[Flat Base] Very well designed and crafted. Sirui has thoroughly thought this monopod's design and function, resulting in a useful photographic platform that is sturdy and versatile.

[Flat Base] Photographer friend and colleague let me use theirs during an event we were shooting. Fantastic! Fully holds camera body (I have DSLR still) with battery pack, 70-200mm and speedlight without worry! Could stand on it's own without falling over! Purchased one in time to use for 2nd shooting a wedding and it allowed me to get a variety of shots without having multiple bodies strapped to me and less hassle than dragging around a tripod. Monopod itself is surprisingly light for the amount it can support.

[Carbon Fiber] Not much to say here. Outstanding built quality, very robust feel and plenty adjustments. It also has a very good payload capacity for the price. No complaints here!

[Flat Base] Far preferred for my use would have been a longer three section tripod, if only to avoid a last thin leg section and three leg locks for each leg and the pursuit of rigidity. So far, that last section has not been a problem on stability but there is one heavy lens/body combo that I have not tested yet. The extra length would not be a travel problem because the tripod ends up in checked luggage anyway.

Aside from that subjective preference there is nothing about this tripod that I consider a detriment. Excellent attention to details, craftsmanship, material selection and design. I love the bowl base for quick leveling, handy for panoramas which is my primary pursuit. I use three different bowl mounts with the tripod head pre-assembled for each application. Easy to swap out that assembly instead of fidgeting with the short mounting screw base and bulky, awkward heads. The only sacrifice is upside down mounting for macro, but there are other solutions for that.

I've owned a lot of tripods from many different manufacturers. And I've lost lens and equipment to bad designs. But, I'm betting that the current crop will be referred to as Peak Tripods someday. This is very much one of them.

[6.67 lb] this tripod is excellent. I use it for binocular and spotting scope use in the field. Very light and compact enough for backpack. the waterproof twistlocks work great too. Every bit as good as the much more expensive light weight, packable examples that friends have.

[Yes] I've looked at a lot of compact tripods, and to my knowledge, this is the only tripod on the market with a carbon fiber center column that is not cylindrical. It's an impressive point that I think demonstrates the lengths Sirui went to to design the best lightweight and compact tripod possible. I was hoping for slightly more rigidity when completely unfolded, but considering the diameter and folded length of this tripod, it's a small compromise that has not affected my images. The rubber feet that transform into spikes are really nice feature. Sometimes nothing else will do on a mossy rock.

[Flat Base] High quality product. Very sturdy, will likely last over a decade. It is rather heavy, but that was advertised.

[Flat Base] Works well. Very sturdy.

[Yes] The SIRUI monopod is easy to operate, well made and versatile.

[Carbon Fiber] It was especially auspicious to purchase this waterproof tripod on sale from B&H and to receive a mail-in rebate from Sirui. I feel confident about using it on wet ground, in damp areas, or standing in a creek without worry of corrosion or mold growing within the tubes or between tube sections. The rubber feet are great for flat areas and there are retractable stainless steel spikes for use on softer ground - no need to remove the rubber feet and replace them each time with separate metal spikes - very handy.