Experience with Mefoto Air or Classic tripods?

I own a Gitzo carbon fiber (Mountaineer?) that I love, but I need something very small for travelling. My regular camera is quite heavy (Nikon F4S), but for travelling, I plan on using either a Nikon F4 with a smaller lens (and without the extra battery pack and L bracket) and a compact point and shoot or rangefinder. I'm considering a Mefoto aluminum tripod. Size and weight are fine for me (I'd probably go with the Backpack version). How is the reliability and stability?

They have a new, smaller line called the Air which has legs without individual locks. The whole leg twists and locks in place. Here's the page: MeFOTO Air

Any experience with the classic Mefoto tripods or the new Air?

You're seriously thinking of leaving a CF Gitzo behind in favour of that little table-pod?

Why not lose a load of pointless weight by replacing the bloated F4 with a neat little F3, or an F100 if you really need AF?

You're seriously thinking of leaving a CF Gitzo behind in favour of that little table-pod?

 

Why not lose a load of pointless weight by replacing the bloated F4 with a neat little F3, or an F100 if you really need AF?

Trust me, I'm a Gitzo fan, and have used this tripod exclusively for over ten years, paired with a fantastic Markins ball head. It's sturdy, reliable, strong, and extremely well-built. It's Italian... the Ferrari of tripods. It's not going anywhere, and will continue to be used for most purposes, but traveling by plane and on-foot is no picnic. With the head attached, it's 29" long. The only way for me to travel with it is to fit it in my suitcase diagonally with the head off.

I'd prefer to have a tripod that I can fit into a shoulder bag. After giving it some more thought, I'm considering a Gitzo Traveller paired with a smaller Markins head. Pricey stuff, so I have to decide how much use I can get out of it. A tripod that size and weight would enable me to carry it anywhere I go without debating at the hotel or car whether I really feel like carrying it around.

Regarding a camera.... the F4S is the ideal SLR for me. The F100 is not an option due to the lack of dust seals on the film back and the fact that it's menu driven. I do a lot of low light and nighttime photography, and the physical knobs of the F4 are a big plus. I'm getting myself a small rangefinder and will get a smaller Nikon body. I think it's going to be an F4 without the battery pack.

Love the F3, but it lacks AF and Matrix Metering (I shoot chromes). Nikon FA lacks AF (which I use occasionally).