I’ve got a new tripod to show you today. This is the K&F Concept Lightweight Compact Tripod (Model KF09.161, it needs a catchy name; let’s call it DAVID).

Available HERE ON AMAZON.

For me, DAVID replaces the Manfrotto Compact Light. That’s the target market here: a tripod you can shove inside a backpack, hike up a hill, and actually use without it falling over in the wind or shaking like your hands in the Baltic breeze.

To be fair, spec-wise it’s probably closer to the Manfrotto Befree (HERE ON AMAZON), but that costs well over a hundred quid. This K&F one is currently on offer for under £50. So, I’m comparing it to the cheap Manfrotto because that’s the price bracket.

Here is the reality:

It’s a little bit bigger than the Manfrotto.
It’s a little bit heavier.
It costs a few quid more.

But it is much better. It’s stronger, more stable, and the payload capacity is miles ahead.

The Legs and Stability

It’s got 5-section legs with lever locks. They work fast and lock tight. Fully extended, this thing goes over 5ft high. That is huge for a compact travel tripod—a good foot taller than the Manfrotto.

Unlike the Manfrotto, the legs splay out. This means you can get low angles, balance it in awkward spots, or just widen the footprint so the wind doesn’t knock it over.

The Spikes.

This is the best bit for me. It comes with round rubber feet, but they pop off to reveal metal spikes. These are critical. Rubber feet are useless in the boggy, grassy places I film. You need to drive those spikes into the dirt, ice, or mud to get a stable shot when shooting landscapes.

Also, if you are filming in cities and towns — in what is a fallen world sliding into dystopian chaos—the spikes might be handy for self-defence. I didn’t tell you that.

The Ball Head & Plate

The ball head (40mm) is fantastic. The poor old Manfrotto Compact Light is rated for 1.5kg and, frankly, is terrible. Do not buy that tripod.

DAVID is rated for a 10kg payload. It easily holds a mirrorless camera, a DSLR, and most telephoto lenses without the creep or wobble that plagues cheap tripods.

Adjustments: It has separate knobs for panoramic movement and the ball head itself.
The Plate: It’s aluminium with rubber strips. The bolt has a little hand-screw handle (brilliant touch), and it’s a safety-locking design. If it comes loose, it rattles rather than dropping your camera on the floor.

My Verdict

It comes with a phone mount, a carry case, and even a compass (which is weird, but maybe useful on a hike).

I tend to use tripods without centre columns because inverting them is a pain, so I’ll probably hack this one up and cut the column down. But that’s just me.

Bottom line: This is a brilliant tripod. K&F Concept is making some great products right now. It almost feels harsh comparing it to the Manfrotto Compact Light because the K&F destroys it, but that’s the market.

Tough luck, Manfrotto.

Buy DAVID (small but mighty, killed Goliath, or in this case - Manfrotto), the K&F Concepot Lightweight Tripod HERE ON AMAZON

Interested to see what kind of stuff I create with this? Take a look through my Wild Camping Blog.

Looking for a bigger tripod?

For a closer look at my main tripod, check out this blog for my BENRO TORTOISE 35C, a tripod I’ve now been using for a good few years without issue. It has been all over the UK, up quite a few 1000 metre mountains (hand-held!), and is still going strong!