We purchased the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripod so that our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and review it. Read on for our full product review.

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripod is part of a long line of high-end photography gear. As a brand, Manfrotto is focused solely on equipping professional photographers with the gear they need to support their art, their vision, and their business. When we tested the aluminum, twist-lock version of the Befree for about a week in New York City, we found it to be one of the best tripods available, travel or otherwise. But it does have its drawbacks, most notably its hefty price tag.

With a brand like Manfrotto, it’s no surprise that the Befree is designed to fit into the bag of a discerning photographer. The black unit we tested features a variety of tasteful silver accents that give the tripod a subtle sense of quality. The only obvious color contrast here is the bright red Manfrotto circle logo emblazoned on the mount.

You can buy the Befree Advanced tripod in blue, red, or a more silvery design, but we think black is the way to go. We also really liked the subtle triangular accents sprinkled throughout (from the rubber feet to the leg adjustment knobs), which give the Befree a more modern look than the cylindrical shapes of other units.