iKlip Grip Pro an Excellent Multifunction Tripod, Monopod, Selfie Stick

iKlip Grip Pro is one of those devices that appeals to my love of clever. In one device, IK Multimedia has a tabletop tripod, a monopod/camera grip, and a selfie stick with an included Bluetooth remote the company pretends we’ll use for above-the-crowd shots. Better, the company did so without compromising the function of any of those three modes.

My focus was on its use as an iPhone grip, but it also comes with a standard camera mount the company says makes it a 4-in-1.

iKlip Grip Pro

iKlip Grip Pro

In addition to the above-mentioned uses, iKlip Grip Pro is collapsible, which makes it portable. The stand portion is comprised of three legs that swallow the telescoping shaft. When you’re using it as a stand, those legs unfold. When you’re using it as a grip, those legs form a handle that’s quite comfortable to hold.

It comes with two mounts, one for cameras/GoPros that I didn’t test. The other is a spring-loaded, adjustable smartphone clamp that works with devices from 2.13-inches (54mm) up to 3.58-inches (91mm) wide. The smartphone mount held my iPhone 7 securely. Once in place and the ball joint locked, my iPhone just plain didn’t move.

Both mounts fit on a ball joint that spins in 360 degrees and can be angled up to 90 degrees. In other words, you can shoot from just about any angle or direction you might want.

iKlip Grip Pro is made of a combination of plastic and metal parts—the legs are plastic, while the telescoping shaft is metal. It’s very lightweight, but each component seems suited to its task. I expect it to last.

Tabletop Tripod

As a tabletop tripod, iKlip Grip Pro has a larger footprint than, say, a dedicated tripod like Joby GorillaPod. You’ll appreciate the larger footprint, though, if you’re extending the telescoping shaft in tripod mode. The wider stance increases overall stability.

While the feet are plastic, each one has a rubber foot which further increases stability by reducing friction and vibration.

iKlip Grip Pro in Tabletop Tripod mode

Monopod/Camera Grip

With the shaft collapsed and the legs folded into grip-mode, iKlip Grip Pro is very comfortable to hold. It made my test videos steadier, and when using it in conjunction with the included Bluetooth remote, stills were easier to snap. This mode also works as a monopod for steadying your iPhone on any surface.

Using iKlip Grip Pro as a monopod

Next: iKlip Grip Pro as Monopod, Selfie Stick, Bluetooth Remote, and Summary

Page 2 – iKlip Grip Pro as Selfie Stick, Bluetooth Remote, and Summary

Selfie Stick/Above-the-Crowd Grip

The telescoping shaft has four segments, and you can extend it as much or as little as needed. Each segment can be locked into place with a twist of the base. The maximum length is 24.4-inches (62cm), and that includes the the length of the grip itself.

iKlip Grip Pro in selfie stick extended mode

There are longer selfie sticks out there, but the trade-off is how light, compact, and collapsible iKlip Grip Pro is. Any longer, and you’d have to have very thin (and potential weak) segments, or have a much fatter base. That would add weight and make the feet-as-handles less ergonomic.

In practice, I found the selfie-stick mode to be plenty long enough to capture said selfies. Your mileage may vary, but I think it’s also plenty long enough for a good look above a crowd.

Bluetooth Remote

iKlip Grip Pro comes with a Bluetooth remote for triggering your camera. It features a button for iOS devices and a second button for Android devices. The remote attaches to a clip on the Grip itself, where it slides down and snaps securely into place. It was designed so that it can stay in its clip even when unfolding the legs for tripod mode.

iKlip Grip Pro Bluetooth remote clipped

That last bit was a nice tough on the part of IK Multimedia, but while it’s snapped into place, you can pivot the button as if it were on a hinge. This lets you hold and use the remote comfortably while it’s still attached. It’s very clever design with a high utility value.

I didn’t test the Android functionality.

Quibbles

About the only thing I don’t love about iKlip Grip Pro was the locking mechanism for the telescoping shaft. One twists the base to lock and unlock it, which is necessary for keeping it collapsed and for holding everything in place when in use.

It works when locked—which is key—but I found it necessary to quibble with the shaft when telescoping it. You need everything lined up just so to extend each segment.

This is a minor quibble, though, as iKlip Grip Pro gets so many things right and does so many things well.

Summary

iKlip Grip Pro is a multi-function device. As such, it’s not the best at any one of those functions, but it does all three of them very well, or better. The finishing touches—rubber feet, ball joint mount, clever Bluetooth remote clip, and tripod feet that fold into an ergonomic handle—are all excellent. Better yet, it’s collapsible and highly portable.

If you need two or more of the functions this device offers, it’s a no-brainer.

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