I Destroyed PotatoJet's Hydraulic Tripod | Tribex Durability Test

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

Thomas, please don't ask me to borrow any of my tripods! 😂 Greg

[@tonyjohnson3752]

This was an excellent video! I appreciate the thought and effort you put into this production as it feels so different from your standard video work. The result is a very entertaining watch, well done!

[@danielhenzphotography]

Photographer's best friend? James Popsys wants a word with you 😂

[@ryandocpolk]

I still maintain that the Iceland trip is both warranted and necessary.

[@bongjovi4168]

Having gone through more tripods than camera bodies over the years. I settled with a Gitzo tripod and Really Right Stuff head. Both will outlive me unless I lose it.

[@mizshellytee]

This was giving Top Gear "Indestructible Hilux" vibes (if you know, you know). Benro had been working on their own self-levelling tripod for some time (the Theta; available in 61" and 67" versions, the latter may still not be tall enough for your liking) but I can't tell if it's been released yet?

[@stevemccrory9130]

Orderable at $600 for the smaller Theta / $700 for the Theta Max, and has been shipping since mid-2024 according to their site. Tripod head included.

[@Patlong310]

Another youtuber did a review on it and had the same complaint about how fast the hydrolic clamp is, but he figured out you can pull the handle back out as you're letting go and its locked instantly.

[@marcel9568]

Gerald Undone.

[@Bokooda]

@@marcel9568 He also said unless the clamp was closed 100% the legs just moved in and out freely.

[@doplinger1]

Couldn’t find a smaller space to open the tripod in? A closet? A half-bath? 😂😂

[@DavidSenteno]

5 minutes in and I'm exhausted from all the dropping and picking up. I'm going to take a nap. Thanks Thomas.

[@anthonymara4533]

I for one want to see an uncensored version of your attempts to disassemble this tripod. I do know that a fluid head can be pretty nice for landscape work, though I personally think they're too heavy for anything other than roadside photography.

[@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection]

I smiled all along this video. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face tonight.

[@AlistairHig]

It's the fact that even though you're deliberately dropping/knocking it over you still give it the, "Oh no...."

[@HikingBob]

It's an innovative idea, but definitely a non-starter for landscape work. a) Too heavy.(more than 5 pounds!) b) not available without a fluid head that a landscape photographer has no use for, which brings me to... c) it's far too expensive ($800 in the US). It would probably be significantly cheaper if it was sold without the head. and d) the inability to easily disassemble it to clean it makes it dead in the water. I've many times had to take apart a tripod in a hotel or on a ship to clean it after a day in rough weather, just so I could use the tripod the next day, and not being able to do that would make this tripod useless.

[@krimke881]

Thomas. Your content anxiety are unheard of! =P the short montage of disassembly attempt was as it should be. quick, short explanation, and perfect fit in the video. So can we now look at the subject of ; What's the point of buying an expensive tripod, when you can buy 3 for the same price? ..since they eventually will commit self harm anyways, to avoid being taken out to the beach. Get cheaper gear, make sure to clean it now and then, and you'll always have a good backup, always have one that works, always have on you like, always have one for the current conditions and always have one when the other one finally completely breaks.

[@scotty4418]

Certainly a few barriers to overcome but as you said Tom, fair play to them for trying to be innovative although in the longer term will it still be marketable, that’s a question I kept coming back to

[@SomeonewithaSony]

Wait, tripods can be stripped and cleaned??!

[@SubiTrekker]

I had an "automatic" Bogen (now Manfrotto) tripod model# 3050 in the 1980's that I used for weddings. It was solid as a rock. All three legs extended at the same time with the release of a single lever and it had a geared center column with a crank. It worked fantastic. It also weighed about 20 pounds! No carbon fibre back then, lol!

[@Denmarkone]

There's quite the Bear Grylls vibe when you cut to the beach. Hilarious!

[@daniel.lopresti]

Somewhat along the lines of the Sachtler Flowtech - though that's probably in a totally different budget, and mostly geared at the film world. As well as totally different use case, generally not involving sand, saltwater, and tumbling down mountainsides, and more at home in a cosy studio :)

[@Imakeener]

Don't say not to subscribe based on this video - it's a brilliant, real-world review! You present really well and this covers all the bases I'd actually want covered for a decent review! Manfrotto do a tripod where you can release all the legs simultaneously - the 058 - I've had mine for about 20 years. However, it's a heavy beast, more studio related, certainly not viable for trekking with! I am surprised though that no one has done something similar to it until now - the simultanous leg release is sooo useful!

[@OfficialEthern1ty]

Next, do the auto balancing motorised tripod :P

[@Albert-nu5ls]

Great video! One thing to consider, if it is truly hydraulic, there is a closed circuit with fluid. I would say you need to be careful with this while dismantling the legs. You don’t wanna mess with hydraulic oil..

[@martyntorode7126]

Buster Heaton, should've filmed this one in black & white. 😁

[@guycl2381]

Now that was fun !!! And good info ! Kind regards, Guy.

[@DarrenJSpoonley]

You certainly put it through its paces, concept good, practicality not as good it seems ! Funny review and well done Pal

[@JohnSmith-vy4oh]

This type of trigger release tripod has existed in the shooting community for many years. I use my monopod trigger stick for both shooting and photography, it’s really good in most situations..

[@bartjes2509]

Nice Thomas ! The first scratch is always the hardest to get over. After that...

[@JohnPaul-ii]

If you can’t pull it apart for cleaning then it will not be on my list either. Sticking with the IFOOTAGE tripod. Thanks for sharing again Thomas.

[@Thereison]

How would something like this work in freezing temperatures? I imagine the self-extension would take a hit As always though, excellent video. Single-handedly sold me on the product, from the durability tests alone. Would love to see more of these kinds of product testing - the real world abuse scenarios are not something you see too often!

[@anyjimblogs]

For me this tripod is not aimed at Landscape photographers and I think we all know that. It’s an amazing product for pro photographers and videographers - not landscape photographers - who need to work fast in a clean environment. So Pro Price for Pro users working on high end projects. It’s a 1st Gen product so will have issues, as all 1st Gen products have, but it’s great to see innovation from a user like Potato Jet and not huge faceless companies. 👏👏

[@martinmahler7994]

I’m only halfway in this and honestly, it maybe the best product review I’ve ever seen across all genres.

[@SafoCZ]

This very much reminds me of Whistelin' Diesel's durability tests of off-road cars. Very nice tripod.

[@samatkinsphotography]

I enjoyed watching this review. Salient points made and far from gimmicky, as some have posted on here. I’ve been skipping your content of late but this has brought me back 😊

[@AadidevSooknananNXS]

This intro was GOLDEN

[@JasonLorette]

You definitely put it through it's paces...any tripod that goes out it water, dust, dirt, mud, snow, sand....NEEDS to come apart to be cleaned. This seems like a "studio/on set" tripod...and it's useless if you can't clean it.

[@michaeltillman886]

What's up Dude? Really great video. I've seen Mortan Himler; "God, I hope I spelled his name right" use that same tripod, and boy did he look cool. After seeing this, I don't think so. Great video Dude. Very educational.

[@andrewjones-productions]

Well done Thomas! A very important video highlighting real life usage. I think that Potato Head has come up with a novel and useful tripod. Nevertheless, I am struggling to understand which part of it is 'hydraulic'. A cable is not considered to be 'hydraulic'. A hydraulic system involves hydraulic oil and pistons in my book and that has none of that. Whilst I salute Potato Head for the design of this tripod, I do feel that describing it as 'hydraulic' is grossly misleading.

[@Manzoku13]

Thomas Heaton meets Whistlin' Diesel...

[@JonathanPalfrey]

Great in depth review, you put that poor tripod through a lot 😂. Regarding the price, for a video tripod it’s actually really cheap. It’s at the bottom end of the mid range, look at similar satchler tripod with head or Miller tripod and they are around £2k-£2.5k. Those £300 Manfrotto ones aren’t great so it would be interesting to see how this compares.

[@davidbarber9892]

I use a Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 Adjustable Non-Slip Tall Tripod with my air rifle. It has a standard fitting so can attach a camera mount to it. Works the same and is very lightweight but not as strong as the tribex.

[@goodidea3970]

8:04 OMG you have me laughing so hard. I like your style of testing! I had high hopes for this tripod, but found it too expensive for what it offers.

[@baobo67]

Thanks, Very comprehensive review. Hopefully less ''Cons'' in future models including price. IMO Weight and stability are the priorities for ''Landscape'' Have forwarded this to a wedding videographer colleague.Quick set up could interest him.Cheers

[@PaulMSmith]

Looks like a great addition to a storm chasing kit. May be able to finally catch that one lightning bolt that always drops while you're faffing with the tripod on setup. lol

[@josephasghar]

Anticipate seeing this brand of tripod clogging my eBay feed in the near future.

[@pettersorsdahl1400]

Good one! Think I'll stick with my Manfrotto 055...

[@philippr8600]

Very entertaining video - nice alternative, but I'm also looking forward to the next outdoor photography shoot ;-)

[@petripuurunen]

Looks good but need proper testing in arctic, cold winter conditions. Like on my backyard most of the year around.

[@paulmills8472]

Any photos of Wasdale Thomas?

[@davidrushworth658]

Very entertaining and enjoyable critique, I won't be buying one......definitely! What tripod and head do you use?

[@davidcrighton3431]

Two other cons. First up that grip sticking out would annoy me, I'm guessing/hoping that it folds away. Secondly, there is no footage of collapsing the legs. I guess it is no easier, and possibly more hindrance, than standard legs. Other than that, stripping down a tripod? I'm still using a 25 year old Manfrotto 190b and 308RC ballhead that has had zero maintenance and still works flawlessly.

[@raymondludlow5970]

Functionality and reliability are the most important things for me when tripods are concerned

[@Johno530]

I forgot about this tripod. Thank you for doing the hard work that Small Rig should have done before releasing this. Classic cash grab by them. A solution to a problem that doesn't need solving...

[@burrdaddy]

Thomas woke up and chose violence.

[@johuntcosmos]

Joys of carrying a fresh water bottle and microfibre cloth to the beach are being highlighted in this video.

[@curthostetter187]

One of your funniest episodes ever. Well done.

[@ossieperez8835]

Not sure of build, but be careful of hydraulic pressure, realeasing suddenly on pulling apart. Also if truly hydraulic, with hydraulic fluid, look up injection injures. There's some serious safety cautions required here.

[@petero6471]

Anyone else think the ending is 'somewhat abrupt' ?

[@jsfaulds]

This video reminds me of the program Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. 😃

[@daveturner5305]

If you were that clumsy then I wonder how your cameras survive!😅

[@TheMadmacs]

potatojet rocks

[@uavsitesurvey]

I’ll wait for the £99 temu version in 2 weeks time 🤨

[@DesertPackrat]

Man, that looked like a lot of fun! Send me any old tripod you have so I can do that too.

[@NiklasMalmqvist]

I've been photographing for the last 20 years and never used a tripod once. Don’t really know what to use one for, unless you are taking long exposures.

[@huexley]

Thomas Rig Everything

[@marcinp.8108]

I used Manfrotto which has similar functionality. With dolly it was nice in studio for a view camera... But outdoor? For landscape we need tripod, not anchor.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

Wow $799... Ouch.. This a huge issue Thomas, a tripod that can not be cleaned make it a brick. So is will not sell to out door photographers and I can't see this $799 tripod with it's plastic is a NO! Lucky you did not pay for this tripod...

[@davids2720]

It’s an interesting concept, I’m not a landscape photographer, I shoot people, portraits, events etc. but I won’t be buying one. Interesting to see it though.

[@philipblair7307]

Did anyone else grimace every time that poor tripod hit rocks?

[@trishf29]

Great idea for the right photographer, but perfection will take a few more years. However, Thomas, this review was excellent! Won’t be buying.

[@WilliamCrespo]

you have to do those tests with the camera attached lol

[@Mecholable]

I am a simple man: I see a swiss army knive, I like.

[@spidersj12]

Good thing you can't keep dropping squares space off a cliff side until it breaks.

[@CalebCarterFilm]

Martin Freeman's photographer brother

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

I'll take it.

[@CalebCarterFilm]

@ThomasHeatonPhoto 😂

[@ryanjmauchmar]

For $800... it needs to live through anything!

[@Twa-Dags]

When I finally manage to kill my Three Legged Thing tripod and ball head, the only new one I can see me buying is the ifootage gazelle. Problem is, the three legged thing appears to be bombproof 😂

[@Kramfors1]

Very entertaining 😂 and interesting!

[@marksuchomelsr6698]

For the 7 seconds more that it took to set up the manual tripod, this is just another photography gimmick that you don't need. Another great review.

[@brianc5581]

Yeah not convinced lol, sure does look sturdy.. but the last thing i want is more weight when going out :/ My 3 legged thing works just fine, don't need this :D

[@MattysChannel1357]

I destroyed a tripod in -20deg weather, most probably it became too cold and brittl, and the leg just snapped when I put a little bit of force on it, it didn't even bend.

[@tomjohnson3728]

Add a manual...And I thought I was old, lol. That is what 800$? Doing well my son.

[@outlawmonkey]

What's the tribot of your joice?

[@nigelwest3430]

I think this is a classic case of creating a product to cure a problem that does not exist, this idea is nothing new, look at the Manfrotto 058B it has a leaver system that allows you to release all three legs at a time or individually (admittedly you wouldn't want to carry it around with you, as it is rather heavy)

[@TrechEc]

£800 for a tripod... aint for me afraid, clearly for industry types not the average photographer. it is cool though and i want it :P

[@PhilThach]

A delightful review, Thomas. I laughed out loud a couple of times.

[@ison5622]

the tolerance's are tight dust / sand won't get in no need to clean internally

[@oldgrumpyjim5003]

After a few dunks in the Scottish sea it will end up mince😂

[@xavierstapleton9780]

are you selling the video head?

[@ronalderb9692]

For $799.99 in US dollars, it's not for me.

[@davidipema7898]

small rig is nice, i like my cage around my camera , they implement thinks that are good for fotografie , 👍 and there is the eye cup for the sony a7c serie 🙂 wen i go for a tripod than ,i got my innorel tripod , it works for me 😄

[@ianmcdiarmid4563]

Dont Subscribe - theres a first!

[@rolandgibbs9036]

It's not an exaggeration to drive over your tripod with your van. Trust me, it's not. EDIT Had my Gitzo for about 30 years now. Still perfect but heavy.

[@107drones]

Oh, OUCH!

[@OndrejBlazekPhoto]

Seems a bit over-engineered IMHO. I have tripod from 70's that came with 4x5 Sinar camera. All aluminum with central legs release. Simple mechanical locking break AND easy to take apart and clean. Downside ... it is quite heavy.

[@koenpijpersphotography]

Simple stuff usually works better

[@MrRedFox13Photography]

I looked it up i hurt my feeling $....... 😂

[@Wklambert]

Y'know Tom, if this photography thing doesn't work out, you might have a career in comedy. My cheeks hurt lmao 🤣🤣🤣

[@BTurner.]

Ifootage is so much better.

[@kelvinaitken9020]

What"s a Potato Jet?

[@kelvinaitken9020]

Ah. Sorted.

[@tedstriker2000]

the chances of anything coming from Ma...........sry

[@robokid13]

TIL there is a British-English spelling of Skeptical

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Ah, I even googled the spelling. I thought it might have been a K.