Joby makes a unique tripod they call the Gorillapod. It’s essentially a tripod with flexible legs allowing you to wrap it around objects and secure it in unique places ensuring a different point-of-view. We use the Gorillapod Hybrid at its most basic usage; placed under the deck rigging of our kayaks to capture footage of rivers and creeks with our GoPro Hero2.
What We Like:
I never thought about getting a Gorillapod until buying a GoPro. GoPro offers all kinds of attachments and mounts for your camera (and you’ll also find many ways to attach your camera to your deck online) but I wanted something simple to attach and remove. The Gorillapod Hybrid offers that flexibility and the right length of “arms” to extend under the rigging.
The Hybrid is bigger and has the added tilt feature compared to the original Gorillapod. There is also a step above the Hybrid (cost-wise too) which is the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom which is a little bigger and made for heftier SLR cameras. The Hybrid supports up to 2.2 lbs (much more than you’ll ever need with your GoPro).
The Gorillapod is basic engineering genius. The legs are created with ball sockets which allows the tripod to bend and twist around branches or whatever. And there are rubber feet at the bottom that allow it to grip to most surfaces. Time will tell whether the sockets can handle exposure to sand, dirt and dust in the outdoor environment. In the meantime, we’re being careful and trying to keep it clean and in working order. The Hybrid has the ability to tilt +/- 90°, pan 360° and it also comes with a level built-in under the release clip at the head. If you use this with the Hero2, you will need to purchase the tripod mount (about $8.00).
The Final Word:
For our purposes, the Joby Gorillapod Hybrid is the perfect choice for documenting our canoe and kayak travels. It’s got the right length of arms to fit under the deck rigging and the added bonus of tilt, pan and the right amount of height for use as a traditional tripod.
Photo Gallery:
Key Info:
Manufacturer: Joby
Material: Plastic + Aluminum
Dimensions: 10.1 x 2.2 x 2.2 inches
Weight: 6.4 ounces
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