Selfie Sticks: A B&H Buying Guide

Whether you hate ’em or love ’em, there is no getting around ’em—literally. I have been bonked on the head by a selfie stick on the busy streets of New York, while skiing, and even in the confines of a major arena during a basketball game. Let’s add to their numbers on the street with a convenient buying guide to the best and the rest.

First, selfie sticks are not all that new—they have been around in some form since the 1990s and are basically an inverted monopod with a handle. But with the growth of the smartphone camera and the apparent need to document all that we do, the selfie stick has become a common sight throughout the photo-taking world. Truthfully, selfie sticks don’t have to be “all about you;” they are practical tools to be used for high- or low-angle shooting and can double as monopods or even hiking sticks.

But what differentiates one selfie stick from another? Generally, not too much, and that is part of the reason for their abundance. The best way to distinguish one from the other and to determine what will work for your needs is to think about these five characteristics: Camera Compatibility and Mounts; Length (folded length and total reach); Strength (build quality and load capacity); Remote Control Capability; and finally, Specialized Purposes or Accessories, such as mirrors, secondary mounts, or even underwater capability.

Mounts and Camera Compatibility

Nothing about a selfie stick really matters if it won’t hold your camera, but fortunately, most available models offer the versatility to mount any compact camera with a ¼"-20 tripod thread, and there are many models with mounts for smartphones and GoPro cameras. Long zoom point-and-shoots, larger mirrorless, and DSLR cameras are generally not a match for selfie sticks, because they are simply too heavy.

Sticks that are dedicated for smartphones or provide smartphone brackets include the very versatile Adjustable Selfie Stick from Revo, which features a GoPro mount but includes a ¼"-20 mount for point-and-shoot cameras up to 2 lb, and a phone mount that opens from 2 to 3". Its pole extends to 37" in four sections and the sections twist to lock firmly in place. It also has a ¼"-20 mount on the bottom of the stick, for additional placement.

Smartphone Selfie Sticks with Remote Control

Most selfie sticks that are designed for smartphones include some form of remote shutter control to trigger your shot from the handle. There are some that offer a free app to make the connection between phone and handle, others use an onboard cable, and still others that use Bluetooth technology to fire your camera from the handle.

Revo makes the Bluetooth Selfie Stick with Bluetooth connectivity that extends to 28" and fits devices up to 3" wide. The Dot Line Smartphone Selfie Extension with Bluetooth Shutter Release similarly offers Bluetooth remote control from iPhones and Android devices. The phone mount stretches to a wide 4" and the pole itself reaches 35". Its built-in battery is charged via a mini-USB port. It is available with rubberized grips in black or pink. iBower offers its Wireless Smartphone Selfie Pod with Bluetooth technology and an integrated mount for smartphones. It is listed as only compatible with iPhone 6 and later. Also from iBower is the High-Impact Selfie Stick for iOS and Android, which is a durable stick that reaches 40" and features a 180° vertical and 360° horizontal swivel. It comes with adapters for smartphones, GoPro, and a ¼"-20 mount. The Me-Shot Deluxe 2.0 Extension Poles with Bluetooth Remote from XSORIES, are marketed for smartphones, but also have a 1/4"-20 mount for small cameras weighing less than 14 oz. The smartphone clamp seems very durable and the sticks come with a separate remote control unit for simplified use and more versatile control. They reach up to 36.6"; each five-section, stainless-steel pole is sturdy with camera attached, and provides a wide loop for carabiners.

Design is clearly important at iOttie and its MiGO Adjustable Selfie Stick, with its folding cradle, isn’t obviously a selfie stick at first glance. It holds phones up to 3.5" wide, but can also accommodate a GoPro and offers a tripod mount in its handle. Remote control is provided by Bluetooth 3.0 and power for Bluetooth and its LED light comes through a Micro-USB connection.

Selfie Sticks for GoPro Cameras

Several models are available that cater specifically to the action-camera crowd and provide only GoPro mounts, or a GoPro mount in addition to a standard ¼"-20 screw mount. The Pro Pole has very durable and waterproof aluminum construction befitting its intended use with a GoPro. It extends from 13 to 37" and can hold up to 4.4 lb when used handheld, which is plenty strong for even a small DSLR with lens. If used as a monopod, it can hold as much as 7.7 lb. Natively, it offers a ¼"-20 mount on a quick-release plate, but also includes a GoPro HERO mount. It features a built-in mirror for better self-positioning. The Pole Handheld Extendable Camera Mount is the little brother to The Pole Pro and extends to 28.3" in four twist-lock sections. Its maximum load is 1 lb and it provides only a GoPro Mount. Its lightweight, waterproof, and durable build, foam grip, and wrist strap make it the ideal choice for skiers, surfers, and other GoPro users. SP-Gadgets offers the 20" POV Pole and the 37" POV Pole, which both have mounts that fit only GoPro HERO action cameras. The 20" poles collapse to just 8" with a twist-lock design and a sure-grip rubber handle with textured EVA surface, as well as an included wrist strap and carabiner. The 39" Remote Pole has four sections and collapses to 12".

GoPro’s own 3-in-1 Mount for GoPro HERO Action Camera has a folding design like no other selfie stick I know of, and a mini tripod is stored in the handgrip for further functionality. The handle itself can be removed completely if you only need stability and not its 20" maximum reach.

The GoPole Reach 14-40" Extension Pole is also a GoPro dedicated selfie stick with a rubber grip and easy-lock, four-stage reach. It provides a clip to hold a GoPro remote control unit and a ¼"-20 thread on the base of its pole, which can attach it to numerous items including the GoPole Scenelapse 360 Time-Lapse Device for smooth panoramic photos and videos. GoPole also makes cool extension handles for GoPros, including the Grenade Grip Compact Hand Grip and the Bobber Floating Hand Grip, which will keep your GoPro afloat if dropped in water. The GoPole Arm 2-Piece Extension Kit for GoPro HERO Cameras is an adjustable extension pole designed to attach to helmets or surfboards, and offers 8 and 16" configurations and a wide range of adjustment angles. It includes three high-torque thumbscrews to keep the camera on tight during wild rides.

Perhaps the most interesting selfie stick from GoPole is the Evo 14-24" Floating Extension Pole for GoPro Cameras. It’s hard and hollow clear plastic pole enables it to float and helps to keep it invisible when you are shooting a selfie. It provides a removable clip for GoPro remote, as well as a rubber grip and ¼"-20 thread at the bottom.

Designed to keep the pole out of your selfies is the Wizmount CU2pole Telescopic Extension Pole for GoPro. Its lightweight aluminum construction has a 45° bend that helps to prevent the pole from entering your frame. A three-axis GoPro mount assembly offers tilt, pan, and roll adjustments.

An all-around comer that can hold GoPro cameras and point-and-shoots up to 1.5 lb with its removable mounts is the Quik Pod SPORT Extension Pole, which reaches from 15.5 to 39". Its three-section aluminum pole is waterproof and meets the ASTM/ISO standards for saltwater use and locks using levers as opposed to twist-lock. A selfie mirror is built in and it includes a wrist strap, tether, hiking clip, and carry bag.

Selfie Sticks for Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Any selfie stick with a ¼"-20 mounting screw can be used to attach a camera if the camera is not too heavy, but there are a few standouts. Nikon has a sturdy model, the N-MP001 Selfie Stick, designed for the more compact members of its COOLPIX family. It reaches to 28.5" and collapses to just 7.3"; it holds cameras up to 0.9 lb and weighs 0.4 lb.

The Quik Pod DSLR/POV ULTRA Extendable Monopod will hold point-and-shoots and DSLR cameras and even has a quick release and a GoPro adapter. It is waterproof, can hold up to 4.4 lb, and is made from hard-anodized aluminum. With an included screw-in rubber foot, it is as much monopod as selfie stick.

From XSORIES comes a wide selection of very strong extension poles with ¼"-20 mount and a ball head for multi-angle shooting. Whether you are interested in the U-Shot Aluminum Extension Pole, which reaches to 19.3", or the Big U-Shot Aluminum Extension Pole that goes to 37" and collapses to 11.4", they both provide a load capacity of 6.6 lb, which will hold quite a big camera, if you consider that the Canon 5D Mark III with 70-200mm f/2.8 lens weighs 5.2 lb. Needless to say, you should check the strength of any selfie stick very carefully before using it with your gear. The XSories U-Shots are available in a range of colors, including Green and Deep Red.

Selfie Sticks with Tripods

The HISY WING Selfie Stick with Tripod serves as a monopod, a selfie stick, and includes a lightweight tripod that attaches to the base via a ¼"-20 thread. A sturdy aluminum build and 45" reach add to its compatibility with most smartphones and all GoPro devices. The multifunctional IK Multimedia iKlip Grip Smartphone Stand with Remote Shutter is a 4-in-1 support for smartphones. It is small enough to serve as a stabilizing handle, but also extends to 17.5" for selfies. The handle opens to become a tabletop tripod and its ball-joint attachment lets you adjust the angle up to 90° and rotate 360°. A Bluetooth remote control is included and has a 33' signal range.

The Quik Pod Pro Extendable Handheld Boom-Style Tripod not only serves as a selfie stick that can collapse to just 7.5", it is easily converted into a tripod using the included leg adapters. This multi-functional and pocket-able device extends to 18.5" and can hold cameras up to 10.5 oz. It features a ¼"-20 mount and a mirror for self-positioning.

The Long and Short of It

A selfie stick’s primary purpose is to get your camera out and away from you just enough to include you, your friends and a degree of your background in a pleasing portrait, and most selfie sticks extend to approximately 35", which is more than enough length to complete such a task. Others max out at 19" and fold a bit smaller for pocket-ability, but there are some that push the limit in terms of their extended reach or compactness when folded.

The veho MUVI VCC-A028-LMP Extra-Long Extendable Monopod reaches to 57" and is designed for use with action cams. A swivel head, ergonomic rubber grip, and wrist strap are ideal for comfortable capture of “adventure moments” and a ¼"-20 mount enables use with MUVI and other action cams, as well as regular cameras.

The Stealth iPole XL from FastCap Tech extends to 109"—that’s 9 feet to you and me—and gives you options that few other selfie sticks can. The flip side is that it only collapses to 41", so it is not great for simple travel and group photos. Its three-section aluminum pole is strong, although at full extension, you need to be sure it can hold and control your camera. It’s locked to length with quick-release flip locks and has a ¼"-20 mounting screw. An optional SuperMount is available to attach smartphones.

YoungBlood makes four extension poles that really push limits, in terms of selfie sticks. They are built strong, with an aluminum inner pole and fiberglass exteriors. They utilize spring-loaded extensions to raise the poles, and brass punch-ins for secure locking. A welded base plate provides the strength to hold heavy gear, and a three-way adjustable locking quick release mount with ¼"-20 is included. The smallest of the four is the HEADS-UP Photo Pole, which runs from 2 to 4'. The LIFTER Photo Pole extends from 4 to 8', the Levitator can be raised from 6 to 12', and the Elevator is a beast that is 8' long and doubles to 16'.

Compact

While most selfie sticks will fold down to about 8", there are few out there that collapse even shorter for handy access in your backpack, purse, or even your pocket. The XShot Pro Ultimate Camera Extender is ready for GoPros and compact cameras with a dual mount system. It collapses to 7", extends to 32", and holds gear up to 1.25". Its rubber grip is specially designed for a solid grip in inclement conditions.

Specialty Sticks

For those with certain applications or just wishing to test the waters of what you can photograph yourself doing, a handful of extension devices are available for particularly smooth shooting, action capture, and underwater use. The FastCap Tech iPole Trekking Pole is a multi-faceted tool that extends your reach from 27 to 53" as a selfie stick, but also can serve as a monopod or a hiking pole. A ¼"-20 screw will attach most compact cameras and it has a flexible, detachable gooseneck mount for easy angle adjustments. An aluminum-alloy build with lever locks and a steel tip is rugged on the trail, and it even has a detachable rubber foot for use as a monopod when indoors, and a snow basket tip for winter use. A cork handle is comfortable when hiking, and absorbs moisture.

The Fat Gecko Kaboom, from Delkin Devices, is a carbon fiber boompole with five interchangeable shafts that can be inserted into one another or removed for customizable extension, from 15 to 60". Its carbon fiber build is, of course, strong and lightweight, as well as waterproof, and certainly ready for hard action. Its ball head has a ¼"-20 male thread and the handle has a ¼"-20 female thread for optional mounting. Stainless-steel pressure buttons lock the sections into place and a rubber handle with wrist strap keeps the pole in your hand. Included with the Kaboom are strong adhesive mounts to attach it to a helmet, as well as safety and closed helmet clips. Two GoPro Adapter mounts are included.

The Joby Action Jib Kit and Pole Pack is more than just a stick; it is portable jib system that will allow you to add smooth movements to your self-portraiture. The package includes three 20" aluminum extension poles that screw together, and two adjustable pole clamps. One clamp goes toward the base of the pole, providing a handle to operate a pulley system for tilt control, while the other goes at the end of the pole and features a camera mounting bracket with a 1/4"-20 screw.

The KNEKT FPSH Functional Pole System Handle with GoPro Adapter is the primary part of a system that enables customizable reach for action cam and standard camera shooting. The handle is floatable and rust proof and extends by adding 12" pole extensions, which can be purchased in packs of two to fit your needs.

Under the Sea

DiCAPac makes the Floating Selfie Stick with Bluetooth Remote Control that is waterproof to 32.8' and provides Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. It holds phones, rotates 360°, and provides a ¼"-20 mount that will hold a camera up to 4.4 lb.

The SeaLife Aquapod Underwater Monopod offers versatility and a polycarbonate and aluminum design, able to withstand the hardships of underwater use. It can reach to 53" and collapses to 18", but can hold cameras up to 7.7 lb, including all underwater cameras made by SeaLife. Its ¼"-20 mount will, of course, hold other cameras and underwater housing units, and it includes a GoPro mount and quick-release plate, too. A lanyard with belt clip, selfie mirror, and flip-lock extensions round out its feature set. Also, a Mini version is available that holds the same weight but extends from 15.5 to 38" and includes the GoPro adapter.

Finally, if your photography brings you in or near water but not under it, the sturdy aluminum UKPro Pole 54HDF Floating POV Camera Pole for GoPro floats in fresh and salt water and has a brightly colored handgrip for visibility.

What’s your favorite selfie stick? Tell us in the Comments section, below.