Just catching up on the thread now. Honestly, you should be very careful using a standard travel tripod with that Leica 100-400mm lens. Even with the G9II's excellent IBIS, at 400mm any tiny vibration becomes a massive blur, especially if there's coastal wind involved. I would suggest looking into a tripod without a center column if you want maximum rigidity on a budget. The Sirui AM-284 Carbon Fiber Tripod with K-20X Ball Head is a solid middle ground. It's usually under 300 bucks and it's much stiffer than the Peak Design stuff. If you're really worried about the mud and stability though, you might want to consider going with a high-quality aluminum set like the Benro Mach3 2 Series Aluminum Tripod TMA27A. Aluminum is heavier to carry, but it is cheaper and often handles vibration dampening better than cheap thin-walled carbon fiber. Just make sure whatever you buy has replaceable feet. For the Olympics, you're definitely gonna want to swap the rubber for spikes in the soft ground. TL;DR: Avoid the ultra-thin travel legs for that long lens. A beefier aluminum setup or a center-column-free carbon fiber unit will give you much better results for birding while staying well under your 400 dollar limit.

I'm super satisfied with the Leofoto LS-284C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod with LH-30 Ball Head for $330. Honestly works well for my G9II and stays rock solid in the wind.

Honestly, I've tried so many setups over the years and the biggest mistake people make is prioritizing weight over stiffness when they're shooting long. That 100-400mm is a beast, and at the long end, even the tiniest bit of wind is gonna ruin your day. If you're hitting the coast, you really gotta be careful with those skinny travel tripods. Some things to keep in mind:

• Avoid 5-section legs. Those tiny bottom segments are basically toothpicks. Stick to 3 or 4 sections max for stability.
• Forget the center column. Seriously. If you have to crank it up to get eye level, you've already lost the battle against vibration.
• If you're worried about mud and salt, twist locks are usually better because they're easier to strip down and clean after a beach day. You should definitely check out the site The Center Column before you buy anything. They do objective stiffness testing and it's a goldmine for seeing which tripods actually hold up under pressure. Honestly, for under 400 bucks, you might get more bang for your buck with a beefy aluminum set rather than cheap carbon fiber. The extra mass is actually your friend when the wind starts kicking up... you want that weight to keep things anchored.