Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand Product Review

Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand Product Review

Do you ever get one of those items that you don’t think you’re going to need at all, but then once you get it, you can’t really live without it? Well, that brings me to a product review of the MultiFlex Light Stand from Savage Universal.

Being a professional photographer in the Bay Area comes with certain challenges, namely the high cost of rent and finding an adequate studio space that doesn’t cost a kidney. My studio is compact but fully functional. However, one challenge I have is a particular area of my studio that has my seamless paper roll drop down near the corner of my studio. It’s sometimes tough to mount a strobe as a rear kicker light in this area due to the limited space where I don’t want the legs of the stand to be on the backdrop itself. The solution? The MultiFlex Light Stand.

 

So what exactly is this?

This unique light stand has two legs that slide up/down along the inside center base of the stand (portion in blue), and then a special independent third leg of the stand that can act on its own to flip up completely out of the way (more on this later), or be positioned separately in several unique positions, to allow for highly customizable configurations. Sound confusing? It’s really not. So let’s start with the basics:

How much is the Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand?

The Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand comes in two sizes, 6’ extending and a 10’ extending model.
The price breakdown is as follows:

Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand (6’ Extending): $159.99
Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand (10’ Extending): $189.99

Amazon Purchase Link:
Savage MultiFlex Light Stand, 6′
Savage MultiFlex Light Stand, 10′

Savage Universal Purchase Link:
Savage MultiFlex Light Stand, 6′
Savage MultiFlex Light Stand, 10′

 

SO WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE SAVAGE MultiFlex Light Stand?

The Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand comes with the following:

• MultiFlex Light Stand
• Padded/Zippered Carrying Case
• Mini socket tool (attached) for tightening
• 1 Steel 5/8” double stud with ¼”-20 / 3/8” threads
• Setup and Usage Sheet

 

So how does this work?

The setup for this stand is extremely easy and takes just three steps.
 
 

Step One

This is how the stand arrives shipped from inside the carrying case.
 

 

Step Two

Fold the legs down by extending them outward
 

 

Step Three

Slide the inside of the legs upwards along the center blue rod, and lock the legs into your desired position.
 

 

What makes this unique?

As you can see, from step two above, two of the legs are joined together, and one leg is independent, allowing for a custom configuration based on your needs.

 

That Corner of my Studio…argh!

Although Savage advertises this stand to work in odd areas like on stairs/steps, under furniture, or outdoors on uneven hillsides or terrain, my main usage for this product is to use it in that pesky corner of my studio. Here is what the corner of my studio looks like with a strobe mounted with a standard light stand configuration you may typically be accustomed to, with three legs that are an equal distance apart.
 

As you can see above, my seamless paper mounting system is quite close to the corner of my studio in one area. This does not allow for a kicker light to be placed in this strategic area, without the legs of the stand going over the seamless backdrop. This also is very close to the swoop needed to have a nice seamless look, so that corner area is a problem in my studio when attempting to mount a strobe that doesn’t interfere with the background.

However, this FlexStand can work in a corner of any room or studio. All you need to do is actually flip up the independent leg of the stand, and let the other two legs do the job. This greatly compacts the width of the stand, with the following results:

 

 
As you can see above, the stand legs now do not impede upon my swoop of the seamless backdrop, and my kicker light can be placed here in a much better position. This is why I needed this stand, and why it’s perfect for my studio. Hallelujah! 🙂
 

How is it built?

This thing is light yet solid. It’s very well made and the carrying case for it is a nice touch. Especially for travel, this case is ideal since using it outdoors on hillsides or uneven terrain is one of the reasons photographers will likely purchase this stand. A nice bonus is also the Velcro belt/strap that is fixed to the base to keep everything secure and intact.

 

Any Bonus Items?

Socket Wrench
The included tiny socket wrench that is attached to the stand is a really nice bonus as well. Over time, especially with the sliding and bending of the legs in a less-than-traditional manner, the joints of this stand will likely need tightening, so it’s nice to have this took clamped on the center of the stand at all times.

 

Bubble Level
This tiny little bubble level attached to the stand is a godsend. With the quirky nature of how you may use this stand in unorthodox ways, it’s almost essential to glance down at the included bubble level on the center of the stand to ensure you have everything level. This too is one of the small little items that ends up being crucial in the long run.
 

Tech Specs:

6′ Stand:

• Extends to 75” tall
• Collapses to 26” tall
• Maximum load when extended: 9 lbs

10′ Stand:

• Extends to 125” tall
• Collapses to 39.5” tall
• Maximum load when extended: 8 lbs

 

Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand REVIEW SUMMARY

So there it is. I really wasn’t expecting much out of this light stand. I mean, it’s a stand, right? However, the creative engineering on this does not go unnoticed, and especially for corners of rooms, that’s where this stand really shines. I don’t really have any cons to note other than it takes a few minutes to get used to the folding/unfolding mechanism, and perhaps Savage could have colored the third leg blue (or used a blue end cap) to quickly differentiate it as the unique leg that adjusts independently, but those are minor gripes from such a functional tool in my studio. The construction is solid, the included bubble level, socket wrench, and padded zippered case means I can throw this level in my car for outdoor shoots where the adjustability on uneven surfaces makes it far more beneficial versus a standard light stand. All great stuff, and the versatility of the variable positions (especially in corners!) really make this a functional tool for my studio.

 
 

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