The best selfie sticks

With the backing of nearly 7,500 satisfied Amazon customers, the Mpow Selfie Stick is one of the most dependable devices out there.

The Mpow Selfie Stick is a sleek, one-piece accessory that doesn't come with any fancy attachments, bells, or whistles, but it's a great budget selfie stick.

With its U-shaped phone-holder design, the Mpow is extremely compact. The head of the selfie stick can be folded down to take up even less space in your bag than it would otherwise, and thanks to the silicone material on the clamp, your phone won't slip out of its mount even if you're waving the stick around in your excitement. Similarly, the handle bar's matte surface provides the right amount of friction to help the Mpow stay in your hands.

Thanks to a 270-degree adjustable head, you have full latitude to adjust the angle of your shot, which is key when it comes to taking the perfect selfie. The Mpow extends to a maximum of 31.5 inches — While that's certainly not the greatest length on the list, it's still enough for most folks to get a great photo, and is certainly enough distance to allow you to take a pretty big group shot.

The phone holder is adjustable as well, capable of coming down to a height of 2.17 inches and up to 3.35 inches. That'll allow you to accommodate a wide range of smartphones.

When retracted, the Mpow is just over 7 inches in length, which means it'll fit easily in your backpack or carry-on, and the stick is also supremely lightweight.

Rather than depending upon a remote, the Mpow instead has a camera button, which has a satisfying feedback force so you know that you've taken a snap. The stick pairs automatically with most phones, though you may have to undergo a slightly more manual process for some of the newest mobile devices on the market. — Lulu Chang

Pros: Extremely affordable, compact, U-shaped design, satisfying camera button

Cons: Shorter range, slightly more limited functionality

The LifeStyle Designs Premium Selfie Stick works with many different types of cameras, and it can become a tripod.

The LifeStyle Designs Premium Selfie Stick is an impressively versatile and popular selfie stick. Not only can it hold many different smartphone models and digital cameras, but it also can convert from a selfie stick to a makeshift tripod when needed. The LifeStyle Designs stick will work as a tree mount, allowing you to set up odd-angle photos, according to PC Mag.

All of the different attachments included with the LifeStyle Selfie Stick make this model a good value, even though it costs a little more than some other options.

Users have noted that the selfie stick is very sturdy, both when you're using it as a selfie stick and as a tripod.

One Amazon reviewer appreciates the lightweight design of the Premium Selfie Stick, which is all the more impressive considering the different ways you can use it. A few Amazon buyers were disappointed in the inability to adjust the angle of the mount of the selfie stick far enough. — Kyle Schurman

Pros: Offers ability to switch between selfie stick and tripod, good value with numerous use options, sturdy performance in all use cases, lightweight design that's easy to take anywhere, works with both smartphone cameras and digital cameras

Cons: Not enough ability to adjust the angle of the mount, slightly higher price than some other options