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Tripods: how do folded and extended heights compare?

Folded and extended heights differ. Brian 2.0 folds to 16.5 in and extends to 72.44 in; Corey 2.0 folds to 14.2 in and reaches 57.48 in.

Brian gives 53.54 in with its column down.

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With no preferences selected: 3 Legged Thing Billy 2.0 is one option to compare. The first fit with a product link is 3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0.

No hands-on testingMethod and sources

3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0 · first with a product link

  • Folded length: 16 1/2 in.
  • Height without the center column: 53.54 in.
What to note:

Not listed by the maker: leg material, load capacity with legs at 23°, load capacity, minimum height.

View at 3 Legged Thing

If you choose At least 82.87 in for maximum height, the first option with a product link becomes Benro TMA47AXL.

20 models compared; 15 have a product-page link.

The picks

5 options to compare

Compare the details that matter to your setup.

An option to compare

3 Legged Thing Billy 2.0

Folded length: 17.99 in.

Key details

  • Height without the center column: 52 3/4 in.

What to note

Not listed by the maker: leg material, load capacity with legs at 23°, load capacity, minimum height.

Folded length: 17.99 inHeight without the center column: 52 3/4 inLeg diameter: 23 mm
See all 11 specs
Folded length17.99 in
Height without the center column52 3/4 in
Leg diameter23 mm
Leg sections4 sections
Maximum height64.56 in
Minimum height without the center column7.51 in
Weight3.46 lb
Leg materialNot listed by the maker
Load capacity with legs at 23°Not listed by the maker
Load capacityNot listed by the maker
Minimum heightNot listed by the maker

7 of 11 specs available · source checked September 15, 2026 · Source ↗

No verified listing yet — check the maker's site for this model.

Compare these models
First with a product link

3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0

Folded length: 16 1/2 in.

Key details

  • Height without the center column: 53.54 in.

What to note

Not listed by the maker: leg material, load capacity with legs at 23°, load capacity, minimum height.

Folded length: 16 1/2 inHeight without the center column: 53.54 inLeg diameter: 23 mm
See all 11 specs
Folded length16 1/2 in
Height without the center column53.54 in
Leg diameter23 mm
Leg sections5 sections
Maximum height72.44 in
Minimum height without the center column7.08 in
Weight3.7 lb
Leg materialNot listed by the maker
Load capacity with legs at 23°Not listed by the maker
Load capacityNot listed by the maker
Minimum heightNot listed by the maker

7 of 11 specs available · source checked September 15, 2026 · Source ↗
3 Legged Thing · Product page checked September 26, 2026

View at 3 Legged Thing
Maximum height: At least 82.87 in

Benro TMA47AXL

Folded length: 31.3 in.

Key details

  • Leg sections: 3 sections.

What to note

Not listed by the maker: height without the center column, leg material, load capacity with legs at 23°, minimum height without the center column.

Folded length: 31.3 inLeg diameter: 36.2 mmLeg sections: 3 sections
See all 11 specs
Folded length31.3 in
Leg diameter36.2 mm
Leg sections3 sections
Load capacity44.1 lb
Maximum height85.11 in
Minimum height18.7 in
Weight6.83 lb
Height without the center columnNot listed by the maker
Leg materialNot listed by the maker
Load capacity with legs at 23°Not listed by the maker
Minimum height without the center columnNot listed by the maker

7 of 11 specs available · source checked September 15, 2026 · Source ↗
Unique Photo · Product page checked September 26, 2026

View at Unique Photo
Folded length: Up to 15.9 in

3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0

Folded length: 14.2 in.

Key details

  • Height without the center column: 44 in.

What to note

Not listed by the maker: leg material, load capacity with legs at 23°, load capacity, minimum height.

Folded length: 14.2 inHeight without the center column: 44 inLeg diameter: 23 mm
See all 11 specs
Folded length14.2 in
Height without the center column44 in
Leg diameter23 mm
Leg sections5 sections
Maximum height57.48 in
Minimum height without the center column6.69 in
Weight3.92 lb
Leg materialNot listed by the maker
Load capacity with legs at 23°Not listed by the maker
Load capacityNot listed by the maker
Minimum heightNot listed by the maker

7 of 11 specs available · source checked September 15, 2026 · Source ↗
3 Legged Thing · Product page checked September 26, 2026

View at 3 Legged Thing
Weight: Up to 3.3 lb

Benro TMA27C

Folded length: 24.6 in.

Key details

  • Leg sections: 3 sections.

What to note

Not listed by the maker: height without the center column, leg material, load capacity with legs at 23°, minimum height without the center column.

Folded length: 24.6 inLeg diameter: 28.6 mmLeg sections: 3 sections
See all 11 specs
Folded length24.6 in
Leg diameter28.6 mm
Leg sections3 sections
Load capacity30.9 lb
Maximum height63.77 in
Minimum height15.15 in
Weight3.13 lb
Height without the center columnNot listed by the maker
Leg materialNot listed by the maker
Load capacity with legs at 23°Not listed by the maker
Minimum height without the center columnNot listed by the maker

7 of 11 specs available · source checked September 15, 2026 · Source ↗
Benro · Product page checked September 26, 2026

View at Benro

Comparing 3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0 · 3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0

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The facts that differ

Choose up to three models to compare side by side.

2 identical specs shown. Details that do not apply to these models are omitted.

Published specification comparison
Spec3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0No preferences selected.3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0No preferences selected.
Folded length16 1/2 in14.2 in
Height without the center column53.54 in44 in
Leg diameter23 mm23 mm
Leg sections5 sections5 sections
Maximum height72.44 in57.48 in
Minimum height without the center column7.08 in6.69 in
Weight3.7 lb3.92 lb

3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0

No preferences selected.

Folded length
16 1/2 in
Height without the center column
53.54 in
Leg diameter
23 mm
Leg sections
5 sections
Maximum height
72.44 in
Minimum height without the center column
7.08 in
Weight
3.7 lb

3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0

No preferences selected.

Folded length
14.2 in
Height without the center column
44 in
Leg diameter
23 mm
Leg sections
5 sections
Maximum height
57.48 in
Minimum height without the center column
6.69 in
Weight
3.92 lb

3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0

View at 3 Legged Thing

3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0

View at 3 Legged Thing

Compare all 20 models

— = no verified listing yet. The published order is independent of links.

All models and their decision specs
ProductHow it comparesKey specCompareAction
3 Legged Thing Billy 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0: folded length, 17.99 in vs 16 1/2 in.
Folded length: 17.99 in—
3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0: folded length, 16 1/2 in vs 14.2 in.
Folded length: 16 1/2 inView at 3 Legged Thing
3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Travis 2.0: folded length, 14.2 in vs 17.9 in.
Folded length: 14.2 inView at 3 Legged Thing
3 Legged Thing Travis 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0: folded length, 17.9 in vs 24 in.
Folded length: 17.9 in—
3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0
Compared with Benro FRHN34C: folded length, 24 in vs 25.86 in.
Folded length: 24 inView at 3 Legged Thing
Benro FRHN34C
Compared with Benro TMA27A: folded length, 25.86 in vs 24.6 in.
Folded length: 25.86 inView at Pixel Connection
Benro TMA27A
Compared with Benro TMA27C: load capacity, 26.5 lb vs 30.9 lb.
Folded length: 24.6 inView at B&H Photo Video
3 Legged Thing Billy 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0: folded length, 17.99 in vs 16 1/2 in.
Folded length: 17.99 in
—
3 Legged Thing Brian 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0: folded length, 16 1/2 in vs 14.2 in.
Folded length: 16 1/2 in
View at 3 Legged Thing
3 Legged Thing Corey 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Travis 2.0: folded length, 14.2 in vs 17.9 in.
Folded length: 14.2 in
View at 3 Legged Thing
3 Legged Thing Travis 2.0
Compared with 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0: folded length, 17.9 in vs 24 in.
Folded length: 17.9 in
—
3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0
Compared with Benro FRHN34C: folded length, 24 in vs 25.86 in.
Folded length: 24 in
View at 3 Legged Thing
Benro FRHN34C
Compared with Benro TMA27A: folded length, 25.86 in vs 24.6 in.
Folded length: 25.86 in
View at Pixel Connection
Benro TMA27A
Compared with Benro TMA27C: load capacity, 26.5 lb vs 30.9 lb.
Folded length: 24.6 in
View at B&H Photo Video
20 catalog models

How the comparison works

Your choices are compared with each model’s product details. A missing or conflicting value stays unknown and cannot satisfy a choice you select. The starting order helps you browse; it does not rate real-world performance.

Source dates appear with each link below. A source date does not confirm today's price or stock.

Finder methodologyReport a correction
Sources for all 20 models

A shorter folded tripod can still weigh more

Corey folds to 14.2 inches and weighs 3.92 lb; Billy folds to 17.99 inches and weighs 3.46 lb. These are the named tripod configurations, so the smaller folded length does not mean the lighter carry.

Across this comparison, folded lengths span 14.2 to 31.3 inches and weights span 3.13 to 6.83 lb. Consider both against your bag space and carrying limit.

Working height without the column deserves a separate look

Billy reaches a maximum height of 64.56 inches, with 52.75 inches available without the column. Brian reaches 72.44 inches maximum but 53.54 inches without the column. Source-page measurements describe the tripods, without supporting cameras on them. Use the latter measurement if your setup calls for leaving the column down.

Column-free height is available for 7 tripods; it cannot be inferred from a maximum-height figure where absent.

Read the load conditions and included head before mounting a camera

Travis has an angle-qualified load figure, while other entries provide general load capacities. Those descriptions must stay distinct; their labels do not show a shared rating method. Read the maker’s rating conditions for the configuration and whether a head is included before mounting your equipment.

The data cannot demonstrate vibration control, stiffness with an extended column or performance in wind.

Before you buy

Does the maximum height assume the center column is raised?

It can. Seven tripods also give a column-down height, such as 58.4 in for Vanguard's VEO 3+ 263AB 160S against its 68.4 in maximum, so use that figure if you'd rather keep the column low. Benro's TMA47AXL reaches 85.11 in but folds to 31.3 in at 6.83 lb. For a folded-height limit of 17 in, Brian 2.0 and Corey 2.0 fit below that limit at their hero dimensions.

Do the weights include a head?

It varies. 3 Legged Thing gives kit weights, and five Vanguard names include a ball, pan or video head, while nothing here says whether Benro's eight include one.

Are the load ratings comparable?

Only loosely. Ten tripods give a load capacity, from 17.6 lb on two Vanguards to 44.1 lb on Benro's two XL models, while 3 Legged Thing rates the Travis 2.0 at 18 kg with its legs at 23 degrees. Two ratings with the same number could mean different things, so read each rating's conditions before you mount heavy gear.