For a long time, I struggled with getting steady shots for my videos and photos using just my phone or small cameras. I’d often prop my device precariously on whatever surface I could find, leading to shaky footage or missed opportunities. It felt like I was always compromising on quality because I lacked a reliable, portable setup. This problem wasn’t just annoying; it meant my content looked amateurish, and the hassle often discouraged me from even trying to capture moments or ideas. If I hadn’t eventually found a solution like the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod, my creative projects would have remained stunted by unstable recording.
- Item includes: Joby GripTight PRO TelePod - Bluetooth Impulse Remote Shutter - Metal Cold Shoe PRO Mount - Pin Joint Mount - Long Thumbscrew - GoPro Adapter - Joby 1 Year Warranty
- Compatibility: Smartphone, Mirrorless, Point & Shoot, 360, Action Cameras, GripTight Phone/Tablet Mount or Video light
- Capacity: Up to 2.2 lbs (1.00kg)
What to Think About Before Getting a Flexible Support
If you’re like I was, constantly juggling devices and surfaces trying to get a decent shot, you know the frustration. A versatile support system addresses this by providing stability and height for various devices, freeing up your hands and allowing for more dynamic angles. The ideal user for a product in this category is anyone creating content on the go – vloggers, photographers using smartphones or mirrorless cameras, or just someone who wants better stability for video calls or watching media hands-free. You might be travelling, recording interviews, doing product demos, or capturing family moments. This kind of tool is probably *not* for someone who only ever shoots in a studio with heavy professional gear, as the weight capacity and stability requirements would be much higher. They would need a full-sized, heavy-duty tripod. But for portable, flexible use with lighter devices, a multi-functional telepod-style support is key. Before diving in, you need to consider what devices you’ll use it with (phone, camera, tablet), the maximum weight they impose, how high you need it to extend, how compact it needs to be for transport, what shooting modes you need (tripod, monopod, grip), and your budget.
- 【Low Profile Ball Head】 Featuring a lower center of gravity, this camera head is more stable and heavy duty, able to support a load up to 33lb (15kg). The 3/8” bottom thread with the 3/8” to...
- 360 Degree Swivel: Equipped with 3 knobs for adjustment, you are able to set your camera at different angle
- 【Compact and portable】The fluid head is a compact dampening head weighing only 484g, which is easy to carry and use for outdoor and travelling photography due to its light weight and small size.
Introducing the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod
Enter the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod. This isn’t just a simple selfie stick or a basic tripod; it’s designed as a multi-functional tool for creators. It promises versatility, acting as a handgrip, monopod, elevated stand, and tripod all in one. When you purchase it, you get the main TelePod unit, a Bluetooth Impulse Remote Shutter, the Cold Shoe PRO Mount, Pin Joint Mount, a long thumbscrew, and a GoPro adapter, along with a 1-year warranty. Compared to simpler selfie sticks, its main advantage is the integrated tripod legs and the array of mounting options. While other Joby TelePod models exist (like the Mobile or 325 which are lighter duty, or the PRO Kit with a ball head), the GripTight PRO TelePod specifically caters to a wider range of devices, including larger smartphones and lighter cameras, focusing on the strong GripTight PRO phone/tablet mount alongside standard camera compatibility. It’s really for someone who needs that adaptability for various gear up to 2.2 lbs. It might be overkill if you *only* ever use a lightweight point-and-shoot or just your phone for basic selfies, where the smaller TelePod Mobile or 325 might suffice.
Here’s a quick rundown of its pros and cons:
Pros:
* Highly versatile with multiple modes (grip, monopod, stand, tripod).
* Wide compatibility for smartphones, mirrorless, action cams, etc.
* Includes useful accessories like a remote shutter and multiple mounts.
* Good maximum height for an extendable, portable unit.
* Relatively compact when folded for transport.
Cons:
* Locking mechanism for extension pole can be fiddly.
* Tripod stability might require full extension first.
* Ball head/mount might not feel sturdy enough for heavier devices near the weight limit.
* Price point is higher than very basic selfie sticks or tripods.
* Durability concerns reported by some users regarding the locking mechanism or head over time.
Operational Insights and Key Features
Having used the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod for quite some time, I’ve really gotten a feel for its different aspects. It’s the features that provide the real value here, and understanding how they perform in practice is crucial.
The Four Modes: More Than Just a Stick
The headline feature of the TelePod is its ability to transform. It functions as a simple handgrip, which is great for stabilizing handheld shots or just comfortably holding your phone or camera while walking and talking for a vlog. Extend the pole while the legs are closed, and you have a monopod or selfie stick, perfect for getting elevated angles or those classic selfie shots without a stranger holding your camera. Fully extend the legs but keep the pole low, and it becomes a stable tripod for stationary recording or photos. Lastly, extend both the legs and the pole, and it works as an elevated stand, useful for video calls at your desk, watching content hands-free, or getting a slightly higher perspective without the full height of a traditional tripod. This versatility is genuinely useful; I’ve switched between modes multiple times in a single recording session depending on the shot I needed, and it transitions quite smoothly once you get the hang of it. It solves the core problem of needing different tools for different situations by combining them into one.
Telescoping Height: Reaching New Perspectives
The extension pole goes from a compact 13.5 inches to a maximum height of 31 inches. This range offers a significant advantage over a fixed-length grip or a miniature tripod. As a handgrip, the shorter length makes it easy to hold close. Extended as a monopod/selfie stick, 31 inches provides a decent arm’s length plus some extra reach, allowing for wider angles or including more people in a shot. As an elevated stand or tripod, that 31-inch height brings your device closer to eye level when sitting or can lift it off a surface to clear obstacles, giving you cleaner backgrounds or better angles for things like product reviews. While 31 inches isn’t as tall as a full-size tripod, for portable use with lighter gear, it’s usually ample. The locking mechanism for the extension pole, however, is one area that can be a bit finicky. It’s a twisting motion to unlock and lock sections. Sometimes it doesn’t feel securely locked on the first try, requiring a bit of wiggling and re-twisting. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does require a moment of attention to ensure your device isn’t going to slowly sink.
Compatibility and Mounts: Connecting Your Gear
This is where the “PRO” in the GripTight PRO TelePod really shows. It’s designed to work with a wide array of devices up to 2.2 lbs (1.00kg). This includes smartphones (via the included GripTight PRO mount), mirrorless cameras, point-and-shoot cameras, 360 cameras, action cameras (with the GoPro adapter), and even small video lights. The standard ¼”-20 screw mount at the top is the universal connection point for cameras and many accessories. The star here is the GripTight PRO mount itself. It’s a robust, spring-loaded clamp that securely holds most smartphones, even larger ones. It also has a tilting head that allows you to easily switch between portrait and landscape orientation without removing the phone, which is essential for vertical video formats like Instagram Stories or TikTok. The inclusion of the Cold Shoe PRO Mount is a thoughtful addition, allowing you to easily attach accessories like a microphone or LED light to enhance your setup, though you’ll need an extra arm or adapter if you want to use it simultaneously with a camera mounted directly.
Bluetooth Impulse Remote Shutter: Hands-Free Control
The included Bluetooth Impulse remote shutter is a small but incredibly useful accessory. Pairing it with your smartphone is quick and allows you to remotely trigger the camera shutter or start/stop video recording from a distance (usually up to 90 feet or 27 meters). This is invaluable when using the TelePod as a tripod for group photos, self-portraits, or when you’re in front of the camera vlogging and don’t want to touch the device to start recording. It eliminates camera shake from pressing the button and gives you the freedom to position yourself exactly where you need to be. It’s a simple feature, but one that significantly improves the usability, especially for solo creators.
Build Quality and Weight Limit: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
The Joby GripTight PRO TelePod is constructed from Aluminum and Metal components, which contributes to its relatively light weight (410 grams) while providing a decent feel of quality compared to cheaper plastic alternatives. The legs fold out and lock securely, and the base provides a reasonable footprint for stability when used as a tripod or elevated stand. However, it’s important to respect the 2.2 lbs (1.00kg) weight limit. While the aluminum pole feels sturdy, some users have reported that it can show slight flex, especially when fully extended with a device near the upper weight limit. The rotation head and the mechanism connecting the mount to the pole have also been areas where some users experienced issues with durability or stiffness over time. For field recording with a lightweight recorder or a phone, it works well. But if you’re putting a heavier mirrorless camera on it, especially with a larger lens, you might notice some strain or feel hesitant about its long-term robustness for that specific use case. It’s definitely built for portability and versatility with lighter gear rather than heavy-duty support.
Design and Portability: Ready for Travel
When folded down, the TelePod is about 14 inches long, making it easy to stash in a backpack or camera bag. The legs tuck neatly into the body, and the overall profile is slim. The weight of 410 grams is noticeable but certainly not heavy, making it easy to carry around for extended periods, whether hiking, travelling, or just moving between locations during a shoot. The ergonomic grip when used as a handgrip is comfortable. The design is sleek and functional, fitting in with other portable tech accessories.
Community Feedback Snapshot
Looking around online, the general sentiment towards the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod seems mostly positive, though not without some common criticisms. Many users appreciate its flexibility and how it genuinely serves multiple purposes, making it a go-to tool for mobile content creation and photography. The included accessories like the remote and multiple mounts are frequently praised for adding value. However, recurring comments mirror my own observations and concerns shared by other users. Issues with the locking mechanism for the extension pole, sometimes requiring jiggling to get it secure, pop up. There are also reports of the head or connection points becoming loose or even failing after a few months of use, particularly if used frequently or potentially overloaded, even if slightly. While many find it sturdy enough for phones and lighter cameras, some feel the build quality, especially for the price, could be more robust in key areas like the head or extension locking.
In Summary
Constantly needing a stable and flexible way to record video or take photos with various devices was a genuine pain point that limited my creativity. Not having a reliable support meant shaky footage and awkward setups, compromising the final result. The Joby GripTight PRO TelePod offers a compelling solution. Its ability to transform between a grip, monopod, elevated stand, and tripod means you have the right tool for almost any shot in a portable package. The broad compatibility with different devices, from phones to mirrorless cameras up to 2.2 lbs, makes it a versatile workhorse. And thoughtful additions like the Bluetooth remote shutter truly enhance the shooting experience, especially for solo creators. While it has minor quirks with its locking mechanism and potential long-term durability concerns depending on usage, for the range of features it offers at its price point compared to needing multiple separate tools, it’s a solid investment for portable content creation. If you’re ready to ditch the shaky shots and unlock new creative angles, click here to check out the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod.
Last update on 2025-07-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API