Are gorillapods awesome tripods or kitschy knick-knacks?”
I have 3 gorillapods: the little one that I carry with my pocket camera, the SLR version for my Nikon D80 in light configuration and the SLR Zoom that I use when I load the D80 with the big lens, battery pack and flash. They are not as stable as a real tripod but they are a lot better than no tripod at all. I’ve used mine to mount the cameras on trees, parking meters, bar rails (I spend a lotta time in Key West), car doors and roofs, fence posts etc. They are very light and compact compared to regular tripods and you can use them in places where a regular one won’t fit. And, since it is light and compact, you will be more likely to carry it than the big clunky full size tripod. Plus you can strap one to your camera bag and take it on a plane without being hassled by the Airport Gestapo. You can overload them which is why I use two different ones on the D80 depending on how heavy it is. I always try to keep the camera strap around my neck just in case. I bought all of mine direct from J
