This is exactly the travel tripod I was hoping for to take into the woods on the side of my camera bag for mushroom and other smallish subjects in nature photography, much of which needs to be shot at close to ground level. For me, the lack of an integrated center column was the key selling point. I'm happy to report that the legs and add-on center column feel utterly stable at full extension. Twist locks are smooth and precise, also apparently easy to clean with minimal fuss. The 28 mm outer tripod tubes are considerably thicker than those on the tripod this replaces, but the absence of the center tube means that the collapsed diameter of the leg set is almost as slender. I couldn't be happier with this purchase!