6 Best Monopods for Photography in 2023

Tripods are often the preferred camera accessory, especially if you want stable shots. However, carrying a tripod is not easy, especially when traveling. That’s when monopods come in to the picture. Compared to tripods, monopods are more mobile, and you can wrap them around your wrist when needed. And they prove to be super helpful for sports photography or wildlife photography.

While monopods are not as stable as tripods, they do their best in giving you a stable shot. Plus, with cameras with heavy lenses or heavy body, they take the weight off your wrist.

So, without further ado, here are some of the best monopods for photography that you can buy. But first,

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Monopod vs Tripod

When it comes to monopods and tripods, the central theme is ‘almost’ the same across both. Both come with extendable legs and provide stability to your shots. But as you may already know, the key difference is in the number of legs. A tripod has three legs, whereas a monopod has a single leg.

And the lesser number of legs translates into a portable and lightweight camera accessory. As we noted earlier, if the need arises (and if the monopod has one), you can loop the strap around your wrist.

While it does provide the needed stability, monopods are not the one for you if you plan on shooting trailing stars or the trailing lights of cars. That’s more of a tripod’s job. On the other hand, if you are looking for sports photography or wildlife photography where you need to shift places and angles, and need the flexibility of swerving, a monopod comes in handy.

With that behind us, let’s see some of the best monopods for photography.

Best Monopods for Photography

1. Altura Photo Camera Monopod

• Maximum height: 62-Inch | Maximum weight: 5lbs

The collapsible length is around 16.75-inches. At the same time, it weighs just around 10.5ounces. All of these factors make it one of the best monopods for cameras to carry during traveling or when you are shooting extensively outdoors. What’s more, you can combine a bullhead mount and add flexibility to the setup.

The Altura Monopod is lightweight and is easily collapsible. However, the lightweight form factor also makes the monopod a little flimsy. As such, you will have to be a tad bit gentle with it. That said, it works great and can handle its given weights. The thumb snaps are easy to use and gives you a stable height.

If you can make do with the slight flimsy build, it’s a good monopod for amateur sports photography.

2. Benro Adventure 4 Series

• Maximum height: 75.25-Inch | Maximum weight: 39.7lbs

It’s more expensive than the one above. On the bright side, it’s pretty sturdy and can withstand heavy usage, and several users have pointed out this in the reviews section. The legs are easy to extend and the snap holds them in place. But at times, you may need to tighten the sections since they tend to loosen over time.

The Benro Adventure 4 can hold up its share of weight and if we talk numbers, it can go up to 39.7lbs. In fact, a user has pointed out that they could steady their heavy 400mm f2.8 lens and pro body Nikons with ease. However, as noted above, you will have to tighten the sections as per the weight above it.

It’s not one of the lightest monopods around. For one, it weighs 1.85lbs. However, the weight limit and the not-so-expensive price tag make it a good pick for someone who often shoots wildlife and sports with long telephoto lenses.

3. 3 Legged Thing Trent 2.0 Monopod

• Maximum height: 79.53-Inch | Maximum weight: 66lbs

One of the major highlights of the Trent 2.0 is its feet. It comes with a detachable rubber boot. While the boot can give you the needed grip, you can unscrew and replace it with other foot accessories. In fact, 3 Legged sells quite a few foot accessories that prove helpful in different terrains.

The Trent 2.0 is an excellent monopod and has received its share of appreciation from its users, all thanks to its robust build and quality construction. The folded height is a tad on the longer side, and it doesn’t come with a wrist strap.

That said, if you are above 6ft and want a monopod that can reach your height, then this is one of the best monopods for cameras. It can hold its share of the camera body weight and the aluminum body stays rigid even when fully extended.

4. SIRUI P-326 Carbon Fiber Monopod

• Maximum height: 79.53-Inch | Maximum weight: 22lbs

Aside from the above, it has all the bells and whistles like a wrist strap, grip at the top, and spiked feet. The latter comes into the picture if you have to hold the monopod over loose sand, gravel, snow, or soft earth. In such situations, the spiked feet rest firmly on the ground and give you the needed stability. The best part? You can cover it with a rubber foot when needed. This gives you the versatility of shooting in any terrain, be it wildlife or sports photography.

And guess what? This camera monopod also comes with a little compass. As noted earlier, it’s one of the popular monopods. The sections are easy to manipulate, and the collapsed length is just around 14 inches. Users love the durable nature and the quality construction. Plus, for the price, it serves a variety of purposes. That said, it has its limitations. For example, it tends to yield when fully extended. The good part is that even so, it can hold the weight of the camera easily.

5. Manfrotto XPRO Monopod (MPMXPROC4US)

• Maximum height: 59.06-Inch | Maximum weight: 44lbs

If we were to talk numbers, this carbon monopod weighs around 1.3 lbs. It has three sections and bundles a grip and a wrist strap. Plus, the base is compatible with the company’s FLUIDTECH base. It ensures that you get more stability while shooting.

So far, it has earned positive reviews on Amazon. Sports photographers have praised it for its lighter and easy-to-handle build and its weight capacity. And unlike the one above, it’s rigid even when fully extended, and this makes it perfect for heavier lenses.

6. IFOOTAGE Cobra 3 Monopod (C-180F-P)

• Maximum height: 71-Inch | Maximum weight: 17.64Lbs

The folks at PetaPixel opine that the IFOOTAGE Cobra 3 has excellent build quality and is more stable as compared to their predecessors. Interestingly, the mood can be broken down into smaller units. As such it resembles a mini tripod. With it, you can easily achieve low-angle shots.

At the same time, it’s built well and can withstand weights up to 17 lbs. While the weight capacity is not the same as some of the moods on this list, it’s sufficient to say that it can hold its share. The folks at PetaPixel could effortlessly shoot with their full-frame camera and f/2.8 zoom attached.

Needless to say, it’s expensive compared to its counterparts above. However, the flexibility the fact that it doubles a low tripod, and the increased stability make up for the price. If you often switch between video and photo while out on your shoots and want the best value for your money, the IFOOTAGE Cobra 3 should be on your Buy list. Did we tell you that it enjoys a 4.9-star on Amazon?

Hello, Stability and Mobility

These were some of the best monopods for photography. Camera gear can be expensive, and the same is true of the above monopods, except the one by Altura. The Altura monopod is the one for you if your requirements aren’t much or if you are starting your journey. But at the end of the day, if you want the best value for your money, the Manfrotto XPRO proves to be the best monopod for sports and wildlife photography. And if you are willing to experiment, the IFOOTAGE Cobra 3 will open several closed doors for you.