In my experience, you gotta be careful balancing weight and stability for long exposures. I use the R6 too and honestly, here is what I recommend: * Peak Design Travel Tripod Carbon Fiber - literally the best for carry-ons.
* Benro Tortoise Columnless Carbon Fiber Tripod - Series 2 - way sturdier for wind. The PD is basically fine, but it gets kinda flexy when extended. I'd go with the Benro if you're doing serious landscapes. Good luck!

I went through this last year. Basically, finding that perfect hiking balance took me forever. - Stability matters cuz ur R6 needs a steady base for long exposures.
- Anyway, spending $600 isn't always the answer.
- Honestly, I'm so happy with the Sirui T-025SK Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with B-00 Ball Head. Paid about $150 and it's actually been ROCK solid for years. Saved cash for more RF glass. Peace!

TIL! Thanks for sharing

I've been doing a lot of market research lately since I'm also looking to upgrade for my R6. It’s kinda wild how many brands are coming out with stuff that rivals the big names for way less money, you know? Tbh I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the specs but here are a couple that keep popping up in my research: - Ulanzi & Coman Zero Y Lightweight Travel Tripod - This one is super popular right now. Its basically a more affordable take on the PD design but people say the ball head is actually easier to use. Really light for hiking.
- Leofoto LS-284C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod - I've seen a lot of pros switching to this brand. They skip the center column which makes them way more stable for long exposures, right? Its a bit of a different style but seems really solid for the price. Have you checked out any of the newer brands? It feels like the market is changing so fast... anyway, hope that gives you more to think about!

Good to know!

Coming back to this... I have spent way too much time looking at load capacity charts and deflection data for my R6 setup, so here is my take. If you want top-tier engineering, check out the FLM CP-Travel Carbon Fiber Tripod. Its incredibly stiff for its weight and the build quality is basically surgical. It doesnt have a center column which really helps with stability for those long exposures you mentioned. Another solid high-end pick is the Gitzo Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod GK1545T-82TQD. It uses their Carbon eXact tubing which is way more rigid than standard CF weaves. Quick comparison:

• FLM: Extremely stable, great locking mechanism, but can be hard to find in stock sometimes.
• Gitzo: Folds down tiny (180-degree leg folding), legendary durability, but yeah, its definitely an investment. Tbh for an R6 and a 24-105mm, you want something that handles at least 10kg rated load to be safe in the wind if you are doing long exposures. The PD is nice for size, but the Gitzo is much better at dampening vibrations.

I spent way too much time testing different setups for my R6 before a big trip to the Rockies last summer. I even tried a DIY hack with a cheap aluminum stand and some bungee cords to save weight, but yeah... that was a total disaster for long exposures lol. Anyway, here are two that actually worked for me and wont kill your budget:

• Slik PRO CF-634 Carbon Fiber Tripod is amazing if you want something super light. It weighs almost nothing and I paired it with a small ball head. Its super simple and doesnt have a lot of weird parts that can break in the dirt.
• Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is my other go-to. I love it because it comes with a smartphone connector and one leg unscrews to become a monopod. For hiking, being able to switch to a monopod is fantastic when you are moving fast! Both are super sturdy for the R6 glass combo and I havent had any issues with wind vibrations during long shots. They definitely handle that 24-105mm weight without creeping!