Ngl I had issues with the Peak Design Travel Tripod Aluminum... felt too shaky for my 90D on a windy day. Not as good as expected for the price. The Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod is steadier but just way too heavy for hiking. I went with the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 Aluminum Tripod instead.

• Super sturdy for cliffside shots
• Way better for the budget
• Solid locks feel safer Save your cash for lenses, honestly.

Just caught this thread and wanted to jump in because I went through the exact same struggle with my 90D in the PNW. Honestly, those two options you are looking at are kind of on <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= opposite+ends+of+the+ext&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">opposite ends of the extreme... one is a bit too spindly and the other is basically a gym workout. I found a middle ground that works well for me without making my shoulders ache after three miles. I have been super satisfied with these instead:

• Benro Mach3 2 Series Carbon Fiber Tripod TMA28C is what I usually carry now. It handles the weight of the 90D and a decent lens without any of that annoying micro-jitter you get in the wind. Since its carbon fiber, it dampens vibrations way better than any of the cheap aluminum stuff I used to use.
• Leofoto LS-284C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod with LH-30 Ball Head is my other recommendation if you want something even more compact. It doesnt have a center column which actually makes it way more stable for cliffside shots because there is less to wobble. Plus, it packs down really slim so it doesnt snag on branches when you are hiking through the brush. The twist locks on both of these are big enough that I dont have issues even when wearing my winter gloves. Honestly, either of these will feel like a massive upgrade over that plastic one and they wont kill your budget before the trip. Hope you have a killer time at Rainier, the views are gonna be insane if the weather plays nice.

Honestly skip the Peak Design if you are gonna be wearing gloves... those cam locks are a total nightmare when your fingers are frozen. And that Manfrotto? Your back will straight up hate you halfway up Rainier because it is kinda a boat anchor. Ive tried many setups over the years and for a 90D you really want carbon fiber stiffness without the huge price tag. Here is what I would grab for under $400:

• 3LT Punks Billy 2.0 Carbon Fiber Tripod
• This thing is surprisingly tall for how light it is. Its definitely stiff enough for PNW gusts if you use the weight hook.
• Sirui T-2205SK Carbon Fiber Tripod with G-20KX Ball Head
• This is a solid middle ground. The twist locks are way easier to grab with gloves than those tiny PD clips, and it feels more stable on uneven ground. Tbh just remember to hang your pack from the center column when the wind kicks up on the ridge. It makes a massive difference for long exposures...

I stumbled on this today and honestly I had issues with that aluminum Peak Design too... it just wasnt as good as expected when the wind starts hitting on a ridge. For a 90D you really need something that dampens micro-vibrations. Carbon fiber is actually way better for this than aluminum because the material weave absorbs energy instead of letting it travel through the legs, which is basically what ruins your long exposures. I ended up with the Sirui AM-254 Carbon Fiber Tripod and it has been way more reliable for me in the field. Speaking of Rainier, make sure you double check your hiking boots before you go. I went up there last season and the sole of my left boot basically disintegrated halfway through the hike. I had to use some spare paracord to tie my shoe together just to get back down to the car. It was so awkward passing all those tourists while my shoe was literally flapping in the wind lol. The PNW trails really chew through gear if you arent careful. Anyway, hope the 90D captures some killer shots out there.

To add to the point above: unfortunately, many of the standard recommendations just dont hold up when you are dealing with real wind on a ridge. I had issues with the aluminum Peak Design too... it was not as good as expected for dampening vibrations with a heavier body like the 90D. If you want to see the actual math on this, check out thecentercolumn.com. It is a fantastic resource that ranks tripods by measured stiffness and vibration decay. Since you are heading to Rainier, you really need to prioritize the stiffness-to-weight ratio. I have found that the Leofoto LS-324C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod with LH-40 Ball Head is a much better value for under $400. It is a systematic style tripod so there is no center column to wobble in the wind, which makes a huge difference for long exposures. Another one to look at is the Feisol Tournament CT-3442 Rapid Carbon Fiber Tripod. It is incredibly light for hiking but has a load capacity that handles a 90D with a telephoto lens without breaking a sweat. Feisol might not have the flashy marketing, but their carbon weave is legit for absorbing the micro-jitters that ruin cliffside shots. Just stay away from the cheap aluminum stuff if you are doing long exposures in the PNW.