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Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripods: two-minute review
When you think of the humble tripod and all of the variations available, it’s difficult to imagine that a slightly different take on the classic three-legged design is possible. But Ulanzi has done just that with the Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripod and GlideGo Video Tripod.
Before getting into specifics, these two tripods are exactly the same, except for the head, with both being built around the same legs and basic ball head design; it’s the video model’s fluid pan and tilt movements alongside the handle that differentiate.
Oh yeah, and there’s even a craftily hidden tool kit in the handle for adjusting the tripod. This head makes the video model slightly taller and heavier than the standard model, but the movements it allows for are impressive.
Both tripods also feature an articulating center column, which is rare for travel tripods, and this provides the opportunity for you to position the camera at many different angles. Further to this, the video version can achieve gimbal-like movements thanks to this feature, alongside 360-degree pan mechanisms on both the centre column and the head.
I love this feature and the creative camera angles and movements it allows for, which is something I’ve not seen with a tripod before, especially a video travel tripod. The head on this tripod features a fluid pan and tilt design that provides smooth movements without judder, which is essential for video.
One video tripod feature that is missing, however, is a levelling base; these are used to level the tripod head without the need to level the legs.
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The way around this simply comes down to the fact that the video features of the head are built onto a ball head with the pan mechanism above the ball joint. This cleverly and effectively mimics the effect of a levelling base, while also providing fast set-up in a lightweight and highly portable travel tripod. Then there are some 1/4in and Arri mounting threads for attaching accessories.
These are tripods where the head itself is an integral part of the overall package and can’t be changed. It’s essential to be aware of this because the head becomes an even more important part of the purchasing decision than a tripod where the head can be changed. That said, the two head options do work extremely well and avoid camera slippage thanks to the clip lock that secures the ball joint perfectly.
I’ve not seen this design on a ball head before, and it’s more effective than low-end and mid-range ball heads that use the traditional locking knob/dial. The GlideGo tripods use Ulanzi Uka and F38 tripod plates rather than Arca Swiss, so you can’t use L-brackets with the heads unless the L-bracket has a 1/4in screw thread. There is, as with most ball heads, a notch allowing you to position the camera in portrait format, so you can shoot vertically.
The tripod plate uses a locking system where you push it into the head to engage the lock, push the button to the side to lock the button and then slide and push the button to release. This is admittedly much quicker and easier to use than a knob-style lock, although I can’t say whether it’s better or worse – it’s simply another approach that works and is a pretty neat way of locking and releasing.
The overall build quality of the two tripods is excellent, with four carbon fiber leg sections that provide an impressive level of rigidity and support, especially considering the narrow diameter of the thinnest bottom section. Legs are secured by clips rather than twist locks, and I found them to be fast, reliable and positive in use when working with both tripods.
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The standard ball head version offers a height range of 16.1×72.4in / 41-184cm and weighs 3.44lbs / 1.56kg. The video version provides a height range of 17.3×73.6in / 44-187cm and weighs 3.88lbs / 1.76kg. Let’s just forget the numbers for a second and put it into context. This means that you can position your camera at over six feet with these tripods, which is high for compact travel tripods.
Both tripods have a max payload of 39.68lbs / 18kg, which is slightly misleading because this figure refers to the legs, while the head has a maximum payload of 11lbs / 5kg. This is still a commendable payload that can comfortably support the vast majority of camera and lens combinations, but a far cry from the headline figure.
Moving back to the articulating centre column, which is one of the defining features of the tripods, this also offers a telescopic function. This is where the articulating section is hidden within a vertical section until lifted out, and the outer section can then be left in position or raised to increase the height of the tripod.
There’s a useful hook at the bottom of the outer section of the tripod to add weight and stability when required, alongside a smaller hook on the inner column to add counterbalance if and when required.
While this is all great when finding angles, viewpoints and increasing the height of the tripods, it does mean that you can’t splay the legs to articulate the centre column at a low angle. Instead, you can keep the legs at their ‘standard’ angle and articulate the inner section of the centre column downwards. This means the camera is upside down, but you can shoot at low angles. It’s strange, but to be fair, it works.
Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripods: key specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
JJ05 |
JJ06 (video) |
|---|---|---|
|
Head |
360-degree pan, 90-degree vertical switch |
360 degree pan, 90 degree vertical switch -50 to -60 degrees tilt |
|
Leg sections |
4 |
4 |
|
Height |
16.1-72.4in / 41-184cm |
17.3-73.6in / 44-187cm |
|
Weight |
3.44lbs / 1.56kg |
3.88lbs / 1.76kg |
|
Max Payload |
39.68lbs / 18kg |
39.68lbs / 18kg |
|
Material |
Carbon fiber |
Carbon fiber |
Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripods: Price and availability
The Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripod and GlideGo Video Tripod were announced on 28 July 2025 and can be ordered directly from Amazon, the Ulanzi web site and on-line photographic retailers, in order that they’re straightforward to pay money for.
Ulanzi is a photograph accent firm you’ve in all probability come throughout, since there are numerous Ulanzi merchandise out there on Amazon. The firm is well-known for its low-cost equipment which can be manufactured to a excessive normal, and though the GlideGo tripods are priced equally to greater manufacturers, they’re nonetheless pretty and fairly priced based mostly on options and high quality.
The JJ05 GlideGo Travel Tripod prices $269 / UK£300 /AU$359, whereas the JJ06 GlideGo Video Tripod is barely dearer at $299 / £320 / AU$389. The tripods include carry instances, and the video tripod even has a helpful toolkit hidden away within the tripod deal with.
Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripods: Also think about
Should I purchase a Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripod?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
How I examined the Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripods
- Tested for a number of weeks
- Handling, stiffness and rigidity examined
- Ball head operation and options
The Ulanzi GlideGo Travel Tripod and GlideGo Video Tripod had been examined over a number of weeks for stills images and videography to check the precise options and performance of every.
This was with a number of completely different digicam and lens mixtures, taking pictures topics together with panorama, cityscape and for video, the main focus was on B-roll seize to check the actions doable with the GlideGo Video Tripod.
With almost 30 years of photographic expertise and 17 years working as a images journalist, I’ve used most of the cameras and lenses which have been launched in that point. As a working photographer, I intention to check cameras, lenses and equipment from a photographer’s perspective.
First reviewed August 2025