Goal Zero Boulder 30 Solar Tripod Portable Mounting System

2017-11-22T19:00:00

I am happy with this purchase. It is quality and sturdy. I expected it to be like the camera tripods but it is not. It is made from big steel tubing, Not heavy but heavy duty. I was amazed and pleased with the quality. The price is unbeatable for the quality.

Keith1

Originally posted at

2016-11-14T19:00:00

Was a bit surprised at the weight of the delivery box and once I opened the box I knew why. I've had several movie camera tripods, but nothing like this.

DennisT

Originally posted at

2015-09-17T20:00:00

is very stable, but the straps are not easy to adjust. granted I am using 8 boulder 15 panels on it. Having the strap mounted to two legs with adjustment helped with the issue. I riveted the strap to the leg and added an buckle to achieve this. System could be more like a camera tripod, or a mil spec tripod. but his is a great product!

Johnley

Originally posted at

2015-07-09T20:00:00

Had it set up in about 60 seconds. Literally. It's amazingly sturdy - and once you've got it set up, it's so simple to adjust the leg height and angle of the panels. Flawless. Thanks again, Goal Zero - another amazing product.

Brian T.

Originally posted at

2015-05-30T20:00:00

I purchased the tripod after I got tired of moving my pallet set up that I mounted 2 boulder 30 panels on. The tripod arrived on the day I was told it would, this is a good sign, I read the directions once and then again before putting my 2 boulder panels on it. The quick clips work as advertised, however, I too had one that didn't function properly. This was no problem as there were 10 quick clips sent with the tripod so life is good. I am currently using my 2 boulder 30 panels to charge up the batteries on my travel trailer. This is much easier than stringing a couple of extension cords to my travel trailer. Now I need to figure out how to get 2 more boulder panels. Sooo if anyone out there has a couple of extra boulder 30 panels just sitting around gathering dust send them my way.... Ok so I will just have to buy a couple more panels. I am pleased with my purchase and as usual if there was a problem I would just call Goal Zero customer service as I have in the past and the problem will be taken care of. I DO recommend this product. NO, I didn't get any money for writing this review. To the folks at Goal Zero please keep up the good work and thank you. Just my thoughts from the Big Sky Country, Montana. I would give it 5 stars but it didn't put itself together without my help, so it only gets 4 stars. I will confess I have several Goal Zero products and almost all have been trouble free. Thank You Goal Zero.

West39

Originally posted at

2015-05-24T20:00:00

I ordered the tripod with some reservations, as there were some reviews from a year or so ago complaining about the quick-clips not having good quality control. Sure enough, I had one bad quick-clip in the kit (one clip had a small "T" at the end of the tip of the clip missing). However, there were still 8 good clips in the bag, enough to create a 4-panel array with four 30-watt panels and still have 4 clips left to attach the array to the mounting bracket. Once the array is put together, set up is easy. Although its a little awkward with one person, it's straightforward--you just need the strength to hoist the array and mount, and, keeping the weight on your shoulders and back, set the mounted array on the tripod and tighten the locking nut. It's easy to aim, and I appreciated the tip to put a toothpick or popsicle stick (as a sundial-type aiming device) in the middle of the 4 panels before clipping them together. All-around good design; parts are mostly metal, are fairly light-weight, but seem sturdy--recommended.

JayTee

Originally posted at

2015-02-10T19:00:00

For Christmas, I bought myself the Boulder Solar Tripod. Apparently, they're still having problems with the heads not fitting the bases. The bolt threads are too large for the hole threads. It was just a phone call, and they sent me a label to ship it back. Then, my replacement got lost. -_- Eventually, it showed up at my PO Box, two months late, but a functioning tripod at last! Well, mostly. Did I mention that it came with broken clips? Both times? Yeah. I'm still waiting on my replacement stands' replacement clips. Would I recommend this product? Depends on how handy you are, (I couldn't make it myself.) or how much time you have to kill.

Laughter116

Originally posted at

2014-09-30T20:00:00

I had to wait a long time for the tripod supply to catch up with demand but am happy I waited. It provides a convenient and stable platform for my solar panels, which I can now move from storage to optimal solar collection locations across my property in relatively short order. I like the web restraints for the tripod legs, too, affording me a range of height adjustments. The panel support structure using a combination of quick-setting clips and a rigid detachable "backbone" support is ingenious.

MarkGY

Originally posted at

2014-04-09T20:00:00

I had 4 Boulder 30s mounted on this tripod for 4 months and today I had a blow down caused by strap bands around the legs that don't hold together. One leg was severely bent at the bottom. Real attention needs to be paid to the nylon strap buckles ! I'm out a tripod now for this array.

Solarhobby

Originally posted at

2013-12-20T19:00:00

I had read several comments from other users who had purchased the tripod and were not very satisfied. Many of them said the tripod was difficult to assemble. I was happy that this was not the case with my purchase. I assembled it and everything worked well. The only problem I encountered was a bad buckle on a strap. I've notified customer service and hopefully they'll send me a replacement.

John

Originally posted at

2013-08-19T20:00:00

Amazing product with 3 adjustable legs and adjustable panel base for aiming in any direction needed. Can easily be readjusted during the day for more direct sun exposure. Comes with straps that can be used to carry this while hiking, riding or whatever.

Kathy g.

Originally posted at

2013-04-08T20:00:00

The tripod I received works well but the mounting bracket that attaches the (4) Boulder 30 panels together has very poor manufacturing tollerances. I was not able to attach all of the clips because the mounting holes did not line up. I was able to insert enough clips to securely mount the panels and it is reasonably sturdy, however, I was disappointed in the lack of quality. With that said I would still recommend the tripod as there's no other practical way of using all of the panels.

Trogdor B.

Originally posted at

2013-03-22T20:00:00

I just got this one 3/2013. I read all of the reviews and took a chance. I'm glad I did. The other reviews were a couple years old. It looks like they've fixed all of the older issues. The picture on Goal Zero's website looks like an older model. The new one has a strapping system around the circumference of the base that helps with stability (note that when you extend the legs out, the strap ends up in the middle. The only Con I can come up with at this point is the horizontal base doesn't swivel freely without loosening the base screw to turn the array to catch the sun. Otherwise it stays on tight. The same is true for the vertical base. (It's all manual but I'd imagine to get more, the product weight and price would increase substantially.) It does come with 10 clips for the solar panels. You have to get them positioned just right and may have to use a rubber mallet to tap them in the first time you use them. But...NO WORRIES. I have four Boulder 30's that fit nice and snug, once they get clipped together, it does get heavy so if you set up the tripod, get the four panels clipped together on the outside circumference and lay them all flat on top of the tripod - like a table, you can get them clipped on to the tripod base without having to hold all of the weight yourself. Even the feet have stake-like points at the end with holes for extra stakes/rope to keep it down on the ground if you're in a windy spot. I'm so glad I got it. Trying to raise the rating to reflect the updated product's quality. Good Stuff!! -if you'll note one of my pictures are the panels on charge, (over-clipped so I don't lose them) they are sitting in a window bay inside my house, all the windows are clean to let through as much sunlight as possible. It does charge my Yeti. I recently had an 8-hour planned outage with my local power company, I was able to use and re-charge the Yeti completely inside the house to keep my refrigerator running (albeit being inside, doesn't maximize the power potential of the panels and it takes longer to charge, but, it's cold outside!) try that with a portable gas generator, ha!

E.A

Originally posted at

2012-12-21T19:00:00

I received this as a gift from friends and when I opened the box it looked cool however I was a little skeptical about the build quality because it was so light. I took it along on a camping trip in Oklahoma in October and hooked up 2 boulder 30 panels with the provided quick connect clips. One of the clips was a little loose but the others were just fine. The tripod is fairly durable and had holes drilled into the bottom of the legs to anchor it as well as pointed ends to push into soft ground. I had no trouble at all setting it up, attaching the panels and making adjustments to track the sun. There was no problem when the wind kicked up (It always blows in Oklahoma) I have not tried it yet with a 4 panel array. I would imagine with 4 panels you might need an assistant to attach the array to the tripod head but with 2 panels it was easy. Overall this tripod is solid and works well for what it was designed for.

Nanook

Originally posted at

2012-09-14T20:00:00

The tripod is nice looking, lightweight and fairly easy to put together with the solar panels. I do not like that the angle of the legs aren't restricted and that there aren't built in supports for restricting them in an equidistant manner you know like a regular tripod with a pole down the middle and supports attaching the three legs to the pole. I hope goal zero comes out with an improved tripod with these enhancements, maybe a motorized version as well. I guess I would recommend this to a friend as I am unaware of a better way to mount the panels on a tripod.

JB

Originally posted at

2012-06-24T20:00:00

I received the tripod in May of 2012 and have had no issues mating the tripod "head" to the legs. If this was an issue, it seems to be resolved. I was a little disappointed by how light weight the tripod legs felt when I received the tripod, but in vigorous field use, this has not been an issue. The tripod is perfect to quickly deploy your panels on a stable platform and easily adjust them to aim at the sun easily. The tripod "feet" include pegs that you can use to apply pressure with your foot to drive the tripod feet in to the ground. This was a very nice feature. The product includes a "head" that is meant to mount on your panels, a set of legs, and a bag containing 10 quick clips to attach your panels together as well as to the head. The tripod can hold either two or four Boulder 30s. you begin by assembling your array on a flat surface, panel-side down. You then align the tripod "head" to the mating edges of all the panels. Position your tripod to where it will go and adjust the length of each leg to your requirement so that the top of the tripod is flat. Utilize the included nylon band to keep the legs from spreading out further. Once you've secured the head to the array and your tripod legs positioned where you want them, you attach head to the top of the tripod. There is a large center support that can move around inside a large hole on the top of the tripod that makes it easier to line this up. When attaching the head to the tripod, it is quite easy to do with two people, but it can be done with one if necessary. Two is best so that you have someone constantly focused on your investment in the panels. PROTIP: When assembling your solar array, trap a thin "bread twist tie" or similar flexible stiff material in the middle where all panels meet up. Straighten this until it is perpendicular to the panel surface. This can be used as a solar aiming device. Adjust your array until there is no shadow to ensure that you are aimed perfectly at the sun.

JK

Originally posted at

2012-05-31T20:00:00

The other reviewer is absolutely correct. We ordered a tripod with out extreme Basecamp unit. After reading his review I tried ours and the cross piece that connects to the panels is definitely not tooled properly. We just got another tripod with our yeti and so I tried it and it works fine. So, apparently, there was a problem at one point that goal zero has since corrected. Unfortunately, while trying to get the first tripod together I broke the knob so I seriously doubt I can get a replacement. :(

revbeej

Originally posted at

2011-11-04T20:00:00

Ordered tripod to go with my Extream 350 kit. It arrived with no instructions but was easy enough to figure out. The Base that the panels are supposed to mount to has an oblong circle where it is supposed to attach to the base and WILL NOT attach. It appeared that the hole was machined incorrectly. I contacted GoalZero and had them swap out the part that not working. After shipping the item back to them I had to contact them after several weeks of hearing nothing back from them to get them to replace the part. Upon receiving the new part it was almost identical to the one that I sent in originally and did not work. The problem appears to be with production (assuming they did in fact send me a new part). I WOULD NOT but this again and I strongly suggest that others stay clear of this item. Not only does the part not work GoalZero has no real customer support and does not appear to be interested in fixing the problem.

Todd H.

Originally posted at