On-Stage Counterweight - 6lbs (2.7kg)

Comments about On-Stage Counterweight - 6lbs:

When they work, they are great! They anchor my light stands nicely. However, I had a hard time getting these to wrap around the heavy duty Alien Bees stands I purchased, but eventually got around it by slightly compressing one of the legs of the stand with a wrench. These now fit on there well. Bottom line: check the diameter of your stands before purchasing!

Comments about On-Stage Counterweight - 6lbs:

6 lbs of deadweight is actually a bit heavier than I thought. I bought to of these to keep overhead mics from wanting to pull the stand down. I don't think that will ever be a problem now however, my gear just got a bit heavier! I wish I had thought about picking up a pair of these sooner. Sadly they are hard to come by and should be a standard feature or option when buying mic stands.

Comments about On-Stage Counterweight - 6lbs:

The Good: Compact for it's weight, simple (simple is great IMO).

The Bad. The U-shaped center is not big enough to fit my 8 foot Matthews stands! I can put the weight on a leg, but not on the center pole. I also wish it was a bright color like the Manfrotto weights.

In this area, the much more expensive Manfrotto weights are superior, but then they cost a LOT more.

I do have one suggestion: Before your first use, put some grease on the screw before you insert it into the weight. This will improve function by reducing friction.

Comments about On-Stage Counterweight - 6lbs:

Overall, not a bad idea, but it contains one flaw.

Pros: Small size for a lot of weight, nice design, in that the weight is kept centered around the stand or boom arm, decently made

Cons: Would be better if it were brightly painted, similar to the Manfroto units.

Flaw: Simply put, the U-shaped slot is not large enough to fit the vertical tubes of my 8' Matthews stands! They do fit the legs, so it's OK, but it would be better if it fit the center tube, to provide more balance. It also will not fit my Manfroto boom arm. This limits it usefulness somewhat.

One suggestion: Place a small amount of grease on the screw before inserting it into the weight. It makes it work better and should add to the useful life of the weight, as there will be less wear and tear on the threads.