Clamp mount
Also known as: Jaws clamp, flex clamp, spring clamp mount
A spring or screw clamp that grips poles, branches, railings and handlebars, with a flexible arm to aim the camera. One of the most versatile mounts.
Updated
What it means
A clamp mount has jaws that open wide and close tight around almost anything: a handlebar, a tree branch, a fence, a kayak paddle shaft, a boat rail or a table edge. Many include a flexible gooseneck arm or a ball joint, so the camera can point in any direction once the clamp is set. GoPro calls its version Jaws.
It is the improvisation tool of action filming. When no purpose-made mount fits, a clamp usually does, which makes it popular for creative angles on trails and at spots where you film the same feature repeatedly, such as a jump in a bike park.
Rubber pads inside the jaws protect surfaces and improve grip on smooth tubes.
How it works in practice
Clamp a camera to a branch beside a jump or berm for a static trailside angle, to a fence at a skatepark, or to a lift chair bar for a riding-up shot. Shorter arms give steadier footage, and tightening every joint prevents the camera from slowly drooping.
For bikes, a clamp on the fork leg or chainstay shows wheels and suspension working, while a clamp on the handlebar gives a classic forward view. Add a tether wherever a fall would mean losing the camera.
A clamp on a tree near a feature, combined with a remote, lets you film yourself riding past again and again.
What to watch out for
Spring clamps can slip on smooth or thin surfaces, especially with vibration. Screw-tightened clamps hold more securely for anything that moves fast, and a short arm keeps leverage low.
Long flexible arms magnify shake and drift in wind. Keep arms short and tighten them fully, or use a rigid mount for high-speed footage.
Clamping onto private property, protected trees or lift equipment may not be allowed, and leaving a camera unattended on a trail invites theft. Check before setting up and stay near the camera, or at least keep it in sight between runs.
How RawClip handles it
Static trailside clips from a clamp are often long and mostly empty. Upload them anyway, and RawClip finds the moments when riders pass and adds them to your highlight alongside the POV footage.