Losmandy LW Lightweight Tripod

Product Overview

The LW is Losmandy's lightweight folding tripod, built for the GM 8 and G-11 RA axes. At 15 lb it is the lightest support Losmandy makes, with adjustable legs and 25 inches between leg centres when retracted but spread. Losmandy rates it at 80–100 lb for imaging depending on tube length, with a 300 lb maximum. The spreader is a separate add-on, and the Gemini electronics bracket is not included unless the tripod is bought with a Gemini system or mount head.

Who It's For

This is the tripod for a mount that travels. A GM8 G head on the LW comes to about 36 lb of mount and tripod, which is the lightest Losmandy combination and the difference between a dark-sky trip happening and not happening. It also suits a G-11 RA axis where the site is level and the instrument is moderate — the 80–100 lb imaging range covers most refractor and small SCT setups comfortably.

Key Features & Design

• 15 lb, the lightest tripod in the Losmandy range.
• Compatible with GM 8 and G-11 RA axes.
• 80–100 lb imaging capacity, depending on tube length, with a 300 lb maximum.
• Adjustable legs, with 25 inches between leg centres when fully retracted but spread.
• Brackets for the drive electronics on the column, so the Gemini 2 or 492 box rides on the tripod rather than on the ground.
• Folds for transport and fits the wheeled LW tripod case.
• Spreader available separately.

Recommended Uses

Travel and dark-sky trips with a GM 8, GM811 or G-11 RA axis. Visual observing and imaging where the site is reasonably level and the instrument is inside the 80–100 lb imaging range. A second, lighter tripod for a mount that normally lives on a pier. Wide-field and portable imaging rigs where total pack weight matters more than absolute rigidity.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

• Mounts: GM 8 and G-11 RA axes. It is the tripod supplied with the GM8G and GM811G with LW tripod packages.
• Spreader: not included. The LW tripod spreader is the mid-level accessory that braces the legs.
• Electronics bracket: Losmandy notes the Gemini bracket is not supplied unless the tripod is bought with a Gemini system, or the system or mount was purchased previously. Ask us and we will confirm what your order includes.
• Transport: the wheeled LW tripod case is made for it.
• Height: the 4-inch and 8-inch extension tubes raise the mount on an MA top, which is worth considering for a long refractor that would otherwise strike a leg.
• Hardware: the tripod knob set attaches an equatorial head without tools, and tripod screws are available as spares.

Good to Know Before You Order

• The spreader is a separate item. The tripod is stable without it; the spreader adds bracing and is worth having on soft ground.
• The imaging figure is a range for a reason. Losmandy gives 80–100 lb because a long tube loads a tripod differently from a short one at the same weight. Tell us your instrument and we will say where in that range you sit.
• 25 inches between leg centres retracted. That is a smaller footprint than the HD tripod's 29 inches — part of what makes it portable, and worth knowing if you set up on a small deck or pad.
• For a heavier permanent setup the HD tripod is the other option, at 35 lb with a 425 lb rating — the HD tripod with MA top takes the same mounts.
• Specifications are Losmandy's published figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. The tripod arrives assembled, the legs adjust and spread, and the equatorial head drops onto the top and bolts down — the tripod knob set does that without tools if you prefer.

Which mounts fit it?

Losmandy lists the GM 8 and G-11 RA axes, which covers the GM 8, GM811 and G-11 family.

Do I need the spreader?

Not to use the tripod. It adds leg bracing, which is most noticeable on soft or uneven ground.

How does it compare with the HD tripod?

The LW is 15 lb against the HD's 35, with 80–100 lb imaging capacity against the HD's 425 lb rating and a 25-inch footprint against 29. The LW travels; the HD stays put and carries more.

Does it come with the electronics bracket?

Not on its own — Losmandy supplies that with a Gemini system or mount head. Send us your order and we will confirm.

Bottom Line

In short: Losmandy's 15 lb folding tripod for GM 8 and G-11 RA axes, 80–100 lb imaging capacity, 25-inch retracted footprint, spreader available separately — the support you buy when the mount has to travel.