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Last updated: October 22, 2026
The Peak Design Travel Tripod made "packs like a water bottle" the thing every travel tripod is judged by. The Ulanzi Zero Y, designed with COMAN, copies the folding idea, swaps in a standard Arca-Swiss clamp, and lists for $279.95. That's about half the Peak Design Carbon's $599.95 list price, and even $120 less than the aluminum Peak Design.
So is the cheaper tripod good enough, or does the Peak Design still earn its price? We compared official specs, the hands-on stability test from ShutterMuse, and the known quirks of each head. Here's how they stack up.
The verdict in 30 seconds
- Buy the Ulanzi Zero Y if you want the lightest, tallest carbon option for the money, and you already use (or plan to use) Arca-Swiss plates and L-brackets. 👉 Check Ulanzi Zero Y on Amazon (fallback: search Amazon for Ulanzi Zero Y)
- Buy the Peak Design Travel Tripod if you want the shortest, slimmest pack size, the most polished setup, a built-in phone mount, and a clean path to fitting your own ball head later. 👉 Peak Design Carbon · Peak Design Aluminum
- Skip the Ulanzi Zero F38 unless you're already invested in Ulanzi/Falcam F38 plates. Its head uses a smaller, non-Arca plate (more on that below).
Specs side by side
| Spec | Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon) | Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum) | Ulanzi Zero Y (Carbon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (official) | 1.27 kg (2.8 lb) | 1.56 kg (3.44 lb) | 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) |
| Weight (ShutterMuse's scale) | 1,307 g | 1,613 g | 1,127 g* |
| Folded length | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) | 42.3 cm (16.7 in) |
| Max height, column raised | 152.4 cm (60 in) | 152.4 cm (60 in) | 156.7 cm (61.7 in) |
| Max height, column down | 130.2 cm (51.25 in) | 130.2 cm (51.25 in) | 132.7 cm (52.2 in) |
| Minimum height | 14 cm (5.5 in) | 14 cm (5.5 in) | 15.3 cm (6 in) |
| Leg sections / locks | 5 / aluminum cam locks | 5 / aluminum cam locks | 5 / flip-lever locks |
| Rated load | 9.1 kg (20 lb) | 9.1 kg (20 lb) | Head: 3 kg working, 5 kg max. Centre column: 18 kg |
| Head / plate | Low-profile ball head; Peak Design plate and Arca-type compatible | Same | Integrated ball head with 38 mm Arca-Swiss clamp, top bubble level, panning scale |
| Swap in your own head? | Yes, with Peak Design's Universal Head Adapter (3/8") | Same | Head isn't user-detachable; needs Ulanzi's separate centre column accessory |
| Extras | Phone mount stored in the centre column | Same | 3 stainless spike feet, hex key hidden in the column |
| Warranty | Lifetime (Peak Design) | Lifetime (Peak Design) | Lifetime guarantee (Ulanzi) |
| List price | $599.95 | $399.95 | $279.95 |
| Amazon | Check price | Check price | Check price |
*ShutterMuse weighed the F38 version, which uses the same legs as the Zero Y. Sources: Peak Design, Filmtools spec sheet, Ulanzi Zero Y specs, ShutterMuse. Not sure what load rating you need? See How Much Weight Should a Tripod Support?
Stability: the surprise result
You'd expect the tripod that costs half as much to wobble more. In ShutterMuse's hands-on comparison, the opposite happened. Reviewer Dan Carr, who has used the Peak Design for years, found the Ulanzi legs "noticeably more stable than the Peak Design tripod at all heights," with less flex in its round leg tubes and vibrations that died down faster. It did that while being lighter on his scale and taller at full extension.
Two honest caveats:
- ShutterMuse tested the F38 version. The legs are the same as the Zero Y's, so the stability finding carries over, but the Zero Y's Arca head itself wasn't tested in that review.
- A reader comment on the same review points to a separate video test that found the Ulanzi less stable than the Peak Design with both centre columns fully raised. That matches general advice: any travel tripod is least stable with the column up, so shoot column-down whenever you can.
Bottom line: on the legs alone, the Zero Y is at least competitive, and in the one detailed side-by-side test we found, it won.
Ball head and Arca-Swiss compatibility
This is where the two tripods really differ, and where most buyers should decide.
Peak Design's head
The Peak Design head sits flush with the legs when packed, which is a big part of why it folds so slim. The trade-off, flagged by several reviewers, is that you have to raise the centre column slightly before the head will move, and there's no separate pan or friction control. Photography Life and Focal & Frame both recommend an L-bracket for portrait shots with heavier setups. The plate works with many, but not all, third-party Arca plates and L-brackets; Peak Design keeps a compatibility list.
Ulanzi Zero Y's head
The Zero Y uses a standard 38 mm Arca-Swiss clamp, so mainstream Arca plates and L-brackets just work. It also has a top-mounted bubble level and a panning scale. The catches: the ball head is rated 3 kg working, 5 kg max, which is fine for most mirrorless bodies with standard zooms but not for long, heavy telephotos, and the head isn't user-detachable.
Want to use your own ball head?
Peak Design sells a Universal Head Adapter with the normal 3/8" thread. Ulanzi sells a separate centre column for this. ShutterMuse found that column used a 1/4"-20 stud, which means a reducer bushing for almost any ball head, and said it couldn't be shortened for low angles. Ulanzi's current product FAQ describes it differently, so check the accessory listing before you buy it. If swapping heads matters to you, the Peak Design is the safer choice today.
New to Arca plates? Read Arca-Swiss Quick Release Plates Explained and Are Quick Release Plates Universal?. If your current head creeps, Why Does My Ball Head Slip? covers the fixes.
Packability and carry-on travel
The Peak Design folds to 39.1 cm and about 7.9 cm across, the benchmark for slim. The Zero Y is 3.2 cm longer at 42.3 cm. In practice:
- Both fit inside many 20–30 L camera backpacks or in a side pocket with a strap. Measure your bag's main compartment first.
- If you fly with a small backpack and every centimetre counts, the Peak Design's shorter length is a real advantage.
- The Zero Y is lighter in the hand (1.1 kg vs 1.27 kg for the Carbon), which matters more on long hikes than in a carry-on.
Planning the bag too? See our Camera Backpack Size Guide and Best Camera Backpacks for Air Travel.
Price and value
| List price | Material | vs Zero Y | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulanzi Zero F38 | $248.75 (Ulanzi) | Carbon | about $31 less |
| Ulanzi Zero Y | $279.95 (Ulanzi) | Carbon | n/a |
| Peak Design Aluminum | $399.95 | Aluminum | $120 more |
| Peak Design Carbon | $599.95 | Carbon | $320 more |
The Zero Y lists at about 53% less than the Peak Design Carbon and about 30% less than the Peak Design Aluminum, while still being carbon. If you're deciding between carbon and aluminum in general, our Carbon Fiber vs Aluminum Tripods guide explains when the extra money is worth it. Prices change often; check Amazon for today's price before you buy.
Ulanzi Zero Y vs Zero F38: which Ulanzi?
The two look nearly identical, and buyers mix them up all the time.
- Zero Y: standard Arca-Swiss head, top bubble level, $279.95 list.
- Zero F38: same carbon legs, but the head uses Ulanzi's own F38 quick-release plates, which are smaller than Arca and not interchangeable with them. It ships with an extra centre column, reaches 159 cm, and lists for $248.75.
ShutterMuse couldn't stop a small Sony mirrorless kit from rotating on the F38 plate in portrait orientation and didn't recommend that version. For almost everyone, the Zero Y is the right Ulanzi. Only pick the F38 if you already run F38 plates across your cage, clips and mounts.
Also compared: Falcam TreeRoot and Heipi
Search and Reddit threads also pit the Peak Design against the Falcam TreeRoot (Falcam is Ulanzi's sister brand) and the Heipi 3-in-1. We haven't compared their specs here. If you want to look, the Falcam TreeRoot F38 Pro is on Amazon, and we'll cover it in a future head-to-head.
Who should buy which
- Hikers and weight-counters on a budget: Ulanzi Zero Y. Lightest, tallest and cheapest carbon option here.
- You already own Arca plates or L-brackets: Ulanzi Zero Y. No adapter shopping.
- Carry-on minimalists: Peak Design (Carbon if you hike, Aluminum if you don't). Shortest and slimmest folded size.
- You want to mount a different head later: Peak Design, thanks to its 3/8" Universal Head Adapter.
- City trips, car travel, first "real" tripod: Peak Design Aluminum or Ulanzi Zero Y. Both are strong; let pack length vs price decide.
- Telephoto shooters: neither is ideal. Look at a sturdier option in our Best Travel Tripods for Mirrorless Cameras roundup.
Smaller budget? The SmallRig AP-20 carbon tripod and K&F Concept 60" carbon tripod are covered in our main roundup.
Accessories worth adding
- An Arca-Swiss L-bracket for your camera body: makes portrait shots far more stable on either tripod. Pick one made for your exact camera model.
- A fast SD card for long trips: SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC.
- Spare batteries for Sony shooters: SmallRig NP-FZ100 2-pack with charger.
FAQ
Is the Ulanzi Zero Y as good as the Peak Design Travel Tripod?
On the legs, yes or better. In ShutterMuse's hands-on test the Ulanzi legs were more stable at all heights, a little lighter and taller. The Peak Design packs shorter (39.1 vs 42.3 cm), sets up more smoothly, and makes fitting a different head easier.
Is the Ulanzi Zero Y Arca-Swiss compatible?
Yes. It uses a standard 38 mm Arca-Swiss clamp, so most Arca plates and L-brackets fit. The Zero F38 version is the one that isn't Arca-compatible at the head.
Can I remove the ball head on the Ulanzi Zero Y?
Not directly. Ulanzi says the head isn't user-detachable; you need its separate centre column accessory to mount a different head. Check that accessory's thread size before buying it.
Does the Peak Design Travel Tripod work with Arca plates?
It works with many third-party Arca-type plates and L-brackets, but not all. Peak Design publishes a support page listing known compatible and problem models.
Which is better for carry-on travel?
The Peak Design. It's 3.2 cm shorter folded and very slim. The Zero Y is lighter, so it's the better pick if weight matters more than length.
How much weight can each tripod hold?
Peak Design rates both Travel Tripod versions at 9.1 kg (20 lb). Ulanzi rates the Zero Y's head at 3 kg working and 5 kg max, and its centre column at 18 kg. For mirrorless kits with standard zooms, both are plenty.
Related guides: Best Travel Tripods for Mirrorless Cameras (2026) · How to Choose the Best Tripod for Travel, Landscape & Wildlife · How to Choose a Ball Head · Gifts for Photographers (2026)
Featured photo: Deybson Mallony / Pexels