Pedco UltraPod GO Tripod Review

Back in the early 2000s, before we were all using our mobile phones as adventure cameras, a first generation Nikon CoolPix digital camera accompanied me on all of my mountain bike rides. Many of those rides were solo excursions, exploring singletrack around the Twin Cities. I wanted to capture action footage, so I purchased a tiny REI-labeled fold-up tripod that included a strip of velcro around the legs for strapping the thing to trees, poles, etc. That little tripod was a permanent fixture in my bag for years. It still makes its way into my pack from time to time. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon the Industrial Revolution (parent of a bunch of cool gadget brands) site a few months ago that I found out about Pedco, the brand behind one of my essential pieces of mobile photography gear.

Pedco still makes that simple little tripod, called the UltraPod I, and it’s virtually unchanged from my sixteen year old version. They also offer another tripod, called the UltraPod GO, with new features that cater to the selfie and POV crowd. Could this be the best $15 you’ll spend on photography gear?

Tripod

A wide stance makes the UltraPod GO stable in tripod mode for POV cameras, Micro 4/3rds, point-and-shoots, or mobile phones.

PowerStrap™

The 13″ PowerStrap™ allows you to strap the UltraPod to tree branches, poles, fence posts (pictured), bicycle handlebars, etc for stable long exposures or action shots. Or strap it to ski poles, trekking poles, or dead fall for a makeshift selfie stick.

 

Capturing a hyperlapse video on iPhone 6s during the Barr Brothers’ set at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, May 29, 2016.

 

SPECS

• Designed for use with POV video and small to medium-sized high performance cameras.
• Pistol Grip
• 13″ (33 cm) PowerStrap™ mounting system 360 degree ball-mount adjustability.
• Holds cameras up to 1 lb. (0.5 kg).
• Cast aluminum ball
• Grippy TPE handle
• 1/4 x 20 tripod mount