Getting Down and Dirty with “The Kit” from Two Vets Tripods

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Over the recent months, my experience with The Kit from Two Vets Tripods has been nothing short of remarkable. Whether navigating the challenging terrain of backcountry hunting in the mountains, embarking on thermal night runs in pursuit of pigs, or competing in a Precision Rifle Series (PRS) match, this tripod has consistently delivered outstanding stability within its compact design. Notably, its smaller and more compact center section contributes to weight reduction and enhances overall packability. This versatile tripod has proven itself valuable for various applications, including glassing with spotting scopes and providing a solid platform for shooting with rifles weighing nearly 20 pounds.

The Kit Specifications:

Legs

The Kit by Two Vets Tripods is designed with four segments for each leg. This allows the tripod to pack down into a compact 22.5″ or extend to a usable height of 65″. Standing at over 6 feet tall, I’ve discovered that this tripod fulfills all my needs and extends taller than other compact tripods. The legs are made from carbon fiber and feel quite rigid providing a great strength-to-weight ratio. Unlike some cheaper carbon fiber tripod legs with thinner sidewalls, The Kit employs a thicker 30mm main tube to enhance overall rigidity. For this reason, it can easily support heavy rifle setups and is rated up to 44 pounds.

Locks

Each section features a twist lock mechanism for adjusting the tripod’s height. These locks are made from metal, and only take about a third of a rotation to unlock the leg extensions. The locks crank down tight and hold everything wherever it has been set. Throughout my testing, I never had these slip on me. However, my sole critique lies in their lack of substantial texturing, making them a bit slippery and challenging to grip when wearing cloth gloves. While I prefer a lever system for locking, these twist locks offer a more compact and lightweight alternative. Ideally, incorporating some rubber on these locks would enhance their usability in various conditions.

Adjustments For The Kit

Near the head of the tripod, at the top of the legs, you’ll find angle locks that regulate the width of the tripod’s base. Offering three positions, each leg can be independently locked into place. These locks operate as intended, featuring a robust metal-to-metal interface. 

Feet

The Kit is equipped with standard rubber feet with threaded inserts. This gives the option of replacements if desired. While some individuals prefer using aftermarket feet, I’ve personally encountered no issues with the rubber ones. They offer notable surface area, proving effective on soft or muddy terrain, and additionally act as a damper compared to their metal counterparts.

Head

Two Vets Tripods designed The Kit to be modular and in so doing allows it to accept any screw-on head type. The following are a few of the available head options from Two Vets: 

• 55MM Dual Tension Arca
• 55MM Dual Tension Area 419 Clamp 
• 44MM Dual Tension Arca
• 44MM Dual Tension Area 419 Clamp

Throughout my testing, I used a 55MM Dual Tension Arca head from Two Vets Tripods. This larger ball head worked great. I am a big fan of the layout of the tension adjustment knobs. It utilizes a ball head with dual adjustment, having a large knob for coarse adjustment and a smaller knob for fine adjustment. The ball head is smooth and provides a constant level of resistance when panning and maneuvering a rifle no matter the orientation depending on the tension set. The rotation of the head itself is also very smooth with no noticeable rock or creep. 

The included Area 419 Arcalock was a nice touch, and never allowed my varying rifle setups or spotting scope to slide around. 

The Kit Portability

Again, The Kit was designed to be a true hybrid tripod that was good for everything from backcountry hunting to using at a PRS match and I did both with it. I spent a week living out of a backpack in the snow between 10,000 and 12,000 feet searching for elk, and the tripod fit into my Eberlestock Team Elk V2 back without an issue. While potentially excessive for just a spotting scope, The Kit serves as a sturdy foundation for a rifle setup. The noticeable weight of around 5 lbs, especially with the addition of a ball head, was outweighed by the perceived benefits.

Furthermore, during a week-long camping and hiking adventure in Iceland, I managed to barely squeeze The Kit into my suitcase. This level of versatility is not typically afforded by larger tripods, making it a crucial consideration, particularly for those flying to hunting locations.

READ MORE: Leupold Carbon Fiber Tripod

The Kit’s Performance

Throughout my testing, The Kit helped me get much steadier shots than with the tripods I have used in the past. The Two Vets 55mm ball head was fantastic, and the tripod worked as intended. I spent many nights out with this tripod hiking around hunting coyotes and wild pigs with thermals and was able to take some pretty far shots with it. I used it without issue to shoot steel silhouettes out at 500 yards as well. 

The sole challenge I encountered during my use of this tripod pertained to the screw securing the Area 419 Arcalock to the ball head, which gradually loosened over time. While out hunting pronghorn, I detected a subtle wobble in the setup that progressively intensified. However, after removing the Arcalock, and torquing down the mounting screw, the setup was back to being rock solid.  

Summary

The Kit tripod by Two Vets Tripods proved to be a versatile tool out in the field. From backcountry hunting, to target shooting, this tripod worked in all circumstances. Priced at an MSRP of $605, it provides a solid foundation to shoot from. The Kit’s overall stability and performance make it an excellent choice for those in search of a multi-purpose tripod for diverse outdoor adventures.