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Review: GoWorx FreeRide Smartphone Phone Mount

Overview : Fresh off the GoWorx design table, the FreeRide Phone Mount transforms your phone into an infinitely versatile and mountable camera capable of shooting time-lapse photos, steady video, unique perspectives and anything else your creativity conjures up. FreeRide securely attaches to GoKnuckles and The Original Handle as well as any pole, suction-cup mount, tripod or any of the thousand other gadgets that hold a GoPro HERO or traditional camera. Whether using your phone for POV video, rigging up your smartphone as a GoPro camera display or adding a second perspective to your video production, the padded, vice-like clamps secure your phone so you can capture quality footage with the camera you already own.

Features :
  • Three-fin mount and included thumbscrew let you mount your smartphone (with or without a case) anywhere you can mount a GoPro HERO camera, unlocking the creative potential of your smartphone.
  • Included ¼-20 universal tripod adapter lets you mount your smartphone to any tripod or traditional camera mount built for a point-and-shoot or DSLR. With your phone on a tripod, you can finally utilize its powerful camera by capturing quality, shake-free video and truly stunning photos.
  • FreeRide works seamlessly with other GoWorx designs, including the skate-ready Original Handle and internationally acclaimed GoKnuckles.
  • Vice-like design fits any smartphone between 56.5mm and 86.5mm wide (2.2 to 3.4"), including all Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models.
  • Top screw locks down clamps to ensure a solid hold during rowdy, in-motion skate shots.
  • Soft urethane rubber pads grip your phone (with or without its case) and prevent scratches from the mount itself.
  • Impact-resistant polycarbonate and precision-machined 304 stainless steel provide a long, adventurous product life regardless of use in saltwater, freshwater, snow, mud, dust or black Hawaiian sand.
  • With the GoPro® Smartphone App and a little ingenuity, the FreeRide lets you rig your smartphone as a touch-screen display to view and control your GoPro HERO camera in real time.
  • With the FreeRide, a dashboard mount and your favorite map app, your smartphone becomes a removable GPS to guide you to your next skate or wave session.

Quality/Usability : Everyone uses their smartphone not only for phone calls, chatting and browsing the web but also for photos and video. FreeRide is a versatile and fully adjustable Smartphone Mount that enables you to simply and securely attach your smartphone (with or without a case) to pretty much anything, anywhere! With the combination of your smartphone and the FreeRide, you can now also take time-lapse photos and steady video. The FreeRide Smartphone Mount features both of the world's most popular camera mounting systems:
  1. You're free to directly connect your Smartphone to any mount or accessory designed for GoPro® HERO cameras, including existing GoWorx products such as the GoKnuckles!
  2. The included tripod adapter allows you to attach your Smartphone to any traditional camera mount (with universal ¼”-20 threads).
FreeRide fits all smartphones (with or without a case) between 56.5-86.5mm wide. This review was tested with a 2015 Motorola X Pure Edition with a Supcase Unicorn Beetle Premium Hybrid Case. Below is a list of compatible devices below. If your phone is not listed, measure your phone to see if it will fit.
  • Apple: iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5/5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus
  • Google: Nexus 5, Nexus 6
  • HTC: One (M7), One (M8), One (E8), One M9, One mini, One max, One remix
  • LG: G2, G3™, G4™, Risio™, Tribute 2™, Volt 2™, G Stylo™, Leon™, Escape 2™, Lancet™, Logos™, G Flex™, G Flex2, Transpyre™, Access™, Ultimate 2™, Tribute™, Realm™, G Vista™, Volt™, Optimus, Optimus Fuel™, D820, Enact™, Lucid2, Spirit, Mach, Venice, Escape, Spectrum 2, Splendor, Intuition, Motion, Elite, Viper, Lucid, Nitro
  • Motorola: Moto X, Moto G, Moto E, Droid Max, Droid Mini, Droid Turbo
  • Nokia: Lumia 435, Lumia 520, Lumia 521, Lumia 530, Lumia 535, Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Luma 925, Lumia 928, Lumia 1020, Lumia 1320, Lumia 1520, Lumia Icon
  • Samsung: Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S5 Mini, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 4,
  • Sony: Xperia™ M4, Xperia™ Z3

Included with the FreeRide is the phone mount and tripod adapter as mentioned above.

The FreeRide was designed to ensure it'll stand up to any environment. The FreeRide's main body are injection molded with high-strength and impact resistant Polycarbonate. The screw is precision machines from AISI 304 Stainless Steel. So you can safely take your FreeRide into fresh or salt water without the screw rusting. The rubber padding securely and safely holds your smartphone and is made from a premium grade Urethane rubber with 100% recovery. This means that the rubber will not deform and will retain its original shape.

  • Simply turn the set screw located at the top, counter clockwise to separate the 2 clamping points until it is large enough for your phone to slide in.
  • Insert your smartphone (with or without a case).
  • Push down on the clamps.
  • Tighten down the screw until it is tight enough where your smartphone isn’t moving. The inner parts of the clamps feature urethane rubber pads to prevent your phone from sliding or shifting.
One thing I would like to be improved is the screw or the way the phone is clamped down. I have average sized fingers but for someone with big fingers, it may be hard for them to turn the screw. If you tighten it too much, it can hurt your fingers trying to get it off due to the small screw. It would be nice if they incorporated a slit or something at the top of the screw to allow you to use a coin or something to help assist with tightening and loosening the screw.

But what happens if you get a phone call or need to make a phone call? You either have to put it on speakerphone or take the time to unscrew it either from the mount or tripod adapter. It doesn't take long to remove but anytime we get a phone call, we rush to answer the call before the caller ends the call. Would be interesting to see a clamp system of some sort.

The tripod adapter is the same as what you'll find elsewhere. If you already own one, you can use it with the FreeRide.

As stated, this was tested with a 2015 Motorola X Pure Edition with Supcase Unicorn Beetle Hybrid case. The phone's screen is 5.7". The dimensions of the phone is 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.1 mm (6.06 x 3.00 x 0.44 in). Even with the case, there is a lot of room left to fit an even bigger phone.

The Moto X Pure fits perfectly into the FreeRide Phone Mount. You have the ability to tilt the angle of the phone however you want. Any panning will need to be done from your ball head. The ballhead used in the review was a Sunwayfoto XB-52DL Duo Lever with Peak Design PRO Plates.

The phone didn't budge, however, depending on your phones button placement such as the volume button, the phone may stick out to one side longer than the other.

I'm sure a lot of people use their smartphones such as their iPhone for video so this would be a perfect fit with the GoWorx GoKnuckles.

Conclusion : Overall, the GoWorx FreeRide Smartphone Phone Mount would have no problem holding a decent sized smartphone with a case. Its durable and holds the phone securely in place. I just wish there was an easier way of securing the phone or just increasing the screw to accommodate larger hands.

Manufacturer: GoWorx
Site: Buy from GoWorx / Buy from AmazonBuy from B&H Photo

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