I have a stack of tripods that have been tossed in a junk pile over the years so it's definitely worth it to pay more for quality. I finally broke down and bought a Gitzo Mountaineer a few years ago and have been happy ever since. The tripod head is just as important. Obviously the shorter the tripod the lighter weight. I usually sit and glass so that's as tall as I really need. Carbon is super light and withstands hammering on rock and hard use. You may be able to find a deal on an almost new tripod on Craigslist, Ebay, or classified add section on different websites. Rokslide has a great classified section with for sale or wanted adds.