Alfonso Faustino: Tackform: Video Recording Car Mount For iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus

I wanted an iPhone 6 Plus suction cup video recording car mount for my Ferrari F430 Spyder; so, I can record my drives on and off the race-track. After trying out many mobile phone car mounts, I finally found one that met my driving requirements: Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount. Of course, the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount can be used just as a mobile phone holder.

(NOTE: I purchased this item; my review of this product was of my own volition.)

My requirements for a mobile phone video recording mount:

- Quality build
- Strong suction cup adhesion
- Stability through an environment riddled with vibration
- 360-degree full movement
- Strong clamp to secure the mobile phone (iPhone 6 Plus)
- Clamp that does not obscure mobile phone functions
- Stability to record driving videos
- Lock at any position

You name it, I tried it -- from iOttie to Ram Mount, and none of these mounts met my requirements listed above, except for the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount.

(Check this out: I called Ram Mount, and I mentioned that their X Grip doesn't hold its position when holding my iPhone 6 Plus in landscape position.  The representative told me, "Just shove a piece of cardboard in the cradle housing, and that will stop it from sloping."  When I asked if their company was going to address the design flaw, the representative said, "No -- shoving the cardboard in the housing corrects the problem."  Ha! Great work Ram Mount!  View D. Hayes's video review, and you will see the problem of which I mentioned.)

I spoke to the owner and founder of the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount, and he mentioned he designed his mobile phone car mount with the interest of video recording stability, high quality, and full mobile phone functions while in the tight and secure bracket.

When I received the product, I was immediately impressed by the workmanship, design, features, and quality.

Out-of-the box, I got these items:

- Super-sticky suction cup mount

- Instructions

- 3m base pad (used for dashboards and other porous un-smooth surfaces)

Immediately, to the touch, the mount felt substantial and built with accuracy and a high level of craftsmanship.  I knew I would be pleased with this product.

Here is the installation process to my Ferrari:

This is the target area for the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount.  Directly behind my piloti and passenger seats is the 500 hp power plant.  Only a thin aluminum firewall separates my cockpit from the engine bay; so, the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount will be exposed to engine vibration at idle and at speed.  Other mounts did not shield my iPhone 6 Plus from the engine-vibration.

Next, to preserve my paint from suction cup burn, I installed the 3m base pad.

The suction cup burn, in most cases, comes right off after some cleaning and polishing; but, I prefer using the 3m base pad to prevent me from constantly rubbing out the suction cup burn from the paint, and I also hope it will absorb some of the engine vibration from the engine bay to the firewall and to the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount.

Notice the great build quality in the ball.  It is coated with some kind of rubber material; and, this is really a good feature for the socket to securely hold the mobile phone clamp while the car is in motion.  This feature was not present in the other mounts I tested.

Next, is the installation of the socket that holds the mobile phone mount and bracket.  Prior to installation, I set the phone bracket to my iPhone 6 Plus per the instructions.  The lower arm bracket is adjustable, and a knob locks the lower arm bracket in place based on the size of the mobile device.  The upper bracket arm is spring-loaded with high tension to clamp down on the phone.  The inside of both bracket arms have a soft rubber cushion to secure the mobile device and prevent damages to the mobile device's casing -- in this case, my iPhone 6 Plus.

I slid my iPhone 6 Plus upper side first and push up on the spring loaded tension bracket arm; then, I slide the lower part of the phone in.  Another thing I really dig about the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount is that it accommodates my LifeProof Nüüd case.  Also, I can access my charging port and all the buttons on the sides of my iPhone 6 Plus while it is in the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount.  I can also access all the screen features and home button without removing my iPhone 6 Plus from the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount.

When I'm ready to record, I just push the red button on my iPhone 6 Plus, and I'm ready for lift off!

This is my iPhone 6 Plus's POV (Point Of View) per my settings on the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount.  Of course, if I wanted to, I can orient the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount to any desired position I choose.

Performance

The Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount minimized the vibration to my iPhone 6 Plus, and I am very pleased with its performance.  The locking features secured my iPhone 6 Plus from moving around in any position: landscape or portrait. (Take note Ram Mount -- no sloping when the iPhone 6 Plus is oriented in the landscape position.)

6-September-2015, @ 1500 Hours PDT: 

Here is a video of my test drive today, 16-August-2015, @ 1600 Hours PDT:

29-August-2015:

Stability and sound at idle.

I was driving up and down cable car tracks, uneven pavement, and up and down the hills of San Francisco.  My RPMs were between 4000 and 8000; notwithstanding these elements, the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount did its job by minimizing the vibrations to my iPhone 6 Plus.

I am very happy with this product -- great work Tackform!

GoPro 4 Black

So, why not use the GoPro 4 Black?

I prefer my iPhone 6 Plus over the GoPro 4 Black for the following reasons:

- Power on demand:  if my iPhone 6 Plus gets low on power, I just plug in my lightening cable, and I get my charge while recording my driving video,

- On-demand viewing:  I can view my videos and make adjustments on the fly,

- Easy video navigation: I can access iPhone 6 Plus's video features quick and easy,

- Robust video features: I can do time-lapse, slo-mo, and regular speed without a hassle, and

- Great sound: I get unmuffled sounds from my engine and stereo.

These are some of the many reasons I prefer using my iPhone 6 Plus over the GoPro 4 Black, which is the reason I needed a video recording car mount that mitigated vibrations to my iPhone 6 Plus during my drives; and, the Tackform Extreme Mobile Phone Car Mount was the solution.