Manfrotto MS0490C Carbon Nanopole Stand

I was looking for a very light and portable stand to hold my stereo microphone setup for field recording. This is lighter than the very popular nano stands (and any tripod I have come across) and has the added benefit that you can remove the centre section and use it as a boom pole. It collapses to a short size and will fit strapped to the side of most normal backpacks, or inside a larger backpack. I like to carry quite a small backpack, and it would be great if it was just a tiny bit shorter so it could fit inside...

This is a lightweight stand so stability is probably not as great as with something heavier. However, it does have a hook for attaching a weighted bag to add stability. I haven't had to use that feature yet.

Quality feels great and I am very happy with my purchase. If you want a full height stand for field recording but light weight and the boom pole feature are important to you, I would definitely consider this. I don't know of anything else out there that ticks all those boxes.

I'm cutting down the weight of my location gear so this was a natural choice for that purpose.

Having already owned a 5001B, I've taken a liking to compact and light-weight stands. This improves on the excellent 5001B in many ways, being lighter, and featuring handy twist lock mechanisms.

The ability to remove the centre column for use as a boom pole is a great bonus, and the implementation is extremely elegant.

The extending leg is something I can't see myself using, but it doesn't add significant weight or complexity, so it's not in the way either. Given the choice though, I would probably buy this stand without that feature. It can be removed, but you'll be left without a rubber foot on one leg. It would have been nice if a spare one was included for that purpose, but I am nitpicking at this point.

Most importantly though, these stands perform superbly. I've used them with a Godox AD200 and 60cm softbox, without any issues. They can sway a little in the wind when at maximum heights, so might not be suited to outdoor video lighting work, but overall, for the little you need to compromise you gain a whole lot - these stands are super light and portable!

This is the only boom pole/stand that fits into my carry-on luggage (actually, I travel with multiple of these). One of the legs is adjustable to compensate for uneven terrain. The legs assembly can be detached for the pole itself to be used as a boom - although a longer, e.g. 4-meter pole is preferable to give enough of a counterweight. It doesn't come with a carry bag - make sure to arrange your own. Two screw mount diameters available (remember not to lose the adapter/cap).

Useful if I need to quickly set up an overhead mic or some lights around the seated subject. Light, reliable, inconspicuous. I use this in conjunction with a couple of Boom Buddy accessories. The whole assembly may seem rather lightweight with an overhead mic but it worked every time. With an LED light attached, it's as sturdy as it gets.