[Lightning Review] Arkon Mega Grip And Slim Grip Bicycle Mounts: Checking Your Email While Riding Has Never Been Easier

I recently took up bike riding as a good way to get outside and get active. Being a tech-junkie and overall stat-lover, though, I immediately wanted a good way to track my rides in detail, including real-time MPH, distance traveled, and all the other info that may help me better keep up with my progress. Instead of going the traditional "bike computer" route, though, I decided to use my smartphone to accomplish the task at hand.

After finding a couple of terrific apps to get the info that I wanted (Move! Bike Computer and MapMyRide+) and creating an NFC tag so I could quickly put my phone into "bike mode," I was still missing one key component: a way to keep an eye on my phone. So began my quest for a good and secure way to mount my phone onto my bike's handlebars.

That's when I found a trio of mounts from Arkon that could not only mount to my bike, but also in the car with an additional base. I've been using the Mega Grip and Slim Grip mounts on my bicycle for more than a month now, so let's take a closer look at what this set has to offer, aside from an easy to use mount that works across multiple modes of transportation.

 

The mount seat

While I used these mounts exclusively on my bike, the below review is equally as applicable for the vehicle mounts, since they're the same thing. 

 

How much does it cost? Between $20 and $25, depending on the package.Where can I buy it? Here: Car, Bike Excellent Grip. The Mega Grip has adjustable spring-loaded arms that hold your phone in place. Once the phone is placed in the seat, you simply squeeze these padded arms together to form a nice, tight hold.The phone is easy to remove. While the mount holds the phone in place quite nicely, there is a small button on the side that releases the arms, thus releasing its grip on the phone.It should be able to hold basically any phone on the market. This mount held my Galaxy Nexus with plenty of room to spare. It should be able to hold anything from an iPhone all the way to the Galaxy Note without much if an issue.It should be compatible with basically any case. Since it's completely adjustable, it should be able to handle any device without having to remove the case.The top half of the device is still exposed. Since the entire top half is left uncovered, you should be able to access the power button and volume rocker on most devices. If, however, the headphone jack or USB port is located on the bottom half of the device, then it may be covered (more on that down below).It covers the bottom half of the device. This may not cause a problem on certain phones, but it left the headphone jack completely inaccessible on my Galaxy Nexus (the bottom arms are adjustable, but I felt like moving them inward reduced the strength of the hold). This could be a problem for anyone looking to use headphones while the device is in the mount (if the jack is on the bottom or side, that is).The spring-loaded arms could wear out eventually. While the arms feel pretty good right now, I can't say what months of opening and closing could do to them. Eventually, they'll definitely wear out, at which time the unit will need to be replaced.It's Bulky. In my experience, the more robust the product, the more bulky it is. That's still the case here - it's not huge, but it's definitely bigger than I expected it to be.  

 

 

How much does it cost? Around $20, give or take a few dollars depending on the package.Where can I buy it? Here: Car, BikeIt's small, with a thin profile. The Slim Grip takes up significantly less room than the Mega Grip, as it has a more streamlined shape.It has adjustable legs for various-sized devices. The Slim Grip has small grooves in both the bottom and the top for the different-length legs (seen above in the first and second image) so it should fit nearly any size device.It should be compatible with basically any case. Since it's completely adjustable, it should be able to handle any device without having to remove the case.The spring-loaded base makes it easy to insert/remove the device with one hand. The bottom of the mount is spring loaded, which makes inserting your phone/removing it from the mount one-handed quite easy.It's not as sturdy as the Mega Grip. While it may be slimmer and more low-profile than the Mega Grip, it's also not as sturdy. I haven't had an issue with my phone slipping out of it (or anything of the sort), I feel like it could be bumped from this mount much easier than the Mega Grip.It may not be able to handle devices much larger than the Galaxy Nexus. I feel like the GN pushes this mount almost to its limits, so if you have something much larger (like the Note), I would probably steer clear of this one.The spring-loaded bottom could wear out eventually. Like with the Mega Grip, the spring-loaded mechanism in the Slim Grip will eventually wear out, requiring the unit to need replacing. 

 

How much does it cost? $30Where can I buy it? Here.

Arkon also has a water-resistant mount that's specifically designed for use on bicycles/motorcycles, but unfortunately the Galaxy Nexus is too large to fit, so I was unable to see how it perform during real world use. However, it appears to be well made and quite protective.

 

 

The case completely covers the device, protecting it from the elements. It also includes two pads of different thickness, so you can ensure that your phone is as secure as possible. It would probably work very well for devices with four-inch or smaller displays, as the Nexus stuck out of it about half an inch.

An add-on strap for either the Mega Grip or Slim Grip mount that gives a little bit of extra hold.

Overall, these mounts worked out better than I ever anticipated (well, except for the water-resistant model). Both the Mega and Slim grip actually hold onto the device quite well, and while they probably won't provide much protection in the case of a wreck, I can't see my phone coming out during everyday use, regardless of which one I'm using.

So, which one am I actually using? To be honest, I prefer the Slim Grip. I feel like it provides enough hold, while still leaving access to basically everything that I need (power, volume, headphone jack, etc.). Of course, if you're buying one for your bike and are a more aggressive rider or mountain biker, then I would suggest the Mega Grip (or the water-resistant model if you have a small enough phone). For road-riding, however, I really do love the Slim Grip.

For the money, though, you really can't go wrong with either.

[Lightning Review] Capta: Thanks To Some Awesome Alien Goo, Tripod-ifying Your Phone Has Never Been Easier

How many times have you thought to yourself, "I really, really wish I could put my phone on a tripod!" Ten? Thirteen? Three-hundred-ninety-four? Regardless of whether or not you've ever actually said that to yourself, Kickstarter-lauched product Capta is an awesome little accessory that lets you do that (and more!).

So, what else can Capta do? Mostly, it can just hold your phone in various positions. This is actually incredibly helpful, though, for different functions. Watching videos? Put the phone in a more upright position. Need the phone n a more reclined position? No problem, Capta can handle that, too. It even has a nice little crevice on the bottom side so you can route a charging cable and use it as a makeshift dock. The best part? Thanks to some sort of proprietary sticky stuff alien goo, you never have to worry about your device falling off of Capta. The cool thing about said alien goo, though, is that it doesn't leave any residue on your device.

Let's take a closer look at what this $35 accessory has to offer.

 

It's a dock/tripod mount/phone holding thingy.Should I buy it? If you've ever wanted to put your phone on a tripod, then you should definitely buy this. If you're otherwise looking for a way to easily prop your phone in various positions, again, you should buy it. 

 

Easy to use. Seriously, Capta is crazy-easy to use. Just put your device on the black sticky pad, apply a bit of pressure, and it's good to go. When you want to remove the device, give it a little twist. It comes off clean!You can finally put your phone a tripod. Perfect for great stills, stable video, and all the other things people use tripods for.Small and lightweight. Since Capta is made of aluminum, it weighs next-to-nothing. You can easily toss it in your bag and not even know it's there. And that's a good thing.It's well made. Capta consists of two pieces: the "main" part (with the sticky pad) and the "cover," which protects the sticky pad. Both pieces are machined to fit together perfectly, and all the lines are incredibly clean and smooth.The sticky pad will hold your device for hours (or days), but comes off clean. I have to admit, I was a little bit hesitant to stick my phone on Capta the first time I used it. Once I did, though, it was very clear to me that it wasn't going anywhere. However, a simple twist is all it takes and your devices comes away completely clean. It's quite neat.It's "universal." Capta should work with all phones, and even many small (seven-inches or less) tablets. I can't say that I would recommend it for an eight+ inch tablet, but it was able to handle my Acer Iconia A100 and Galaxy Nexus without issue.It's washable. When that sticky stuff gets some gunk on it, you can just wash it off with soap and water. It's good to go again!The cable track along the bottom is too small for many USB cables. Looks like the Capta guys dropped the ball on this one and designed it more for the thinner cable that comes with the iPhone rather than a traditional USB (micro or mini) cable. With that said, I was able to get a few of my cables to fit, though it seems pretty hit or miss. Sadface.It doesn't work as well on devices with textured surfaces. This one is by no means a deal breaker, just something to be aware of. Many devices that ship with a textured back, like the Galaxy Nexus for example, don't work with Capta as well as those with a smooth surface. Basically, that means that it will hold your textured-back device for 4 straight days and your smooth-back device for a whole week. In other words, it's really negligible, but worth mentioning.It doesn't allow one-handed operation while in "dock mode." While Capta allows you to use your in other ways than just on a tripod, none of them are perfect. If you want to use to to prop your phone up to watch a movie, then it should be fine for that, but if you plan on using your phone while on it's propped on Capta, then be prepared to either use both hands or chase your device all around the desk. Thanks to Capta's aluminum construction, it slides all over the place.It's not free. Seriously, I'm running out of cons. 

 

All in all, I think Capta is an incredible little invention. Is it worth $35? That depends. If you want an incredibly versatile little gizmo that can hold your phone in a number of ways and let you mount it on a tripod, then you cannot live another day without Capta. If, however, none of those things sound appealing to you, then you probably won't die if you don't buy one.

I bet you're wondering where you can get that sexy red Capta, aren't you? Truth be known, you can't buy it yet. They should be available soon enough, though, so keep your eyes peeled!