I have a geared head Manfrotto 405 and just love it .......... in a home/studio environment attatched to my big Slik tripod.
When I got it I was so impressed I took it on a day trip.
My tripod for the ocassion 055 mag fibre so not heavy, with the head mounted slipped out of the car and fell all of 16 inches onto the ground landing on the QR plate release. The impact was sufficient to damage the gears on the vertical orientation. After a 50 quid repair bill
this head now stays at home.
Don