Quad Lock: Tried and tested
Want to try before you buy? Mark did the hard work for you. He tried and tested Quad Lock and compared it to common models you'll find.
Published on: 25 April 2023
Shake, rattle… and fall. Not any more! Thanks to my new Quad Lock phone holder.
I admit to buying el cheapo phone holders. Yep, more than once – silly, eh! You’d think I’d learn from my mistakes, but nope. Instead, I’ve tried a few from car accessories joints, the pop-up shop near the local shopping centre entrance and even an online “bargain” holder system. Guaranteed to hold my phone while driving on any surface.
I’ve tried them all
While most units I’ve tried have been suction systems, I’ve also had a magnetic kit that was excellent while driving on smooth roads. The suction cup holders rarely see the week out without falling off my windscreen. Leaving sticky round marks behind plus taking my phone to the floor with it. The magnetic version saw an adhesive section stuck to the dash, which hasn’t failed. The strength of the magnet to hold my phone was the weak point. Whenever I hit the dirt, either fast, bumpy gravel tracks, or low-range work, my phone ends up under my feet. Then with me fishing around to keep it from being squashed under the brake or clutch pedals. Not a safe driving practice!
It was time to upgrade to the Quad Lock system
Pretty much every social media post I researched from folks wanting the best phone holder, be it for motorbiking, push biking or cars in general, sees the Quad Lock name bandied about no end. So, to prove that old dogs can learn new tricks, I’ve upped the ante with my phone holder game and switched to the Quad Lock system.
While a suction mount is involved, the Quad Lock version is leaps and bounds ahead. Well, it simply sucks and holds so much better with its industrial strength design. Plus, rather than fingers or a clamping system to squeeze and attempt to securely keep a phone in place, the Quad Lock relies on a phone-specific case that incorporates their locking device. Pushing your phone (in its Quad Lock case) to the mount at an angle, twisting a quarter of a turn, sees the phone locked and secured into place. Rotating the phone ninety degrees allows for either portrait or landscape positions. It really is that simple. Twist and lock!
I’m also using an adhesive car mount (stuck to the dash) in another vehicle, as the windscreen seems to be three and a half arm lengths away. It’s a new 300 Series HiAce van. For those familiar with them, it seems they allow enough space for a single swag to lay on the dash. And the phone was too far away for my liking when stuck to the windscreen. It incorporates the same quick and easy twist and lock system, just not onto a suction mount. I’m also utilising a Quad Lock wireless charging unit in the van. That allows me to twist, lock and charge all in one quick movement – a perfect setup! With the one phone case, there are many different mounting systems for many types of vehicles and sports, making this a true one-unit-does-it-all.
Mount and golf on
Fun fact. Did you know there’s even a Quad Lock mount for a stroller and a golf cart? Yep, I kid you not – taking it to the extremes of variations.
Time to compare
All in the name of testing and proving a point, before binning my old mounts, I put them all onto my Troopies window/dash at the same time. All worked as intended as I drove out my driveway and along the secondary bitumen 60 kilometre per hour posted roads.
As I knew would happen, within a short time of hitting the corrugated dirt tracks, my magnetic mount dropped the ball, taking its phone with it. It did take a little more punishment for the el cheapo suction mount system to lose its grip, but sure enough, down it went.
For the next half hour, followed by many other outings in the dirt over the ensuing weeks, the Quad Lock system has held tight, never wavering, flopping around or dropping its expensive load of my upgraded smartphone.
The verdict
I’m hooked, sold on the system, and happy to report zero failings in either vehicle with either of the Quad Lock systems.
Check out the video here for proof of the Quad Lock system in action… but be warned, there may be a little bad language as the other systems dropped my phones – sorry.
For more information on the range of Quad lock phone holders and mounts, check out www.quadlockcase.com.au
