Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe

Verdict

The Joby GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe is a convenient and speedy way to mount your phone just about anywhere. It’s not the most stable option available, but it makes up for it in versatility.

Introduction

I recently reviewed Joby’s GripTight Pro 2 GorillaPod, and I was very impressed with the versatile design. One thing I didn’t like so much is that the phone clamp requires two hands to operate, and that’s something that’s completely solved with the GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe.

With this design, you don’t even need to clamp your phone in place, you can just magnetically attach it in a split-second. It’s designed with iPhone users in mind, but I found that it works just as well with MagSafe-compatible Android cases. Plus, if you want to use a different phone without MagSafe, a neatly hidden clamping mechanism can keep your device in place.

Of course, you also benefit from the versatile mounting options that GorillaPod legs provide. On paper, it seems like an ideal solution, but I wanted to find out what it’s like to live with. After using it for the last few weeks, here are my thoughts.

Design 

• 220g weight
• 50 x 60 x 360 mm
• Plastic construction

As is usually the case with Joby tripods, the GripTight GorillaPod for MagSafe is actually a combination of two separate products. The legs are the GorillaPod 1K Stand and the head is the GripTight Mount for MagSafe. Buying the two together saves you a bit of money, and means that you’re ready to start shooting immediately.

The two parts come separated in the box, and they screw together with a standard 1/4-20 tripod thread. Everything is mostly made from plastic, but despite that, it feels extremely hardy and robust. I certainly had no fears throwing this in my backpack with a bunch of other kit, it feels like it can take a beating.

The mount can be rotated to allow for horizontal or vertical shooting. Of course, if you’re just using MagSafe, you can stick your phone on in either orientation, but the swivelling mechanism means that you don’t need to remove and reattach your phone to switch. Unfortunately, there’s no pan or tilt adjustment, though.

There’s another secret built into this mount, too. There are two arms that stick out from either side of the MagSafe pad, and rotating them by 180 degrees reveals a hidden clamping mechanism. 

This is great when you need to use a phone that doesn’t have MagSafe, but it’s equally useful to keep your phone secure when you know it’s going to get jostled about. I wouldn’t want to rely on MagSafe alone if I was running about using the tripod as a selfie stick, and the same goes for very windy days. This extra clamping force means the phone is almost guaranteed to stay put.

There’s an additional 1/4-threaded hole on either side of the mount, and this means you can attach extra accessories like Joby’s GorillaPod Arm Kit. It could prove handy if you want to attach a light or a microphone. There’s no cold shoe mount on this model, though, which would have made it even easier.

The GorillaPod legs are identical to the ones I reviewed as part GripTight Pro 2 GorillaPod Kit, so I won’t go into as much detail here, check out that review if you’re curious. The main thing is that they feel just as robust, grippy and adaptable as their twins.

Performance 

• 1kg maximum payload (legs)
• Can be wrapped around objects
• Vertical shooting supported

The main reason to choose a GorillaPod tripod over a regular one is that it allows for some very creative mourning options. The legs are very flexible, and it’s easy to tie them around a tree branch or a pole, you can also fashion them into a hook to dangle the tripod off a fence or a wall.

Each leg section has a very grippy rubber ring around it, and this helps it to stay put when it’s wrapped around an object. It also helps on uneven terrain, wherein different leg sections can make contact and keep the tripod in place.

GorillaPod-style tripods are popular with vloggers as you can twist the legs into a convenient handle when you’re on the go. Personally, though, I don’t find it that comfortable to hold. At the very least, the rubberized edges mean it’s very grippy in the hand.

The downside to this flexible design is that it’s just not as stable as a rigid-legged tripod. It’ll get the job done for videos, but if you want to try long exposures or astrophotography, you’re likely to get some motion blur in your shots.

The GripTight for MagSafe head works excellently, and I was particularly impressed with the hidden clamping mechanism. Using my old iPhone 12 Mini (the only iPhone I had to hand) it felt extremely secure without the need for clamping, however, your mileage may vary when using a heavier iPhone. When I used my Vivo X100 Pro with a MagSafe adapter, it stayed in place, but the weight made me nervous – so I chose to use the clamp to keep it secure.

The clamp/magnetic pad can be freely rotated 360 degrees, and it has notches every 15 degrees or so that snap it into place. It’s very convenient if you’re mounting the phone somewhere unusual, as you’re not limited to 90-degree increments.

The lack of tilt and pan options is a little frustrating, though. You can overcome the lack of tilt using the flexible legs, to an extent, but it’s still quite limiting. Meanwhile, the lack of panning means you have to pick up and rotate the tripod manually to change the angle.

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