Inverted leg tripods

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DeereGreen

Member
I’m really digging the Fatboy Elevate tripod. The no cross legs grabbed my attention. Anyone who moves while hunting by folding the legs and throwing it over your shoulder with the gun attached will understand the appeal.
Also liking the simplicity of the inverted leg design. It should be easy and fast to set up , and no locking collets down in the mud.
You guys that are running inverted tripods are there any disadvantages?
The only one I can see is that you won’t be able to run any sort of leg wraps on the top of the legs.
 
I just switched to the inverted tripod. Purchased the Leofoto SO 322C, 2 section tripod from B&H Photo that was on sale.

Why didn't I do this years ago or really why didn't I start off this way. I use the Leofoto YB 75LR leveling head. This type of head gives 15* articulation in one direction or 30* combined from one side to the opposite side.

While at the range, I set it up so the articulation would not work out. The muzzle was to high to acquire the target. A simple reset of the front tripod leg took seconds to bring it down and then using the leveling head to bring it back to the target.

If there's a negative, I don't know what it could be.

Most of my shooting is for prairie dogs and camo is not needed at all. However, I plan on coyote hunting use the tripod as well. The lower legs could easily be wrapped with camo or dipped. I going to make a simple poncho for the upper legs. Piece of burlap, etc. with a hole in the middle draped over the top would easily cover the upper legs.
 
K9TXS said:
I just switched to the inverted tripod. Purchased the Leofoto SO 322C, 2 section tripod from B&H Photo that was on sale.

Why didn't I do this years ago or really why didn't I start off this way. I use the Leofoto YB 75LR leveling head. This type of head gives 15* articulation in one direction or 30* combined from one side to the opposite side.

While at the range, I set it up so the articulation would not work out. The muzzle was to high to acquire the target. A simple reset of the front tripod leg took seconds to bring it down and then using the leveling head to bring it back to the target.

If there's a negative, I don't know what it could be.

Most of my shooting is for prairie dogs and camo is not needed at all. However, I plan on coyote hunting use the tripod as well. The lower legs could easily be wrapped with camo or dipped. I going to make a simple poncho for the upper legs. Piece of burlap, etc. with a hole in the middle draped over the top would easily cover the upper legs.
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yea not worried about Camo , but some sort of leg wrap on the top is a better feeling than carbon fiber on a cold night.
 
Been writing about the awesomeness of Leveling heads and 2 section tripods for a few years here now! I have an Innorel, 2vets QDT and now a Fatboy and its my favorite.

DG I found it much less wear and tear to NOT bring the legs together, leave the tripod legs in the ready position. The only time I fold them is if I have to like walking through a woods or thick vegetation and the legs snag up. I found by doing this you won't have to re tighten the leg bolts nearly as much and much less wear on the brass washers in there. I want my legs to be stiff and stay open so when I have to reposition quickly they don't collapse in.

I also never collapse my legs, they stay at the correct height in the back of the truck all the time. This method you actually could put athletic wrap or something on the upper section.

I guess the only negative thing I can think of on an inverted leg is water/sleet could run down and freeze up the leg sections but those are the worst thermal conditions and I don't hunt then!
 
I am looking into the RRS 22I. I try to shoot sitting most of the time and most of the inverted tripods don't get low enough on the second position/leg angle fully collapsed. I can shoot off them that high but then I have to have good posture. And good posture isn't as conducive to accurate shooting.

Right now I use an Anvil-30. Possibly with a leveling base the inverted tripods would be the correct height. I might just have to spend some money and test it out.
 
I just got a Fatboy elevate with leveling head and really like but it does weigh a couple lbs more than my leofoto, I rapped 6" or 8" of vet rap on the upper legs to help keep my hands warm. I also loosened the screws on the legs as Kimo said and that helps if I want to close it up.
 
RRS is absolute quality products as well. As far as ball heads are concerned the Anvil 30 has been the gold standard for many years. Their tripods are great products as well.

Give a leveling head a try, I promise you'll find its much more stable and the travel won't be an issue.
 
why said:
I just got a Fatboy elevate with leveling head and really like but it does weigh a couple lbs more than my leofoto, I rapped 6" or 8" of vet rap on the upper legs to help keep my hands warm. I also loosened the screws on the legs as Kimo said and that helps if I want to close it up.
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So do you just forgive the length of the grip tape when collapsing the tripod ?
 
dirtytough said:
I am looking into the RRS 22I. I try to shoot sitting most of the time and most of the inverted tripods don't get low enough on the second position/leg angle fully collapsed.
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I tighten the leg tension screws on my LS-364C Leofoto so I can use them at any angle and not have to rely on the set angles.
 
Kino M said:
Give a leveling head a try, I promise you'll find its much more stable and the travel won't be an issue.
Click to expand...

I switched to a leveling head 4 years ago and will not go back to a ball head style. Plus, If you want to shoot off a bag, just flop it on top and your good to go. Putting a bag on top of a ball head doesn't work very well.
 
As I read this I gotta giggle. I feel lucky if I don't have to adjust the legs on 2 consecutive sets once a month. Most of the time my downhill legs are between 4 and 12 inches longer than my back leg. When I have to reposition, I always have to also spin the gun so the downhill legs stay downhill. If, like one night last week when they showed up at my 10 o'clock (which was also uphill), there is no way I am going to be on the same plane as my targets.
All this being said, I would not trade my hills and valleys for anything.
 


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