SmallRig Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Column AP-20 & Ball Head

There are some things in life on which you do not compromise. A travel tripod is not one of those things. We all want a travel tripod to be tiny and light when stored, tall, rock solid, and full of features when in use, and inexpensive. Since no such critter exists, we pick what is most important and live with the rest - compromise. After researching a couple dozen travel tripods (really wanting the consensus best overall Peak Design but not its price tag), I settled on the SmallRig AP-20. I wanted small and light, but most of the reviews for small and light tripods also had 1-star entries for flimsy and/or deficient quality. The SmallRig had only 4- and 5-star reviews across several review sites, and a recurring word was sturdy. The carbon fiber SmallRig is the same weight as the the carbon fiber Peak Design, nearly as short when folded, and 1/4 the price. (The well-engineered Peak Design is undeniably more compact in diameter, but that's a compromise I decided to make.) The SmallRig is indeed sturdy as the reviews said. The legs do not flex. The center column can wiggle a bit when extended, but that is true of most if not all center columns. The ball head is small, but it seems adequate (rated at 26 lbs/12 kg) and holds the camera once set. I used a 5 lb setup (Pentax K-70 with FA*400 mm lens) to photograph the 2024 eclipse with no real issues. (I have nothing heavier to put on it.) The Arca-Swiss quick-release mount works as it should. The SmallRig has the usual features found in today's travel tripods - monopod conversion, inverted center column capability, even a 1/4 in threaded attachment point. The big thing for me, however, is that it is solid on the ground. Small when folded, light to carry, sturdy in use, and affordable. There are smaller, lighter, cheaper, or (maybe) sturdier travel tripods, but the SmallRig seemed to me the best compromise of all those factors.