Tenikle 360º Octopus Suction Mount 2022 REVIEW

Bend it, stick it, mount it! Crazy Suction, endless possibilities

Quick, what do you call a boomerang that does not return to you? It’s a stick! I think dad jokes, like my interest in products and their reviews, excite and bemuse my interests through their catchy, gimmicky, and sometimes corny presentations. My wife has tolerated my desire for gadgets and gizmos and regularly questions the purpose of my “toys.” 

Like Ariel from the Little Mermaid, I want to understand thinga-ma-bobs and likely have twenty different mounts for my phone. From bike mounts, to grip mounts, to fixed mounts, to bend mounts, to screw mounts, etc., each provides a few to several solutions for what to do with my phone. So when I saw the playful art of the tri-legged suction Tenikle device, I knew that I had to have one.   

Unboxing

The Tenikle 360 device arrived in a 3 1/4 inches wide by 6 1/8 inches tall by 2 5/8 inches thick retail package. The colorful red/turquoise product name was listed atop the cover panel and contrasted beautifully against the clean white background. I liked the jovial “Mount Stuff Anywhere” catchphrase, the included video QR code, the large image of the multi-leg suction cup mount, and the fun descriptor along the bottom of the panel: You can Mount Phones, Tablets, Cameras, + More – Virtually Anywhere.

The inviting cover features were perpetuated on both of the side panels. The panel to my left showcased the wrapped quick mount feature plus the camera mount. The right side panel demonstrated the ability to rotate, bend, and flex the 360-degree screw mount. Both panels successfully employed the red/turquoise color accents and the contrasting black mount/white background pattern.

I loved the sharp edges, the light/dark theme, and the overall presentation. Furthermore, the rear panel demonstrated the ability to bend and shape the Y-shaped suction mount into the stand and car mount modes. The panel added credence to the promise that the “All-in-One Solution” Tenikle will be the only accessory you’ll ever need.  

To access the device, I gripped the 3/4 inches wide by 1 1/8 inches long red nylon loop and unrolled the box like a scroll. The inner side panel requested the user to unleash their inner creator while detailing the 33-pound super suction and the bendable/wrappable pole/bike mount setup.

The colorful inner panels showcased the Y-shaped Tenikle, the ten suction cups, silicone material, 44-pound support, 1/4-20” universal mount, detachable fourth arm, virtually indestructible nature, the 1-year factory warranty, a QR code to rate the device, and eight small photos of the device at work. Lastly, you will find a clear plastic window adjacent to the vibrant images.

I was pleased to see the viewing portal and loved the product display method. I could better understand the device, the hunter-green color, and the screw-on mount features. To capitalize on a classic cliché, the view/picture was clearly worth a thousand words. 

Even though I enjoyed the presentation, the ability to access the product ended up being a bit more of a challenge than I had originally thought. I attempted to squeeze my finger into the top edge of the clear plastic followed by the bottom edge, the outer edge, and ultimately the inner edge. I bent the plastic inward and finally separated the top/button and left segments from the inner box.

I folded the plastic upward and gained access to the contents of the internal space. I removed the 5.2-ounce hunter-green mount, a plastic wrapped 0.8-ounce, black-colored expandable phone mount, the bag with a 3 1/4 inches long by 15/16 inches wide hunter-green mount with dual screw ports, two D-screws, and a two-panel instruction manual along the bottom.

Each of the Y-shaped Tenikle legs measured 6 1/2 inches long and provided three 1 1/8 inch diameter by 5/8 inches tall suction cups. A single centralized suction cup completed a total of ten suction mount pieces. At the end of each of the suction cup arms, you will find a 1/8 inches diameter cutout. The top surface of the mount provided an etched “Tenikle” name along one arm, and a centralized metallic D-screw port. 

Testing

Before testing the device, I perused the dual-panel instruction manual. The manual provided a helpful visual list of the 360-degree arm, phone mount, #2 D-screws, 33-pound mounting strength (box said 44#), 12-hour suction life, and the need for smooth surfaces. The second through fourth rows provided a 12-step pro/con setup process to enjoy the device.

The manual recommended keeping the device clean, testing it before you let go of your phone, wrapping the legs before applying the suction mount, using at least two legs to attach to the base, to use at least 2 suction cups to attach to your phone/device, and to avoid logos/bevels/seams. For extra functionality, attach the D-screw through the 360-degree arm, attach the phone mount to the back of the Tenikle, and then enjoy the functionality.  

Like many dads, I chose to stick one of the suction cups to my forehead as my first test. I was impressed with the pop and with the attraction power of the suction cups. My wife was not pleased with the discolored hickey, although it was only temporary. Interestingly, each of the ten cups reminded me of one of the pop-up toys that my children regularly earn through Chuck-E-Cheese winnings.

After playing with the suction cups against my hand, my cheek, my table, my craftsman toolbox, my window, the roof of my car, etc., I started to bend the arms into a bunch of different shapes. We hung my son’s iPad Mini Gen 4 from our kitchen light for a mealtime movie. I attached my wife’s iPhone 12 to the phone mount and stuck the suction cups to the music stand on the piano for some baby shark piano action. 

To test the strength of the suction cups, I filled a Nalgene bottle with water and attached two suction cups to the side. Although the leg was not able to maintain the horizontal position, the suction cups stuck firmly to my bathroom mirror.

I bent the legs, twisted the legs, attached the suction cups to various surfaces, and was amazed at the plethora of mounting options. Use a single leg to attach to the surface, then curve the other legs around as support arms. Use one arm to attach a device, another to attach it to a surface, and the third to stabilize. Finally, wrap the legs around a surface to grip it tightly, and use the suction cups or the phone mount to hold your phone.  

I was amazed at the 1 3/8 inches wide phone mount clip and the ability to expand to 4 1/8 inches tall. The clasp easily accommodated my wife’s standard iPhone 12 and my iPhone 13 Pro max inside of Catalyst Active Defense Vibe Series Case. Additionally, the D-Screw mount allowed the plate to stand either upright or flat against the 360-degree plate.

I was able to rotate the plate, bend the arms, and affix the mount to my wall, door, window, mirror, car, toolbox, etc., without any issues. I attempted to stick the device to a painted beam between my living room and piano room but found the device would not remain attached in a vertical position.

When I wrapped two legs around the beam and attached a suction cup to the underside and to each of the side sections, the mount was able to hold. The Gumby-like device was able to bend, flex, and twist, and did not falter throughout any of my tests. The device will not suction to porous materials/surfaces like the back of my Catalyst case but will affix securely to nearly any smooth surface.  

I struggled to find a negative/con for this device. I was pleased with the ~$45 price tag, with the shape, the size, the weight, and the accessories; I was amazed at the quality of the packaging. If I had to give criticism, I have two items that I would address. First, the clear plastic window was a bit of a challenge to remove.

A pull tab at the side would have made that process a bit easier. Second, I would have loved a cloth cinch bag or carrying case. If I decided to remove the D-screws and the 360-degree plate, I would love to have a place to store the phone mount, washer, and screws without losing them. Although this was not included, perhaps version 2.0 will incorporate this idea.  

The fun/energetic/youthful packaging paired well with the device and did a great job at representing some of the features of the Tenikle.  If you are looking for a contortionist-level phone mount, look to the Tenikle.  

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