[WGH]

My Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPRO is killing me, so I'm looking for something more compact and lighter to hike with. The hikes are usually long, hard, rocky and steep so weight matters. The Velbon Maxi 343E looks nice at 1.9 lbs., but I haven't seen anyone selling them anymore except on eBay. Any other suggestions?

Headless is fine because I want to use my Manfrotto 3437 because it makes taking panorama shots easy and the turning axis lines up pretty good with the camera.

Also, does anyone know if the Velbon 343E has a replaceable head?

Thanks,

Wayne

[brj]

For what its worth, I started a similar thread a while back: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=46972.0

Now that things have warmed up enough and I've started hiking again, I've restarted my own research again.

[Tubes 4 Ever]

I don't know if they make this model still, but I have lugged some large format through Yosemite with my Bogen 3431 and Giotto MH-1001. Very stable platform, and I have now owned it more years than I care to think about. I have also used a good ole Linhoff that was part of a package Linhoff technica  setup.

[WGH]

For what its worth, I started a similar thread a while back: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=46972.0

Now that things have warmed up enough and I've started hiking again, I've restarted my own research again.

Thanks, forgot about that thread   
(my memory doesn't go back that far anymore).

I did Finger Rock Trail up to Linda Vista Saddle last Sunday. It was good, the mountain still likes me. Only 3 miles to the saddle but a 2500 ft. elevation gain, almost all in the last 2 miles. Kimball Peak is at the end of the trail, 5 miles in with a 4155 ft. elevation gain, a great little day hike. I'll take a panorama from up there some day.

wgh