and easy to setup, and performs exactly as you would expect from any high-end tripod.
Features
The TT35’s biggest selling point is its versatility. Unlike traditional tripods, which can be bulky and limited in use, this model transforms to meet different shooting needs:
Hiking Poles: The three included trekking poles have comfortable foam grips, wrist straps, and adjustable heights with secure snap-style locks.
Mini Tripod: Works well for low-angle shots or tabletop photography, with adjustable leg angles at 20°, 50°, and 80°.
Monopod: By attaching a tripod head to one of the trekking poles, users can create a functional monopod for more stability than handheld shooting.
Selfie Stick & Extension Pole: A tripod head can be attached to a trekking pole for action shots, and all three poles can be combined for an ultra-long reach of up to 350 cm (11.5 feet).
Full-Sized Tripod: By connecting the trekking poles to the mini tripod base, the TT35 becomes a sturdy, travel-friendly tripod with a maximum height of 145 cm (4.7 feet).
Specifications
Hiking Pole Weight
284 g (10 oz) per pole
Collapsed Height
47 cm (1.5 feet)
Maximum Hiking Pole Length
130 cm (4.3 feet)
Mini Tripod Heights
22.7 cm (8.9 inches) or 14.2 cm (5.6 inches)
Monopod Height Range
60 - 140 cm (1.9 - 4.6 feet)
Tripod Weight
1.19 kg (4.2 lbs)
Maximum Tripod Load
5 kg (11 lbs) (recommended 3 kg for stability)
Maximum Extension Pole Length:
350 cm (11.5 feet)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Ultra-versatile 5-in-1 design
Lightweight and compact for easy transport
Sturdy aluminum build
Multiple tripod head options
Adjustable trekking poles with comfortable grips
Excellent value for the price
Cons
Packing size can be a bit long while connected to the ballhead section
Verticle grip is the only option for the hiking poles
Overall Impression
The Ulanzi TT35 hiking pole tripod is an amazing idea thats been really well executed and incoporates some amazing engineering. It's the perfect option to save weight and backpack space for hiking photographers, especially on multiday hikes. Combining this tripod with a trekking pole tent would give you the ultimate, lightweight, highly efficient hiking photography setup.
Check out the Ulanzi website here.
