Writing a post on the best monopods for sports photography is a difficult one. You see at face value a monopod seems like a very simple product. Hell it’s got two less legs than a tripod, how hard can it be?
Well after diving into the research for this article of our lonely one legged monopod, pole, stick, crutch friends. I realised there’s more than meets the eye for these one legged creatures.
Fundamentally a monopod is designed to hold onto your camera like there’s no tomorrow and keep it steady as possible.
This is critical for shooting a sports event as you don’t want to get blurry images or have your beloved camera stumbling on to the field mid play. So lets take a look at why you might need a monopod for your next sports shoot.
Why Do You Need A Monopod For Sports Photography?
Just like music, photography has endless variations and genres that allow you as a photographer to express yourself and capture amazing moments. Also just like a band, different instruments are needed for the type of music you want to create or in this case photos you want to capture.
More specifically, what about sports photography?
But we don’t have to be athletes to keep up the pace. Instead we tend to ”cheat” by using a telephoto lens which puts us In the middle of the action.
This is where a monopod comes into the picture to assist the photographer in capturing those magic sporting moments. But why a monopod?
Monopods are extremely portable on field and require no adjustment once you have extended it to your desired length. This means you can quickly pivot and then dash to the other end of the field and start shooting in an instant.
These benefits make a monopod your trusty sidekick when shooting any type of sporting event from football, soccer, baseball, boxing, ice hocky, basketball you name it! But maybe not lawn bowls, you might be ok there without a monopod ;).
We are now one step closer to finding out what the best monopods are for sports photography.
How I Found The Best Monopods For Sports Photography
- Maximum Load: Typically a telephoto lens is used for sports photography so making so your monopod can handle that weight is crucial.
- Extension Length: Is important so you can stand or kneel comfortably during a shot.
- Portability: Having a travel friendly monopod will save you a lot of headaches and money when traveling.
- Adaptability: This is also important as you might be attaching your DSLR or lens itself to the plate on the monopod. Having a screw that is reversible or interchange will make the monopod more useful.
If you are in a rush, here is a quick run down of my favourite monopods.
- SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod (Editors Pick)
- Sirui SUP204SR Monopod
- Dolica WT-1003 67-Inch Lightweight Monopod
- Manfrotto MMCOMPACTADV-BK Compact Monopod
- Manfrotto MM290C4US 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
A Review Of The Best Monopods For Sports Photography
1. SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod (Editors Pick)
SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod Specifications
Weight: 0.88 lbs
Collapsed Height: 15″
Extended Height: 60″
Maximum Load: 22 lbs
Price: Click here to find latest price
SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod Review
In my quest to find the best monopods for sports photography, I tested several different models at different price points. The SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod is a moderately priced monopod with some features that work well with sports and action photography.
First off, it’s constructed of carbon fibre, making it incredibly strong and very light weight.
Whatever it takes to get the shot, right?
Adjusting the sections quickly is also very important to me. You might think levers would be the preferred method over knurled rings, but that’s not always the case. The rings on this monopod are easy to loosen and the can be locked down tight in a matter of seconds.
Another advantage of the Sirui silicon twist locking rings is how they are completely independent of the sections. Meaning that turning a ring doesn’t move the section below or above, which often happens with older monopods.
Having the locking rings is preffered in my opinion because it’s much easier to rapidly make the height adjustments before taking a shot.
The mounting plate is reversible which is a nice touch, ¼ inc on one side, 3/8 inch on the other. Many of the better ball heads I’ve used require 3/8 inch to mount to.
Besides sports, this monopod is also very much at home for nature photography. When hiking around to get the best views or to find those elusive animals and birds, I used this monopod as a walking stick.
It is strong enough, and the sections lock very securely, so I was able to really rely on it traversing over uneven ground. The soft grip was easy to hold and makes extended sports or nature photography sessions comfortable. Easily a good candidate for being one of the best monopods for sports photography. Highly recommended!
2. Sirui SUP204SR Monopod
Sirui SUP204SR Monopod Specifications
Weight: 3 lbs
Collapsed Height: 27″
Extended Height: 63″
Maximum Load: 17.6 lbs
Price: Click here to find latest price
Sirui SUP204SR Monopod Review
Another nice monopod from Sirui is the Sirui SUP204SR Photo/Video Monopod. This four section aluminum monopod deserves consideration in my quest for the best monopods for sports photography. This monopod is a little pricier than most, but it offers some interesting features and advantages.
It is 63 inches fully extended and weighs in at right around 3 pounds. The four aluminum sections are adjusted by silicon ring twist locks, quick to operate and very secure when tightened down. The minimum height is 27 inches.
But why would I want a monopod with tripod feet? I thought of several reasons.
Sometimes, I want to set a tripod, but I don’t have quite enough room to spread out three legs. Sometimes, especially with a long, fast, heavy telephoto lens, I want a little bit extra stability. This can really be an advantage in sports photography where we are always playing the odds versus lens speed, ISO, shutter speeds, and large glass.
Being removable, I don’t have to use them. This becomes a regular monopod without the three footed base, and is comfortable to use.
This Sirui SUP204SR Photo/Video Monopod also has a reversible mounting plate with ¼ inch and 3/8 inch screws, and a soft grip on the top section. The grip makes it nice to use in colder weather. Being aluminum, this monopod can feel rather cold to the touch in my glove-less hands, but that soft grip offers some comfort there.
Using the base, I get a little more stability for those macro shots. Though a little bit more money, this definitely is in the running for the best monopods for sports photography.
3. Dolica WT-1003 67-Inch Lightweight Monopod
Dolica WT-1003 67-Inch Lightweight Monopod Specifications
Weight: 0.8 lbs
Collapsed Height: 21.5″
Extended Height: 67″
Maximum Load: 6.4 lbs
Price: Click here to find latest price
Dolica WT-1003 67-Inch Lightweight Monopod Review
The Dolica WT-1003 67-Inch Lightweight Monopod is the lowest priced monopod I tested in this roundup and gave some surprising results.
This four section aluminum monopod is one of the taller monopods I tested at 67 inches before attaching any ball head. It uses a ¼ inch mount. It also collapses down to about 21 ½ inches and weighs in at just under a pound. Being rated to manage around 6 ½ pounds, I can see myself using my regular sports photography rig with this monopod.
It also has a foam grip on the upper section and an adjustable foot, the rubber pad screwing down to reveal a metal spike. While a well made product, I don’t consider it to be heavy duty. Still, a nice monopod for the budget conscious sports photographer. A good pick.
4. Manfrotto MMCOMPACTADV-BK Compact Monopod
Manfrotto MMCOMPACTADV-BK Compact Monopod Specifications
Weight: 0.75 lbs
Collapsed Height: 15.5″
Extended Height: 52″
Maximum Load: 3.3lbs
Price: Click here to find latest price
Manfrotto MMCOMPACTADV-BK Compact Monopod Review
A moderately priced entry for the title of best monopods for sports photography is the very well made Manfrotto MMCOMPACTADV-BK Compact Monopod Advanced.
So, I had to consider what camera and lens combination I would use with this. As light weight as it is, and as compact as it is, I didn’t want to place too much of a load on it. That bottom section is really skinny, let me tell ya!
However, as with all products I’ve tested from Manfrotto, this monopod is very well made. Long-time sports photographers will remember the Manfrotto name as being the manufacturer of the old Bogen brand name. A great heritage of high quality at moderate prices.
Along with being lightweight, this monopod also has a nice grip on the upper section and a hard rubber foot on the end of the bottom section. Also the ¼ inch mount is usable for mounting directly to an action camera like a Go Pro or attach a ball head or one of the fine Manfrotto multi heads. A good all round monopod for sports photography.
5. Manfrotto MM290C4US 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
Manfrotto MM290C4US 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod Specifications
Weight: 1.1 lbs
Collapsed Height: 22″
Extended Height: 59.5″
Maximum Load: 11 lbs
Price: Click here to find latest price
Manfrotto MM290C4US 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod Review
The four section carbon fiber Manfrotto MM290C4US 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod rounds out this test search for the best monopods for sports photography. At around the same price as the Sirui P-326, this monopod has a lot going for it.
This monopod is 59 ½ inches at full extension, collapsing down to just over 22 inches. It weighs a little over a pound and can handle up to 11 pounds of gear. The mount is 3/8 inch and ¼ inch. Instead of flipping a mounting plate, Manfrotto has both on the same side in a sort of dual screw. Using it is much easier than my description sounds.
The five sections are released and secured with heavy duty plastic flip levers. These are adjustable as they wear. Which did I like better, screw tightening rings or flip lever locks?
Actually, it was a toss up.
Before this test, I thought it was a no brainer to opt for the levers, but I found that the right type of rings are just as fast to use, and you don’t have to worry about adjusting them as they wear or possibly breaking them in the heat of an exciting game.
Monopods are great for sports photography while also being useful for other types of photography. I can highly recommend any of these tested, as long as you know the capabilities and limits of each for your needs. You can also check out my guide on finding the best tripod for your needs and my guide on the best monopods for photographers and videographers.