Flashpoint 9' Air-Cushion Heavy-Duty AutoStand Pro

Once Red Wings vanished from the face of the Earth, many companies tried to pick up the torch. Cheetah is perhaps the best known one… I don't have a firsthand experience with Cheetah, but I own both the RedWing and this Flashpoint knockoff.Comparing the two, I'd still prefer the old Red Wing, as it's sturdier and uses better materials. However, Flashpoint is much cheaper (used RedWings go for 2x the price, if you can find them) and it works. And it's all that matters.My only gripe (which almost made me remove 1 star from the 5-star rating) is a rather theoretical one. It's the design of the top part of the stand that puzzles me every time I pick it up. Instead of permanently mounting the spigot on top of the stand, Flashpoint decided to make a cage that allows you to mount a removable spigot (how nice, one more thing to lose!) sideways, if you so desire. To this day, I have no idea why.

I like these a lot and have recommended them to numerous people.Pros:--collapses automatically when you pick it up--expands automatically when you put it down--height has always been enough for what I've needed for high school seniors, weddings, portraits, etc.--feels a bit more durable than some cheaper stands I've worked with--cheaper than name brand Cheetah stands--base is fairly wide for stability (wider than cheaper alternatives) though I still recommend using a sandbag whenever outside or using a large softboxCons:--makes an annoying metal-on-metal noise when you move/collapse/expand it (fine if you're outside or in a studio, not fine if you're somewhere like a wedding ceremony where it has to be quiet)--won't slide easily on its own if you're on dirt/grass/carpet or anything other than a hard, shiny floor (I usually put my foot underneath and push up to expand it, which is still easier than using a non-auto-stand)Update: I own three of these and one has lost the little plastic tip at the end of the foot. Now it's a sharp metal edge in the absence of the tip (may scratch some floors). Also without that tip, the stand will never sit exactly level (not really a big deal at short heights but becomes a bigger issue at taller heights).

great stand. it will not maintain auto feature if the feet fall out though, which they do and will. I purchased three stands and lost 4 of the shoes on the bottom of these things in the first week, and then they wouldn't open anymore. I simply called the vendor -adorama- and they sent me a bag of new feet free. then I got smart and super glued the snot out of them to the stands. super handy now. a must have for a busy wedding photographer.

I’m a wedding photographer and am so happy with these stands at are perfect for wedding receptions where I am constantly needing to move the light stands around through crowded spaces. This allows me to pick up the stand with one hand and the legs fold up on their own, just like a Cheetah stand but at a fraction of the price!

Locking knobs takes almost a full turn to loosen or tighten. Puts strain on wrists and time consuming. Bigger/bulkier than your average 8’-9’ light stand. Definitely not a choice if portability is in consideration.Would be good for studio use if you don't need to adjust height too often.

These have never worked for me. I see on the reviews that "feet" are needed for the auto expand to work, but mine have never had them. I purchased two, so I find it highly doubtful that two could have been shipped incomplete. When I try to use these, I have to pick them up and manually force the legs out. It's comical to watch and enough to ruin my time with my clients. I'm very disappointed in these, I should have repurchased the Cheetah ones. Lesson learned for trying to save a few dollars.

Amo este light stand, pero es un poco raro entenderlo y acostumbrarse. Recomiendo practicar a ponerlo y quitarlo antes del día que lo usarás. Tuve un accidente doloroso...por favor, practica antes de usarlo para algo profesional.

I had two of these. One got broken on a shoot. The other one, managed to survive until recently. the section which holds the base and stand together with the legs, has seperated, and comes apart when lifted to move, thus the legsdont collapse anymore. I am giving up on these over priced junk, including cheetah stand. Time to get some good old fashioned, sturdy C stands.