Ulanzi JJ06 GlideGo Video Tripod Review – Compact, Robust, and Innovative

Tripod Review

by Johnnie BehiriSeptember 4^th, 2025

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Two new compact Ulanzi tripods have been introduced to the market, the JJ05 and JJ06. In this review, my focus is on the JJ06 as, by definition, it is more suitable for video work. I took this “good-looking tripod” for a spin as I wanted to find out if it lived up to my expectations. After all, in today’s crowded tripod market, it seems that you really have to stand out to capture the attention of potential customers. Let’s take a closer look.

When it comes to camera accessories, Ulanzi is no stranger. In fact, the company’s products seem to be very popular among photo and video creators. Tripods, bags, action cam accessories, lights, teleprompters, and much more. You name it, and there’s a great possibility that Ulanzi or their sister company Falcam is making it.

Ulanzi JJ06, on paper

Looking at the company’s product webpage reveals a very capable product. Its size is inviting for traveling (1.76kg and 51.5cm max height when collapsed), and overall specifications are satisfying. With a maximum height of 187cm, 18kg tripod load capacity, and 5kg ball head load capacity, this new product seemed to complement my documentary work with mirrorless cameras rather well. Then, I took it out to the field, as there’s nothing better than stress-testing a product and seeing “who works for whom”: the product for you, or you for the product.

Ulanzi JJ06 tripod – the good

Quick-flip design

In those long, intimate days that I spent with the tripod, I learned to appreciate the overall robustness (good mix of full aluminium alloy and carbon fibre construction) and, no less importantly, how easy it is to open or collapse the tripod legs. The improved quick-flip design makes the four-section tripod very responsive and easy to adjust to the height of your liking.

Dual-Stage horizontal center column

A great idea that supports overhead and inverted shooting modes. It truly can help extend creativity when filming. Imagine having the freedom to “break” the centre column into almost any degree that you wish. Getting closer to objects or composing interesting shots could potentially become very easy. Also, the 360° rotation of the column allows easy and fast re-framing without the need to move the entire tripod.

The tripod handle

Next is the tripod handle. The overall design is not satisfying for me as it is too short and too straight, but if you take it off, you will discover a built-in screwdriver with a set of seven interchangeable bits to choose from. As much as I love this idea, I hope that airport security won’t mind if you’re carrying your tripod as hand luggage. (Its length is fine, but you never know with those guys behind the scanners.)

Minimum height

Another point to highlight is the minimum height the JJ06 can achieve, making it almost ideal for composing low shots. (Just remember to open the center column and drag it up a bit so that it doesn’t stand higher than the tripod legs themselves.)

What could be greatly improved

Tripods (together with tripod heads) are an essential piece of equipment for anyone who does serious work. As far as I’m concerned, a good tripod should fulfil the following: be easy and safe to operate, withstand the (allowable) load capacity, and last but not least, be able to support buttery smooth pan and tilt. In their marketing material, the company refers to all of these points, especially mentioning the smooth motion alongside the somewhat revolutionary Dual-Stage horizontal column. Unfortunately, in the field, some of these features did not function the way I was hoping for. Please allow me to elaborate.

The Ball Head and Dual-Stage center horizontal column

In this tripod, the included ball head cannot be detached. This makes it difficult to attach accessories like a small slider, for example. Normally, I would connect my small travel slider on top of flat-headed tripod legs, and then attach a compact tripod head on top of the slider itself for maximum shooting flexibility. Here, I had to connect the slider to the ball head, making it very hard to level or operate in general. On the positive side, for those in a rush, the undetachable head ball ensures that you will never leave the tripod head behind. For others, this solution might offer a better storage option when traveling. According to the company, when designing future versions, they will strive to strike a balance between having the head detachable and allowing for compact storage.

Speaking of leveling, the leveling bubble is one of the smallest I’ve ever seen, so be prepared to find it hard to balance. Even more crucial is the head’s fluidity, and to be clear, I wasn’t expecting a high-end oil-based head, but all in all, it leaves A LOT to be desired when it comes to camera movement.

This raised two issues. To start with, I was stuck with this head without the possibility of replacing it, and even more alarming is the fact that the whole idea of having a Dual-Stage center horizontal column is to provide total freedom of movement, including 360° rotation. In this regard, it was very difficult to adjust the tripod head with the camera on it and bring the camera where I wanted it to be, or even do a smooth pan.

Add to this the difficulty of locking the tilt in all positions, meaning you are tilting and want to lock the movement at a certain point. The lock mechanism does not align properly, so it “jumps” a few millimeters at the end, potentially ruining the movement in a shot.

Now, maybe (just maybe) I could have lived with this shortcoming, but what really frustrated me is the lack of fluidity that the Dual-Stage column offers. It’s hard to explain in words, but to summarize my frustration, imagine that the two main sections where the tripod offers movement are not good enough to execute stable shots with movement. Period.

Before closing this section, one more minor annoyance: As the ball head rotates 360 degrees, the tilt open/lock knob is, of course, part of this rotation. Now, for panning, you can either open/lock the head knob or use the center column to execute this action (which, by the way, offers smoother panning). In any of the operational cases, you will quickly find yourself having issues operating both the pan and tilt knobs with your left hand (as your right hand is holding the tripod head handle). So many times, I found the pan locking knob exactly on the opposite side from where I needed it to be, forcing myself to leave the handle and lock the head with two hands.

The Uka Quick-Release System

In general, I never feared that my camera would not be secure on the tripod, and Ulanzi’s solution is straightforward. One push, and the camera is released. If I could, I would have encouraged the company to allow a larger Arca-Swiss plate to be attached, instead of the limited square camera base.

Final thoughts about the Ulanzi JJ06 tripod

I’m not familiar with Ulanzi’s product design workflow, but seeing how this product behaves in the field, I would gently recommend that the company work closely with users. This could help with executing some of the innovative, brilliant ideas they are presenting here in a more complete way.

Going back to my “who works for whom” question, in this particular case, I found it not so easy to bring the new tripod into sync with my filming needs. Therefore, I felt as if my workflow needed to be adjusted to accommodate the limitations I encountered while operating it.

Was I asking too much from a $299 tripod? Maybe, yet with so many tripod options on the market, I feel that Ulanzi’s JJ06 GlideGo tripod should have been more enjoyable to work with.

Price and availability

Both the JJ05 ($269) and JJ06 ($299) are now available for purchase at B&H, Amazon, or directly on the company website.

ULANZI’s product design ideas and philosophy

Before concluding this review, I would like to be fair and allow the company to voice its opinion about the design and philosophy behind this product. I also included their own product summary for your observation and consideration:

Why a compact design?

1. Portability: The tripod is engineered to maximize functionality while maintaining a minimal folded size. The head and center column locking knobs are recessed into grooves for compact storage.

Head Design Philosophy – Why a dual-panoramic head?

1. Dynamic shooting: Essential for tracking moving subjects in video production or live streaming. The 2D pan/tilt head allows precise control for smooth pans and tilts.
2. Static shooting: The ball head below the 2D head provides flexibility for quick angle adjustments, compensating for uneven terrain and ensuring the 2D head remains level.

Why the Uka quick-release system?

1. Seamless ecosystem: Ulanzi’s Uka ecosystem includes accessories like the Uka Arca adapter, Uka backpack clip, Uka shoulder strap, Uka vertical plate, and Uka stabilizer base. The Uka quick-release system enables effortless switching between setups.
2. Improved efficiency: The downward-mounting mechanism simplifies installation, while the anti-drop lock ensures safety.
3. Anti-Drop Design: To prevent accidental pressing of the release button that could cause the camera to fall, a sliding lock mechanism is incorporated at the end of the release button, which requires a leftward slide to unlock.

Center Column Design Philosophy – Why a dual-stage center column?

1. Height versatility (up to 1.87m): Traditional tripods often sacrifice height for compactness. The dual-stage column achieves both, meeting diverse height requirements (e.g., shooting above crowds).
2. Horizontal mode: The center column rotates 360°, enabling creative movements (orbiting, push-pull, etc.) and top-down shots.
3. Inverted mode: The foldable design allows quick inversion for low-angle shots without disassembly, enhancing stability.

Ulanzi’s summary of their own product

The Ulanzi GlideGo JJ06 redefines the traditional tripod with innovations like a dual-panoramic head, foldable center column, and hybrid fluid/ball head system. By addressing the pain points of bulkiness and limited functionality in traditional tripods, the JJ06 empowers creators with professional-grade stability, versatile motion control, and expanded creative possibilities, all in a lightweight, travel-friendly package. Whether for dynamic video or static photography, the JJ06 enhances both shooting efficiency and final output quality.

Do you have any experience working with a Ulanzi tripod? If so, what is your impression? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.