How does the PRST CARBON FIBER TRIPOD ($385.00) from Hog Saddle compare to RRS S.O.A.R, I know there is a price difference and the RRS has a weight limit of 50 lbs and made in USA compared to 40 lbs of the PRST made in Norway, just looking for some thoughts on carbon fiber tripods, they both look to be pretty well built, currently have a Manfrotto 055 Series (Aluminum), curious to know what an extra $600.00 bucks gets you with RRS.
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PRST CARBON FIBER TRIPOD
- Thread starter charles63
- Start date
Only 2 oz difference in the two, RRS 4.3 oz and PRST at 4.1 oz, I'll tell you every time I look at the PRST, the more I'm leaning towards pulling the trigger, RRS is made in the US and a lot of PRS guys are promoting it, I was just looking to see what the extra $600.00 in price comes from.
Yes, I see this now. Even the slik700 isn’t much heavier. I liked the leofoto 404 for its height but the weight was in the 7-8 lb range.
Not sure what I’m gonna do here ...
Not sure what I’m gonna do here ...
There was some type of defect in the PRST and had to send them back to Norway. For my first tripod I'm looking at the HOGSADDLE PIG311. It does weigh 5.6 lbs. as compared to 4.1 lbs. for the PRST. The RRS TVC33 weighs in at 4.3 lbs. at a higher cost. The PIG311 is made over seas. At this point I just don't have the money for a RRS tripod. I hope later on I can get one. The RRS TVC23 is light at 3.3 lbs.
I just purchased a Sirui R-3213x. Very happy with it. It is solid. Carbon fiber. Weighs 3.9 lbs. Load weight says 50 lbs on their website, but I was able to support my own weight on it (145 lbs). Uses twist release for the legs like RRS rather than levers. I paired it with the RRS BH-40 ballhead and it just plain works. The particular model I got is for some reason not available in the U.S. so I got it from an overseas seller on ebay. $370 shipped. My opinion, best bang for the buck. I may consider importing these for sale.
I think your 55 (like mine) is more similar to the PRST than the RRS TV-33 by design.
Tripods using center columns for shooting, generally fall into two categories:
The first is just the repurposed smaller tripods trying to offer addition height the legs can not deliver or for speed in elevation and the lowest possible price point. The second more utilitarian, If you are in a hide with limited room trying to send something by creating a loop, you might find the center column useful. Unfortunately, every connection adds in creating a more unstable platform. So slings, para and other techniques and a bunch of practice are required to mitigate the short comings and in general, there are some compromise in the expected precision.
Tripods with large solid columnless Apexs and thick non-flexible legs generally also fall into two categories:
Heavy and semi affordable or very low weight, stiff and very pricy.
All tripods:
Of course, there is balance between Ultra-light and small and stiffness needed to spot your own shots and still capable of sub MOA accuracy.
RRS has taken the time to created systems that lock everything up and work well to deliver security of the Apex additions (non-concern with center column designs but shake is) with the crazy long lever arms. The newest ANV-30 (?) is going to be a game changer for those wanting the space saving for hunting and the performance loved in the PRS crowd.
I've seen guys struggle with 55's and cloned designs on small targets while trying to spot with the center column designs; only to try something like the RRS TV-33s or 3372 and instantly shoot way better. I want to be clear that bad ass shooters are, well, bad ass and can shoot impressively off anything..
Because you are not able to see what the high price gets you I would really try your 55 class tripod and a RRS with non center column and try them side my side on a 2 MOA target out in the 800+ yard area.. Send a few fairly quick shots with 100% hit ratio, self-spotting hits before send the next. Then move in to 200 on a 2MOA target and see if you can still hit and spot on both doing the same. If your technique is such that you can do the same on either fairly quickly, then your choice should be much easier, if not maybe save a few pennies.
Personally, I am so happy to have retired a long list of tripods (some very expensive and carbon) over years. Before I started using the RRS TV-33, 3372 and 3342 for hunting (amazingly light), it was has hard just to stayed practiced on regular targets.
The RRS TV-33 and leveling base is stupidly solid - so much so, I started using it to make the shooting harder by making a multi-purpose practice barricade..
Just a note on the picture of you with the 55. Your running the leg directly forward in a traditional manor. With the solid non-center column systems I find I don't have to drive the tripod as much, as such shooter induced error is lower. This also enables more creative leg positioning, letting the tripod resist the recoil and aid in self-spotting. I almost never run a leg directly forward at 12 anymore and instead try to get one closer to the butt of the rifle.
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