Product Review: Scosche GoBat 6000 and MagicMount

I recently had the opportunity to review two products from Scosche. First let’s begin with a little history about the company. The company began in 1980 when Scosche Industries was founded by Roger and Scotia Alves. The company began as a research and consulting business housed in the garage of a residence in Southern California. With their initial focus on car audio, their first clients were companies such as Alpine and Kenwood. The company’s first patent was the GM Dash kit, which allowed you to take out your OEM radio and replace it with a third party brand. As times changed, so did the products. The company is now one of the leaders for on-the-go audio accessories for the car, bike or kayak.

The GoBat 6000 is a backup battery that can be used to charge mobile devices anywhere and anytime. It’s a great battery for the kayak angler because it is portable, waterproof and rugged. The product is IP68 waterproof/dustproof up to approximately 9 feet and Military Spec 810G Drop/Shock tested. This test consists of 26 drops from around 4 feet onto plywood which is on top of concrete. This little power pack is one rugged charger. It took just under an hour for this 6000 mAh battery to charge a totally dead iPhone. Out of the box, the unit was partially charged as advertised and I plugged it in and fully charged the battery before using it. It took 30 minutes to finish charging. The LED indicators on the battery help to indicate how much of a charge you have. One of the really cool features is the high-power USB port (up to 12W/2.4A) which auto-detects the fastest possible charge speed for your connected mobile device.

Out of the box you will receive instructions, a metal alloy loop and carabiner to clip your GoBat securely to your gear. The GoBat comes in either the 6000 mAh or 12000 mAh internal battery option. Color options include black or orange with Realtree camo trim. Retail is $69.99 for the 6000 mAh and $99.99 for the 12,000 mAh.

I have only had this charger a short time, but what sets this one aside from the others is the IP68 waterproof/dustproof and Military Spec 810G Drop/Shock ratings. None of my other batteries have these ratings.

Along with the battery pack, I tested the Scosche MagicMount Pro Dash. The Pro Dash sticks to most surfaces with a 3M adhesive pad and uses a ball joint with a nut to tighten or loosen for adjustments. I let my son test the mount and he found that it did need occasional re-tightening but, the magnetic plate on the phone and the magnet on the MagicMount always stayed attached whether traveling on the highway or hitting the back roads. The MagicMount is versatile with a mount for almost every application, adhesive, suction, vent clip, home, 12V holder and even a handle bar mount. The MagicMount works with smartphones, multi-media devices, tablets and GPS units as well. I have tried other mounts, and some work while others just fall off. This is not the case with the MagicMount.

The magnetic pad is thin enough to stick to your phone and be covered by your protective case, or it can be directly stuck to your case. Either way works great. We chose to stick the magnet to the iPhone and had no issues. In the box you receive a cleaning wipe, instructions, two-trim rings, two magic pads (one small and one large), clear mask and the MagicMount itself.

Overall, this is one of the most functional and quality-made device holders I have seen. Pricing is $24.99 and up, depending on the model you choose. The MagicMount seems well made and time will tell how well the magnet holds up. Until then, if you are looking for portable audio accessories for your kayak or watercraft, be sure to check out Scosche.

For more information, please visit www.scosche.com.

Review written by Gary Elliott, facilitator of www.Facebook.com/GarysOutdoorNewsandReviews and @garys_outdoor_news_and_reviews.

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