Orion U-Mount and Paragon Plus XHD Package Altazimuth Mount Head and Tripod for Giant Binoculars Review (2026)

How the U-Mount differs from a parallelogram mount

Rather than the parallelogram linkage used on some Orion binocular mounts, the U-Mount is an altazimuth design with swept-back side arms that let attached equipment point anywhere from just below the horizon up to a full 90 degrees overhead, combined with 360 degree azimuth rotation. Because the cradle holds equipment at its center of gravity no matter where it is pointed, no counterweights are needed to keep the load balanced, simplifying setup compared with mounts that require rebalancing every time the binoculars are removed or swapped. Low-friction bearings and adjustable tension control on both axes are built in to let the mount move smoothly under load.

Weight capacity for large equipment

Orion rates this package as capable of supporting binoculars weighing up to 15 pounds with objective lenses as large as 110mm in diameter, well beyond the size most photo tripods or lighter binocular mounts are built to handle. Combined, the U-Mount and Paragon Plus XHD tripod can support up to 25 pounds of equipment, enough headroom that the package is also usable with small to medium telescopes such as compact Cassegrain or reflector optical tubes, not only binoculars. That capacity is the main reason to choose this package over a simpler binocular tripod: it is built specifically for genuinely large, heavy optics rather than a standard 70mm or 80mm pair.

The Paragon Plus XHD tripod

The included Paragon Plus XHD tripod extends to a full 67 inches and collapses down to a more portable 34 inches for transport, with solid aluminum alloy leg and elevator shaft construction rated for heavy-duty use. A two-way fluid-type pan head is built into the tripod's connection to the U-Mount, adding tension adjustment knobs on both axes for smooth, controlled panning when tracking a target across the sky. Fully assembled, the mount and tripod together weigh about 19 pounds, a manageable single-person carry for a setup rated to hold far more weight than that in binoculars or a small telescope.

Mounting compatibility

Any telescope or optical tube using a standard Vixen-style dovetail rail clamps directly onto the U-Mount, extending this package's use beyond binoculars into small telescope setups without needing a separate adapter. For binoculars and spotting scopes that use the common tripod mounting socket on their underside, a 1/4 inch-20 adapter is included in the package, covering both major attachment standards in one box. That dual compatibility is part of why this package suits observers who may want to swap between a pair of giant binoculars and a small telescope on the same stable base over time, rather than owning a separate mount for each type of instrument.

Who should choose this over the parallelogram combo

In the site's Best Binocular Tripods guide this U-Mount package ranks second of eight, just behind Orion's own Paragon-Plus parallelogram mount and tripod combo built for binoculars up to 80mm. This altazimuth package is the better choice specifically for binoculars larger than that 80mm mark, up to 110mm, or for anyone who wants the flexibility to also mount a small telescope on the same base. The trade-off is a more expensive package and a heavier combined setup to transport and assemble, so casual stargazers with a single mid-size binocular are generally better served by the lighter parallelogram combo ranked just above it.

Frequently asked questions