Garmin Portable Friction Mount by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $17.69 You Save: $22.30 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $14.49 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin Portable Friction Mount
Digital camera Review: A better way to GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
I find this friction mount to be very much superior to any of the suction mounts. It's quick and easy to use and leaves no telltale rings on your windshield. It is very stable on the dashboard and can be moved to any position or angle that you need. Delivery in frustration-free packaging was also a plus.
I liked mine so much I have bought them as gifts for others with Garmin GPS units.
Digital camera Review: A fantastic mounting solution...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am using this mount with a Nuvi 855.
Overall I think it is fantastic. I have used a friends car often in which there is a GPS (TomTom) stuck with a suction cup to the circular disc mounted to the dash. I found her GPS would often fall off when I was touching the screen. I would resort to taking it off and fiddling with it on my lap whilst drive. Not such a safe way to go. Also, with that kind of mount it was not easy for the passenger (my beloved co-pilot) to access the GPS or move it around or take it into her hands for full control (an important manoeuvre for full co-piloting).
It was because of the experience with my friends mount that I bought this one at the same time as my Nuvi 855. I am very happy with this mount.
PROS - Things I really like about it:
- It is SUPER grippy. It has an incredible surface on the underside which makes it not slide at all. Even if I try to nudge it 8as a test), it is hard to move it. Excellent. There is certainly NO movement whilst driving, even when I am driving fast into a tight bend. And yet, if I want to reposition it, or my passenger/co-pilot wants to change the position, it's so easy. Just lift it a little (as in, just a slight upward motion whilst pushing it to a different position) and move it.
- The Nuvi rotates well in all directions. It rotates from side-to-side, pivoting where the mount arm goes into the mount base. Very nice. Makes it real easy for my co-pilot to view it and take control when I am hectic with busy traffic. It also pivots where the bracket joins the mount arm, which is a ball-and-socket connection. I can see that the fixed dash/windscreen mount that comes with the 855 uses a ball-and-socket connection too, so nothing extra gained in that regard.
- When put away, NOTHING remains on the window or the dash. No round disk stuck to the dash. No circular mark left on the windscreen. Both of these are giveaways that a GPS may be hanging out someone in the vehicle... and is something savvy potential GPS thieves know to look out for.
- When it comes time to put it away, the Nuvi easy detaches from the bracket. Requires pushing a button as you grab it. One relatively easy manoeuvre. Then putting the mount away, is as simple as picking it up and sticking it somewhere. Couldn't be easier. (See Bulky issue below)
CONS:
-It is a little bulky. I can't, for instance, stick it under the seat without first detaching the connector arm from it. This makes for an additional step when getting in and out of the car. I then have two objects to store/hide... a mount base and an arm with a bracket stuck to it. I find this a little inconvenient, though not a major issue.
- It is relatively heavy. I travel (internationally) a fair bit, and I'll be taking this GPS and the mount with me. It is on the heavy side compared to other mounting solutions, beacuse it has four little "sand bags" on it. But if you are primarily just using this in your home car... I don't think this will be an issue at all.
- Ball and socket system: I do actually prefer the way the TomTom connected to its mount. It would just slide down onto the mount. No buttons, no bracket, and no bracket based DC power system (this last point may be specific to my Nuvi 855). This means more parts to wear out and/or break. This, to me, appears to be the weakest part in the over all design. The Nuvi is solid. The mount is super solid. But this additional bracket that connects the Nuvi to the mount arm has clips, and spring loaded buttons... relatively weak compared to the other parts.
I prefer the way the TomTom attaches to its mount. There are some slots build into the moulded rear panel on the TomTom. I can see, however, that this potentially is what makes the TomTom thicker than my Nuvo 855.
So, this attaching system on the Nuvi is something I can easily live with... as I like how thin it is.
CONCLUSION:
The cons I have mentioned, are purely to be thorough in my review. I don't consider them an issue for myself. I think this mount simply rocks. I have researched all the mount solutions available on Amazon and the Garmin site, and I think this one is the best one available.
What's more, it's a great price here on Amazon.
Bottom line? Get one with your Nuvi order!!
TIPS AND TRICKS
- Getting the bracket on and off of the ball on the arm can seem hard to do. The trick is that you need do it on the side of the ball (any side, top, left, right, bottom). Just stick the ball into the bracket with the arm itself touching the bracket (as a result of it going in at an angle rather than straight on). Then it pops in and out easily.
Digital camera Review: A good GPS mount for a picky husband
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this for my husband to go with his Garmin nuvi 760 GPS device and it works perfectly. My husband is the kind of guy who won't use anything that sticks or may leave an imprint on the dash or any other part of his car. He's so picky! This won't leave any marks, you can just pick it up and carry it off if you want to change vehicles, and even speeding around a corner it seems impossible to knock it off the dash. It's perfect for him. And when he gets to his destination he just slides the GPS out and puts it into his GARMIN 010-10823-01 Leather Carrying Case For Nuvi Travel Assistant, drops it into his briefcase or pocket and away he goes. It has sort of a sticky-ish rubber bottom, but it won't leave a mark. He likes it so I'm happy!
Two thumbs up for this product.
Digital camera Review: A good option for Garmin users
Summary: 5 Stars
With the slant of my windshield I had trouble attaching and detaching the suction holder for the Garmin while keeping it low and without interfering with my ability to see the road. This friction dashboard mount sits directly on the dashboard, out of the sight line of the road, is heavy enough to be stable and has "sticky" feet so it doesn't slide out of place. And it is easily removed and stored when not being used. Excellent accessory for the Garmin.Digital camera Review: A good solid mount
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the same problem as many other people that the windshield mount constantly fell off while driving, creating safety hazard. Now I feel a lot more comfortable with this friction mount. It stays where it is and now I can focus on the road instead of trying to catch the falling GPS.....