The wind whipped at the chinstrap of my hat as I wrestled the Befree Advanced into position. Mount Etna, a grumpy giant, was rumbling in the distance, and the light was just… right. That’s the problem with chasing the golden hour; every second counts.

This isn’t some glorified selfie stick. This is a travel tripod. And frankly, I wasn’t expecting much. My usual setup? Gitzo. Carbon fiber. A tank. But lugging that behemoth up Sicilian hillsides after a ten-hour flight? Nope. So, the Befree it was. And despite my initial skepticism, it actually holds its own.

The lever locks are a godsend. Forget fiddling with those clunky twist-locks of yore. They’re fast, secure, and even work reasonably well with gloved hands. The ball head, while not quite as silky smooth as the Arca-Swiss I’m used to, offers surprisingly precise adjustments. Sure, the friction control knob could be a little more… intuitive. But hey, for the price? Amazing.

One thing I immediately noticed: the aluminum legs. They feel sturdy enough, but unlike carbon fiber, they will transfer the slightest vibrations. This is most noticeable when using long exposures, especially at higher magnifications. That’s where the built-in hook for a weight comes into play. A simple camera bag filled with a few rocks will do the trick and make the Befree a much more stable platform.

The Befree’s compact size is key to its appeal. It folds up incredibly small, fitting neatly into my backpack alongside a decent DSLR, a couple of lenses, and a sandwich. I would still recommend a carbon fiber tripod, like the Peak Design Travel Tripod if you plan on shooting for hours in very windy conditions. But for everyday travel, it’s a perfect compromise. Lightweight and surprisingly capable? You bet.

So, if you’re a photographer who values portability over ultimate rigidity and appreciates the ease of setup, the Befree Advanced is a no-brainer. Go ahead. Buy it. And get out there and shoot. You won’t regret it.