Ultralight 3D Printed Tripod with Carbon Fiber Telescopic Legs

I needed a tripod light enough to carry on hikes without thinking about it. This one weighs between 180g and 246g depending on the head you choose — either way, lighter than most phones. The legs are carbon fiber tubing (telescopic, with cam locks), the joints and adapters are 3D printed, and everything holds together with M3 hardware. It breaks down flat for transport and sets up quickly.

The system is modular: tripod head, three telescopic legs, central pole, a sliding ball socket for the phone mount, and interchangeable feet (spiked for soft ground, flat with rubber pads for hard surfaces). Two tripod head designs are included — pick the one that fits your needs.

 The enhanced ball-socket head uses TPU balls at each leg mount instead of fixed holes. This lets you angle each leg independently, which is something most commercial tripods can't do — they typically spread all three legs at the same angle. Setting it up takes a bit more effort since you're adjusting each leg separately, but on uneven terrain like rocky trails, slopes, or roots, this flexibility is a real advantage. You can plant each leg at whatever angle the ground requires instead of fighting the surface. The trade-off is weight (246g total vs 180g for the simple head). The TPU balls are printed in Polymaker 95 TPU at 70% infill. You can also scale up to 8x6mm tubes for heavier cameras — in that configuration the total weight goes to about 350g.

Flip the phone mount upside down and you get a ground-level camera. Useful for wildlife or low-angle shots without lying in the dirt. I control the shutter from my Apple Watch so I don't have to touch the phone.

The tube dimensions aren't arbitrary — by connecting the tripod components end-to-end, you get a ~1.3 meter extendable arm. Add a small USB camera at the tip (connected to the phone via cable) and you have a lightweight inspection tool for looking under cars, inside bird houses, or anywhere you can't easily reach.

Test using USB camera

It is sturdy enough to support a medium-sized camera.

Cam Housing and Cam Lock (8-6) are only needed if you extend the telescopic legs. When extending, keep the inner tube overlapping inside the outer tube by at least the length of the Cam Housing — otherwise it won't be rigid enough.

Materials list:

4mm carbon fiber rods on Aliexpress

8x6x500mm and 6x4x500mm carbon fiber tubes on Aliexpress

M3 hardware (10mm, 20mm and 30mm Button Head Hex Socket screws, hex nuts) available on Amazon 

Anti Slip Silicone Pads on Aliexpress (use on the Flat Feet after removing built in support)

Polymaker PETG filament or equivalent

Optional: Bubble Level from Amazon or Aliexpress

Tripod Assembly

Enhanced Ball-Socket Tripod Head Assembly

The phone mount works like a small vise — two jaws clamp onto the phone edges. EPDM foam strips (Frost King Weatherseal, 5/16" x 1/4") sit in recesses on each jaw, gripping the phone without scratching it. Once adjusted, you can snap the phone in and out by rotating it — the rubber holds it in place without needing to re-tighten every time.