The Studio Workhorse: Why the Heavy Duty Rolling Boom is the New Standard for Pros
In a professional studio or on-location the equipment you choose dictates the speed of your set. For years, photographers and cinematographers have relied on a combination of C-stands for small tasks and high-rise "Mombo" style stands for the heavy lifting.
While these traditional tools have their place, they often create a "friction" in the workflow. They require extra parts, extra hands, and a lot of heavy lifting. The Cheetah Stand Heavy Duty Rolling Boom was designed to eliminate that friction, taking the best attributes of industry-standard overhead supports and integrating them into a single, native solution.
Beyond the Traditional: The Evolution of Studio Grip
When you need to get a light 15 feet in the air or boom a heavy strobe over a subject, most pros immediately think of a Mombo or a C Stand with a knuckle and boom. These tools are the benchmark for "big" support, but they are often limited by their static nature. They also require multiple pieces to make them work, like the case with the C Stand. If you forget any part of this equation, the setup will fail. This can be very embarrassing in front of clients!
The Heavy Duty Rolling Boom takes that height and stability that you've never seen outside of a Hollywood set, but adds three critical features that traditional stands don't offer natively:
1. Native Mobility (Integrated Lockable Wheels)
Repositioning a traditional high-reach stand usually requires two people to lift and move it. Our Rolling Boom features integrated, professional-grade locking wheels. This allows a solo shooter to glide a massive lighting rig—modifiers and all—across the studio floor with one hand. It turns a static light into a dynamic tool that moves with your subject. The best part about this? Our wheels are included. Some competitors of ours will sell the wheels separately for an additional $280. Our Heavy Duty Rolling Boom includes that all for just $599. So the wheels alone on our competitors costs half of our entire stand AND wheels!
2. The Built-in Boom (No Knuckle Required)
Standard C-stands and high-rise stands require you to add a separate boom arm and an external grip head to get your light overhead. This creates a potential point of failure where the "knuckle" can slip under heavy loads.
The Cheetah Stand version features a native boom built directly into the pivot point. You can transition from a vertical 15-foot stand to a professional overhead boom in seconds without fumbling for extra attachments. This includes the standard baby pin and a Junior Receiver at the top of the head. The Baby Pin can also rotate 90' Degrees and locked down as well.
3. Native Leveling for Uneven Floors
High-capacity stands often require perfectly flat studio floors to remain safe. However, the Heavy Duty Rolling Boom includes an adjustable leveling 3rd leg. This allows you to maintain a perfectly vertical center column on warehouse slopes, stairs, or uneven location terrain—something most static stands can’t do without dangerous "shimming."
The Professional’s Choice: David Loi Studios
Commercial photographer David Loi of David Loi Studios is a prime example of a creator who demands this level of efficiency. In high-end commercial work, he uses the robustness of the Heavy Duty Rolling Boom in so many ways. Especially outside when he needs a scrim for example, he trusts the Heavy Duty Rolling Boom the most to hold up the best.
Instead of wrestling with the weight and bulk of a traditional static overhead stand, David utilizes the Heavy Duty Rolling Boom to stay nimble. By rolling the light into position rather than moving the client, he maintains the momentum of the shoot.
Key Specs for the Heavy Duty Rolling Boom:
Max Height: 15.2 Feet (182 inches)
Max Vertical Load: 66 lbs
Max Boom Load: 22 lbs
Safety: Every joint is secured with nylon-threaded nuts to prevent bolts from vibrating loose during transport.