Max Grip + Tripod Review

I bought the Max Grip + Tripod at the same time I purchased my GoPro Hero 8. I wanted an extension pole and a tripod, so I was delighted to find one that combined the two. Good travel gear should always have more than one use, and this ended up being the accessory I used the most. The tripod was handy for group shots, and the extension pole perfect for selfies. When not in use it easily fit into my Osprey bags pockets, or I had a pole clip on the strap it would fit perfectly in so that I could have it easily accessible. 

The extendable pole can go from 23 cm to 56cm, which I think is more than suitable when travelling. You can extend the pole when the tripod is set up making it easy to record videos of yourself. The twist and lock system is easy to set up to your required height. Just be careful to maintain it and wash it thoroughly as any sand or grit can cause it to jam or get stuck.

I found the tripod incredibly useful. The legs just flip out with ease as they are held together with a magnet. On a flat surface it’s absolutely perfect, being set up with no fuss at all. But its lack of adjustability holds it back on uneven terrain. Trying to keep it stable on anything that’s unlevelled reduces its stability, so to prevent it toppling over you are limited to the height you can extend it. Usually though I found a way around it, either by pilling up some stand or finding a flattish rock to balance on.

I found this most useful for timelapse footage, I would simply set and forget, returning later on to find a timelapse recording of the activity. This worked particularly well on K’Gari (Fraser Island) where I enjoyed the sunrise with my friends as my GoPro did all the work for me.

The Max Grip + Tripod can be used with all GoPro cameras, from the Hero range to the Max. Although it is primarily designed for the Max series to capture 360° footage. 

The Max Grip + Tripod is waterproof, which is great because if you have a go anywhere do anything action camera, then you want your accessories to be the same. But if you are at the beach or in the sea you do have to wipe it down thoroughly to ensure sand or salt does not get caught in the mechanism. I have taken mine on numerous trips to the beach and despite my best efforts the twist and lock mechanism is a lot stiffer than it used to be. It’s worth noting this case doesn’t float, so I would only recommend it for shallow waters unless you’re happy with the risk of it sinking to the bottom of the sea. 

As with any accessory, the usefulness of the Max Grip + Tripod is limited to your activity. So have a think about what you intend to use it for before purchasing. For general travelling and adventuring, I think it’s perfect. If you intend to do more underwater recording then neither the extension pole or tripod will be of any use to you.