Lightest Light Stands 2.5 lbs or less

[Dan Brockett]

I just bought two of the Manfrotto 5001B stands for a shoot in South America. Meh, I like my Matthews Reverse Fold Travel stands better, they hold a LOT more weight safely and are taller. The Manfrottos are lighter but less capable so it's good to have both for me. If I am packing and trying to save every ounce, the 5001Bs are handy but for general use, the Matthews are superior IMHO. They are better constructed than the Manfrottos.

[Paul R Johnson]

Doesn't the sandbags you have to carry around to keep your lightweight stands upright with even smaller lights enter into this discussion. I've not yet seen a lightweight support that is stable on anything remotes useful on top!

[Craig Seeman]

If I'm shooting in offices, short of someone tripping over them, Stability wouldn't be an issue. I wouldn't use lightweight stands for exterior shoots even on a breezy day. BTW there are "water filled" type bags which can be filled and emptied on site (assuming access to water).

Just my humble opinion but once you're using a vehicle to transport your gear, weight is much less a factor. Weight's important when you have to hand carry (as I often do) or you need to transportation where weight and size restrictions are big factors.

[Dan Brockett]

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

If I'm shooting in offices, short of someone tripping over them, Stability wouldn't be an issue. I wouldn't use lightweight stands for exterior shoots even on a breezy day. BTW there are "water filled" type bags which can be filled and emptied on site (assuming access to water).

Just my humble opinion but once you're using a vehicle to transport your gear, weight is much less a factor. Weight's important when you have to hand carry (as I often do) or you need to transportation where weight and size restrictions are big factors.

Agreed. My only concern with weight is when I fly, which is quite often. If I am bringing all of my grip gear in my truck or car, I much prefer larger Arri kit stands or Matthews Beefy Baby, real light stands. As far as sandbags, I find with the mere 6' or 7' extension of these little stands with relatively light weight LED panels on top, I rarely sand bag the stands anyway. I put a sand bag on the hair/rim light that is usually at the end of a 40" C-stand arm for interviews and when I use C-stands for backgrounds, green screen. But for travel, I never bring sandbags as they usually just aren't crucial or needed.