Heipi W28S: Best Travel Tripod I've Used, Except for 1 Flaw!
Introduction
In this article, I’ll be reviewing the compact and lightweight Heipi carbon fiber travel tripod.
This is the W28S model, the second updated version of the original W28. In this new iteration, Heipi has made some improvements, which we will discuss in the video.
If you’re not familiar with travel tripods, they’re designed to offer similar performance and benefits as a full-size tripod but in a much smaller, lighter, and more compact form—perfect for travel.
I’ve spent some time using this tripod recently here in Italy to do some cityscape photography, and it can be a good option when you want to travel with a very minimal and light setup.
Let's start with some of the things that I like about this travel tripod from Heipi. Some of the things that are different compared to other travel tripods that are available.
Disclaimer: I need to let you know that Heipi did provide me with this tripod, but they have not paid for this video, nor have they sponsored or been involved in it in any way. They are seeing this video at the exact same time you are. They want me to be completely unbiased, and I’m making this review simply because I’m genuinely interested in this product and thought it might be worth sharing my thoughts with you.
1. Basic Specs of the Heipi W28S
The Heipi W28S comes with this sleek little hand-carry bag. I don’t personally use hand-carry bags for my tripods, but I have to say, this one is super cool and very classy.
The first thing that stands out when you look at the Heipi tripod, and what actually makes it quite unique, is its three-in-one design. It includes the main tripod, a smaller tripod that fits neatly inside the main one, and a nice, sturdy ball head.
Here are some basic specs:
It weighs 1.38kg (3 lb pounds) with the ball head attached
127cm height without the central column and 152cm with the central column fully extended
It has a minimum height of 22.5 cm (8.8” inches)
It folds down to 45 cm (17.7” inches), so it’s super compact
Price: $429
2. Heipi W28S Tripod Legs
The Heipi comes with five round design leg sections secured by four lever locks.
The tube diameters are 26mm, 23mm, 20mm, 17mm, and 14mm for the smallest section. Despite having five sections, the legs are impressively solid.
Once those lever locks are engaged, there’s no wobbling at all—it feels stable and reliable. That’s something I didn’t experience with the Peak Design tripod, which, to be honest, wobbled quite a bit and never really won me over.
Similarly to the Peak Design Travel Tripod, HEIPI has managed to trim down the fat, making the packed diameter just 7cm (2.7” inches), which overall, makes it much easier to stow in a backpack.
Let’s talk about those flip locks. Heipi clearly listened to customers' feedback and completely redesigned them, and I think they nailed it.
The new locks have an extended grip that’s much more comfortable to use. They are really nice to lock and unlock. I didn’t get to try the original version of this tripod, but the updates on this one make a great first impression.
A question I often get is: flip locks or twist locks? I think both systems have their pros and cons, and I think it’s a matter of taste. I’ve used both and I think either one is fine.
That said, I definitely prefer the twist lock system, but I have to say that these quick-release flip locks feel very solid and open up quickly and make the overall experience of setting the tripod up a breeze.
They’ve actually used what they call an “Embracing” structure for the flip locks, which offer better locking strength.
And a nice bonus: they’re super easy to detach for cleaning now. On the flip locks, you have a couple of handy screws that allow you to remove and install them if you need to clean the legs and adjust their tension.
3. Versatile Rubber Feet
Each leg of the tripod has a rubber foot, but there’s a clever hidden feature I really enjoy. If you unscrew the rubberized feet at the bottom, you’ll find a little spike tucked away inside. You can unscrew it, flip it around, and screw it back on the other side of the foot.
These spikes are small, but they can give you a bit more of extra stability when using the tripod on soft terrain, sand, or even ice. You’ll see this in the test I’ll show later on.
On this new model, the spikes are 30mm long, so they’re a bit bigger compared to the previous first version tripod—definitely a nice upgrade.
So, it’s just a neat feature, and what I really like is how Heipi’s implementation makes it super easy to keep track of those tiny spikes—no more worrying about losing or forgetting them.
4. The Heipi Apex and Sub Tripod
In this new version, Heipi has completely redesigned the leg lock mechanism, making it much more practical and easier to use.
All you have to do is pull the angle lock, and the leg unlocks smoothly, allowing you to adjust it to three different angles. Once it reaches the top position, it locks in automatically, so it’s always perfectly set right where you need it.
They’ve also added an upgraded 18mm bubble level for precise adjustments, and the sub-tripod legs feature 1/4"-20 threads, which are great for attaching tools like magic arms or other accessories.
Another nice feature is the lanyard at the bottom of the center column. So you can hang your camera backpack or a weight for extra stability.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of hanging things there, but I’ve seen some photographers find it handy.
Like most travel tripods, the Heipi has a center column. But instead of the usual slim design, this one has a unique three-pillar setup that makes it a lot more stable when fully extended.
It’s a smart design that feels way more solid than the typical center columns I’ve used. With a 20kg (44.1 lb) payload capacity, it supports virtually any camera setup with excellent stability.
Using it is simple. Just twist the ring below the ball head, slide the column up or down to the height you need, and lock it in place.
The result is an extended center column that feels rock-solid—way more stable than what I’ve seen with other tripods in this category. Heipi has even optimized the gap structure of the column to make the movements smoother and more precise.
Here’s the cool part, though: this isn’t just a more stable center column. It’s also a fully functional, smaller tripod. Heipi calls it the Sub Tripod, and you can completely detach it and use it as a secondary setup.
It features rubber feet, which is really good for using the tripod on hardwood surfaces and to increase the tension between the surface you’re putting it on. This sub-tripod is such a clever and unique touch that adds a ton of versatility.
And if you’re heading out for a shoot where you don’t need the extra tiny tripod and want to travel super light, you can shave off 200g by detaching the ball head from the sub tripod and putting it directly on the main tripod.
This way, you’ll have a lighter system to carry around—though you’ll sacrifice a bit of height range in the process.
If you need to get very low to the ground for a low-level shooting, you can of course fold the legs all the way flat with no central column. So, you have plenty of different options.
At first, I didn’t think I’d use this feature all that much, but I ended up using it a lot more than expected, simply because attaching and detaching it is so quick and effortless. I found it very useful to place my camera easily on tricky spots where a full tripod wouldn’t be as easy, especially for filming video footage to integrate into my YouTube videos.
5. Heipi W28S: The Ball Head
There are some other cool features that stand out on this Heipi tripod, and the ball head is definitely one of them.
The W28S tripod comes with a nice, big, sturdy ball head that’s very substantial and a very rare thing to find especially on a tripod targeted to this segment. It feels solid and well-built, and it’s definitely the biggest thing that separates this tripod from most travel tripods on the market.
It’s right the opposite of those tiny, cheap-feeling ball heads.
The ball diameter is 50mm, which is impressively large for a travel tripod. With a weight of just 290g and a 5kg payload capacity, it's more than enough for everyday use with a standard camera setup.
I’m able to carry my X-T4 and 50-140mm lens on it, and with such a solid ball head, it does feel a lot more solid than many of the flimsy travel tripods out there.
It can easily go vertical, on the side, like that. I generally turn my camera to a vertical position with the L-bracket, but it's nice to have this feature built-in for those who don’t use L-brackets.
To lock and unlock the ball we’ve got this nice lever that also controls the tension. You can pull it out and then get tighter if you need to. The tightness is quite strong, so you always have a piece of mind that your camera doesn’t go anywhere and it stays rock solid in place.
This is also one of the new upgrades on the W28-S version, so what I mean is that the lever lock is now a bit bigger, making it more comfortable and easier to use.
Another very important part of this ball head is the top quick-release twist lock clamp.
It’s Arca-Swiss compatible, so it’s not a proprietary tripod plate, and accepts a bunch of other brands, kind of Arca-swiss plates, like my Peak Design plates and camera L-Brackets, which is really nice.
You just need to put your camera up, and it snaps right on. To unlock you just twist, and it opens up the lock and you pull that out. The locking system is handled by this very nice and reliable little mechanism here that securely locks your camera. It’s really solid, and once it's dialed in, your camera’s not going anywhere.
There’s also a built-in bubble level and a retractable smartphone bracket. While it’s not the sturdiest smartphone mount I’ve used, it’s a nice bonus for those who want an all-in-one solution in a travel tripod.
The Heipi ball head also has a really nice and smooth panning knob with a little click mechanism, letting the ball head rotate 360°, which I really like.
You can adjust the click intensity with this tiny screw to set it to 10° stops or mute it completely. I really enjoy this extra feature to keep consistency when shooting panoramas.
6. Heipi W28S: Usability
So far, I’ve really enjoyed using the Heipi tripod, but it’s important to be clear about when it performs at its best and when it might not be the best choice.
I often find myself shooting in rough, sometimes challenging environments where the weather or terrain conditions are far from ideal, or hillside or slopes. In those situations, I'd prefer to bring a larger tripod like my FLM.
I’m 6 foot 1, so with a compact tripod like this one, which has a maximum height of 152 cm, the camera ends up around belly level when I’m on a hillside. This often means crouching to use the camera, which can get uncomfortable after a while. So, while I consider it a great tripod, it’s not ideal for every situation.
That said, for the work I do with tourism boards—where I focus more on documentary, urban, and lifestyle photography in busy places—the Heipi tripod is a fantastic option.
It's light and easy to pack, without compromising the photographic experience and quality of my work.
I can totally see myself lending it to Sabrina a lot for her work when traveling. She likes to pack light—way lighter than me—and since she’s shorter, the Heipi could really be the ultimate tripod for her.
7. What I Would Tweak!
As much as I really like this Heipi travel tripod, there are a couple of things I'd tweak.
I’m a big fan of the lever lock mechanism in general, much more than the regular knobs that most tripods use for their ball heads. In fact, all of my other tripods have the same lever mechanism.
ISSUE #1
The issue I have with the Heipi is the positioning and orientation of the lever, which, for me, is placed on the wrong side.
On my other tripods, the lever is on the left side, making it super easy to operate with my left hand while I use my right hand to operate the camera to frame the shot.
With the Heipi, the lever is on the right side, and I find it a bit less functional and harder to use. My left-hand motion doesn’t feel as natural, and my wrist ends up in a bit of an awkward position.
ISSUE #2
The second thing I’d change is how the lever locks the ball head. I’d prefer to pull the lever down to lock it, rather than pulling it up.
I just think it makes more sense, following the natural direction of gravity—kind of like how my other ball heads work.
ISSUE #3
Lastly, I really enjoy the panoramic feature with its clicking mechanism—it’s a lovely option to have. That said, I’d love a simpler way to toggle it on and off without needing an Allen key.
Of course, this is all based on my personal preferences, and I’m not saying my way is the best for everyone. It’s just what would make this tripod an even better fit for my style of shooting.
8. Final Considerations
Overall, I’m really happy with my experience using Heipi’s travel tripod.
I think it is one of the most innovative tripods out there, and they’ve made some smart design choices that work really well. The 3-in-1 design is super clever, the ball head is smooth and sturdy (probably the best I’ve ever used for a travel tripod in this category), and the build quality and stability are absolutely great for something so compact and portable.
At $429, it’s definitely an investment, but you’re getting a premium travel tripod packed with excellent features—perfect for photographers who want extreme compactness without sacrificing reliability and quality.
Plus, it’s about $200 less than the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, which, for the record, I’m not a huge fan of.
The Heipi tripod actually offers better stability, smoother adjustments with a fantastic ball head, and a more versatile 3-in-1 design, making it an even more attractive option for serious travel photographers.
If you would like to check out more information about this great tripod, here is the link you can use to learn more about the Heipi W28S travel tripod.
And that link helps me out, so I really appreciate it!
What About You?
That’s my review of the Heipi W28S 3-IN-1 Travel Tripod.
I’m really curious to hear why you chose the tripod you’re using now—what’s working for you, and what’s not? I’d love to know the little details, the reasons behind your choice, and any quirks or surprises you’ve encountered along the way.
So, please leave a comment and share your thoughts!
And if you found this helpful, please forward this article to a friend or fellow photographer who might benefit from it.
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