Celestron Travel Scope 70 Review: Portable But Flimsy Tripod
The phrase “the best telescope is the one you use the most” comes up repeatedly in community discussions of the Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Refractor Telescope, and for many first‑time stargazers, that’s exactly what’s happening. Scoring a solid 8.2/10 overall, it’s widely embraced as a grab‑and‑go scope that works for both night sky and daytime wildlife viewing — but only if you can live with its weakest link: the tripod.
Quick Verdict: Conditional — worth buying for beginners who value portability over stability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and highly portable (3.3 lbs total) | Flimsy tripod prone to shaking |
| Fast, tool‑free setup | Limited magnification with included eyepieces |
| Clear optics for moon, planets, and terrestrial targets | Instructions often vague or outdated software links |
| Includes backpack and basic accessories | Tripod struggles at zenith viewing |
| Affordable entry point to astronomy | Missing accessories reported (moon filter, software) |
| Dual‑use for daytime spotting | Requires upgrades for serious astrophotography |
Claims vs Reality
One of Celestron’s biggest marketing points is “observe in no time.” A verified Best Buy customer confirmed: “Perfect beginner’s telescope…easy to assemble and the instructions were simple to follow.” Reddit reviewers echoed that “super fast and easy to set up with no tools required,” even for first‑time users who skip the manual. For campers and kids, this speed matters — you can start chasing Jupiter minutes after arrival.
However, while the listing touts “smooth and accurate pointing” thanks to its alt‑azimuth mount with pan handle, users regularly flag tripod instability as undermining that promise. Reddit user feedback warns that “try touching the focusing knob… and it will dance to your touch.” The instability becomes painfully clear when aiming towards the zenith, where several owners report the tripod “couldn’t hold the whole weight.”
The claim of “day-to-night performance” stands up better. Trustpilot reviewers and Reddit threads are full of stories like one camper’s: “Took my telescope to a camping trip and enjoyed it very much…easy to assemble and disassemble.” Bird watchers and ship spotters use it hours before the stars come out. That versatility is consistently praised — even by users disappointed in other areas.
Cross‑Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across Reddit, Best Buy, and Trustpilot, portability is the star. At just 3.3 pounds, the Celestron Travel Scope 70 is manageable for kids and packs neatly into its included backpack. A verified Best Buy buyer noted: “It was easy to put together and fits nicely in the backpack that came with it.”
Beginners find the included 20mm and 10mm eyepieces sufficient for starting out, easily swapping between a wide‑field terrestrial view and tighter planetary framing. One Reddit user described the joy of seeing Jupiter’s bands and “all 4 Galilean moons” during their second observing session.
Dual‑use capability — night sky plus terrestrial spotting — is more than marketing fluff. Best Buy and Reddit owners alike praised its ability to “view the jupiter‑saturn planet conjunction up close” and then pivot to “birds and ships at sea” later in the day.
Common Complaints
The tripod’s flimsiness dominates negative feedback. A Best Buy reviewer rated it 2/5: “Tripod is very flimsy… not useful at all for sky watching.” On Reddit, subtle touches during focus cause visible shake. In windy conditions, it’s near unusable: “Kinda hard to look into it.”
Instructions are another sore point. Several Best Buy buyers called them “a joke” or “a bit complicated,” with some failing to install or use the bundled software due to dead links. Missing accessories crop up too — customers noting absent moon filters despite being pictured in the manual.
For planetary detail lovers, magnification tops out quickly without upgrades. Although officially capable of 168x, most users rely on the stock 20x and 40x eyepieces, limiting how much fine surface detail they can resolve. One early reviewer recommended “replace the eyepiece and the tripod with better ones and you get a great scope at a low price.”
Divisive Features
The erect image diagonal draws two camps: daytime observers see it as essential for correctly oriented views of wildlife, while purists focusing solely on astronomy sometimes dismiss it as unnecessary. Similarly, the inclusion of basic astronomy software — Starry Night and SkyPortal app — thrills tech‑savvy beginners but frustrates those who encounter download failures.
Astrophotography‑curious owners are split. A hidden bonus noted by Reddit reviewers is a T‑thread on the focuser for attaching DSLRs, but most agree it’s only viable if you swap in a more stable mount.
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot and Reddit data doesn’t indicate scam risk — the telescope matches description, ships with core accessories, and works out of the box. The main reliability worry is mechanical: the tripod hardware isn’t built for long‑term professional use.
On durability, Reddit stories after months of camping show the optical tube holding up well. One user described it as “light and empty, yet solid and pretty durable” — aluminium construction surviving repeated hikes. Best Buy customers returning after seasonal events (like the Bethlehem star conjunction) cited satisfaction for basic use cases, but serious hobbyists moved on to heavier mounts quickly.
Alternatives
Within Celestron’s own line, the Travel Scope 50 is often avoided due to poorer reviews, despite higher initial magnification via included Barlow lens. Several Reddit users skipped it outright for the 70mm’s larger aperture, noting sharper planetary detail potential. Those with bigger budgets eye the C90 Maksutov for magnification and build quality, but acknowledge it’s less portable and costlier.
Spotting scope buyers sometimes compare this to cheaper monoculars, but those lack the dual‑purpose design and eyepiece flexibility Celestron offers here.
Price & Value
Recent eBay listings put new units between $79.99 and $193.81, with used options around $49.99–$69.99, often including backpacks and eyepieces. Resale holds decently for well‑kept kits, largely thanks to demand from beginners and gifting situations.
Buying tips from community threads: avoid paying premium for the DX kit unless you want smartphone adapters and extra optics; the base package covers typical starter needs. If resale is your goal, keep all accessories and original packaging — missing eyepieces or filters can halve used value.
FAQ
Q: Can I use the Celestron Travel Scope 70 for astrophotography?
A: Yes, but only for basic shots — it has a T‑thread for DSLR adapters, as noted by Reddit users, yet the tripod will need upgrading to avoid vibration.
Q: How portable is it really?
A: Extremely. At 3.3 lbs total and with a fitted backpack, several reviewers have taken it on hikes and flights without issue.
Q: Is it truly beginner‑friendly?
A: For setup, yes. Owners love the quick assembly. But in practice, vague instructions and tripod instability mean some beginners need extra guidance from online forums.
Q: What can I see with the stock eyepieces?
A: Expect crisp views of the moon, planets like Jupiter (with visible bands and moons), bright star clusters, ships, and wildlife — deeper sky viewing will need higher‑power eyepieces.
Q: Does it work well for daytime spotting?
A: Yes, thanks to the erect image diagonal, users report great views of birds, boats, and landscapes without inversion.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a first‑time astronomer or traveler wanting grab‑and‑go sky and nature views at a low cost. Avoid if you demand rock‑solid stability for high‑mag astrophotography. Pro tip from Reddit: pair the optical tube with a sturdier tripod and a better eyepiece set — it transforms the scope from “starter kit” to “seriously capable travel companion.”
