Hey Roksliders.
I spent about an hour at the Outdoorsman’s Booth at WHCE chatting with Courtney about this.
I switched to Carbon back in 2012 and never looked back. I thought everyone did! Hahaha.
I didn’t even know that Outdoorsmans doesn’t offer a Carbon option in their USA line. Her point was that aluminum offers more stability/durability with little weight penalty and is why they haven’t offered a Carbon option.
She got me thinking for sure. And I’m really wondering what you all think on this. So I’ve set up a head-to-head (more on that below) and a poll.
Please vote in our simple poll above (you must be in full-site mode, it won’t show in Tapa Talk).
Feel free to comment below if you have any other feedback.
On the Head-to-Head...(*Note, the following two tripods were swapped out with those shown in the thread at 3/25/20 Edit)
Outdoorsmans supplied me with their Compact Aluminum.
S&S Archery supplied me with a SLIK 624 (the one I’ve been running since 2018).
Over the next month, I’ll be testing them under my Swarovski SLC 15x56 and BTX 95.
I’ll be using the Outdoorsmans Pan Head
Here are some initial specs:
Outdoorsmans Compact Aluminum: 2lbs, 6ozs (38 ozs total) at 46” extended (had to add the Center Post Extension-short to match the SLIK) 14-1/2” collapsed
SLIK 624: 1lbs, 14 ozs (30 ozs total) at 45.5” extended, 14-3/8” collapsed
So the SLIK is running 8ozs lighter.
Courtney said their testing has shown the Aluminum as more stable, so I’ll do some real-world testing on that. I don’t doubt her, but I want to determine if the extra 8oz is worth the extra stability.
3/14/20 Edit:
I’ve been working with outdoorsman‘s the last couple of days and told them some of the critiques that members had pointed out, i.e. that this won’t be a fair comparison with that long extension.
So they are going to send a different tripod that offers more leg support without having to use such a long extension. It’s a prototype, but they’re pretty sure the production model will be the same. From Outdoorsmans today: “
“ this prototype that I am sending is the same exact collapsed height of the medium that we have in production but it is 3 sections instead of two and extends to a height of about 52". It will most likely completely replace the current medium tripod in our product line (and available to public later this spring...”
So Roksliders, we get first look at this! It’s on it’s way so hoping to have some initial thoughts this time next week....
That’s why I like doing the semi-live reviews, because I learn so much from you all. Just about every time I do a review like this, people point out things that I hadn’t even thought of!
So hold tight, they’re going to get that shipped.
Finally, on the poll that is above, it is not asking you if you prefer the Slik or the Outdoorsman in this review, just what your material preference is for any tripod, i.e. Do you prefer aluminum or carbon?
Thanks all!
3/25/20 Edit.
OK, due to member feedback and in the interest in getting the most fair and current review, Outdoorsmans and S&S sent new tripods:
Outdoorsmans sent their new Medium Aluminum Prototype
-Weight is 2lbs 12ozs (vs the previous 2lbs 6 ozs)
-Extended Height is 51.5" (vs. the previous 46")
-Collapsed Height is 18.5" (vs. the previous 14.5")
you'll notice in the pics below, it gains it's height by it's legs, not the extended center column like the Compact shown above
S&S sent the upgraded SLIK 624 that includes a spring loaded center hook and a blue collar under the twist locks (for aesthetic purposes according to Rob at S&S)
-Weight is 1lb 13.3 ozs (vs. the previous 13.9 ozs)
-Extended Height is 45.75" (vs. the previous 45.5")
-Collapsed Height is 14.5" (same as previous)
12/8/20: The final review is done! Thanks for everyone's input. Outdoorsmans Standard vs. SLIK 624
I spent about an hour at the Outdoorsman’s Booth at WHCE chatting with Courtney about this.
I switched to Carbon back in 2012 and never looked back. I thought everyone did! Hahaha.
I didn’t even know that Outdoorsmans doesn’t offer a Carbon option in their USA line. Her point was that aluminum offers more stability/durability with little weight penalty and is why they haven’t offered a Carbon option.
She got me thinking for sure. And I’m really wondering what you all think on this. So I’ve set up a head-to-head (more on that below) and a poll.
Please vote in our simple poll above (you must be in full-site mode, it won’t show in Tapa Talk).
Feel free to comment below if you have any other feedback.
On the Head-to-Head...(*Note, the following two tripods were swapped out with those shown in the thread at 3/25/20 Edit)
Outdoorsmans supplied me with their Compact Aluminum.
S&S Archery supplied me with a SLIK 624 (the one I’ve been running since 2018).
Over the next month, I’ll be testing them under my Swarovski SLC 15x56 and BTX 95.
I’ll be using the Outdoorsmans Pan Head
Here are some initial specs:
Outdoorsmans Compact Aluminum: 2lbs, 6ozs (38 ozs total) at 46” extended (had to add the Center Post Extension-short to match the SLIK) 14-1/2” collapsed
SLIK 624: 1lbs, 14 ozs (30 ozs total) at 45.5” extended, 14-3/8” collapsed
So the SLIK is running 8ozs lighter.
Courtney said their testing has shown the Aluminum as more stable, so I’ll do some real-world testing on that. I don’t doubt her, but I want to determine if the extra 8oz is worth the extra stability.
3/14/20 Edit:
I’ve been working with outdoorsman‘s the last couple of days and told them some of the critiques that members had pointed out, i.e. that this won’t be a fair comparison with that long extension.
So they are going to send a different tripod that offers more leg support without having to use such a long extension. It’s a prototype, but they’re pretty sure the production model will be the same. From Outdoorsmans today: “
“ this prototype that I am sending is the same exact collapsed height of the medium that we have in production but it is 3 sections instead of two and extends to a height of about 52". It will most likely completely replace the current medium tripod in our product line (and available to public later this spring...”
So Roksliders, we get first look at this! It’s on it’s way so hoping to have some initial thoughts this time next week....
That’s why I like doing the semi-live reviews, because I learn so much from you all. Just about every time I do a review like this, people point out things that I hadn’t even thought of!
So hold tight, they’re going to get that shipped.
Finally, on the poll that is above, it is not asking you if you prefer the Slik or the Outdoorsman in this review, just what your material preference is for any tripod, i.e. Do you prefer aluminum or carbon?
Thanks all!
3/25/20 Edit.
OK, due to member feedback and in the interest in getting the most fair and current review, Outdoorsmans and S&S sent new tripods:
Outdoorsmans sent their new Medium Aluminum Prototype
-Weight is 2lbs 12ozs (vs the previous 2lbs 6 ozs)
-Extended Height is 51.5" (vs. the previous 46")
-Collapsed Height is 18.5" (vs. the previous 14.5")
you'll notice in the pics below, it gains it's height by it's legs, not the extended center column like the Compact shown above
S&S sent the upgraded SLIK 624 that includes a spring loaded center hook and a blue collar under the twist locks (for aesthetic purposes according to Rob at S&S)
-Weight is 1lb 13.3 ozs (vs. the previous 13.9 ozs)
-Extended Height is 45.75" (vs. the previous 45.5")
-Collapsed Height is 14.5" (same as previous)
12/8/20: The final review is done! Thanks for everyone's input. Outdoorsmans Standard vs. SLIK 624
Last edited:
