Really Right Stuff has been synonymous with top-tier tripod systems for three decades, but that reputation has always come with a price to match. I always wanted one, both for my camera work and my shooting, but couldn’t justify the cost. Really Right Stuff is now looking to change that equation with the launch of its new Core Line, and the first two offerings are the Benchmark and Benchmark Inverted carbon fiber tripods. The Core Line is the result of five years of development built around a single strategic decision: bringing carbon fiber tube manufacturing entirely in-house. RRS now produces its own tubes from raw fiber at its Lehi facility, which lets the company control the layup, wall thickness, and construction at every stage. The payoff, according to RRS, is a product that maintains the stability and serviceability the brand is known for while coming in at roughly 30% less than comparable Mk2 models. Combined with a direct-to-consumer sales model that cuts out additional retail markup, that cost reduction is passed straight to the buyer. The Benchmark apex is purpose-built for the Core Line and designed to mate cleanly with any full-size RRS head, from the BH-25 up through the BH-55, PG-02, and Anvil-30. It features a QD socket and multiple accessory attachment points, and keeps a compact, low-profile footprint to keep weight centered during carry. Leg angle adjustments hit four positions (24, 44, 64, and 84 degrees) via wider magnetic self-ratcheting pull tabs that RRS engineered for gloved-hand operation. The twist locks use what the company calls Tacti-Stop technology, a low-profile, dust-resistant design intended to keep the legs clean and easy to operate in field conditions. The standard Benchmark is a four-section design stretching to 69.68 inches at maximum height, collapsing to 23.59 inches for pack, and bottoming out at 4.22 inches for prone work. It weighs 3.8 pounds and carries a 40-pound load rating. The Benchmark Inverted runs three leg sections, reaching 61.12 inches at full extension and folding to 26.49 inches, at 3.56 pounds. Both are made in the USA.Video time, with more explanation that’s hard to do with words alone: The Benchmark tripod retails for $945, with the Inverted coming in at $795. Still not “cheap”, but less expensive. Bundle options pair either platform with the BH-40-LR-II or Anvil-30 ARC ball head at savings off combined individual pricing. You’ve reached the end of the article, so here is your choice: Would the Core Line's ~30% price reduction over the normal Mk2 models move you toward RRS, or do you hold out for the flagship lineup?If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.