Price: £45, $70
Buy it: www.giottos-tripods.co.uk
At the other end of the scale to the Velbon, this Giottos monopod has the beefiest maximum load rating in the group, at a massive 12kg.
It's not overly heavy, weighing in at 620g and, thanks to its five-section leg design, is capable of extending from a fairly short 50cm to a towering 184cm. This makes it the tallest in the group, and well suited to use by giants.
Leg section diameters range from 18-30mm and the Giottos feels very rigid, even with its leg at full extension.
The only real drawback is that it doesn't have a tilt head. You can remedy this by fitting a Giottos MH7002-652 ball head but, at £45/$63, this means shelling out the same price as the monopod itself.
Pros… Good height and compact stowage.
Cons… No tilt facility, so you'll probably want to add a head.
WE say… Top quality, but not cheap if you want a ball head.
Score: 4/5
