Flexible Tripods

A tripod that holds on to things

A flexible tripod has legs made of bendable segments. You can stand it on a table like any small tripod, bend the legs to stand level on rocks or uneven ground, or wrap them round a post, a fence, a branch, a railing or a bike handlebar, so almost anything becomes a place to put the phone. It is the tripod to take walking and travelling, and it weighs next to nothing in a pocket.

The flexible tripods here

The tripods in this range are the octopus style: hard plastic legs with rubber rings along them and rubber feet, so they grip what they wrap round and do not slide on a table. A phone clip sits on top on the standard quarter-inch thread, and the clip comes off, so a small camera can go on instead. Some come with a Bluetooth remote, which takes the picture once the phone is fixed somewhere you cannot reach.

How to choose and use a flexible tripod

The thing to check is weight. Bendable legs hold a phone well but have a limit, and a big phone in a thick case, with a clip-on lens on it, can make them droop or tip. Each product page gives the most it holds and the width the clip opens to, so weigh and measure your phone in its case. Check, too, that the clip leaves the phone's side buttons and camera clear once it is fitted.

When you wrap the legs round something, wrap each one firmly, ideally one way and then the other, and give it a gentle shake before you let go. Over water, a drop or a busy pavement, keep a hand close for the first few seconds. On a windy day, wrap it low rather than high.

Questions people ask about flexible tripods

Can a flexible tripod go on a bike?

For a still photo or a short clip with the bike stopped, yes. For riding, a proper bike mount holds far more firmly.

Will it hold the phone upright?

Yes. The clip turns on the thread, so the phone can stand upright for short social videos or on its side for photos.

What powers the remote?

A small coin cell, which on one of these is not supplied because of shipping rules: the product page says which. The government's product safety office warns that button and coin cells can badly injure or kill a child if swallowed, so keep cells out of reach of young children.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Mini tripods
• Tall tripods
• Tripods with remotes
• Remote shutters
• For travellers
• Guide: Phone tripods, gimbals and selfie sticks