Joby Gorillapod Original

I am actually on my third Gorillapod (explanation to follow!), and have been actually generally pleased with it. I use it for photos of our group when hiking or paddling, self-pictures when I am alone on an adventure, or attached to our kicksled to take videos with our Olympus Stylus TG-2 camera (no, we are not GoPro users).

This seems to work fine as a small, flexible, tripod, for basic uses.

Okay, immediate disclosure. I am on my third Gorillapod because I lost #1 (black and grey) at a canoe launch site, and #2 ( orange and black, thought I would not lose it), I lost after a kicklsedding expedition. In both cases, I am certain the tripod was found, and the person considered it a nice "find".

So, I tried again, and so far, have managed to keep this one for over a year. I have attached some flexi-wire to it, and then I can clip it to my pack straps, PFD, or the sled, with a small carabiner...less likely to lose it.

I first used the Gorillapod with a Canon PowerShot, and it worked great. There was some wobble when I tried to have the tripod in a horizontal mode, but with some finagling, it would work. However, with our larger TG-2, the tripod would not hold the camera while the tripod is wrapped around a pole, tree, etc horizontally. The weight pulled the tripod flexible legs downward. It has done very well as an upright, stationary tripod.

I have also found, that as the Gorillapod ages, the connector balls that make up the legs are more prone to come apart...not an issue, they snap right back, but they could come off when I was not aware, and then they would be lost.

I also noted recently, that the screw mount on the attachment would no longer secure my camera (the camera falls right off). My older camera secures to it, but seems loose ...so who knows? I have just obtained a different model tripod, that is often sold with my camera, and that seems to secure it OK.

I did not know if the screws on the Gorillapod tripod had become too recessed, or just worn down from frequent use. I removed the mounting head from the tripod ( there is a quick release button), and really tightened the screw, and it seems to improve the hold, but it will be a pain to have to keep tightening this screw.

So, in general, this is a good product, and we have used it extensively, in all conditions. I did buy it three times, so I must have been pleased with it!

A great little must-have photo accessory for taking self-portraits, or any shot where a tripod is required.

The Joby Gorillapad Original is one of those products that seems to have been made specifically for the outdoor adventurer. This is a small, lightweight tripod for use on small point and shoot cameras. If you have a large SLR with big lenses or a heavier camcorder then look to some of this companies larger offerings.  But for your average shooter using todays smaller digital cameras, the Joby Gorillapad Original tripod is ideal. 

The best thing about this durable little tripod is its flexibility. The legs are made up of many small, articulated joints that allow you to twist and bend the legs to suit the terrain on which it is resting. These bendable legs can be wrapped around a tree trunk, or fence post to get a perfect eye-level shot.  I've even got great self-portraits when canoeing, simply by fastening the legs to the end of a paddle, then holding the paddle out, away from me with the lens pointing back in my direction.

It also comes in real handy shooting those pretty sunsets, when the light is fading and you need to use a slower shutter speed to get the proper exposure...much better results than trying to hand-hold a camera. I've also used it to shoot video, but only for static shots, as it does not have a smooth pan/tilt head. 

This is a great little tripod to take on your next backcountry trek!