Attaching cellphone to my hiking poles

[Idan Y]

Hey all,

I've been wondering if anyone has an idea how to attach my cellphone (I own LG G2) to the hiking poles. I've heard about stick pic – but it aimed towards cameras and not cellphones.
Any ultralight suggestions?

Thanks!

Idan

[Holocene .]

I've been using this;
http://www.scosche.com/handleit-bike-mount-for-mobile-devices
Works pretty good. I have a galaxy s3. Its a little heavier than I'd like.

[Idan Y]

thanks!
do you have an estimate about weight?

[Travis W]

Saw this idea posted previously and it's worked fantastically for me with an iPhone for group shots or hike-by video. A thick rubber band from a bunch of asparagus or one of my wife's hair "scrunchies" works perfectly.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=57926

[Ian]

I think the phone mount that came with my Gorrila Pod would work for you.

The phone mount is an attachment which can be mounted on other tripods; I don't own one but can't imagine why this wouldn't work with a stick pic.

[Holocene .]

3.95oz :o

[Idan Y]

@Travis: looks AWESOME! if I won't something more .. robust? i'll use that solution.

@Ian: Actually I'm not sure it'll work. also it seems you can't purchase the mount only..

@Holocene – thanks. pretty heavy for me though

[Ian]

I believe you're correct. If you don't have a use for the gorilla pod portion then it's probably a no-go.

[Ian]

Are you looking for something where you can film selfies as you're walking? If you're looking for something that acts more like a tripod (or monopod if you forgo the cordage), then you might want to look at the Suluk 46 A Pod.

John Abela was involved in the design of it and brought one to the GGG this year. I've since purchased one but haven't used it in the field yet.

Edit: Oops. Forgot this was all about attaching a cell phone, not a regular camera, so realize isn't helpful.

[Idan Y]

@Ian thanks anyway. it's seems that the band solution is the only UL solution right now. maybe stickpic will come with a modular mount of some kind that will allow using their thing with smartphones.

@Idan/Ian,

You can combine the A-Pod and the Gliff together and it works on just about any modern smartphone.

You can even add in a mini-ball head such as I've done here to get just about any possible angle.

[Holocene .]

Rubber band is brilliant. Thanks bpl!

[Ralph Wood]

This may be more involved than you want but… =)

Last summer for my PCT section hike I wanted to shoot a lot of videos while I was hiking with my brother and step dad. So I came up with a DIY mod to my trekking pole in conjunction with a Joby Grip Tight Mount.

I got a 1/4" stainless steel nut from my local hardware store and carefully drilled (by hand) a hole in the top of my Black Diamond carbon cork trekking pole, and epoxied the nut into the top of the hole. I purchased brass toilet mounting bolts (they're a 1/4", cheap, and readily available) and cut a short piece to screw into the nut.

The Joby griptight camera mount screwed perfectly onto the nut and was easy to tighten down. I hiked a ton with the iPhone attached to film us while hiking, and it never came off. It also worked great as a mono pod for taking shots in low light and for HDRs.

When I didn't need the iPhone I just unscrewed the bolt from the trekking pole, and kept it screwed into the griptight so I wouldn't lose it. Then stashed it in my belt pouch on my pack for quick access.

Weight wise the griptight weighs .6oz and the nut and bolt about .1 oz.

[Idan Y]

@John: thanks for the suggestion. it looks like a good solution but it's pretty surreal to spend more than 50$ for the amount of materiel you get, and if i got it right, you also restricted to use the tip, end of the pole, only.

rather @Ralph's idea looks really promising. I won't be able to drill my poles until my upcoming hike (next week), but placing the mount on the top is much more logical and human-optimized..

nevertheless, there must be a better solution. something like that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9sUFsAzLVg

(start around 6:10)

I'm not sure that this specific one will work, but that's the general idea of what we need.

btw it's 10$ through amazon. http://amzn.com/B00D4BH7BW

update: pulled the trigger on that one. will let you know if it works.

[avi sito]

Reviving:

I just used this little device on my summer trek: https://www.selfskie.com/. It worked real well for me. Light enough for me.

I actually use a hiking stick, not pole, so it’s a good match.

[Brad W]

Reviving:

I just used this little device on my summer trek: https://www.selfskie.com/. It worked real well for me. Light enough for me.

I actually use a hiking stick, not pole, so it’s a good match.

Man I wish Selfskie or the Stickpic were still being made. There is no UL option that I can currently find.

[Murali C]

https://www.rei.com/product/236894/mountainsmith-trekker-fx-lite-v2-hiking-staff-single

The top can be unscrewed to expose the “Screw”.

You can buy a phone attachment kit from Amazon to attach to screw of hiking pole:

I have used this extensively.

Note that when you want to pee badly, you tend to lean the hiking poles quickly on a tree and I have had hiking pole + phone go down slopes – watch for that:-) Also, I would buy a sticker that you attach to back of phone with a lanyard to attach to pole as sometimes, the phone can come unhitched and fly off the handle onto the ground.  Something like this:

I did find this setup a little painful due to added weight – but, was manageable – especially as you can see the map screen as default screen. You can get used to it. Once the pole fell and the attachment point did break….so, that would be the main hazard – you have to careful that you rest the pole in a stable way – else it can fall and break stuff.

 

[Brad W]

For some reason those images are not loading. I do have the CMT hiking poles with the removable top that has a thread for a camera. https://cascademountaintech.com/products/carbon-fiber-monopod

 

 

[jscott]

I also use GG lightrek poles. love them!

one answer to you question is, leave the cell phone home. and then rely on your memory to ‘record’ your trip.

theres , I don’t know precisely, 10,000 videos of backpackers and their trips on metoobue. for some reason folks today don’t feel their experience is real unless it appears amidst the dennse crowds on metoobue.

It is.

I’m old school and use paper maps. the last thing I want to see every two seconds as I walk is my phone hanging from my hiking pole.

signed,

sourpuss Jeff

[Dustin V]

+1 on the rubber band idea. I happened to get a rubber mounting band that came with a flashlight, ostensibly to mount the light to the handlebar of a bike. I use it for my monocular, but have verified I can use it for my phone.

I also found a stray screw from an Ikea project that has the camera threading and the other end is a rounded peg. I poked a hole in the end of one of the poles so I can slot the peg. Haven’t tried it with a camera or binoculars, but fun knowing I could.

[Brad W]

+1 on the rubber band idea. I happened to get a rubber mounting band that came with a flashlight, ostensibly to mount the light to the handlebar of a bike. I use it for my monocular, but have verified I can use it for my phone.

I also found a stray screw from an Ikea project that has the camera threading and the other end is a rounded peg. I poked a hole in the end of one of the poles so I can slot the peg. Haven’t tried it with a camera or binoculars, but fun knowing I could.

I like the rubber band idea.

[George W]

I have the Mountainsmith poles linked above. Only because I needed a longer pole for an Altaplex, then later bought a matching pole. Never used the camera mount feature, I’m not much into that stuff.

The poles are pretty durable and not very expensive.

[Brad W]

I have the Mountainsmith poles linked above. Only because I needed a longer pole for an Altaplex, then later bought a matching pole. Never used the camera mount feature, I’m not much into that stuff.

The poles are pretty durable and not very expensive.

I bought 2 top sections of CMT mono pod hiking poles that have the camera mount as well. They work with the typical CMT carbon lower 2 sections. It adds a little weight but the handle is longer and has a much more robust strap that doesn’t untighten. I have ended up using them most of the time just for those reasons. https://cascademountaintech.com/collections/trekking-pole-replacement/products/carbon-fiber-monopod-upper-section-replacement

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