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July 15, 2015

Grip Dat: A New, Better Alternative to the Selfie Stick?

Modern technology has a way of influencing culture and trends across the globe today thanks to the limitless boundaries with which we can now communicate and share information. These trends catch on pretty quick and soon enough, everyone wants in on what’s “hot.”

One mobile offering that’s exploded in popularity over the last year alone is the ‘selfie stick.’ This is a gadget that is attached to a smartphone which allows the user to take a picture of more than just what can fit in a frame at an arm’s reach.

A year ago, when I first started hearing about the gadgets, I wouldn’t have guessed they would become as popular as they have. Now, any and everyone wants in—and companies (both off-brand and well-known) are pushing out products in hopes to grab a piece of the pie.

At a tourist attraction last year, I noticed one or two people in a crowd of many using the gadget to take images of themselves with a landmark behind them. Meanwhile, the rest of us struggled to get our faces and the panorama into our photo—or even worse, took the chance and handed our devices over to strangers to snap the picture.

This year, at events like weddings and recent firework displays, I saw people throughout the crowd using these gadgets as a common place item. But there were issues it caused. These gadgets can easily obstruct views; evade privacy (think of a fully extended selfie stick snapping photos of things they wouldn’t normally be able to) and may even become a hazard. 

Recognizing these issues, a number of companies are now banning the use of selfie sticks at their attractions. Disneyland and Comic Con have put rules in place to ban them completely and others like the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld are even asking that people do not use their selfie sticks in certain capacities (to reach into cages, or while on rides for example).

Does this mean that in the places where we most would like to have photos of ourselves and others enjoying our time spent, we’ll have to now revert back to handing our devices over to strangers and asking them to take a picture?

Maybe not. There are already other options that use this same concept of a stick to hold your device and get a wider angle for your photo popping up. I recently had a chance to get some hands-on time with one such offering.

Grip Dat is a new accessory that combines the best of the selfie stick with GoPro-type capabilities so users can record and photograph anything happening in life.

Not only does version 2.0 come with features like a wide angle lens for getting more into the picture than a standard mobile phone can—and without the need for a pole that extends feet in front of you—but it can also be clipped to various places and be used for hands-free action recording.

It’s also different because it isn’t just an extendable stick, but has a sturdy, ergonomic grip with Bluetooth capability and is removable so you can place your device at a distance and still capture images with ease.

The latest Grip It Kit even comes with additional lenses and base attachments that make it possible to clip the phone holster to a helmet, or other places for photo taking abilities that are impossible with just a selfie stick. 

On June 9, 2015 Grip Dat launched its ?rst Kickstarter campaign o?ering the Grip Dat Kit with Bluetooth technology and quick-release system for backers. The campaign exceeded its goals and the latest plans are to begin shipments in September. The company is still welcoming late backers on the deal HERE.

Whether or not this new device is going to be the best alternative to a selfie stick remains to be seen. From the looks of it, people are already interested in taking better photos and Grip Dat packs quite a punch with its versatility and capabilities. 




Edited by Dominick Sorrentino


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