Load rating
The weight a maker says the tripod (or head) will hold. A maker's claim, tested each brand's own way. Your rig is limited by the weaker of the tripod and the head.
What it means
Load rating, also called max load or bearing capacity, is the most weight the maker says the tripod will carry. Some makers state the leg position it applies to (KJI rates its K-Series at the first, narrowest position). Most do not say how they tested.
What it changes in the field
A night rifle with a thermal scope, a light and a suppressor adds up fast; weigh yours. A tripod rated well above it flexes less and stays put when you lean into it. Ratings far above any rifle’s weight mostly tell you the legs are thick and stiff.
The head has its own rating. The rig is only as strong as the weaker of the two.
What to look for
- A rating comfortably above your full rig, especially if you shoot standing with the legs fully out.
- The head’s rating as well as the tripod’s.
- Weight: a higher rating usually means a heavier tripod. The tripod page shows the rating divided by the tripod’s own weight, as a calculated figure.
How we use it on this site
We show the maker’s figure and its wording. It is not scored, since brands do not test it the same way.