HEIPI C100 Super Clamp Sabertooth
I Finally Found a Better Way to Mount My Camera Anywhere
HEIPI Super Clamp Sabertooth C100 Review
If you’ve followed my photography for any length of time, you know I’m always looking for better ways to position and secure my camera in the field. Sometimes I need the camera just a few inches off the ground for a low-angle composition. Other times I want to mount it to a fence, a guardrail, a tree branch, or even a sign post. Over the years I’ve tried a number of different solutions, and while each one worked in certain situations, every one of them came with some sort of compromise. Recently, though, I added a new piece of gear to my bag that has replaced several other mounting solutions I used to carry. It’s the HEIPI Super Clamp Sabertooth C100, and after using it in the field, I honestly haven’t found a shooting scenario it couldn’t handle.
Before the HEIPI clamp came along, I usually carried one of two things—or sometimes both. The first was my PlatyPod Delta, which has been a very useful tool for getting the camera low to the ground or onto a smooth surface. With a small ball head mounted on top, it works well as a compact support platform, and it can also be strapped to a tree or railing using the Velcro strap that comes with it. The problem, of course, is that the strap only works if I remember where I packed it. More than once I’ve found myself digging through my camera bag trying to locate that strap while the light was changing in front of me. The PlatyPod is still a good solution for certain situations, but it has always required a little more planning and a few extra pieces.
My second option has been a Really Right Stuff tabletop tripod. Like most Really Right Stuff gear, it is beautifully made and feels incredibly solid. On a flat, smooth surface it works very well, but outdoors is where its limitations become obvious. Uneven rocks, loose dirt, and steep hillsides are not exactly ideal conditions for a tiny tabletop tripod, and there’s no practical way to attach it to a fence, pole, or tree. It’s a clever little support, but only when the environment cooperates.
I also owned the Really Right Stuff Multi-Clamp with flat surface adapters, which is another beautifully machined piece of hardware. As you would expect from Really Right Stuff, the build quality is excellent. But it is also expensive. The clamp kit costs around $190, and even at that price it still doesn’t offer the level of versatility I was hoping for. It’s a quality tool, but it never felt like the all-in-one solution I wanted for field use.
That brings me to the HEIPI Super Clamp Sabertooth C100, and this is exactly where it begins to separate itself from the other options I’ve used. The first thing you notice is that this is not just another simple clamp. It uses a four-segment wraparound arm that allows it to grip objects of almost any shape. There’s an adjustable front arm and an adjustable rear arm, which means you can fine-tune how it grabs onto whatever you’re mounting it to. It isn’t limited to round objects, either. It works on square tubing, flat boards, railings, tree trunks, benches, posts, fences, and just about anything else you can think of. HEIPI rates it for objects up to nearly four inches in diameter, which opens up a huge range of creative possibilities in the field.
What really surprised me, though, is the price. At the time I’m writing this, the HEIPI Sabertooth C100 sells for under $70, which makes it dramatically less expensive than the Really Right Stuff clamp system while also being far more adaptable. Everything is built into one compact design, and that matters because it means I’m not piecing together multiple accessories just to make it work in different situations. It’s a more complete solution right out of the box.
For me, the biggest reason this clamp has earned a permanent place in my bag is flexibility. If I need the camera six inches off the ground, it can do that. If I want to attach it to a fence, a tree branch, or a guardrail overlooking a canyon, it can do that too. Instead of looking around for a place to set up a tripod, I can now look for a place to attach the camera. That changes how I approach certain compositions, especially in locations where space is limited or where tripods aren’t allowed. In those situations, the HEIPI clamp becomes more than just convenient—it becomes a genuinely creative tool.
Another thing I appreciate is how compact and lightweight it is. The entire clamp weighs only about 275 grams, or 9.7 ounces, which is remarkably light considering how much capability it offers. When I’m hiking with camera gear all day, every ounce matters. Replacing multiple mounting solutions with one compact clamp is a big advantage. It also fits perfectly into my smaller day bag when I’m traveling light and using my phone as my main camera. In that kind of setup, the HEIPI makes just as much sense as it does in my full landscape kit.
The clamp is also highly modular. It includes multiple 1/4”-20 mounting points, both male and female, which makes it easy to configure for different types of gear. Whether I’m mounting a camera, a small light, a monitor, or another accessory, the system adapts quickly without a lot of fuss. HEIPI also includes three adapters: a 1/4”-20 double-ended stud, a 1/4”-20 to 3/8” male adapter, and a 1/4”-20 to 3/8” female adapter. That’s a thoughtful addition because it means the clamp can integrate with a wide variety of camera supports and accessories without having to buy extra hardware.
In actual use, I’ve tried to find situations where the HEIPI clamp wouldn’t work, and so far I haven’t found one. I’ve attached it to rails, trees, benches, posts, fences, large rocks, and flat surfaces, and every time I’ve thought, “Yep, this is exactly why I brought it.” It has quickly become one of those pieces of gear that stays in my camera bag not because I know I’ll need it on every outing, but because when I do need it, nothing else works as well.
Load capacity is another point worth mentioning. According to HEIPI, the recommended equipment weight is up to 10 pounds, although actual performance depends on several factors, including the shape of the clamped object, the contact area, and the balance of the gear you’re mounting. That last point is important. If you’re using the clamp almost like a tripod—especially with the camera extending out from the mounting point—balance becomes critical. Even if the clamp itself is secure, poorly balanced gear can shift, especially when mounted to a pole or another narrow support. In my own setup, a Nikon Z8 with the 24-70mm f/4 and an L-bracket weighs only about 3.5 pounds, so it falls well within a comfortable range for this clamp.
There’s one other detail worth knowing if you’re shopping for one of these. There is an earlier version of the C100 that includes a 3/8-inch mounting hole, but on the redesigned final version that hole was removed. Personally, I actually prefer the newer configuration with only 1/4”-20 mounting points, especially since the included adapters make it easy to adapt to other thread sizes when needed. It feels like a cleaner, more streamlined design.
After spending time with the HEIPI Super Clamp Sabertooth C100, I can honestly say it has replaced several pieces of equipment I used to carry. That’s one of the best compliments I can give any piece of camera gear. When something earns a permanent place in my bag, it means it has proven itself in real-world use—not just in theory. And when a piece of gear costing under $70 can replace systems that cost two or three times as much, that makes it even more impressive.
If you’re a landscape photographer—or really any photographer who wants more flexibility in how and where you position your camera—the HEIPI Sabertooth C100 is worth a serious look. It’s lightweight, highly adaptable, surprisingly affordable, and one of the most useful camera support accessories I’ve used in a long time.
