I’ve long been a fan of JOBY’s various products. They tend to be simple, effective and well made. In fact, the very first GorillaPod tripod I reviewed is still going strong! For the past year or so, I have keeps a JOBY GripTight Micro Stand on my keychain. Just last week a person I was with said, “I wish we had brought a tripod…” I reached in my pocket, pulled out the GripTight Micro Stand and said, “Here, try this…” It worked perfectly. That’s the beauty of JOBY’s products- they solve simple problems in a variety of ways. Now the company has bundled their GripTight smartphone holder with a GorillaPod Stand. The JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand is a terrific solution for smartphone photographers… with one minor complaint. Let’s take a look.
In the simple packaging you will find the GripTight and the GorillaPod. The GorillaPod will work with a variety of smartphone and camera holders. The GripTight will work with pretty much any tripod or monopod. That kind of flexibility is nice although this kit is obviously designed for the two pieces to work together. And work together they do…
As we mention in the video, this is a simple but effective solution. It is great for anyone who shoots pictures or video with their smartphone; it also comes in handy if you are using FaceTime, need to hang your phone from a mirror while it serves as your GPS, etc. The list goes on and on.
The GripTight folds flat, so it is easy to keep with you at all times. (As I mentioned, I have one on my key ring and it has come in quite handy.)
The two “wings” of the GripTight snap into position with ease and are then ready and waiting for a phone to be slipped into place.
It works perfectly with an iPhone 5 whether it is in a case or not. It also works well with larger smartphones. In each case the design of the GripTight is such that it grabs hold and maintains that hold quite securely.
My only complaint with the JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand is the fact that JOBY split the GorillaPod into magnetic and non-magnetic versions, with the magnetic version costing $5 more. While I understand that some may not want a magnetic tripod, having the two lines in parallel introduces a bit of complexity and potential confusion into an otherwise clearly-defined line of products.
Other than that one small complaint, I am more than impressed with the The JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand and think it is a must-have accessory for anyone who uses their smartphone for pictures and video. You may not think you need it, but the first time it comes in handy you will be quite pleased you have it. Learn more and order yours.
MSRP: $29.95
What I Like: Both parts are handy on their own; Together the combine to make a terrific system for holding your smartphone while taking pictures or shooting video
What Needs Improvement: Magnetic and non-magnetic GorillaPod versions can be confusing
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample