Top 5 Rifle and AR Bipods
By: Dwayne Surgill
If you shoot at any decent distance at all you will find out quickly that a good set of bipods are worth their weight in gold. There is just no better feeling than laying down prone behind your rifle, loading into a good set of bipods, squeezing off a perfectly steady shot and watching an impact on your target way down range. Bipods are a necessity for serious shooters and there are plenty of options out there. Here are my top 5 picks for the best bipods available on the market today.
#1 – Harris Bipods
Harris is just hard to beat. They've been around for what feels like forever and they just plain work! Harris Bipods are lightweight but durable and a quick online search of their reviews shows that few are disappointed after using them. Harris offers various different styles and designs ranging from Picatinny rail mount, KeyMod or MLok mount, swivel, tilt, and combined swivel and tilt. Harris offers leg lengths from 6-9 inches, 9-13 inches, 12-25 inches, 13-23 inches, and 13-27 inches.
Harris comes standard with rubber bipod feet but, unfortunately, Harris does not offer different feet options. However, aftermarket adapters that allow other company's feet options to fit your Harris can be purchased at a very reasonable price and they are easily found on Amazon. I replaced my Harris rubber feet with spike feet at least four years ago and love them. The replacement feet made a great bipod even better!
I have used Harris on my rifles and ARs for many years now and I can honestly say they are excellent. The only design feature I like better from other companies is the leg's ability to lock into positions other than 90 degrees or 0 degrees. Harris is limited to 0 or 90 but that rarely ever causes me any major frustration. That small frustration aside… Harris is an affordable bipod that is going to probably last you the rest of your life and still be a great bipod to hand down to the kids or grandkids!
#2 – CVLIFE Bipods
I had to include CVLIFE as my number two pick because they are the least expensive bipod I have ever used… BUT… they perform almost as good as my Harris bipods! I have multiple sets of CVLIFE and my only problem has been that the rubber padding that stays between the bipod and my gun's fore end started coming lose. A little bit of super glue solved that in about 10 seconds though!
CVLIFE bipods are made from hardened steel and aluminum and are very light weight yet sturdy. They are available with various attachment point options making them mountable to just about any weapon. Adjustable legs have five positions which can be extended or collapsed simply by pressing a button on the legs. Legs extend to 90 degrees and fold to 0 but have no positions in between, same as the Harris bipods.
CVLIFE are available in various height options from 6-9 inches, 8-12 inches, or 13-23 inches. They are also available with swivel and/or tilt. As mentioned for the Harris bipods, these come with standard rubber feet but aftermarket adapters can be easily found and purchased on Amazon to allow the bipods to accept various feet options such as spikes, sleds, or even leg extensions. For the price and the quality, CVLIFE is a great option for anyone. I have two pair of CVLIFE bipods that have been used very hard for at least 3 years and they are still working just fine. Even if they break tomorrow they have paid for themselves many times over! If you don't want to spend the money for Harris or others, don't be afraid to try CVLIFE bipods.
#3 – Spike Precision Bipods by FAB Defense
The Spike Precision Bipods by FAB Defense are coming in as my number 3 not because I like them any less than the Harris but really because I have only just acquired them recently and I have yet to really put them to the test.
Check out this review of them below.
You can definitely get the CVLIFE bipods for way less… you can get a set of Harris bipods for less… but the Spike Precision Bipods offer the level of adjustability of more expensive bipods at a significantly more affordable price that is competitive with Harris and CVLIFE. Again, they only come in at number 3 because I don't have as much in-field use with them as I do the Harris or CVLIFE. They also don't have as many online reviews available yet because they are relatively new as compared to all the other options.
The Spike Precision Bipods by FAB Defense are made from a combination of hardened steel, high grade aluminum, and polymer composite materials. They are Picatinny rail compatible but adapters can be purchased to allow attachment to other platforms, as with most other bipods. The Spike Precision Bipods offer 4 locking leg positions, which offers a slightly wider variety of independent locking positions… not only the usual forward 0/45/90 degree positions but also the 135 degree position which is angling back toward the shooter!
The Spike Precision Bipods come standard with adjustable rotating head, allowing for both pan (60 degrees) and tilt (20 degrees), which can easily be locked down when in the desired position with only one hand. The easy, one-handed operation continues with the leg extension, accomplished by simply pulling down on each leg. The legs are one-hand adjustable from 7 inches up to 11.5 inches, which I found to be the perfect range for prone shooting. The 45 or 135 degree locking leg angles allow for shorter height if adjustment to uneven terrain is needed on one or both legs. The feet are extended by simply pulling down and are lowered by pushing a button, again allowing for one-handed operation. At the time of this writing, they are only available in black or FDE but OD Green is advertised as being available soon.
The Spike bipods come standard with 3 inch leg extensions that can be added quickly with a push of a button on each leg. I did not add these to mine because I found the 11.5 inches of max adjustment to be more than enough for my preferred prone shooting position… but they come with the bipods at no added cost so I have them if I need them. The feet that come with the bipods are rubber but FAB Defense advertises that there will be replaceable feet options coming available. The rubber feet do seem to dig in well enough as is but I may be interested in some "spike style" feet when/if they come available.
The Spike bipods are similar to other polymer construction bipods currently available but they seem to be made slightly more durable. They feel very strong and sturdy and load well without feeling like they may snap. The Spike Precision bipods lock into various positions with little "play" when locked, further adding to my assumption that they are truly well built and will withstand some punishment. With some more field testing, the Spike bipods my replace my Harris and CVLIFE just because they are significantly more adjustable and easier to operate with one hand.
#4 – MDT CKYE-POD bipods
The CKYE-POD by Modular Driven Technology is by far the most expensive bipod on this list but I have to include them because they really are something special. Honestly, if not for the price, they would be number one on my list hands down but I realize that their price is going to be an issue for many and understandably so. I mean, you don't really "need" them… but don't try them out unless you plan on buying them because they are that awesome! I personally own a pair of these bipods… check my video review out below.
If the price is not a concern for you and you are truly interested in getting the most versatile, light weight, adjustable, durable bipods available… then you need look no further than the MDT CKYE-POD!
The MDT CKYE-POD is made from super light-weight, hard anodized aluminum. They are available in standard and short leg versions for both Picatinny mounts and Arca mounts as well as standard leg length for sling swivel stud mount. I have the Arca mount version in standard length. The Arca mount is special because it is available in right handed or left handed shooter versions and can be adjusted with one hand up and down the entire length of the Arca rail by simply loosening the side screw and sliding the bipod to the desired position. Standard leg height is 9" to 15" but the CKYE-POD can be locked at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, or 90 degrees allowing height adjustment from roughly 4.5" to 15". Of course, each leg locks independently so you can adjust each one to adapt to a variety of shooting angles and positions. The CKYE-POD also offers 170 degrees of cant and an insane 360 degrees of pan!
The MDT CKYE-POD has a built in barricade stop and comes standard with spiked feet/claws. If that's not awesome enough, the CKYE-POD will accept any Atlas style feet without the need for additional after-market adapters! Also, for those using the Arca style mount, the CKYE-POD is available in double pull legs (18.5" extended) and triple pull legs (36" extended), further extending your height adjustment to suite the shooter who prefers to shoots from a sitting position in addition to prone.
The MDT CKYE-POD bipods are truly the most versatile bipods I have tried and I am more than pleased with that purchase. They are pricey for sure but they absolutely leave nothing to be desired. If you hold to the "buy once cry once" philosophy, these are the bipods for you!
#5 – Atlas Bipods
I don't personally own any Atlas bipods but I have several friends who use them. I also have to consider national sales and online reports as part of my opinion so I had to include them… they are very, very popular! I have used them many times and I have multiple friends who use them and swear by them above all others. No doubt, they are quality!
Atlas bipods are designed similarly to the CKYE-POD bipods. The legs have an "inner" and "outer" leg design that allows the outer leg to slide down over the inner leg when not extended. Each leg is limited to 5 height positions as with previous bipods on the list but the design is just a little different in appearance and how they are extended and collapsed. Height ranges from 6 inches to 12.5 inches, however, additional Atlas leg extensions can be purchased and each extension adds three inches in length.
The Atlas system can be locked into 0, 45, 90 and 135 degree positions, allowing for adjustment to most any type of uneven terrain. Atlas bipods can also be purchased in a few different design variations, each offering something slightly different… wider base, tilt or no tilt, pan or no pan, and a combo of tilt and pan.
If you want quality and don't mind paying the price, Atlas is a great option. They look great, offer various design and functionality options that will fit most any shooters need, and best of all… every set of Atlas bipods is backed by a lifetime warranty!