Review: MonsterPod

MonsterPod, the gravity defying tripod

Getting that perfect picture requires a steady hand, sometimes even a tripod. But have you ever tried carrying a tripod up the side of a mountain when you go rock climbing? Uh, ya…not ideal is it?  That’s where MonsterPod comes into the picture. This portable “gravity defying tripod” was developed to go where ever you go, to help you get that perfect shot.

Design

MonsterPod looks and feels like a giant rubber suction cup. On the top, a pivoting mount with an adapter to fit any standard camera. But the secret is what’s on the bottom. Turn it over and you’ll find the underside is coated in a thick viscoelastic polymer-based goo. Basically it looks and feels like Silly Putty! This is what makes MonsterPod unique.

Function

MonsterPod is very easy to use. Attach your camera to the top, peel off the protective bottom cover, and stick it to a surface. Once it’s in place you “walk” your fingers along the outer ring, pressing down to ensure the goo molds to the surface. Then let go! If you did it correctly your camera will stay in position, stuck on your surface of choice. When you’re ready to take it off, simply start peeling from one side. Make sure to get your finger tips under the edge and start peeling it away slowly. DO NOT try and remove the MonsterPod by yanking on the swivel mount or your camera. Not only could you damage your camera, you will be left with quite a mess (more on that in a bit).

The manufacturer claims  MonsterPod will stick to 1000 surfaces. We tried it on cement, metal, wood, and a tree. Yes it did stick, sometimes a little too well.

We found MonsterPod did leave goo behind on raw wood

Downsides

You have to be careful what you stick MonsterPod to. The manual specifically mentions not to stick it to cloth, dirty surfaces, or surfaces with loose particles. Easier said then done. Every time we pulled MonsterPod off a given surface the goo was filled with junk. Wood splinters, concrete grit, pieces of paint from a lamp pole. The goo became very dirty very quickly. While you can wash the base of the Pod to get rid of dirt, tiny particles are impossible to remove as they work their way into the putty! Your Monsterpod will only look nice once, when you first take it out of the package. After that it will become ugly quite quickly! It also makes us wonder just how much junk can the putty absorb before it loses its ability to “grab” onto things.

From time to time we did notice some of the goo stayed behind on surfaces like raw wood. This almost always happened when the pod was yanked off too fast. The goo can be put back with the rest of it under the pod, but it is a bit of a pain to round up the goo when you’re done.

The other problem we ran into is the weight limit. MonsterPod can only used with cameras that are 20 oz (560 grams). That’s just fine if you have a simple point and shoot camera. For those of you with fancier SLR cameras…don’t even bother. It will not hold your camera for very long, if it holds it at all.

Bottom Line

MonsterPod is a unique idea. It does work, there’s no denying that but you have to know it’s limitations. Wet, dirty, dusty, or fabric surfaces are a no no. You also run some risk of ruining whatever surface you stick this to (if some goo was to get left behind). Also keep in mind heavy cameras are not an option!

We did have fun playing around with this “gravity defying tripod” as will most recreational photographers. It’s probably not something professionals would use, but for the rest of us it’s a fun tool to have for those occasions where carrying around a normal tripod just isn’t an option.

The Good

Easy to Use
Sticks to many surfaces
Reasonably priced at $30
Fun

The Bad

Gets dirty very quickly
Goo sometimes left behind on surfaces
Will not hold heavier cameras