How to use a Tripod on the beach CLEAN and PERFECTLY

Do you love beach photography but don’t use a tripod because of stability concerns? It’s no wonder. But wait, here is how you can use a tripod on the beach without damaging it.

You can use your tripod on the beach using some simple steps which you might not have heard before but are handy. Here are some excellent tips for using the tripod on the beach without any headaches.

Before making a decision, I read tons of online forums, but only some of them helped me understand how to properly utilize accessories such as shoes, footpads, sandbags, rubber pads, etc. After experimenting and breaking my favorite tripod, I feel these are the better options.

1. Push your tripod legs down until they feel sturdy.

Using tripod legs wisely is the primary key. All the new tripods have settings for the leg extensions differently which you can take advantage of. There is no rule that you have to maintain the same bolt position to use the tripod.

You can extend one leg all the way down and can still use the tripod when you place the other tripod leg on a different surface. Now, you have the idea, right?

This is the best technique to use any kind of tripod on the beach. Just adjust all three tripod legs differently till you feel the legs are stable. 

There is a problem with this method. You cannot use this method whenever you change position. Beach photography is not like a photo studio to fix the tripod position right?

It’s time to go for better options.

2. Use Gorillapod for ‘Get Down’/Low angle Photography

A Gorillapod works better than the regular tripod here. Some tripods have medium-quality foot pads which might get easily destructive when used in the sand or water. So, better to get a Gorillapod.

I use this amazing Gorillapod I grabbed for the best deal on Amazon. This Gorillapod is the savior in many cases. After I connected with this Gorillapod, I am slowly avoiding my main tripod.

Purchasing a strong Gorillapod is a must; you can use it anywhere (not only on the beach). I am a great fan of Gorillapod because of its multi-use capability. No stress in looking for a flat surface. 

3. Keep an Eye on the Maintenance 

Tripod legs are the most affected when they are on the beach right? Yes, tripod pads and legs are the most affected. Either you should clean the legs and leg pads daily or use a well-built tripod. 

If the tripod gets dirty, keep the legs open until you clean it. If you set back the tripod legs without cleaning, the dirt will make a mess in the joints which may lead to unnecessary rust. So, the quick tip is, do not close the tripod legs just after using it on the beach.

Prefer to clean the tripod legs with any cleaning oil to keep the shining. Liberty Oil is one of the best oils to soften the tripod legs and joints. I found this super handy Liberty Oil on Amazon which I am using now for my tripod and monopod.

4. Make the perfect use of bags

Imagine you set up your tripod perfectly by balancing all three legs on the sand and then suddenly the tripod lost balance to the force of the air. How frustrating it is, right? It will upset your mood and can also damage the tripod parts. So, what’s the solution?

Simple. Use Sandbags. 

Yes, you can use sandbags to balance the tripod which can stand against the wind flow. Take the help of sandbags and tie them to the center of the tripod or you can use three separate bags for the legs.

The aim is to add some proper weight to the tripod which helps to jam the tripod legs. Here are some best quality sandbags from Amazon which last more than you imagine. 

5 Use tripod footpads

You can use rubber footpads for the tripods to keep the tripods little space. You can find some robust footpads online. For your convenience, I found this amazing tripod foot pad from Amazon which is ideally in my budget. 

Get three footpads for the tripod. This could be the best investment you make on the tripod. Not only on the beach, but it also saves you on any surface. I wish I could have found this product earlier before making the legs of my tripod dirty.

The drawback of this footpad is it can sink only 1 inch, which means if the sand is too deep, still the tripod’s legs are at risk. But still, you can use it on wet roads, flat sand, bad roads, etc. 

6 Use shoes to give support to the tripod 

You can use any shoe as the base of the tripod. You need a pair of shoes (and a single one). Shoes will take all the mud and sand and secure the tripod legs. 

This could be a beautiful way to save the tripod legs from getting sunk in the mud and sand. Any decent tripod could last years if the maintenance is nicely done. So, keep the tripod legs and the bar clean.

Sand is not the issue but the mud is. Cleaning with the cloth and shaking the tripod will blow out the sand but the mud has to be cleaned. You cannot guess when the water spate will touch the tripod bottom and make it wet.

Conclusion

So, these are some of the best tripod-maintaining tips at the beach I personally use. I use Gorillapod when the photoshoot is away from the water spates. Sometimes I move closer to the beach towards the waves. Then I use shoes to keep the tripod legs in.

Just to make sure, you can happily use any tripod and monopods at the beach. You just need to maintain the tripod properly from getting damaged by the water and wind. 

If you have a decent tripod, no need to invest in other pods. Just use some mentioned accessories to secure the tripod.