Arkon Weighted "Friction Style" Dash Mount & Holder Review

New Arkon Car Mount for Treo and Centro Provides Excellent Alternative to Windshield Suction Pedestals

As you know I never travel without a GPS navigation solution in my pocket (with the GPS software installed on my Treo and Centro) and for this I also need a vehicle mount to have my smartphone at eye level and within easy reach.  At the same time I also frequently prefer to have a vehicle mount available to quickly see incoming calls and answer them with my Bluetooth headset.

Both iGrip and Arkon make some excellent vehicle mounts in general but Arkon is now one of the first to have a Weighted “Friction Style” Dash Mount & Holder specifically designed for use in states (California and Minnesota) where the use of windshield suction pedestals is prohibited by law.

The Arkon Weighted Dash Mount (also sometimes called “Bean Bag Mounts”) consists of four elements (pictured above) that come together to offer an ideal solution to elegantly, quickly and simply place your smarpthone on a car dashboard.

First there is the actual weighted “bean bag” dash mount (weighing a cool 900 grams / 1.16 lbs) pictured above which consists of a solid ballistic nylon enclosure filled with beans and a plastic base plate at the front while the back is entirely made of “friction” fabric that ensures the dash mount stays solidly in place.

Next are the “Travelmount mini windshield mount” (above left) and “Universal Phone Holder”. 

The suction pad of the mini mount attaches to the base plate of the dash mount and a locking lever secures it firmly in place.  At the same time both the head and the arm of the mini mount pedestal can be adjusted with large knobs to ensure that you have exactly the fit that you need.

The Universal Phone Holder for its part consists of two extensible side arms covered in thick rubber that you simply squeeze together to firmly lock your smartphone (Treo or Centro) in place while two small rubber feet at the bottom of the holder ensure that it also will not fall down.

Finally, an optional adhesive safety hook (pictured above right) is recommended but not required.  It can be fitted to the dashboard and “hooks” the back of the dash mount securely in place.

Because of its substantial weight the Arkon Weighted “Friction Style” Dash Mount & Holder is clearly not desgined to take with you on travels but instead really ideal for your primary vehicle.  Having said this, for trips you can simply leave the dash mount behind and just carry the included small and lightweight Travelmount mini windshield mount + Holder which are great solutions on their own.

Overall this Arkon Dash Mount is not only beautifully designed and built but more importantly it provides an excellent alternative to the traditional windshield mount.  Finally, considering that you’re getting both a dash mount and a windshield mount in one package this accessory also offers terrific value.

Treonauts are always looking for the best value…