3Pod Everest T3 & T5 Carbon Fiber Tripods: Hands-On Review

If you’re looking for a premium top-end tripod without the top-end price tag, look no further than the new Everest Series tripods from 3Pod. These newly released tripods offer a four-section carbon fiber construction with twist-lock legs, perfect for photographers who don’t want to waste time setting up a bulky tripod. Two new tripods were just released:  3Pod Everest T5 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod and  3Pod Everest T3 4-Section CF Compact Tripod.

Key Features of the 3Pod Everest T3 Tripod

• Patented magnetic leg lock
• Twist locking legs
• Wide bottom hook design
• Removable center column
• Low-profile design
• Comes with expandable carrying case
• Anti-corrosion dust proof design and cold weather resistant
• Ball head screw mount comes with built-in adapter
• ~4.5-5.5 feet tall
• 33lbs max payload

Key Features of the 3Pod Everest T5 Tripod

• Patented magnetic leg lock
• Twist locking legs
• Wide bottom hook design
• Removable center column
• Low-profile design
• Comes with expandable carrying case
• Anti-corrosion dust proof design and cold weather resistant
• Ball head screw mount comes with built-in adapter
• ~5.25-6.5 feet tall
• 55lbs max payload

What’s New About the 3Pod Tripods?

Compact, Carbon Fiber Build

Many tripods with a center column feel big and bulky on your backpack or carried by hand, but the 3Pod Everest T3 and T5 Tripods feel nice and compact when folded down. Despite the compact feel, these tripods feel solid on the ground, perfectly capable of securing your camera.

The T3 and T5 tripods can hold an impressive maximum payload of 33lbs and 55lbs, respectively. A carbon fiber build both helps to save weight while you are carrying the tripod while also being more durable than a typical aluminum tripod. And of course, carbon fiber greets the eye for an all around great looking tripod.

Twist-Lock Legs

Twist-lock legs are ideal for photographers who don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up their tripod. This type of leg construction is ideal for the photographer who’s looking to reduce both setup and takedown time for their tripod. In addition, I’m personally a fan of twist-lock legs because they don’t wear out like their snap-locking counterparts.

With four leg sections and three twist-lock legs, the average size adult hand can turn all three twist-locks at once, instantly deploying all leg sections on one leg at a time. 

The center column is both removable and reversible. First, removing the center column allows you to spread the tripod legs out and get really low to the ground. This is ideal in any situation where you need to be as close to the ground as possible.

For macro photography, you can also reverse the center column. This allows you to shoot with your camera under the tripod pointed right at the ground. The center column is clearly very well thought out and has a variety of advantageous features for all different kinds of photographers and videographers.

Mount Screw

Perhaps one of the most useful features of the tripods is the ball head mount screw. Most tripods have a screw with a ⅜” and a ¼” side, capable of fitting either size ball head. The problem with this traditional setup is that it usually requires a tool to switch the size. 3Pod has tackled this problem by making the threads adaptable, so one side will fit either size ball head without any adjustment. No more losing your adapter in the field or worrying if a new ball head is going to fit without adjustment!

Finally, one of the most commonly overlooked specs on a tripod is its cold-weather resistance. For outdoor photographers that shoot when it’s cold out, you’ll know that cold carbon fiber tripods can be killer to carry around. Two of the three legs on the 3Pod Everest tripods are wrapped with a rubber section at the top. This offers you a better grip to prevent the tripod from slipping, as well as giving you something to grab that won’t get quite as cold as the carbon fiber.

Who Should Buy These Tripods?

Any photo or video creator in need of a tripod should not overlook the new 3Pod Everest T3 and T5 Tripods. These two new tripods feel like a steal when you look at all of the features and build quality compared to the competitive price. The T3 is perfectly sized for a travel tripod, while the T5 is perfect for any studio work or times when you don’t need to travel far to capture your shot.

Perhaps the most important feature for creators is the ability to quickly set up and take down the two tripods. The twist locking legs give you very quick access to set your shot up in an instant. The rubber grips help you to move the tripod to adjust your shot. The multiple leg locking sections, plus the removable center column, give you the flexibility to get the perfect shot just about anywhere.

Both tripods even come with numerous different center column pieces. So if you want fine tuned adjustments or even nice panning motion, you’ll have just the center column for that.

3Pod Everest T3 Tripod vs 3Pod Everest T5 Tripod

The main difference between the two tripods is the size. While the T5 is larger, heavier, and goes up to 6.5 feet. The T3 is smaller and only goes up to 5.5 feet. When talking about tripods, bigger isn’t always better. Considering the T3 is more compact and lighter, it can be an ideal travel companion or hiking partner. However, if you spend a lot of time shooting in the studio or just outside the car, the T5 offers more stability considering it is a larger and heavier tripod.

The T5 can also support nearly double the weight of the T3. If you have a very heavy setup, consider the larger T5, which can support up to 55 lbs. The T3 can support 33 lbs., which should be plenty sufficient for more DSLR or mirrorless shooters out there. Keep in mind that the lower you lock the leg sections, the more durable the tripod will be.

Austin James Jackson

Austin James Jackson is a landscape photographer and outdoor enthusiast based out of Portland, Oregon. He loves teaching others how to photograph landscapes and leads workshops in the western USA.