As long-time readers of my newsletter may remember, I was pretty excited back in October 2019 when, while I was in Newport, OR with the Out of Chicago photo conference, I got to see, touch, and play with a brand-new tripod from a brand new tripod company.

Colorado Tripod Company is a sister company to Breakthrough Photography, maker of some of the best filters you can buy. At the Out of Chicago conferenced, the Breakthrough reps had several copies of Colorado Tripod Company’s 2-Series tripod to show.

These tripods were very smooth and quick to set up and they sure did look well made. The best part, the price. The Colorado Tripods are significantly less expensive than, say, Gitzo or Really Right Stuff. And as far as I could tell, the quality was just as good or better. (Subsequent reviews I’ve read just reinforced my opinion)

But the 2-Series tripod is just too short for my uses and what I was really in the market for was a much taller tripod than my current Gitzo, which is about 60” tall (without the head). My current Gitzo is just great for about 90% of the photography I do, but it’s just too short for photographing auroras overhead.

I was told that they were developing the 4-Series, which would be 70 inches tall and only $499. And it was supposed to be available by the end of the year (2019). Comparing the price to the $1000 or more I’d pay for a similarly tall Gitzo or RRS, and buying one was a no-brainer. I went on their website that night and pre-ordered one (for a pre-order price of $449!).

And then I waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. Months passed. Then a year.

Every time I’d drop a line asking about progress, I got the same story: “we’re a small machine show overwhelmed by the number of orders for the 2-Series and Highline ball heads.”

I wasn’t that surprised by the demand. They made a really good product and sold it for surprisingly low price (base on what we’ve come to expect from other manufacturers).

After one of my queries I got a response that led me to believe delivery could be just a few weeks away. But again, nothing happened.

Over a year ago I heard from the owner that production on the Series-4 would be delayed “several months.”

You may ask at this point why I wouldn’t just get my money back. Good question. The reason is that with the pandemic, I wasn’t in imminent need for a taller tripod. You see, the main reason I want a taller tripod is for photographing auroras overhead. It is extremely difficult and uncomfortable to look up through a viewfinder while crouching down. And with the pandemic, the Northwest Territories in Canada was completely shut down and John Barclay and I had to cancel our aurora tours two years in a row, thus no burning need for the tall tripod. And while I’ve run into other situations where a six-foot tall tripod would come in  handy, I wasn’t about to pay Gitzo or RRS prices for one. My current Gitzo GT3530LSV can pretty much handle most everything I throw at it. And that’s my reason for waiting on Colorado Tripod Company and I’m sticking to it!

I tried sending more messages through their website and wasn’t getting a response. It got to the point that I was wondering if they were even still in business.

A few weeks ago, I tried sending yet another message, basically asking if anyone was there and wondering about the status of the 4-Series.

To my surprise, about a week or two later I received an email from their customer service rep, Chloe.

There was the familiar story about being overwhelmed by the popularity of the Series-2 and their ball heads and having to hire some of the work out to local machine shops. Also, there was no ETA for the production of the 4-Series tripods.

(I wish they would communicate this with waiting customers. Online forums are not being kind to Colorado Tripods and I believe – and told Chloe – that transparency would go a long way in reassuring people.)

But then, Chloe told me that she could offer me a different tripod, the Vector. The Vector is the same height and weight. The main difference is that the Vector has two leg sections rather than the three sections of the 4-Series, making it stronger and more rigid. It also means that the collapsed height is 29.5” rather than the 24” of the 4-Series.

The Vector, manufactured under the company name of Rocky Mountain Tactical Supports and initially created for military, law enforcement, and target shooting rifle enthusiasts, normally sells for $699, but Chloe offered me the choices of either getting the Vector at no additional cost (an upgrade), waiting for an indeterminable time for the 4-Series, or getting a refund.

And while I really would have liked a tripod that was only 24” collapsed, I also really like having only two leg sections for faster setup.

Best part? Even at 29.5” it will fit in my travel duffel (without head attached).

I’ve not yet had the chance to try it out in the field, but initial fiddling with the thing makes me think I’ll like it a lot and I’ve already covered the upper leg sections with my preferred leg coverings: cushioned cork bicycle handlebar tape.

Bottom line, if you want a high-quality tripod at a really good price, you can try ordering one from Colorado Tripod Company. But be prepared to wait. Maybe for a long time.

I certainly hope they get their production woes straightened out, they make great gear at affordable prices.

Note: As of today (March 29, 2022) I’ve been informed that all the available Vector tripods have been sold. But give them a call and ask about it if you’re interested in getting one.