You want three qualities in a video tripod: stability, stability, and stability. That’s the main point: to banish shaky camera work so that your videos look smooth and professional.

If you’re like most of us, you’ll also insist on ease of use, which includes  portability. The tripod that is too bulky or that requires too much fiddling is likely is the tripod that is left at home, where it won’t do your videos a lick of good.

The good news is that there are many excellent devices that excel in terms of stability and ease of use. The GripTight GorillaPod distinguishes itself in terms of astonishing flexibility. You can not only set it up to do the work of a conventional tripod, but—thanks to its arm-like appendages—you can also attach the gizmo to all sorts of objects found in the environment such as  a chair, a road sign, or a tree branch.

 

Price: $24.95 from Joby.com