I own a couple of the distinctive squid-like GorillaPod tripods, all in different sizes, but the 500 hits the sweet spot between usability, portability and weight for me most of the time. The flexible arms can be wrapped around branches and signposts for setting up shots when I’m out hiking, and like the name implies, the 500 can handle a camera weighing up to 500 grams. More than enough for the iPhone 16 Pro, which is the only camera I bring on my hikes.
The GorillaPod 500 is 18.5 centimeters long and weighs 79 grams. I can save a few grams with its smaller siblings, but I find them too short to be useful in many cases. I pair it with the Joby GripTight 360° phone bracket which attaches to the ¼-20 inch thread on the tripod.
