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The best bike Phone mount
By Amy Roberts This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to bike phone mounts. Using a smartphone mount while biking is a boon for anyone who wants easy access to their device. But with phone price tags approaching—and topping—the $1,000 mark, you want to be sure your device will stay firmly attached. After riding with 23 smartphone bike mounts over 90 miles' worth of smooth and rough roads, we conclude that the Quad Lock mounts are the ones we'd use for our own phones. The Quad Lock cases (available for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy) and the Quad Lock Universal Adaptor combined with the company's Out-Front Mount (which we prefer to the stem mount that comes in Quad Lock's case-and-mount kits) proved to be the confidence-inspiring solutions for securely attaching any smartphone to any bicycle. In our tests, phones vibrated hardly at all—let alone rattled or shook—in the Quad Lock products, no matter how bumpy the road became. Both the phone cases and the universal adapter twist to lock into place on the mount, which in turn clamps onto a bike's handlebars. The iPhone 8 Plus case we tested didn't interfere with phone functions, and we're confident, based on the Quad Lock cases we've tested for other guides, that it would protect the phone in daily use. (Also, you can use the cases and adapters with the many other mounts—for car dashboards and running armbands and more—from Quad Lock.) The indented socket on the case's back was among the least noticeable of the case-type bike mounts we tested. The Universal Adaptor sticks out from a phone's case (or back), like most such adapters, which you may find annoying—you may want to buy a separate "bike ride" case for your phone. The Nite Ize Wraptor provides a simple, well-designed solution for riders who want to be able to mount their phone on their own bike or a bike-share bike, and who generally ride on smooth, paved roads. The silicone straps that attach phone to mount and mount to bike feel much sturdier than those of other, similar mounts. Because of the stretchy nature of silicone, we did find our test phones would vibrate in the Wraptor more than they did in the pricier Quad Lock mounts when we rode on rough terrain, but it was nothing like the rattling we witnessed with other silicone mounts and even some case-based mounts. The Wraptor fits handlebars of all sizes and is a cinch to install and remove. Likewise, the straps fit phones of all sizes, and they don't get in the way of the phone's screen or buttons—a problem we had with other silicone mounts. You can also easily rotate the phone from portrait to landscape (and vice versa) even as you pedal. The entire mount is small enough to tuck into a pocket when not in use.
Runtastic brings a GPS watch, fitness monitors and more to the US
Most app developers have few incentives to build their own hardware, let alone the resources. With 25 million mobile users, Runtastic has both -- so it only makes sense that the company is bringing a slate of complementary exercise gear to the US for the first time. The initial catalog won't shock cyclists and runners who have ever toyed with tracking their progress, but it's certainly complete. Along with Runtastic's take on a GPS watch ($150), there's also an app-friendly heart rate monitor ($70), a speed sensor ($60), an armband and a bike mount. While the peripherals only truly make sense for Runtastic loyalists, they're available today through Amazon -- and they might seal the deal for athletes who want a harmonious blend of hardware and software.
Quad Lock mounting system keeps your iPhone at hand anywhere
There are a lot of mounting systems for both iPhone and iPad, so news of another one usually doesn't trip my trigger. However, there's a new mounting system from Down Under that caught my attention recently thanks to its relatively low cost and low-profile design. The Quad Lock mounting system (US$69.95 for the Deluxe Kit) graduated from Kickstarter in January over 200 percent funded, and is now on the market. Let's take a look at the Quad Lock. As with most mounting systems, the Quad Lock begins with a case. Right now, there's just a case for the iPhone 4/4S -- the company is also working on an iPad 2/3 case. If you purchase the Quad Lock system a la carte, you can start with the case and two wall mounts for $39.95. The case isn't anything special, other than it has the Quad Lock connector on the back. %Gallery-156392% The wall mounts fit into this connector, and with a quick twist your device is locked into or removed from the mount. The mounts have both an adhesive pad and a screw hole; most people would probably put the wall mounts in their cars, but you might want to attach your favorite iPhone to the wall of a house or the side of a cubicle on occasion. The Deluxe Kit comes with another useful piece -- a bike mount. That consists of a Quad Lock mount on a curved piece that matches handlebars or other bike tubing, along with four rubber O-rings and a pair of standard black wire ties to connect it to the bike. I like the idea of the O-rings to temporarily connect the bike mount, since you may wish to move the mount from bike to bike easily. For a more permanent connection, use the wire ties. Other bits that will work with the system in the future include a $19.95 "Poncho" protective cover that's perfect for use with the bike mount, a $19.95 tripod adapter, and a $14.95 universal adapter that adheres to the back of other devices or cases to hold your electronics in place. That latter product is going to be of interest to me, as I'd love to use the Quad Lock bike mount with my existing iPhone case (a mophie juice pack air). What I like about the Quad Lock system compared to some others is that the mounts are quite small and unobtrusive. They only stick out about 9/16" and are a wee bit under 1.5" in diameter. The product pricing is reasonable, and I like the fact that you can build on a basic kit to add only those things you'll need. Any negatives? Yeah, the basic case is a little less than exciting; that's why I'd personally wait for the universal adapter so it can be used with a "real case". Imagine slapping the universal mount on the back of a LifeProof or OtterBox case, then onto the bike mount for mountain biking. Nice! I deliberately abstained from sticking the wall mounts to anything so that a TUAW reader can enjoy the full Quad Lock deluxe kit courtesy of the manufacturers, Annex Products, and TUAW. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 1, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Quad Lock Deluxe Kit valued at $69.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
