Insta360 Extended Selfie Stick Review
It’s now time to share an Insta360 Extended Selfie Stick review with my readers. I’ve been using the stick now for over 2 months. In that time I’ve tested the stick not only with the Insta360 X3 but also the GoPro Max 360 and the Insta360 Go 2.
As with all the reviews on this website all the gear is purchased and “hands-on” tested thoroughly by myself before I share my findings.
There’s several videos on my YouTube channel demonstrating the extended selfie stick with the X3. You’ll find both videos at the end of this review.
Selfie Stick Specification
The key specifications of the stick are below. I’ll discuss each of them individually. How they actually affect filming with an action camera attached to the stick.
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Weight: 365g (12.802 ounces)
- Attachment: Standard 1/4″ Mount
- Maximum Extension 3 metres (9.8ft)
- Shortens to just 36cm.
- Maximum diameter: 36mm.
- Minimum diameter: 9mm.
Stick Weight And Size
The size and weight is an important consideration of a selfie stick. The extended stick folds down to just 36 centimeters which is impressive for a 3 meter stick.
The weight of the stick comes in at 365 grams, although it’s not particularly heavy, you may notice the weight if your packing ultra light. Having said that I took the extended stick up to over 3000 meters inside a day pack without really noticing the extra pack weight.
Stick Thickness
The thickness of the handle is on the broad side, it has to be said. At 36 mm in diameter at the handle the stick does feel chunky to hold. Especially when comparing it to its nearest rival the Telesin Ultra Long selfie stick which I reviewed some months ago.
The thickness does mean the handle does fall out the stitch line, meaning you will see a black “blob” if you really zoom into 360 footage. However at extended lengths the camera is so far away you won;t notice this.
Adjusting The Stick Length
The length of the stick is adjusted by simply pushing or pulling the sections. The sections are held in place by friction. This allows you to adjust the stick to any length you choose.
There are 3 quick set markers at the end of 3 of the sections indicating the stick length when that section is fully extended.
Overall, the operation of adjusting the stick length is very good. The movement is smooth and the lengths stay in place even when moving the stick through wide sweeping camera shots.
Thread Mounts
You’ll find a ¼ inch x 20 male thread at the top of the stick. For cameras like the Insta360 X3 it’s just a matter of screwing the camera on fully.
At the base of the stick is a ¼ inch x 30 thread insert. This is useful for attaching a set of tripod legs to the stick. In doing so the stick may act as a monopod. Be sure not to over extend the stick when doing so.
You may also attach a lanyard by use of the thread insert at the base of the stick. This is a good precaution if your hanging the stick over buildings or mountain ridges.
Tripod Mount Adapter
For other action cameras such as the GoPro Max you will need to use a tripod adapter mount.
Not all tripod adapter mounts are the same. Read my article if you’d like more information on how to fit a mount in order to retain the invisible stick.
Extended Selfie Stick Hand Grip
The handle of the stick is fairly thick as mentioned earlier. I have large hands and the handle does feel slightly on the “over thick” side. If your wearing gloves in cold climates it does make you cautious about making too bold a camera move with the stick.
The handle is covered in a durable foam that does provide a fair amount of grip in hand.
Final Thoughts
The Insta360 Extended stick is the best ultra long selfie stick currently available. The Telesin selfie stick is its nearest rival.
The difference between the Insta360 and Telesin stick is the ease at which the Insta360 stick extends and closes. The movement is very smooth and makes it easy to adjust to any length.
The downside is cost. The Insta360 stick is almost double the price of the Telesin stick. Personally I’d say it’s worth spending the extra on the Insta360 stick.