I'm actually super happy I went with the Peak Design Travel Tripod Aluminum 5-Section for my kit. Tbh the way they engineered the legs to eliminate dead space is just beautiful data to look at. For your Sony A7IV Mirrorless Camera Body, it's plenty stable and fits the budget perfectly.

• 20lb load capacity is way more than you'll ever need for that body
• 15.4 inches folded length means it actually fits in a side pocket
• Leg diameter design makes it much thinner than traditional sticks The Manfrotto BeFree Advanced Aluminum Lever Lock is okay, but its way thicker and harder to strap to a pack. I've used the Peak Design on three trips now and it works well every time. No complaints from me at all about the leg stiffness or the ball head. It just makes sense for Oregon where you'll be moving a lot and need to save space.

^ This. Also, the PD is a total space-saver, but honestly, if you're hitting the Oregon coast next week, you gotta think about the wind and salt spray. Aluminum is fine, but after years of hiking with different setups, I’ve found that carbon fiber is the way to go for dampening vibrations... especially if you're doing long exposures of waterfalls or cliffs. I used to carry a heavy Manfrotto until I switched to the Benro Rhino Carbon Fiber Tripod with VX25 Head. It's right around that $320 mark and the build quality is insane for the price. The twist locks are much better weather-sealed than those flip locks on the BeFree which always seem to trap grit. Last time I was out near Bandon, my old gear got jammed with sand, but the Rhino seals kept everything smooth. Few technical bits to consider:

• Carbon fiber doesn't get freezing cold to the touch like aluminum does during those early morning shoots.
• Twist locks are generally easier to strip and clean after a muddy hike.
• If you dont need a center column, check out the Sirui AM-284 Carbon Fiber Tripod with K-30X Ball Head. It's rock solid and lets you get super low to the ground for cool foreground shots of ferns or tide pools. Tbh the Manfrotto is a classic, but for a modern body like the A7IV, you want something that wont budge when the wind picks up off the Pacific. Those Sirui and Benro kits are basically the sweet spot for your budget.