This is a good low cost tripod. If you are a professional and demand the $300 tripods, this isn’t the unit for you. If you are a hobbiest or a person who wants a tripod to get that shot, have a monopod for when you need something small and want a low light of long lens shot - this is a great buy. It is light weight - but not flimsy. The rubber foot pads swivel easily to get you a firm footing, the leg locks are plastic, but sturdy enough and easy to use. The aluminum tubes are sturdy and should last pretty well. The foldable handle to help you carry the tripod is a great touch. I’ve broken some of the fixed plastic handles on other tripods. The three supports that join the legs to the center channel are thin metal with an aluminum rivet. It’s the reason I marked it down to a 4 in durability. I’ve had other tripods with the same construction for those supports and broken several of them. We have high school aged kids use the tripods and they seem to find a way to rip the thin supports off. I am not expecting a problem with these (checked all the rivets and they are well rounded and completely cover the ends so I don’t see a workmanship problem waiting to happen, but my previous experience tells me it can.
The head is plastic, not fluid filled, but very smooth on this tripod. Used it with small video cameras, DSLR camera, go-pro and iPhone (the phone adapter was included - nice touch) and had no problems at all. The action is smooth enough and the cameras did not wobble or waver in the path as I was panning them. The knobs are plastic and large enough to grasp easily.
The bonus is the monopod in the removable center post. You keep your same head, but now have an easily transportable small monopod to use on the ground or if you are so inclined, selfy shots to get a better angle and perspective.
Final thoughts - I would buy another (and probably will when one of my other tripod models “breaks”).