Gorillapod

I am an amateur digital photographer. I have a full size tripod, but rarely used it. It was too big and bulky to take on hikes along with my 2-year-old daughter and all her stuff. I ordered the Joby Gorillapod. This tripod has legs that can be strongly wrapped around poles, branches, or ledges, and can fit in a small pouch or a large pants pocket. I liked that I had a environmentally friendly packaging free option. When it arrived I was surprised at its lightweight and small size. But surprisingly, it is amazing. Both my camera and DVR stay upright and stable on most any surface.