A Buyer's Guide To Bike Phone Mounts

A bike ride will always hold a nostalgic appeal, as it always did when you were able to pedal your way through your childhood. Nonetheless, today's cyclists have also embraced the more advanced smartphone apps suited to any two-wheeled adventure, ranging from mapping and navigation features to performance monitoring and health tracking software. If you want to get the most out of this functionality, you need to choose a bike phone mount that works for your bike and the various ways you want to use your phone while riding.

You can find the best ones with a secure, low-profile design allowing you to shift your display between landscape and portrait modes. It should provide full-screen viewing without interruption, with easy touch control, and an easy release in case you need to stop to take a photo or answer a phone call.

Tips For Buying Bike Phone Mounts

If you're not sure where to begin, here are some tips.

Prioritize Phone Stability

The last thing you want is for your phone to fall to the pavement halfway through your pedalling, which is why phone stability is so important. Cases with lower prices typically use stretchy webbing to wrap around your device's corners in order to attach to the mount, which itself is attached to the bike (usually the stem or handlebars) either by a twist knob to tighten the bar or by a stretchy strap to hold the mount in place.  

Models that cost more often have mounting systems integrated into the phone case ( or use stick-on accessories) connecting directly to mounting plates, which provide the best mounting security.

Look For Ease Of Setup

There are two elements to this: mounting the mount on your bicycle as well as your phone being able to be attached to it. In the case of the former, most use tools-free solutions like knobs or flexible materials to attach them to the stem or handlebar. They come with different-sized collars inserted inside the hard plastic outer so that they compress as you tighten them. Additionally, some models allow you to use a hex wrench instead of the knob, a feature that makes them slightly more theft-resistant. 

It depends on the way the mount secures the device and how easily it can be attached; easy solutions (and more expensive ones) feature quick-release mechanisms allowing the device to be easily removed or popped off. Whereas models that are less expensive use stretch netting to hold your device with grips allowing you to pull your device's corners over or clamp them down.

Think About Getting Your Phone In And Out Of The Mount

When it comes to getting your phone in and out of the mount, the complexity can be summarized as follows: The greater the number of attachment points, the longer it will take. Quick access to the device is important in situations where you want to access your device, such as when taking pictures. This is why you should choose a mount with an intuitive release system that releases the device when you twist it.

The ones with stretchy nets (which encircle the corners) allow the phone to be easily removed. You must release two of the four attachments, allowing the phone to slide out. In the case of additional contact points (such as side clamps), a further layer of complexity is added.

Look For Rotation

Some mounts allow 360-degree rotation, allowing the phone to be positioned in any direction, whereas one-touch mounts let you lock it in either portrait or landscape mode. In some lower-cost models, portrait mode is the only option. 

In other words, if you want both options to choose from or use apps that work better when landscaped.

Know Your Phone Visibility Needs

Almost all phone mountain systems are designed to give you a clear view of the device's screen, making it easier to read things such as navigation and performance metrics, as well as use the touchscreen.

Those with mounts that attach to a device case provide full visibility, although some have stretch netting around the corners, allowing almost full visibility of the screen. With all mounts, you have easy access to the touch controls no matter how your device is attached to the bike. Some higher-end mounts offer more flexibility, such as allowing you to position your phone so you can record your POV.

Take precautions to prevent your phone from falling out of your pocket while hiking or biking. Check out the best Smartphone Bike Mounts for your bicycling needs.