LAST EDITED ON Dec-18-14 AT 06:53PM (MST)[p]I have several tripods that I am using at the moment.
I have three manfrotto pods.
One Vanguard.
And two Gitzo tripods.
I have owned in the past, the Outdoorsman and a couple others.
If you want my opinion, the best "buy" is a carbon manfrotto.
If you want the best tripod period, its easily the Gitzo.
Jims is absolutely correct in my opinion.
The Gitzo systematic can not be beat. But they will cost you.
I really like the gitzo safari.
I would recommend the Gitzo mountaineer, which series depends on your size and weight preference.
If you want a cheaper option, the outdoorsman is not bad.
But, for the same cost, I would go with a Manfrotto 055CXV3 Its bulletproof.
I have one that has taken three falls (steep rocky sheep country) with my spotting scope on it.
The scope did not survive two of the falls but the tripod is like new.
If you are serious, and you want to buy "one more" tripod, save up, get the Gitzo.
There is a reason they are the number one tripod used by professionals.