Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3)

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

Replaced the original cups with these and they make my older bogen/manfrotto tripod much more steady. It just increases the surface area to grip to the ground because it conforms to the angle of the surface whether it is flat or not. The difference is huge. I do weddings videos and these will work great in all venues.

One aspect that seems a bit worrisome is that these are flexible rubber material and the part between the pivot ball and the rubber cup can come off with slight pull. Many times I carry lighting stands and other tripods in a cart and I am sure these rubber cups will bump off at times. If manfrotto had made them in abs or metal and just added the rubber layer on the bottom would have worked better in my opinion.

Over all, an excellent upgrade to my tripod and I am satisfied with its firmer grip.

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

Great for replacing the rubber feet that come with the tripod. It really stabilizes the tripod on most surfaces. They are a little bulky, but I knew this when I purchased them.

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

I love having these big suction-cup feet on my tripod!

The key element here is that the rubber foot attaches by fitting over/around a (retractble) metal ball. (Similar to the ball head you might have on top of your tripod.)

At its best, this allows the foot to easily swivel and adapt to almost any surface you may encounter. For example, setting up along the edge of a river where the bank consists of baseball-sized stones: instead of having to search for a spot that the feet would be stable, I mostly just had to look for where the shot would "look" best. Wherever that happened to be, it was simple to set the tripod in place, because those rubber feet just swiveled to the perfect angle, gripped onto the sides of the stones. Easy.

Now, The Warning:

The same design that makes these rubber feet easily moveable also makes them easily REMOVABLE. Which is fine when you choose to take them off. It's less pleasant, however, when you're hiking to your destination and then, without you noticing at all, they brush up against something (a branch; your arm) and one of the rubber feet just comes right off.

And if one does fall to the ground, you may have quite a challenge finding a small, round, bouncy, dull-black object.

Overall, the feet coming off wouldn't be quite so frustrating if replacements were available -- I would just keep a couple extra in my bag -- But They Are Not.

There is no way (that I've found) to order just the rubber feet. At this point, if you lose one rubber foot, replacing it requires you to purchase an entire "retractable spike foot" unit.

So, if you get these, you'll love them. But be very careful not to lose one.

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

excellent, sturdy, well made, a tight fit and the suction cups add to the overall stability of the tripod - a must buy

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

Replaced the original cups with these and they make my older bogen/manfrotto tripod much more steady. It just increases the surface area to grip to the ground because it conforms to the angle of the surface whether it is flat or not. The difference is huge. I do weddings videos and these will work great in all venues.

One aspect that seems a bit worrisome is that these are flexible rubber material and the part between the pivot ball and the rubber cup can come off with slight pull. Many times I carry lighting stands and other tripods in a cart and I am sure these rubber cups will bump off at times. If manfrotto had made them in abs or metal and just added the rubber layer on the bottom would have worked better in my opinion.

Over all, an excellent upgrade to my tripod and I am satisfied with its firmer grip.

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

Great for replacing the rubber feet that come with the tripod. It really stabilizes the tripod on most surfaces. They are a little bulky, but I knew this when I purchased them.

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

I love having these big suction-cup feet on my tripod!

The key element here is that the rubber foot attaches by fitting over/around a (retractble) metal ball. (Similar to the ball head you might have on top of your tripod.)

At its best, this allows the foot to easily swivel and adapt to almost any surface you may encounter. For example, setting up along the edge of a river where the bank consists of baseball-sized stones: instead of having to search for a spot that the feet would be stable, I mostly just had to look for where the shot would "look" best. Wherever that happened to be, it was simple to set the tripod in place, because those rubber feet just swiveled to the perfect angle, gripped onto the sides of the stones. Easy.

Now, The Warning:

The same design that makes these rubber feet easily moveable also makes them easily REMOVABLE. Which is fine when you choose to take them off. It's less pleasant, however, when you're hiking to your destination and then, without you noticing at all, they brush up against something (a branch; your arm) and one of the rubber feet just comes right off.

And if one does fall to the ground, you may have quite a challenge finding a small, round, bouncy, dull-black object.

Overall, the feet coming off wouldn't be quite so frustrating if replacements were available -- I would just keep a couple extra in my bag -- But They Are Not.

There is no way (that I've found) to order just the rubber feet. At this point, if you lose one rubber foot, replacing it requires you to purchase an entire "retractable spike foot" unit.

So, if you get these, you'll love them. But be very careful not to lose one.

Comments about Manfrotto Suction Cups/Retractable Spike Feet (Set of 3):

excellent, sturdy, well made, a tight fit and the suction cups add to the overall stability of the tripod - a must buy