The GT1555T is the only five section tripod in Gitzo’s Traveler lineup and is correspondingly the most compact. Even Gitzo can’t defy physics though, and the stiffness of the GT1555T isn’t quite as good as its four section brother. That isn’t to say it is bad. Gitzo consistently seems to make the stiffest tripods available for a given diameter of leg tubing, and there is no exception here. The GT1555T is the stiffest five section travel tripod I have tested so far.
This tripod was purchased through retail channels. I was not paid by any party to write this review, and the opinions are entirely my own.
| Name | Gitzo GT1555T |
| Class | Travel |
| Yaw Stiffness | 387 +/- 2 Nm/rad |
| Yaw Damping | 0.293 +/- 0.029 Js/rad |
| Pitch Stiffness | 1319 +/- 6 Nm/rad |
| Pitch Damping | 0.402 +/- 0.04 Js/rad |
| Retail Price | $700 |
| Weight | 2.27 lbs (1.03 kgs) |
| Manufacturer weight rating | 22 lbs |
| Maximum Height | 47.5 in (120.6 cm) |
| Minimum Height | 54.0 in (137.2 cm) |
| Max Height with Center Column | 60.4 in (153.4 cm) |
| Center Column | Yes |
| Base Diameter | 1.4 in (3.6 cm) |
| Folded Length | 14 in (35.6 cm) |
| Folded Circumference | 10.2 in (25.9 cm) |
| Folded Volume | 116.0 cu. in. (1.9 liters) |
| Leg Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Leg Sections | 5 |
| Primary Leg Angle | 24.0 deg |
| Leg Locks | Twist |
| Top Tube Diameter | 25.3 mm |
| Second Tube Diameter | 21.7 mm |
| Third Tube Diameter | 18.3 mm |
| Fourth Tube Diameter | 14.8 mm |
| Fifth Tube Diameter | 11.4 mm |
| Exchangeable Feet | Yes |
| Foot Type | Rubber |
| Bottom Hook | No |
The test results are included here as I consider them to be part of the tripod’s specification. For full discussion of the stiffness and damping, see the test results page of the review.
The highlight of the GT1555T specifications is the folded length of 14 inches (or 35.6 cm). This is small enough to fit into almost any bag and easily into an airline carry-on. There are prices to be paid for this exceptionally compact folded length. The folded volume of 1.9 liters is good, but not class leading. The reverse folding design of the legs so common among travel tripods and used here tends to create a somewhat bulky package.
The fifth leg section is fairly narrow at only 11.4 mm in diameter. Each subsequent leg section must necessarily be smaller than the previous one so that they can nest inside each other when folded. Also, physics dictates that the stiffness of a tube is a strong function of its diameter. It is a testament to Gitzo’s engineering and the quality of their carbon fiber that they have managed to get so much stiffness out of this design.
Despite coming in at nearly the same weight as the four section version, the GT1555T is four inches shorter. Adding a leg section takes up space in the tubing for the additional twist lock and makes the overall less efficient from a weight perspective. While Gitzo has maintained the same lightweight spec, that reduction in efficiency has manifests itself in lack of height instead. Yet another cost of the five section design.