Sirui T-025SK Review: A Tiny Carbon Travel Tripod

The Sirui T-025SK is a carbon-fibre travel tripod built around one clear idea: take up as little room as possible when it is not being used. Its five-section legs fold around the head to a package of about 31 cm, while the tripod and B-00K ball head remain just under 1 kg. That is genuinely useful for city breaks, hiking and air travel, where a larger support is often left behind.

It is an older model, so stock and pricing now vary. Its appeal has not changed: this is a good fit for a light mirrorless or small DSLR kit when portability matters more than working height or maximum stability. It is not the sensible choice for a heavy telephoto setup, long exposures in wind or a photographer who needs a tripod at eye level.

What the compact design changes in use

Small folded length is only valuable if the tripod is likely to travel with you. At roughly 31 cm long, the T-025SK can go inside many daypacks instead of being strapped to the outside. Its legs fold through 180 degrees around the head, so there is less awkward bulk when packing. Carbon fibre helps keep the carrying weight low without making the leg tubes feel flimsy.

The trade-off is that the narrow, five-section legs have less leverage against movement than a larger tripod. Extending every thin lower section and then raising the centre column produces the advertised height, but it is not the most stable way to work. With a light camera this is usually manageable on firm ground; with a larger lens, wind or a slow exposure, use a lower position and avoid extending the centre column where possible.

Height, low angles and the centre column

Sirui lists a three-position leg spread and a removable two-stage centre column. The legs can be splayed for close-to-ground work, which is useful for foreground detail, food, flowers or a low landscape viewpoint. Removing the column also removes a source of wobble, so it is worth doing for the sharpest possible stills.

With the column fitted, the working height is around 1.3 m with the supplied head; without it, it is closer to 1.0 m. Neither figure makes this a comfortable eye-level tripod for a tall photographer. In practice, it works best when the camera is used from a seated position, on a slope, or when a small amount of bending is acceptable. That is normal for a travel model this short, but it should be a buying decision rather than a surprise.

The centre hook can take a bag for some extra damping, but use it carefully. A bag swinging in a breeze can make vibration worse; it helps only when it hangs close to the ground and is not moving.

Load rating versus a useful camera setup

Sirui rates the T-025SK for up to 6 kg, and the legs use 22 mm top tubes. That rating is best understood as a ceiling, not a promise that every 6 kg combination will be pleasant to use. A camera body with a compact prime, standard zoom or short telephoto is the natural pairing. The short lever arm of those lenses places less strain on the ball head and causes less vibration after the shutter is pressed.

A long 70-200 mm lens, a large DSLR with grip, or anything approaching the stated limit changes the balance. The kit may mount safely, yet framing becomes more sensitive to small touches and the image can take longer to settle. For wildlife or regular telephoto work, a taller tripod with thicker legs is a much better investment. Readers choosing between tiny travel supports can also compare the Sirui T-025X; it serves a similar lightweight role with a different design.

The B-00K ball head and Arca-type plate

The included B-00K ball head is one reason this package remains practical. It uses an Arca-type quick-release plate, a widely used standard that makes it easier to move a camera between compatible heads, clamps and L-brackets. The TY-C10 plate has a 1/4-inch camera screw and rubber contact surfaces to help prevent twisting.

There is a separate pan lock, so the head can be levelled and then rotated for a stitched panorama. That is more useful than simply saying it turns 360 degrees: a level horizon means frames align more easily in software. The head also has a portrait notch, but a very large camera can run into the tripod legs before reaching a comfortable vertical position.

Handling details worth knowing

The twist locks need only a short turn, which makes setup quicker than a tripod with bulky lever locks and keeps the folded shape tidy. Five sections do mean more locks to open and close, however. On sand or wet ground, it is worth cleaning the lower sections before folding them away; grit in any compact tripod’s joints makes operation less pleasant over time.

Rubber feet are fine for pavement, floors and dry rock. They do not make a lightweight tripod immune to wind, and the small bubble level should be treated as a quick starting point rather than a precision tool. The foam leg grips are a modest but welcome detail in cold weather, where bare carbon fibre can feel uncomfortable to hold.

Where it sits among travel tripods

The T-025SK makes most sense when its small size solves a real packing problem. A heavier aluminium tripod may cost less and be more stable for night photography, while a larger carbon model can be more comfortable to use for a full day. If compactness is the priority but a tabletop support is enough, the Sirui AM-223 mini tripod is another useful approach. For a more general guide to choosing a support for trips, see these travel photography tips.

30-second decision

Choose the T-025SK if you use a light camera kit and want a tripod that is easy to pack, quick to carry and capable of low-angle work. Its carbon legs, compact 180-degree fold and included Arca-type head are still a sensible combination for travel.

Skip it if you regularly shoot in strong wind, rely on a long telephoto lens, need eye-level height, or expect the stated 6 kg load rating to equal rigid support for a heavy setup. In those situations, the size and weight saved are likely to cost too much in stability.

For the original technical specifications, including dimensions and supplied head, see Sirui’s T-0S series page.

As an Amazon Associate, GottaPics earns from qualifying purchases.

If this compact format suits your kit, check current Sirui T-025SK availability on Amazon.