PhotoWalkPro

I recently had some new gear to test out, including the new Trek-Tech TrekPod Go! Pro monopod.  So what better place to test out this combination walking staff and monopod than than the Worldwide Photowalk.  I already have a monopod but it does have its limitations.  For one thing, it’s kind of heavy and the other is the speed with which I can attach and remove my camera/lens.  It’s actually more of a lack of speed since I have to hold my camera and then twirl the monopod to screw it into the tripod socket.  That’s why I was so drawn to the features of Trek-Tech’s TrekPod Go! Pro.

First of all, the TrekPod is fairly light at just 30 ounces.  The Pod will shorten to a length of about 43″ and extends to a maximum height of 62.5″, which is perfect for someone as tall as me. When packed in it’s travel case, it’s just 24″ long.  The Pod also has a padded collar and wrist-strap which means that you can carry it over your shoulder when you have a camera attached or have a comfy grip when using it as a walking stick.  That’s about where the similarities between the TrekPod and other monopods end.

There are three kick-butt features that really make the TrekPod unique.  First off, there’s the quick-release system.  Like most quick-release systems, there is a small piece that screws into the bottom of your camera or lens which then attaches to the head.  The thing about this system is that it uses something called a square-tooth anti-rotation system (STAR) that locks the camera onto the head and prevents the camera from rotating, but also allows it to be mounted in any direction.

Most quick-release plates only fit onto the head one way.  To ensure that the camera stays firmly and quickly afixed to the Pod, there is a rare-earth magnet in the top of the mount, which quickly grabs the camera STAR mount and holds it tight.  To finish the lock-down there’s a collar that swings around the camera mount and locks everything together.  The system is fast, secure, and incredibly solid.  By the way, if you are wondering about having a strong magnet so close to the camera you aren’t alone.  I took a memory card and placed it directly on the magnet for 10 minutes and didn’t loose a single image.  After all, magnets only effect magnetic media, not electronic storage so all the images should be completely safe.

The quick-release system is perched on another great feature of the TrekPod, a ballhead.  The big problem with most monopods is that you have to tilt the staff to aim your camera.  With the ballhead, you simply turn the lever on the side to loosen the ball and then point your camera at your subject and re-tighten the lever.  I use a ballhead on most of my tripods and having it on the TrekPod just adds a new level of functionality to the system.

Okay, so the quick-release and the ball head are pretty cool but this last feature is what really caught my eye and made this a piece of equipment that I would definitely take on a photowalk.  On the bottom segment of the staff is a piece of Velcro that, when released, let me spread out a small set of tripod legs that supported the rest of the pod and let me use it for my group shot.  See, I hate carrying a tripod on photowalks because the only time I use it is for the group shot.  Having these small legs on the bottom of the pod kept it functional as a stand-alone support for my camera and still useful as a walking stick/monopod.

Likes -

Magnetic Quick Release Mount

Ball Head

Tripod Legs

Supports up to 13.5 pounds of camera gear

Lifetime Warranty

Dislikes -

The four-piece construction – The TrekPod comes in a really nice carry case but must be assembled from four separate pieces before it can be used.

The locking rings – The rings can be a little confusing when trying to remember which way to turn them to loosen and tighten the different segments for assembly and adjusting the height.  This is probably more due to the limited time I had to use it and would probably become more familiar over time.

Conclusion -

The Trek-Tech TrekPod Go! Pro is an incredibly versatile piece of photo equipment that will really come in handy for anyone that enjoys hiking and photography.  The quick-release system allows for quick and easy transformation from walking staff to monopod and back again.  When deployed, the tripod legs add a huge measure of stability to the staff and, while not as flexible as a full-blown tripod, it is usable for situations where you need more stability or even a group shot of your photowalk group.  The TrekPod Go! Pro is available directly from Trek-Tech for $229.99.  If you have been considering purchasing a monopod, or even a hiking staff, you should give some serious consideration to the TrekPod Go!

If you would like to see a video demo of the TrekPod Go! in action, check out this video.

UPDATE -

I just found a great price on the Trek-Tech TrekPod GO! Monopod/Tripod/Hiking Staff with MagMount STAR Ballhead, Pan and Tilt Head, and T-Pod with Storage Pouch for $183.50 with free shipping.  That’s a savings of about $45 from the normal price.

Related posts:

1. New Gear For This Weekend’s Photowalk
2. Thursday News Updates
3. Review – The SpiderPro Camera Holster System
4. My Black Rapid-R Strap Modification
5. Lowepro – Fastpack 250 Review

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 12:03 am and is filed under Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.