are you guys fans?

Never used one, to me they seem relevant for the sports/wildlife photographers with their giant lenses and combined need for mobility and stability but for the stuff I do I only need the stability part. Should the need someday arise I could make a faux monopod by only extending one leg of my tripod. :)

I use one, a lot! carbon fiber monopod with a tilt head addition. Heavily used walking around racetracks, and often on hikes, goes with about every 3rd canoe trip.
It's a sturdy bugger but very helpful for steadying motion shots, F4U taking off at EAA.
Makes a great hiking stick, self defense tool!

butthead

Yes. Sometimes a tripod is too cumbersome, e.g. Walking around town, markets, etc. sometimes tripods are not allowed.

I like carbon fiber because it is light and I am lazy. It is worth the extra money if you actually use the monopod. I use it as a walking stick. Around town it can be a useful weapon/deterrant against stray dogs. I don't like a ball head on a monopod. Too clunky and top heavy. A simpler tilt head with one knob suffices. Arca Swiss compatible quick release clamp is very nice. Some people keep it simple, foregoing a head altogether and screwing the monopod directly to camera. That is probably the best way to start and then figure out your preference.

Apart from use with long lenses, I use it more with wide to normal focal lengths. With image stabilization and proper technique with your body you are almost a tripod.

I prefer twist locks and a wrist strap on a quick release buckle if possible. I use a Feisol which I prefer to my former Bogen/Manfrotto (heavier, flip locks). My friend has a Gitzo carbon fiber which is nice but not worth it for my money.

I've done what Red has suggested - used one leg of a tripod. Because some places don't allow tripods, however, a monopod can be useful for gaining some stability and delaying the use of high-ISO. I also find it useful when I choose to move around a lot looking for birds: spreading the legs of a tripod, releasing the ball head tension, and finding the bird in the viewfinder takes just enough time that an opportunity can disappear. If I'm in one spot for awhile, though, I much prefer a tripod so that I don't have to hold the lens/monopod combination; I just keep the ball head lightly tensioned so that I can make rapid changes to the camera/lens position. I haven't taken a monopod to canoe country for several years.

The Benro DJ90 is a nice tilt head that has a quick release screw clamp for Arca plates.

THANKS for mentioning monopods!!
Got me looking at, and cleaning it up a bit. Disassembled cleaned and lubed as needed on the tilt pivot. Works sooo much better now! Kinda been ignoring the accumulated crusties.

butthead

There are very few aircraft that are cooler than an F4U, great shot.

this seems to be a good deal. induro carbon

quote kanoes: "this seems to be a good deal. induro carbon "

That is a great deal. Looks perfect - I don't think you'll do better. I like the belt loop holder. That could come in handy. Haven't seen that before.

I use a monopod a lot, for hiking and lower light situations. Not as stable as a tripod but can make the difference in certain types of shots. I spent a whopping 13 bucks for mine at either wally world or target, don't remember. It has served me well for many years and still works as well as the day i bought it. Plus i don't need to baby it at all at that price. Be nice to have a fancy, lightweight expensive one but not necessary.

quote lindylair: "I use a monopod a lot, for hiking and lower light situations. Not as stable as a tripod but can make the difference in certain types of shots. I spent a whopping 13 bucks for mine at either wally world or target, don't remember. It has served me well for many years and still works as well as the day i bought it. Plus i don't need to baby it at all at that price. Be nice to have a fancy, lightweight expensive one but not necessary. "

yeah, but carbon is really sexy, just like it is in canoe paddles...and I have 2 of those. plus, that's seems to be one hell of a deal. :)

forgiveness is easier than permission, right?

The utility of a monopod is dependent on your style of photography. I find mine indispensable when I am in pursuit of small birds. It is quick to deploy and provides support for a 400mm lens at about 1/800 sec minimum. At higher shutter speeds, I tend to handhold. Lower shutter speeds and I will use a tripod, bean bag, handy stump, whatever.

Monopods are also useful for those situations where tripods are banned. When I took a cruise to the Caribbean, it took up less space in checked baggage than a tripod and it came in handy for photos in photography of Mayan ruins where the tripod was banned.