Manfrotto
Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column
$229.95Cheaper
Released 2014
Best Tripods · head-to-head
Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column is cheaper at $229.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Peak Design
Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum
$399.95
Released 2019
Which is better: the Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column or Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum?
The Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column is the cheaper at $229.95. Get the Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum for the stronger spec sheet, the Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column to spend less.
See Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column on Amazon See Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum on Amazon
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column | Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $229.95 Legs only, MSRP | $399.95 MSRP, includes ball head |
| Brand | Manfrotto | Peak Design |
| Released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Material | aluminum | aluminum |
| Max height (in) | 66.9 | 60 |
| Folded length (in) | 24 | 15.5 |
| Max load (lb) | 44.1 | 20 |
| Weight (lb) | 5.5 | 3.4 |
| Leg sections | 3 | 5 |
| Head included | No | Yes |
| Release | flip_lock | flip_lock |
Sources — Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column: manfrotto.com (verified 2026-06-19). Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum: precision-camera.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column and Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Max height (in): Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column 66.9 vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum 60
- Folded length (in): Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column 24 vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum 15.5
- Max load (lb): Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column 44.1 vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum 20
- Weight (lb): Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column 5.5 vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum 3.4
- Leg sections: Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column 3 vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum 5
- Head included: Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column false vs Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum true
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column
No sourced tester review yet.
Peak Design Travel Tripod — Aluminum
One whitelisted hands-on review survived verification: TechRadar's James Abbott (Feb 2024), which covers both trims and addresses the aluminum model directly. He calls it well-made, stable, compact and lightweight with a unique, considered design that folds down to the size of a soda can, while flagging the high price, the novel fixed ball head, and the older-style clip leg locks. The aluminum trim keeps the tripod lightweight and saves money versus the carbon-fiber version. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Well-made, stable, compact and lightweight; Unique, considered design that folds down very small; Aluminum stays lightweight and saves money versus carbon fiber.
Flagged: Expensive even in the aluminum version; Novel ball head takes getting used to; Snap/clip leg locks rather than twist locks.