After our last review of the Joby Beamo Ring Light, I have been looking for more devices to help me create more online videos. So, I asked if I could review the Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe so that I could start Vlogging for the site.
The Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe is available for £61.41 via the Joby online store. There is no need to clamp your phone in place like previous Joby models. This model allows you to magnetically attach it if you own an iPhone or an Android with a MagSafe-compatible case. You can also use it without MagSafe as there is a hidden clamping mechanism to help keep your device in place.
Design
The Joby GripTight GorillaPod for Magsafe has a plastic construction and is lightweight at only 220g. Now the first thing you will notice about this device is it’s actually two separate products, the legs are the GorillaPod 1K stand and the head is the GripTight Mount for Magsafe.
So, buying the two products together in this offering saves you money and means you’re ready to use this device and start creating content from the off. When you unbox this product, you will notice they come in two parts and all you need to do is screw them together using a standard ¼-20 tripod thread. Considering the plastic construction, I was surprised by how robust this product is.
The MagSafe mount can be rotated to be used in a vertical or horizontal position to allow for a range of shooting. In this review we used this with the trusted iPhone 14 with the MagSafe Technology you can just magnetically stick your phone to the mount and the swivelling mechanism means that you do not need to remove the phone to switch from vertical to horizontal.
The mount also has two arms that stick out from either side of the MagSafe pad and rotating them 180 degrees reveals a hidden clamping mechanism. This is ideal if you want to use a phone that is not MagSafe compatible and can provide some extra protection when moving around using this device as a selfie stick or if using the device in windy conditions.
Looking to take your vlogging experience up a notch the Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe comes with an additional 1/4 threaded hole on either side of the mount meaning you can add extra Joby accessories such as a microphone to your setup.
Moving to the legs each leg is a string of connected plastic balls with rubber rings around the edge. Each leg can be twisted in different directions allowing you to create any kind of shape you require. It’s worth knowing you will have to apply some force to shape the legs but that means it will stay rigid when you have a smartphone or camera mounted on top. The reason behind this design is so you can adjust the height, wrap around a tree branch or compensate for rough terrain.
Performance
Using the Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe has been an interesting experience for me as it gives you the chance to create some unique mounting options. As the legs are flexible it was easy to tie them around a pole or tree or even fashion them into a hook to dangle the tripod of a wall.
The grippy rubber ring around each leg helps it to stay in position when wrapped around an object. I can see why these are popular with vloggers as you can twist the legs into a handle when you are on the move and the rubberized edges mean it’s very grippy when in your hand.
The GripTight for MagSafe Head works exactly how you would have hoped, and the hidden clamping mechanism makes sure your phone is safe when connected. I liked the magnetic pad that can be freely rotated 360 degrees and comes with notches every 15 degrees so it will snap into place. This offering is useful if you’re mounting the phone to something unusual and do not want to stick to the limited 90-degree increments other tripods have.
If I had to pick a fault with this device, it would be the lack of pan & tilt. However, you can adjust the legs to give you a little tilt but it’s a little limiting. The lack of a pan means you will simply have to pick up and rotate this little gadget if you want to change the angle.
Verdict
If you’re looking to start vlogging and want a flexible tripod and have a MagSafe-compatible phone, you can mount this device to anything. It’s simple to set up, lightweight to carry around and comes with the most versatile design on the market.
It’s not perfect as the lack of pan and tilt might not always be convenient to change the angle. That said if you get creative you can figure this problem out. So if you’re looking for a last min Christmas gift for the photographer in the family or like me you are working on setting up your vlogging kit the Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe offers excellent versatility allowing you to take hands-free photos then this is the perfect option. Gone are the days of the annoyance of clipping and unclipping your phone it’s now just connect to the magnetic pad and you’re ready.
The additional bonus is it can also be used with any other tripod so if you have an existing tripod, you can just twist on the GripTight Mount and you’re good to go. For under £65, you have a real bargain in your hands.
Product Rating
Overall ranking: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars – 4 stars
The Joby GripTight™ GorillaPod® for MagSafe is available via the Joby Store for £62.95
Thanks for reading this review, please continue to support us and check out our other reviews and follow us on Social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below.
Recent Comments