Many photographers are looking to capture scenes far from home, and tripods like the Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB offer a lightweight option that still offers the bells and whistles of full-sized models. At a modest 2.3 pounds, this won't slow you down as you travel and trek your way through urban jungles and expansive wilderness. With a stowed size of only 13 inches, the 235 is easy to carry and fits inside a variety of camera bags and backpacks. Its T-50 ball head is user-friendly and also handled the rigors of the road throughout our entire testing period. While the 235 doesn't have the highest weight capacity, it has a center column hook that easily allowed us to increase its stability by adding a bag. If your photography verges on the more adventurous side, we recommend the portable VEO 3GO 235CB as your camera's companion.
Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  High Performance Portability | Best Affordable Option for Travel | Best Tabletop Tripod |  Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $270 List Check Price at Amazon | $110 List Check Price at Amazon | $60 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $32 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $19.00 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | When your photography takes you far from the car, tripods like this are perfect when you still need a full list of features | Ideally suited for travel, this model merges lightweight construction, reliable function, and convenient packing into one package | Travel-friendly tripods like this prove that portability doesn't have to be expensive | This highly transportable tripod is great for small cameras or cell phones while traveling | An incredibly low-priced tripod for photographers utilizing a cell phone or smaller camera |
| Rating Categories | Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB | SIRUI Lightweight Ca... | K&F Concept 64 | Manfrotto PIXI Mini | Amazon Basics 50-Inc... |
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Stability (25%) | |||||
| Positional Versatility (20%) | |||||
| Portability (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB | SIRUI Lightweight Ca... | K&F Concept 64 | Manfrotto PIXI Mini | Amazon Basics 50-Inc... |
| Measured Weight | 2.31 lbs | 1.9 lbs | 2.7 lbs | 0.51 lbs | 1.23 lbs |
| Load Capacity | 8.8 lbs | 8.8 lbs | 17.6 lbs | 2.2 lbs | 4.4 lbs |
| Head Type | Ball | Ball | Ball | Ball | Three way |
| Level Indicator | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Material | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum & plastic |
| Max & Min Shooting Height | 53.3 inches to ground level | 54.3 inches to 6.3 inches | 64 inches to ground level | 5.3 inches to 5.3 inches | 50 inches to 16.1 inches |
| Folded Length | 12.8 inches | 13 inches | 15.5 inches | 7.28 inches | 16.9 inches |
| Included Phone Mount Adapter | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
It can be a huge nuisance to lug a full-sized tripod on a multi-location photo shoot or a seasons-long travel trip, but the VEO 3GO 235CB offers photographers a much more portable alternative when you still want a healthy list of capabilities.
Ease of Use
Vanguard offers a wonderfly user-friendly line of tripods, and the VEO 3GO 235CB is among the best of their lineup. While there are some other options that have faster setup/teardown times, the 235 is at the front of the pack.
The VEO 3GO 235CB uses a twist lock system to adjust its legs and the center column. With a uniform rubberized grip, these were easy to turn, even when wet or snowy, and we could still twist them with gloves on. Some of the travel-focused models we tested skimped on the tripod head, but the 235 has a T-50 ball head that boasts incredible performance despite its smaller locks. For a travel tripod, this is very feature-rich, but it doesn't have a multi-angled center column if you need to further tweak the shot. Fortunately, Vanguard designed this so the center column is at least reversible when you need to get your camera close to the ground.
Stability
As a small and packable tripod, the VEO 3GO 235CB isn't the most stable model we've used, but it's likely good enough for most traveling camera setups. If this metric is a priority for you, the 3GO is likely not the right fit, and it might be worth lugging a full-sized tripod with you.
With a manufacturer-listed weight capacity of 8.8 pounds, the VEO 3GO 235CB isn't going to work with the heaviest camera setups, but the simple hook in the column was easy to hang a bag from to make it more stable. Many full-frame camera/lens setups weigh less than the weight limit, and the VEO's skinnier legs have 5 sections to help reduce unwanted flex. If your travel camera setup is on the heavier side, we suggest being more cautious about extending the center column without a counterweight, but the 235 can still be used for its full range.
Positional Versatility
This model boasts excellent performance across a variety of settings and uses. It's easy to carry and excels as a travel tripod, allowing you to capture a variety of shots. While it doesn't quite have the same column adjustability as some of the top-scorers, the VEO 3GO 235CB held its own.
As we've already shared, the VEO 3GO 235CB is easy to bring along for a day or an entire season of backpacking and/or travel shooting. Its size also made it easier to handle as we set it up on steep hillsides and in complex setups on uneven stairs. Where the 235CB stands out is the fact that it still boasts a great ball head and reversible center column for a travel tripod. Vanguard managed to create a model that's half the weight of its full-sized siblings while only slightly diminishing its capabilities. Uniquely, the 235 is also designed to be used with cell phones, and comes with a cellphone mount and a remote.
Portability
This was one of the brightest metrics for the VEO 3GO 235CB. While there are smaller and even lighter tripods, this was far more capable than most of the travel-centric models.
The VEO 3GO 235CB is Vanguard's “do anything” travel model that's half the weight of its full-sized flagship options. Yes, there's some competition that goes much lighter even than the 235, but this one doesn't compromise on performance. 2.31 pounds is, in our opinion, very reasonable for a tripod with 54 inches of extension and allows you to essentially go to ground level. If you decide you only need a monopod, it'll take this setup below a pound.
Durability
While it's not uncommon for lightweight products to sacrifice durability, the VEO 3GO 235CB's carbon construction kept weight down while remaining resilient in drop and tip-over testing.
However, the 235 has skinnier legs and slightly less robust twist locks than ultra beefy tripods, and we found it somewhat less durable throughout our testing process. Most noticeably, the twist locks got more sticky when tightening them after gravel and dirt was introduced to the joints. Also, when we fully extended the 235, we noticed a very slight reduction in joint stability after deliberately banging it up on grass, rocks, and dirt. Besides these nitpicky and very minor setbacks, our team unanimously deemed this a roadworthy tripod, though we recommend not throwing it off a bridge.
Should You Buy the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263CB 100 Carbon Fiber?
This is a must-buy if you need a fully capable tripod and need to carry it over long distances. While there are less expensive models out there, few have the shot composition abilities of the VEO 3GO 235CB, and we think you'll love its performance as a monopod and for use with cellphones.
What Other Tripods Should You Consider?
If you can't quite stomach the high price of the VEO 3GO 235CB, consider the SIRUI Lightweight Carbon Fiber Traveler 5C, which is less than half the price of the 235 and weighs even less. If you want to go even less expensive and don't need as many features, the K&F Concept 64 is a fantastic model that boasts a weight capacity of 17.6 pounds.
—Zach Lovell
