Light, sturdy tripod for Nikon?

Hiya, I'm not yet a professional photographer but am hoping to provide quality images to go with my travel writing. I own a Nikon D3100, some other basic equipment like a polarizer and and filter. I have a sturdy tripod that is very heavy as I found out last weekend climbing Snowdon with it! I was wondering what are the best, lightest but still sturdy tripods out there for shooting landscapes?

WISH I COULD Help

You'll want to get a carbon fiber tripod. Although, aluminum is just fine for your needs. It's heavier and gets very cold in the winter, but it's significantly cheaper. You will need a good ball head too. For the legs, I normally would suggest a set of legs with 3 segments because it's easier and faster to set it up compared to a tripod that has 4 segments. However, for traveling, you may end up having to go with a set of legs that have 4 segments because they can fold down to a shorter and more compact size. Often 3-segmented tripods are just too long to meet airline carry on luggage regulations.

For the legs, I would look at Really Right Stuf, Gitzo and Manfrotto as being the best brands. More bang for the buck? Then look at Indurro. Personally, I wouldn't consider any other brands for the legs. I use a Manfrotto (a.k.a. Bogen) 3021 set of legs. You will need to get a set of legs like the 3021 which has the ability to move and lock each leg independently of each other. You're going to need one that can be easily dismantled for general maintenance or quick repair. All of the top three (RRS, Gitzo, Manfrotto) have this type of design. They're all tough enough to pretty much last you a lifetime regardless of which camera system you use in the future.

For the head: My personal choice is a ball head. It's fast and easy to set up. I personally own an Arca Swiss but would also be just as happy with one from Really Right Stuff such as their BH-55 which I recommend for your needs. It may seem to be a bit of overkill, but if/when you upgrade your D3100 to one with higher megapixels, you'll have a ball head that is up to the task.

The combination could easily set you back $1,500. A good ball head alone is about $550. If you had to skimp on either the legs or the head, I'd go with a smaller, and more affordable ball head. Buy a good set of sticks once as opposed to buying cheap multiple times. This will prove to be the least expensive route in the long run.