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HEIPI W28S review: the travel tripod that folds to 45cm and splits into two
1.4kg, folds to 45cm, holds 20kg — and the centre column detaches into a second tripod.
Best for: Travellers of average height who want carry-on size without giving up load capacity.
From $399 Check current price at HEIPI
The HEIPI W28S is a carbon-fibre travel tripod whose centre column detaches and becomes a second, working tripod. That one trick is the reason to consider it: you carry 1.4kg and 45cm of folded length, and you get two supports instead of one. Whether it suits you comes down almost entirely to how tall you are.
Who this is for
- Travellers who want a tripod that disappears into carry-on luggage
- Anyone shooting two things at once — a second camera, a light, or a phone alongside a mirrorless body
- Photographers who have outgrown a cheap aluminium tripod but do not want to carry a studio one
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| W28S standard | $399.00 | Carbon-fibre legs, KF50 ball head in either quick-release or twist-knob form, detachable sub-tripod, 2-year warranty |
| With HP39 quick-release plate | $412.99 | The standard kit plus a spare plate — colour sent at random |
| With Sabertooth C100 super clamp | $478.00 | Adds the clamp for mounting to railings, branches and poles where legs will not fit |
| With a second KF50 head | $508.00 | Makes the sub-tripod fully independent — both supports get their own head |
Pricing checked September 2026 on the vendor's own page. Prices change — verify before you buy.
What is good, and what is not
Good
- 1.4kg with the ball head fitted and 45cm folded: it genuinely fits inside carry-on luggage rather than strapped to the outside.
- Rated to 20kg (44lb) — far beyond what a tripod this size normally holds, and enough for a long telephoto on a full-frame body.
- The three-pillar centre column detaches into a second working tripod, so a second camera or a light does not mean a second bag.
- Two-year warranty, free shipping over $99, and US and EU warehouse stock quoted at 12 business days or less.
Not so good
- Maximum height is 152cm, which Digital Camera World calls modest. — fine at average height; a reviewer at 6'1" had the camera at belly level and crouched. Your height decides whether this matters at all.
- The lowest leg sections are thin, and there are a lot of flip locks to work through. — the thin sections are the ones you leave retracted most of the time anyway.
- It does not convert into a monopod. — only relevant if you were counting on that; the detachable sub-tripod covers a different need.
- The built-in phone mount is the least sturdy part of the package. — it is a bonus on top of a camera tripod, not the reason to buy one.
- $399 is flagship money for a brand most buyers have not heard of. — Peak Design's aluminium model is $399.95, so it is priced at the market, not above it.
The verdict
If you are around average height, this is the most tripod you can carry for 1.4kg — and at $399 it undercuts Peak Design's aluminium model while holding 20kg and splitting into two supports. Nothing else at this packed size does as much. The one thing to be honest with yourself about is height: at six foot and over you will be crouching, and no centre column fixes that. Everyone else is getting a carry-on tripod, a second tripod and a 2-year warranty for the price of one.
If it is not the right fit
No single product suits everyone. If the drawbacks above rule it out for you, these are where we would look next — including options that earn us nothing:
| Option | From | Better if |
|---|---|---|
| HEIPI W28 Lite | $269.00 | The same 3-in-1 idea for $130 less, if you can accept the lighter-duty build |
| Peak Design Travel Tripod (aluminium) | $399.95 | The slimmest packed profile on the market, and a brand with a long support record |
| Manfrotto Befree | — | A cheaper, simpler travel tripod from a mainstream brand with parts available everywhere |
Questions people ask
How small does it actually fold?
45cm (17.7in) folded, weighing 1.4kg with the ball head attached. That fits inside most carry-on bags rather than hanging off the outside.
How much weight will it hold?
It is rated to 20kg (44lb), which is unusually high for a tripod this size and covers a full-frame body with a long telephoto.
Is it tall enough?
It reaches 152cm with the column raised. That is comfortable if you are around average height and frustrating if you are tall — reviewers over six foot report crouching to use it.
What is the warranty and shipping?
HEIPI lists a 2-year warranty, free shipping over $99, and US and EU warehouse delivery quoted at 12 business days or less.