WeatherTech CupFone with Extension
Put this device in the category of “why didn’t I think of that?” It’s such a simple concept, but the utility and the build quality make this something that I think all cars should come equipped with from the factory. WeatherTech is known for their durable precision-fit floor mats and other accessories. Just like their other products, the CupFone is designed, engineered, and manufactured in America.
My mother-in-law had sent my wife one of these via Amazon as a surprise since she has a pretty long commute to her school. I thought it looked like something I would get a lot of use out of, so I asked her to look it up real quick to see how much it was. I have to admit that I was taken aback when she told me that it was $52, but she very generously told me to have it since her cup holders were for her Starbucks. There is no doubt that it’s a chunk of change for a plastic contraption that sits in your cup holder, but I can honestly say it’s worth every penny of that after using it for the past several months.
This is hands down my favorite automotive accessory due to how convenient it makes stowing my phone when I get in my vehicle. It’s become a habit to slide my phone in the holder as soon as I get in and grab it when I reach my destination. Because the phone is securely held in place by gravity, you don’t need to loosen any fasteners when you need to access it. I also don’t even bother plugging in the aux cable anymore because the CupFone elevates my phone and makes it much easier to hear my podcasts or audiobooks than when I used to just set it on the passenger seat.
Having my phone slide around on the seat or fall on the floor (or worse yet, fall in between and under the seats) is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to my while I’m driving. Don’t waste your time on the gel mats or the holders that attach to the air vents — they won’t secure your phone like this will.
The extension feature is especially useful for using voice commands and for when I need to safely take a quick look at the GPS because I can set it at the optimal height and angle. The extension –as well as the adjustment wheels for the bracket that holds the phone itself, the tilt, and the rotation — stay exactly in the position that you set them indefinitely. This is where off-brand accessories similar to the WeatherTech CupFone and cell phone mounts and tripods fail.
The CupFone uses multiple sized tapered friction cups that can be changed to fit the cup holder. There are enough of these cups to provide what feels like a factory fit in any of our vehicles’ cupholders, including in my John Deere Gator. The bracket itself adjusts to fit any smartphone and gently secures it in a dense cushioned slot. The bracket’s design allows you to keep your phone plugged in for charging while it’s in the holder. You can even remove your phone from the holder or replace it with one hand without ever having to disconnect your charging cord.
You will never have to worry about whether someone will use your gift if you give them one of these. I can’t think of anyone whose commute you couldn’t make a little easier by buying them a CupFone.
