KraftGeek Inspire Easel Review: The Portable Painting Easel That Surprised Me

If you’ve been looking for a lightweight, no-fuss easel for plein air painting—or simply something that doesn’t take over your studio space—the KraftGeek Inspire Tripod Easel may be exactly what you need.
I recently got my hands on this compact tripod easel and gave it a full test—from unboxing to setting up outdoors in my backyard for a quick impressionist painting demo. In this post, I’ll share my experience and why I think this easel is a solid option for both beginners and pros.

Watch the full video review here.

​What Stood Out to Me

• Lightweight & Compact:
  Weighing just 3.85 lbs (1.75 kg) and folding down to under 20 inches (50 cm), this easel is easy to carry, store, or toss in your bag for spontaneous painting sessions.
• Upmarket Look and Quality: The easel looks great as I am sure you will agree. Sleek, sturdy and quality of manufacture is self-evident.
• Quick Setup, No Assembly Needed:
  I was able to deploy it in under a minute. No tools, no fuss—just unfold and start painting. The tripod legs were quicker to deploy than my regular expensive tripod!
• Adjustable for Any Setting:
  Whether you’re standing, sitting, painting indoors or outdoors, it adjusts up to 165 cm in height and works as both a tabletop and floor easel.
• Fits Most Canvases:
  With its expandable spring holder, the Inspire handles canvases from about 11" to 26" high and up to 1.5" thick.
• Stable on Uneven Surfaces:
  Twist locks and silicone feet mean your easel won’t wobble or tip over—perfect for plein air painting in real-world terrain.
• Smart Extras:
  It includes a 1/4” screw mount (great for attaching lights or cameras) 

Suggested Add-On:

• Would be nice to have a ready-made palette to hook onto the tripod legs. Maybe KraftGeek adds that to their lineup!

🖌️ Watch the Full Video Review In my latest YouTube video, I walk you through the unboxing, setup, and give it a test drive in my backyard with a quick landscape painting. You can watch it here:
👉 Watch the KraftGeek Inspire Easel Review

💸 Special Discount for My Readers: If you decide the Inspire Easel is right for you, KraftGeek has kindly provided a 15% discount for my followers.
🎁 Use code DEWEY at checkout
or
👉 Click here to shop with the discount applied

Conclusion:
The easel is surprisingly well made, light and sturdy. A reasonable price too. A pleasure to transport too. I had no problem painting outdoors with this easel. It will also make an attractive display easel for art or even presentations to a class.
​I would suggest variable support brackets to accommodate smaller panels. However you can get around this with clips or tape to hold a smaller panel in place. A drop-in palette would also make life easier for travelling light.

Whether you're a plein air enthusiast or just need a versatile easel that fits your space and workflow, the KraftGeek Inspire might just become your new favorite tool.
Let me know what you think in the video comments, and happy painting!

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