I used the SIRUI Traveler X-III tripod in my recent trip to Namibia where I wanted to take some photos of landscapes and wildlife. I specifically looked for a small and lightweight tripod that I could pack into my carry on and after some research I decided on this Sirui’s Traveler X-III model. It did well.
From what I understand the X-III model is the same as X-I – as the tripod model is AT125 and X-III means it has a different ball head combo – in this case it’s BG40. That was a bit confusing when researching the models though.
- Compact and Lightweight Tripod: The tripod for camera weighs only 2.1lbs. It saves weight by using carbon fiber material and integrating the locking of the legs. Reverse folding carbon fiber tripod fits in your backpack for traveling.
It’s really quite small and lightweight when it’s packed in. It’s around 950 grams thanks to its carbon fiber legs, but a standard tripod of this size would be around 1,3kg so it’s not a night and day difference. But it’s nice and compact when folded down (around 35 cm of lenght).
The legs of the tripod have a twisting locking mechanism with is not that popular, but I quite liked it. Sand got just a tiny bit in there, but it didn’t bother me much and the legs worked just fine anyway. Sometimes I wasn’t sure which part of the leg I didn’t twist the right way (to either unlock or to lock it) which was a bit annoying.
I didn’t use the included arca swiss plate, but I used it with a peak design standard plate that I had attached to ZV-E10 at all times and the locking mechanism worked alright, it was easy to get into and to release it by twisting just a bit.
The ball head is really nice. You can also get it seperately from Amazon at around $30-$40. It’s very easy to adjust, it handled my Sony ZV-E10 with a Tamron 18-300mm very well on ground, concrete and in sand. Little particles of sand get quite easily stuck inside it, but it still performs with them inside and when I got back home I managed to clean it up completely.
I used it to photograph landscapes, some portraits, astrophotography and some horizontal and vertical videos. The ball head helped a lot being so flexible and there wasn’t much hassle to adjusting and changing angles. In very strong winds I had to use the central column weight hook and it got the job done.
I didn’t use the included bag at all as I wanted to minimize my carry on size and weight.
Overall, I’m very happy with that tripod and ballhead combo. I’m going to use it in the studio a bit and on my next travels so I might come back to this review to update it.
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Tripod Model | AT125 |
| Max Tube Diameter | 25 mm (1.0 in) |
| Min Tube Diameter | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Min Height | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Height w/ Column Down | 1235 mm (48.6 in) |
| Max Height | 1450 mm (57.1 in) |
| Retracted Height | 354 mm (13.9 in) |
| Weight (Tripod) | 0.66 kg (1.5 lb) |
| Max Load Capacity | 10 kg (22.0 lb) |
| Leg Angles | 21°, 52°, 83° |
| Center Column | Detachable: short & long sections, can be used separately or combined |
| Mounting Screw | Self-adaptive 1/4″ & 3/8″ |
| Accessory Port | 1/4″ screw hole + bubble level |
| Head Model | BG40 Ball Head |
| Head Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Base Diameter | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Ball Diameter | 26 mm (1.0 in) |
| Head Panning | 360° with panorama scale |
| Quick Release Plate | Yes, with anti-drop safety screws |
| Head Weight | 0.28 kg (0.6 lb) |
| Head Dimensions | 59 × 78.5 × 86 mm (2.3 × 3.1 × 3.4 in) |
| Head Max Load | 10 kg (22.0 lb) |
| Mounting Interface | 1/4″-20 & 3/8″-16 threaded hole |
| Box Contents | Tripod AT125, Ball Head BG40, Quick Release Plate, 4mm Allen Key, 3/8″→1/4″ adapter, bag |
SIRUI Traveler X-III Tripod
I love testing and writing about new tech. I focus on keyboards and controllers. I'm also a gamer and an engineer. Check out my Twitter for keyboard and controller news and reviews.
