Abstract: Simple, durable tripods for instruments such as those employed by surveyors, cameras, telescopes, laser-based measuring devices, etc. These tripods feature a tripod head which is a single piece of material and pivotable legs with a one-piece foot and a side-by-side or triangular array of hollow posts which provides strength and rigidity at a low weight. The tripod components are fabricated principally from colorfast, impact resistant, synthetic polymers which are: dimensionally stable under varying ambient temperatures; impact resistant; resistant to chemical attack and ultraviolet degradation; and, in the case of components which move relative to each other, self-lubricating. The tripod legs may or may not be extensible; in either case the tension between each tripod leg and the tripod head is independently adjustable. Stability may be promoted by rolling bearings which are located at the upper ends of the tripod legs and are seated on complementary bearing surfaces in the tripod head.