JOBY products have an established reputation for quality and innovation. Known for their GorillaPod line of flexible camera tripods, JOBY also offers a variety of mounts for mobile phones and tablets. I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity and effectiveness of their GripTight Auto Vent Clip.
Out of the box you get a GripTight smartphone mount, vent clip and airplane clip adaptor. The mount is detachable and can be used with the GorillaPod or other tripods using a standard 1/4″-20 thread.
The quality of this product is immediately apparent compared to other phone mounts of this nature. I’ve used mounts with flimsy clips and unstable pieces that fail (read fall off!) on excessively bumpy roads. Nothing like that here. Made from ABS plastic and stainless steel, the JOBY is sleek and lightweight yet feels solid and durable.
The clip slips easily into any car vent; the design is discrete and non-obtrusive. JOBY uses TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) grip pads on the holder to ensure that the clip stays securely in place without scratching the vents.
The rear positioning ball allows for adjustments in angle and orientation of the unit within a 20-degree range. Once you find the desired position, tighten the knob in the back to lock the clip angle in place. The spring-loaded, telescopic mount bracket firmly gripped my phone. The GripTight can be positioned either vertically or horizontally for optimal hands-free operation.
I’m sure the airplane clip adaptor will be handy for airline travel. Simply attach it to a closed tray table and enjoy your mobile device hands-free high above at 30,000 feet. Since I didn’t have a plane at my disposal I tested it on my glovebox and found it worked splendidly. My passengers will definitely appreciate this upgrade in my vehicle!
The GripTight Auto Vent Clip comes in two sizes to accommodate most phones: Regular and XL.
Tech Specs
– 2.75 x 12.6 x 5.95 cm (1.08” x 4.96” x 2.34”); XL: 2.75 x 12.6 x 7.35 cm (1.08” x 4.96” x 2.89”)
– 4 grams (0.01 lbs.); XL: 5 grams (0.01 lbs.)
– For phones 54 to 72 mm (2.1″ to 2.8”) wide; XL: 69 to 99 mm (2.7″ to 3.9”) wide
At $39.95, the JOBY is a bit pricier than comparable units, but the attentive engineering and effectiveness of this product is undeniable.
I was given the GripTight Auto Vent for this review. Opinions, as always, are my own. Photos by Cora Li; others courtesy of JOBY.
About Our Contributor Cora Li
Cora dabbles in arts, technology, food, and travel. She loves that Vancouver offers a vast playground for exploring all of her passions. Cora’s most memorable job to date was working with VANOC during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
