Introduction
Tripods have become a big part of shooting activities. Whether it is for building a support position for your rifle, or positioning support optics, tripods are a fantastic accessory. I have had the good fortune to use a variety of different tripods of various types and situations. This has opened my eyes to the value of a good tripod, in the right situation. Today I am bringing you a review of another tripod, built specifically for shooting sports. This tripod comes from the folks at Vector Optics, but it is a sub-brand. The Rokstad Tauron carbon fiber tripod is of heavy duty construction, with extendable carbon fiber locking legs. Using the tripod together with Rokstad’s 56mm ball-head gives you impressive mounting and manipulation.
Having arrived right before hunting season would give me a great opportunity to put this tripod to work. Using the Rokstad tripod to support both firearms, spotting scopes, and other items. Over the next couple months, I would use the tripod on the range, out in the deserts and in the high frozen country of the Rocky Mountains.
Rokstad Tauron Specifications
| Leg Sections | 4 |
| Leg Locks | Twist |
| Folded Length | 56 cm / 22.05 in |
| Maximum Height | 169 cm / 66.54 in |
| Main Tube Diameter | 34 mm |
| Max Load | 35 kg / 77 lbs |
| Tube Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Angle Adjustments | Yes |
| Feet Tripod Spike | Yes |
| Weight | 2.12 kg / 74.78 oz |
| Items in the Package | Storage Bag and Hex Keys |
Much thought went into the design of this tripod, adding some clever features. And at the exact same time, the tripod is a simple device. With four extendable sectioned legs, it is a very tall tripod, one could put a sheet around it and use it as a rain shelter.
Attaching a ball head or other device on top of the tripod is done using either a 1/4 threaded stud, or a 3/8 threaded stud. The cunning design has a spring loaded stud, that allows you to pull out the one you want to use, while the other stud collapses inside.
The lightweight carbon fiber legs are very stiff and strong, the rubberized twist-locking rings allow fast deployment. At the bottom end of the legs there are rubber feet, the feet can be twisted up revealing steel spikes for better traction. Additionally, the legs lock in three different angles, allowing you many options for configuring the tripod.
With its robust construction, the Tauron Tripod can hold up to 77lbs on top. Which is more than I would ever plan on putting there. Rokstad offers a 38mm and 56mm ball head to mount on the Tauron tripod, I selected the 56mm.
Rokstad 56mm Ball Head
The ball head itself is also built well, with a nice finish and look all around. The ball head features 360 degree rotation, and also includes the typical 90 degree drop notch that allows you to hit extreme angles.
On top of the ball, there is a dual clamp that is tightened by a thumb-screw. The clamp itself is designed to hold both ARCA rail systems as well as picatinny rail systems. This will allow you to mount a variety of firearms and other items to the tripod.
Controls on the ball head are very easy to operate. There is a smaller tension knob that controls the resistance when panning the ball head. And the larger knob adjusts the clamping resistance on the ball itself, the knob has various numbers showing the resistance setting. Interestingly, these controls typically add resistance as you tighten the knob. But on this ball head, the resistance as you tighten the knob doesn’t seem to increase with commensurate resistance on the ball. This allow easy manipulation of the ball head with less effort.
The ball head comes with a small rubberized section of ARCA that can be used to attach a rifle, spotting scope or other device to quickly attach to the tripod.
In the Field with the Rokstad Tauron Tripod
Whether on the range, out in the desert, or high in the Rocky Mountains chasing mule deer, this tripod was a fantastic tool. I used it for supporting my spotting optics, my camera, rifles and other items.
I found the controls of the tripod and ball head to be very easy and intuitive to operate. While the tripod is very light compared to non-carbon fiber options, but I didn’t often choose to pack it along during hunts. This size of tripod is great for short walks and or range operations. It isn’t often I would take this or any comparable tripod on long hikes through rough country.
Using both the rubber feet and the spike s underneath the tripod made a very sturdy structure. Making an excellent platform to shoot from, as well as watching target animals. I did notice occasionally the rubber feet would rattle loose, which would expose the spikes. This isn’t a big deal, as the rubber feet are captured and cannot fall off when loose, but it was a slight inconvenience at times.
Locking the legs in their various positions was quick and easy using the locking lugs, I did find that I like other designs slightly better. Because the locks can be pulled from the front or pushed out from the back. The Rokstad design can only be pulled from the front, this is a minor issue that you likely would miss unless you were used the something else.
Quality
One of the concerns many folks have about foreign built products is the level of quality in construction. I have been quite impressed with the quality of other Vector Optics products, so it came as no surprise that I was also pleased with the Rokstad sub-brand as well. The finish on this tripod is great, the carbon fiber has an excellent build. All the machine work is done well, and there is even a touch of style to it.
The controls are crisp and strong, you definitely feel like you can push against this tripod. By that I mean both physically and against its stops. The leg extension locks are very tight, and don’t require heavy torquing to lock the extensions in place. Same with the leg angle locks. And the ball head controls are very tactile allowing sharp control of friction settings.
Usability
I found the Tauron tripod to be every bit as comfortable to use as other tripods I’ve used. The rubberized leg extension locks are quick and easy to use, and deploying the legs of the tripod is quick and smooth. The articulation of the legs allows me to get into most any setup with this tripod, giving excellent support.
Articulating the ball head took a moment to get used to, but once I’d figured it out I quite liked it. Being able to lock both ARCA rails and picatinny rails was a great benefit. Two of the three legs have a foam grip area for comfortably carrying the tripod. Which is especially nice in extreme cold weather.
Value
Rokstad’s Tauron tripod is definitely less expensive than some of the competition. Even compared to some other tripods built overseas, it is still much more affordable. There is obviously good reason behind this, we all know there is no free lunch. While it is lighter than some comparable tripods, it is far from the lightest. It has great features and controls despite others having some better options. But all this should come as no surprise for a tripod that cost only four hundred and fifty dollars (at time of publication). Many of the comparable tripods cost double or triple what this one costs. I am sure I am not the only one who often will take the affordability over a slight advantage in performance.
Pros and Cons
I found very few things to hate on the Rokstad Tauron tripod. It was comfortable and easy to operate, and the controls were intuitive and easy to figure out. The product is well-built giving great stability for either observation optics or firearms. All the control surfaces have textured grip, and the sticky rubber grip areas make short work of extending the legs.
If I had to change something about this tripod, it would probably be the following; I’d love to put it on a diet. It’s not like a boat anchor or anything, but it could be lighter. That could be said for most comparable tripods as well, so keep that in mind. I’d also like it if they vented the legs, the air pressure built when extending or collapsing the legs does create some resistance that could be neutralized by venting the interior of the legs.
Also, I really like the dual clamp on the ball head, but I wish it had a lever to tension the clamp instead of a thumbscrew. Thumbscrews are a little less tactile for tensioning such a clamp, especially in the cold. And lastly, the tripod came with a very handy and well made carry bag, complete with a shoulder strap and such. Unfortunately they made the bag too small to use with the ball head installed, which is a massive drawback. I will likely never use the bag now, as I’m not likely ever going to be removing the ball head while transporting the Tauron.
Final Thoughts
Overall I think the Tauron is a great little tripod, meaning I think most folks out there would at minimum find it adequate if not better. If you are new to carbon fiber shooting tripods, I think this will work great for you. And if you have a collection of them as I do, this will fit in to it just fine.
Rokstad’s Tauron tripod gives great quality and features at a price well below much of the competition. Like it or not, the price is likely due to its overseas construction. If you are looking for a great little tripod to put in your shooting gear, this one is worth looking at.