If you’re a photographer on the go, this simple, yet brilliant design idea from the folks over at Impact will make certain aspects of your workflow a lot easier!

Pros

  • Comes in multiple sizes — 12′, 9′, 7.9′ and 7′
  • The larger stands (12′ and 9′) have excellent weight capacity (22lbs)
  • “Link” design is innovative making storage and transport a breeze
  • Stands fold down into a relatively small, rectangular footprint — impressive, especially for the 12′ model
  • Price points seem very reasonable for what you get
  • Build quality seems very high, only time will tell, but initial impressions are robust
  • The 12′ and 9′ stands have a similar folded-up footprint and are able to be linked when storing and transporting

Cons

  • The weight capacity for the smaller stands is comparatively low, though likely workable, I’m just surprised they differ this much
  • The smallest stand — the 7′ — is not able to “link” to the larger stands, it can only link with stands similar in size. I don’t have the 7.9′ model, and therefore I’m not able to verify whether it can link to the other stands.
  • Stand Type: 1 x General Purpose Stand
  • Maximum Working Height: 144″ / 3.7 m, 108.1′ / 2.7m, 94.9″ / 2.4m, 89.9″ / 2.1m
  • Minimum Working Height: 49.2″ / 1.2 m, 47.4″ / 2.1m, 40.6″ / 1 m, 29.9″ / 0.8m
  • Load Capacity22 lb / 10 kg (12′ and 9′), 8.8lbs / 4 kg (7.9 and 7′)
  • Closed Length42″ / 106.7 cm, 40.6″ / 103.1cm, 34.9″ / 88.6cm, 27.4″ / 69.6cm
  • Stand/Column Top Mount5/8″ Receiver with 3/8” -16 Male Screw

It rarely ceases to amaze me how companies are able to innovate old products and make them seem new again. Take something as mundane and commoditized as a simple light stand. As pros, we rarely require these devices to do much more than hold a reasonable amount of weight and have decent build quality with knobs, connectors and extension bars that can stand up to the rigors of the working professional. Of course, we also want simple ergonomics which means ease of use for setup, breakdown, traveling with and storing these devices. Simple, right? Not so fast.

I have purchased a myriad light stands from a variety of manufacturers over the years with some mixed results. Connection knob mechanisms between the extension bars break, crack, separate, etc. Additionally, the plastic or rubber caps at the bottom of the stand fall off or wear out. The majority of the arms and leg stands are hollow, meaning when a cap comes out, the metal tubes can actually be somewhat sharp and potentially dangerous. Not to mention the damage they can cause inside of your car when they’re bouncing around.

Bottom line, innovation with build quality and design are welcome and the new Link Air Cushioned light stands from Impact address several of these concerns with traditional light stands.

Innovative design — in a light stand?

Yup, you read that right. Innovation in a light stand. When the Impacts first arrived, I was a bit confused by the “link” design and what its purpose was. As a photography product reviewer, I often try to work these products into my daily routine as a professional photographer. Be it head shots, portraits, families, etc. New gear like light stands are always welcome, especially when they have neat touches like The Link Air Cushion from Impact have for simple storage and transport.

I need my light stands to do a few things, and do them well. They need to be able to hold a Profoto head — usually a B1X or a B10XPlus. In the case of all the new Link Air Cushion Stands from Impact, the minimum weight the stands can hold is 8.8 lbs. (that’s for the 7.9′ and the 7′). A weight the Profoto and nearly any modifier I put on it will fall well under. The larger Link Air Cushion stands (the 9′ and 12′) hold up to 22 lbs. Nice!

With a 22lb. weight capacity, the 9′ Air Cushioned Link Stand can handle a Profoto B1X Plus with ease!

I also need them the set up, breakdown, and store quickly. The beefy “T-handles” make setting the stand-up quick and efficient. The tightening knob on the Link that extends the base is big and grippy and easy to loosen and tighten. It’s also made out of metal, as are the connectors that hold the extension tubes together.

When the shoot is over, the stand folds into a flat rectangular shape which takes up less space, but more importantly, the new link design allows multiple stands to be “linked” together for easier storage and transport. If you’re a photographer on the go, these new stands make a wonderful companion. I am able to carry multiple at the same time. They’re also lightweight and are easy to carry to, from and during a job.

Speaking for myself, I’m very hard on my gear. When I’m not in the studio, I’m running from job to job and I don’t always have the time to repack everything. This means I’ll literally toss my gear into the trunk or into the bed of the pickup and race to the next job. The bottom line is my gear gets beat up and robust build quality is essential for me. I’m pleased to say the Link stands from Impact appear to have very solid build quality. The ability to quickly “link” them together allows me to store them in a more stable piece instead of scattered around the trunk.

One downside, is the smallest stand, the 7′ version, is not able to “link” to the larger stands — it’s understandable but I can’t help but wonder if there were a way to engineer them to link together.

Now build quality will have to stand the test of time, but my initial impression is, the stands are solid. I’ll likely do a follow-up in a few months to give some longer-term results with the stands. For now, I appreciate the innovative design which photographers on the go like me are certain to love!