Switzerland is gonna be absolutely amazing! I totally get your hesitation with the Peak Design. I used one for a while but honestly, it felt way too bouncy with my 5D Mark IV and that heavy 24-70 glass. The Befree is okay, but it feels like older tech compared to what is out now. If you want something that stays rock solid without breaking the bank, you gotta check out the Leofoto LS-284C Carbon Fiber Tripod with LH-30 Ball Head. It is a total beast for the price and way more stable than the Manfrotto stuff! One quick tip... skip using a center column whenever you can. If you buy a tripod that lets you mount the head directly to the apex, your stability goes through the roof for those long exposures in the mountains. You are gonna have a blast capturing those peaks!

I spent a few weeks shooting around the Lauterbrunnen valley a couple years back and the wind coming off those glaciers is honestly no joke. Over the years I have tried just about every travel tripod out there, and most of them fail the 5D test. When you're mounting a heavy body and that 24-70 lens, you need thick leg sections, not just fancy branding. Tbh, those thin-legged travel sticks are fine for mirrorless, but for a 5D Mark IV? Nah, they just wont cut it. I eventually settled on the Sirui T-2204SK Carbon Fiber Tripod with G-20KX Ball Head. It hits that perfect middle ground where it's still light enough to hike with, but the legs are thick enough to actually stay still. Most travel tripods use 22mm tubes which just flex too much under a full-frame setup. This one uses 28mm for the top sections and it makes a world of difference for long exposures when the wind picks up. A few things I've learned the hard way:

• Always hang your camera bag from the center column hook when it's windy
• Skip the thinnest bottom leg sections if you can... less joints means more stability
• Carbon fiber is way better for Switzerland because aluminum gets painfully cold to touch in the mountains If you want something even more versatile, look at the Vanguard VEO 3+ 263AB Aluminum Tripod. It's a bit heavier but the multi-angle center column is a lifesaver for getting low to the ground near alpine lakes. Plus it's way under your $400 limit, leaving you more cash for those expensive Swiss trains!

• Be careful with thin legs. I once had my gear tip over on a windy ridge.
• Are you looking for four sections or five? Packability usually means more joints.