Revic Stabilizer Backpacker Tripod In-Field Review

Candidly, the first time I saw a hunter carrying a shooting tripod, I rolled my eyes. I figured that it was one more thing to carry, get snagged on vegetation and would be slow to deploy. My opinion changed a bit when I observed my first Precision Rifle Series match and saw that all of the top competitors used tripods on at least some of the stages. I’ve used them in the field now, as well, and have become a convert. Lightweight and well-designed tripods are a tremendous asset for the hunter, and the Revic Stabilizer Backpacker Tripod from Gunwerks is a great example of what these products can bring to the table.

Constructed mostly of carbon fiber, the Revic weighs in at 1.65 pounds. Fully collapsed, the unit is small enough to strap to the side of just about any hunting pack. There are five leg sections and three angle stops for the legs, making the Revic infinitely adjustable. The Revic can be used from standing to prone and anywhere in-between.

The Revic uses the industry-standard ARCA dovetail mounting system, which provides tremendous versatility. Using this system, a hunter can swap from a spotting scope, binocular, rangefinder or rifle in seconds. When your trophy is on the ground, your camera slides right onto the dovetail.  I’ve used the Revic with both a Hog Saddle rifle rest and a direct-mount ARCA rail mounted to a Gunwerks rifle’s stock and have found both systems to be dead-steady. The ball head allows the tripod to be used from virtually any angle and locks up solidly with the twist of a knob.

I’m the last guy who wants to be fumbling with gear when it’s time to shoot, but the quarter-turn locking and unlocking of the Revic’s legs makes it extremely fast to set up. It is simple too; I’ve begun using the Revic whenever my seven-year-old son and I hunt from the ground and he has no trouble setting up the tripod on his own. He is capable of breaking anything imaginable and, so far, the Revic has survived his abuse.

My first field use of the Revic came last Fall while hunting elk in Montana’s Madison River Valley. The big herds were feeding out on the flats below the timber, providing minimal cover for a stalk. The grass was too high to go prone and though sitting was an option, the terrain made it less than ideal. Out came the Revic, which direct-mounted to my rifle’s ARCA rail. Kneeling, I was able to see over the grass and sagebrush and, with the rifle locked into the tripod, the position was plenty stable. The shot came at 350 yards and the bull is now in my freezer. Since that November day, I’ve used the Revic on several whitetail hunts and I remain a fan.

$495 | revicoptics.com

The Revic’s MSRP when compared to similar products that cost over $1,000 without the ball head, seems pretty damn reasonable. I can’t help but think back to all of the shots at game that I couldn’t or wouldn’t take over the years, and wonder whether a tripod such as the Revic would have made the difference.