The best tripod for solo travellers: Joby GorillaPod Review

Updated: January 2025

Have you ever struggled to take a photo of yourself as a solo traveller?

Whether it’s standing in front of a famous landmark or with an incredible landscape as your backdrop, not having someone there to hold the camera can mean missing out on creating a photo memory… or does it?

One of my favourite solo travel hacks for capturing photos is using a tripod. As a solo traveller, there are moments when you wish someone could take your photo, but I think tripods are even better—they let you frame the shot exactly how you want it.

Over the years, I’ve tested quite a few tripods, from bulky ones that made me feel extra touristy to more compact designs. After many trials, I think I’ve finally found the best tripod for solo travellers who don’t want to lug around loads of photography equipment.

Why the Joby GorillaPod is the best tripod for solo travellers

Incase you haven’t guessed, I’m a huge fan of my Joby GorillaPod 3K. Why? Because it’s compact, lightweight, and incredibly versatile, which makes it perfect for a solo traveller like me who packs light.

The number of times I’ve bent this little guy into a tight space in my luggage or wrapped it around everything else in my day bag is countless. While the flexible legs are designed for gripping onto almost anything – trees, fences, poles, and more, making it perfect for tricky shots – they’re also incredibly handy when I’m trying to fit everything into whatever bag I’m using.

However, the GorillaPod is a bit different from your traditional tripod. Unlike standard tripods that extend in height, the GorillaPod stays compact, and this makes it easy to carry around and set up anywhere, I do sometimes miss the height advantage of a standard tripod.

Pros and cons of the Joby GorillaPod

I’ve used this tripod on my adventures over the last seven years and love it so much that I even recommend it on my list of the best gifts for solo travellers. Here are the pros and cons I’d say are worth considering if you’re deciding if this is the right tripod for you.

Pros (all the reasons I love the Joby):

• Easy to pack into luggage or day bag: The Joby’s flexible legs have also been a game-changer when packing it into my small suitcase or day bag because I can bend the legs to fit into spaces. I’ve also used the legs to attach it to the outside of my bag before.
  
  
• Lightweight: It’s also quite light weight, which makes it perfect for travel and those who pack light.
  
  
• Flexible Legs: It can grip onto various surfaces such as uneven ground or rocky pathways. Its legs are able to grip around objects such as poles and trees, allowing you to gain height or angle advantages while still capturing stable shots.
  
  
• Versatile with devices: Compatible with cameras, smartphones, and action cameras – you’ll just need to purchase any extra adaptors.
  
  
• Quick setup and easy to use: Simple to set up and adjust, saving time when capturing spontaneous moments.

Cons (things to consider if this tripod is right for you):

• Limited height: The Joby GorillaPod does not extend in height like a lot of traditional tripod, which is its biggest downfall for me. This means it can limit certain types of shots that require a higher vantage point, when then there isn’t something else to prop it up onto or flex the legs around.
  
  
• Stability issues on uneven surfaces: While flexible, the legs may struggle to provide stability on very uneven or slick surfaces.
  
  
• Weight capacity: May not support heavier cameras or equipment as effectively as a traditional tripod.
  
  
• No pan or tilt features: The ball head is great for moving the camera when it’s already set up, however, it lacks the ability to smoothly pan or tilt the camera, which can be a drawback for video recording.

Overall, I’ve had my Joby since 2017, and it’s been my go-to on all of my travels. Recently, I’ve noticed its legs are starting to lose some grip, but considering how much I use it – and, admittedly, how rough I tend to be with it it’s still holding up impressively well.

Unless you’re a professional photographer, this is a fantastic option for solo travellers who don’t want to sacrifice too much space in their luggage.

Features of the Joby GorillaPod 3k

• Rubberised leg ring grips and foot grips: The rubber grips incorporated into the design helps enhances stability and ensures the tripod stays in place on various surfaces or when wrapped around an object.
  
  
• Ball Head: Many of the GorillaPod models come with a ball head that allows for precise positioning and 360-degree rotation. This is great for when you have the legs in place but you need to changed the framing of the camera slightly – you can simply just reposition the ball head.
  
  
• Quick Release Plate: I love this feature because it enables me to quickly mount and dismount my camera from the tripod. I often leave the quick release plate attached to my camera so I can easily clip it back onto the tripod when needed.
  
  
• Comes in multiple sizes: Available in different sizes and load capacities to support devices ranging from smartphones to DSLRs. You can browse the Joby range here.

Is Joby GorrilaPod 3k the best travel companion for you?

When it comes to tripods, there are plenty of options for different devices, and it’s all about finding the right one to suit your needs and travel style. If the Joby GorillaPod doesn’t sound like the right fit (perhaps because you’re after more height), here are some other popular options you can compare to the Joby GorillaPod:

Tripod	Compatible Devices	Weight & Height
Joby GorillaPod 3K	• Compatible with cameras • Separate mount required to be compatible with smartphones.	• Extends to 30.5 cm in height • Weights 0.393 kg • Can hold up to 3kg
Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium	• Compatible with cameras	• Extends to 160cm in height • Retracts to 42.5cm in length • Weights 1.55kg • Can hold up to 8kg
Benro Slim Travel Kit – Aluminum	• Compatible with cameras • Separate mount required to be compatible with smartphones.	• Extends to 146cm in height • Retracts to 31.5cm in length • Weights 1.2kg • Can hold up to 4kg

If you’re a solo traveller like me, who packs light, the Joby GorillaPod is fantastic for its portability and flexibility, making it a great choice for many travel scenarios.

Have a question about the Joby GorillaPod?

I’d love to hear from you if any questions about the Joby GorillaPod. As always, you’re welcome to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below and I will do my best to answer you. Or feel free to send me a message via my contact page.