Tripods The TrekPod has arrived!

480sparky

Regular
Name
Ken
Was looking for a way to utilize a pair of trek poles for use as a tripod while out in the boonies. Came up with this contraption for about half an hours' work. I call it the TrekPod.

Parts needed: A small piece of 1/2-thick wood, a 1/4x20 machine bolt and nut, a short piece of paracord, a 1/2" unibit and a small ballhead.

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I drilled two holes into the wood with the unibit at an angle in two directions. This will allow the trek poles to spread out just like tripod legs.

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I then drilled a 1/4" though the board for the machine bolt, taking a 1/2" bit to back-drill the 'top' of the TrekPod so the nut will recess flush with the board.

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Then a little sanding, and install the ballhead.

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The principle of this design is to use the two adjustable trek poles I have as two legs of a tripod. The third 'leg' is a piece of scrap paracord, securely anchored to something.

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With this method, I can use the paracord,

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and tie off to anything solid or steady.

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Makes for a very stable platform for my P7100, which is my camera of choice when weight is an issue.

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If there's something solid enough handy, and the camera can lean against it instead, there's no need for the paracord.

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If need be, the entire setup can be 'freestanding', using a log, rock or similar weight.

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And as a bonus, the TrekPod alone can be useful even without the trek poles and paracord!

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Great idea Ken! I don't hike enough to have such sticks, but if I ever do I have to remember this ;)
 
Very ingenious, but I feel an expensive accident coming on when I look at the arrangement with the cord trapped under the rock on the ground. You don't want that cord slipping free at the wrong moment ...

-R
 
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