Tripods and Piers
Everything a mount does well can be undone by what it stands on. A tripod that flexes converts every gust and every focuser touch into vibration that takes seconds to settle, and at long focal length those seconds are exposures. David Astro carries tripods and piers in Canada — field tripods, heavy-duty steel legs and permanent piers — held in Canadian stock.
Height, rigidity and portability trade against each other, and the right balance depends on your tube length and whether the setup is permanent. Tell us both and we will recommend accordingly.
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Celestron Heavy Duty Alt-Azimuth Tripod
Supports up to 11.0 lbs (5 kg) of equipment Maximum height of 1250mm (49.2") Dual slow-motion controls for fine adjustments Sliding 1/4"-20 mounti...
View full detailsCelestron Heavy Duty CPC 1100 Tripod
Heavy-duty steel leg construction Specifically designed for Celestron CPC 1100 fork-mounted telescopes Integrated center leg brace and accessory t...
View full detailsCelestron Hummingbird Fast Action Pan Tilt Head Tripod
Extends from 600mm to a maximum height of 1750mm Supports up to 11 lbs (5 kg) of equipment Lightweight aluminum construction weighs only 1750g (61...
View full detailsCelestron Regal Premium Tripod
Supports up to 8.8 lbs (4 kg) of equipment Maximum height of 1746mm (68.75") with center column extended Lightweight 6.04 lbs (2.74 kg) aluminum c...
View full detailsCelestron TrailSeeker Tripod
Maximum height of 1790mm (70.5") with center column extended Supports up to 8.8 lbs (4 kg) of equipment Lightweight aluminum construction at just ...
View full detailsCelestron Ultima Pan Tilt Head Tripod
Maximum height of 1720mm (67.7") Supports equipment up to 8.8 lbs (4 kg) Lightweight aluminum body weighs only 4.69 lbs (2.12 kg) 3-section legs w...
View full detailsDwarfLab Mini Hydraulic Tripod
Explore Scientific Galileoscope Tripod
Convertible Tabletop to Full-Height Legs Smooth Panhandle Motion Control Lightweight, Portable Design Secure Mount for the Galileoscope Standard 1...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Twilight Heavy Duty Tripod (Black)
Tripod Weight: 13.6 lb (6.2 kg) Leg Diameter: 2-inch Stainless Steel Height Range: 26.5" to 42.5" Collapsed Length: 31.5" Compatibility: Twilight ...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Twilight Medium Duty Tripod (Black)
Direct Stability Upgrade for the iEXOS-100 Mount Increases Payload Capacity for Heavier Equipment Adjustable Stainless Steel Legs Die-Cast Aluminu...
View full detailsiOptron 1.25" Tripod for iPANO/SkyGuider Pro/SkyTracker
1.25" Stainless Steel Legs 5 lbs (2.3 kg) Total Weight 24.5" to 42.5" Adjustable Height 3/8"-16 Standard Mounting Thread Folds to 27" for Transpor...
View full detailsiOptron AZMP LiteRoc 1.75-inch Tripod
1.75-inch Stainless Steel Legs 30-inch to 48-inch Adjustable Height Range 15 lbs (6.8 kg) Total Weight 6-inch (Ø150 mm) Die-Cast Aluminum Top Plat...
View full detailsiOptron Carbon Fiber Tripod
Supports a massive 50 kg (110 lbs) payload Weighs only 2.29 kg (5 lbs) for extreme portability Adjustable height from 535 mm to 935 mm (21" to 36....
View full detailsiOptron CEM120 Pier Top Adapter
CEM120 Mount Compatibility: Designed specifically to adapt the iOptron CEM120 mount head. Flexible Pier Options: Enables mounting on an iOptron ...
View full detailsiOptron LiteRoc Tripod
1.75-inch stainless steel legs for enhanced stability 30-inch to 47-inch adjustable height range Weighs 15 lbs (6.8 kg) for a solid, transportable...
View full detailsiOptron LiteRoc Tripod for CEM26 / GEM28 / HEM27 / HAE29
Designed for iOptron CEM26, GEM28, HEM27, and HAE29 mounts 1.75-inch diameter stainless steel legs for maximum rigidity Adjustable height range fr...
View full detailsiOptron MiniPier for CEM26, HEM27, GEM28 & HAE29 Mounts
Adds 5.5 inches of height to compatible mounts Prevents telescope and camera collisions with tripod legs Improves stability by keeping tripod legs...
View full detailsiOptron MiniPier for HAE69 & HAZ71 Mounts
Adds critical height between the mount head and tripod Prevents long optical tubes from colliding with tripod legs Designed specifically for iOptr...
View full detailsiOptron MiniPier for iOptron Small to Medium Mount
Adds crucial height between the tripod and mount head Prevents long telescope tubes from striking the tripod legs Improves stability and reduces v...
View full detailsiOptron Permanent Pier
360 lb (165 kg) Payload Capacity 35-inch (900 mm) Fixed Height 6-inch (150 mm) Diameter Aluminum Alloy Pier CNC Machined with Anodized Finish 8.25...
View full detailsiOptron Pier Adapter for Celestron CGX (150mm Pier Tube)
Adapts Celestron CGX mounts to permanent piers Designed for pier tubes with a 150mm outside diameter Provides a rigid, stable foundation for astro...
View full detailsiOptron Pier Adapter for CGX (180mm Pier Tube)
Designed specifically for Celestron CGX equatorial mounts Fits custom-built or prefabricated 180mm diameter piers Enables a permanent, stable moun...
View full detailsiOptron Pier Top Adapter For Tri-Pier For SBIG Paramount MyT
Directly connects a Paramount MyT mount to an iOptron Tri-Pier Compatible with iOptron Tri-Pier (#8034) and Tri-Pier 360 (#8037A) Precision CNC-ma...
View full detailsiOptron Pier Top Adapter For Tri-Pier With CEM26, HEM27, GEM28, HAE29
Connects CEM26, GEM28, HEM27, and HAE29 mounts to iOptron Tri-Piers Compatible with Tri-Pier (#8034) and Tri-Pier 360 (#8037A) Precision CNC-machi...
View full detailsChoosing a Base for Your Mount
Two numbers matter: how much the base deflects under load, and how quickly vibration damps out after a disturbance.
- Field tripods: Adjustable-height aluminium or steel legs for portable use. Adequate for most mounts, with rigidity improving substantially with leg diameter and shorter extension.
- Heavy-duty tripods: Larger-section legs for mounts above roughly 15 kg capacity, where a standard tripod becomes the limiting element in the system.
- Portable piers: A single rigid column instead of three legs, giving better stiffness and eliminating the tube-strikes-leg problem, at the cost of a heavier single item to carry.
- Permanent piers: Bolted or concreted installations for observatories, offering the best rigidity and a polar alignment that does not need repeating.
- Pier extensions: Raise the mount head to clear a long tube at the meridian, which is the standard fix for tripod leg collisions.
- Vibration suppression pads: Isolate legs from a deck or hard surface, cutting settle time noticeably on wooden platforms.
Why Choose David Astro for Tripods and Piers
The base is where people economize and then spend the season wondering why their stars are soft.
- Height calculated for meridian clearance: Give us your tube length and mount and we will work out whether your telescope will strike a leg crossing south.
- Rigidity matched to focal length: Settle time matters much more at 2000 mm than at 400 mm, and we size the base accordingly rather than to the mount's weight alone.
- Surface advice: We discuss what you are setting up on — deck, grass, concrete — because the ideal base differs, and a wooden deck often needs suppression pads regardless of tripod quality.
- Authorized dealer: Genuine products with manufacturer warranty, in Canadian stock.
- Domestic freight: Heavy items ship from Canada with no duties or brokerage fees for Canadian buyers.
Tripods and Piers in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know my tripod is too light?
- Tap the tube at high magnification and count how long the image takes to settle. More than two or three seconds indicates the base is the weak point, especially at long focal length.
- Is a pier worth it for a backyard setup?
- If you observe from the same spot regularly, very much so. Beyond rigidity, a permanent pier preserves polar alignment between sessions, which removes the longest step in setup.
- Should tripod legs be extended fully?
- No, if you can avoid it. Rigidity drops sharply with extension. Use the shortest height that still gives meridian clearance and comfortable eyepiece position.
- Can I set up on a wooden deck?
- You can, but decks flex and transmit footfall. Vibration suppression pads help substantially, and observing from ground level or a concrete pad is better where possible.
Steadying your setup?
Tell us your mount, tube length and observing surface and we will specify the base. In Canadian stock, shipped worldwide.