The big bike phone mount test

Most riders prefer to have a purpose built cycling computer attached to the stem or handlebars. But with today’s cycling apps, the smartphone sitting in your back pocket might be a better option than buying an expensive head unit. We put some of the known and unknown bike phone mounts to the test.

Using a traditional cycling head unit like the Garmin Edge or Wahoo Bolt makes a lot of sense. They are able to track most of the useful training metrics out there and they are fairly easy to use. But nowadays, more and more clever cycling apps are developed which turn your smartphone into a fully-fledged cycling computer. This means that you no longer have to go out and spend up to $600 on a new head unit to navigate and intelligently track your training.

But, there are a lot of bike phone mounts out there and they are certainly not all good. A decent bike phone mount should be able to secure your phone on your bike in all conditions, while at the same time not look like a starship.

Okra Bike Phone Mount Bicycle Holder

First one up is the entirely silicone-based (iphone) mount from Okra. The four corner straps make it very easy to install and use. The silicone straps stretches to fit to any handlebar and most of the latest generation smartphones. While the official support is only iPhone 6-10, it also fits most of the popular android models out there. We do like how easy it is to use, but how does it fare under stressful conditions like cobblestone-riding?

• Pros: Easy to install and use. Works with most latest-gen smartphones. Fairly cheap.
• Cons: Seems sturdy enough, but a bit wobbly with silicone straps when riding cobblestones. So be careful when riding in bumpy terrain.

VisNFA Bike Phone Mount

We did say that we would test both known and unknown mounts. The mount from VisNFA (pronunciation!?) is certainly not one of the big players on the market. But it’s certainly a sturdy option made from ABS engineering plastic and fits a wide range of phones.

• Pros: Secure and sturdy mount. Easy-to-use locking switch.
• Cons: Trouble fitting it with a waterproof phone cover.

Quadlock Bike Kit

The Quadlock Bike Kit seems like a very nice and secure option for mounting your smartphone to your bike. Once it’s properly installed, the mount works in a similar way to how you attach a Garmin or Wahoo. You simply click the case to the mount and the spring mechanism prevents accidental detachments. The Quadlock Bike Kit might be one the cleanest looks out there and we understand why it’s a very popular option. You can find quadlock cases for both iPhone and android models.

• Pros: Keeps your phone secure under bumpy conditions. The phone case adds extra protection to your expensive phone.
• Cons: Expensive option. The fit is not universal; you have to use a specific case for your phone.

Bike Citizens Finn Smartphone Holder

The mount called Finn from Bike Citizens is one of the latest newcomers and carries a lot of hype. It’s easy to install and has a universal fit. The silicone straps does (mostly) hold your bike to the handlebar, but we’re not sure it fits the bill for all commuters and serious bike riders. When things got bumpy during the cobblestone test, the phone started to wobble quite a bit, so it might not be a long term option.

• Pros: Very easy to fit and use.
• Cons: A bit basic. Wobbly in bumpy terrain and you can’t use it with a protective phone case (so no waterproof option).

Roswheel Toptube Smartphone Bag

The smartphone option from Roswheel is not exactly a bike mount. It’s actually a waterproof bag that sits on your toptube. This certainly falls under the ugly ‘spaceship’ category, but the bag does provide a lot of pros. Beneath the phone there’s a nice room for all of the ride essentials like tubes, tools and ride nutrition.

• Pros: Velcro straps makes it easy to install. Waterproofing, this will keep your phone dry under heavy showers. It can carry all of the ride essentials, freing up space in your rear pockets.
• Cons: Well… Not the prettiest option. Especially if you’re a roadie who hates bags on the toptube. The positioning also makes it difficult to look at the data while training.

Roam Universal Bike Mount

This clunky-looking bike mount from Roam is fairly easy to install and will keep your phone locked in and secure. The rubber-based clamp-system fits most phones and absorbs the shocks from rough terrain, which was a definite plus on the cobblestones. If you can get by the design (red!?), then this fairly priced mount might be for you.

• Pros: Absorbs shocks in rough terrain.
• Cons: Clunky design.

GUB MaxMiles Phone Mount

The GUB bike mount from MaxMiles is by far the strongest and most durable we have tried. It’s essentially build for motorcycles and mountainbikes, so it will do the job out on the road just fine. It’s available in different colors, which seems to be unusual for bike mounts.

• Pros: Different color options. Strong and durable.
• Cons: Might not fit your phone with a waterproof cover case.

Summary

All of the bike phone mounts tested seems to do a decent job of keeping the phone secure on the handlebars. While it is nice to know that it will stay safe when things get frisky, most road cyclists stay away from cobblestones and gravel roads. But for serious riders who happens to get caught out on the road during showers, a waterproof solution is preferable. Some of these mounts doesn’t seem capable of holding your phone in a waterproof case.

Our favourite mount has to be the Quadlock Bike Kit because it’s the solution closest to mounting a regular bike computer. It sleekly sits on your stem and it comes with a waterproof solution. In the cheaper category, we would give the nod to the bike mount from Roam. Even though it might not be the best looking bike mount, the Roam Bike Mount really does a good job of securing your phone to the handlebars at a low price.

So there you have it!