Bicycle phone mounts have been a regular part of my life in bike-obsessed Amsterdam ever since 2008, when I got my first phone with built-in GPS and turn-by-turn navigation. I’ve used dozens of mounts since, until they were either lost, broken, or stolen, or something better emerged.

I could have saved a ton of money and annoyance had the $49.95 Loop Micro Mount been available all those years ago.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been testing the ultra-compact Micro Mount. It took all of three minutes to unbox and screw into my bike’s stem cap. Then it just sits there discreetly, out of the way until I expand its jaws to help guide me into places unknown. It held my iPhone 15 Pro securely on all types of on- and off-road terrain, with or without my existing phone case.

I attached the Loop Micro Mount to my mountain bike to test its limits. It’s designed and recommended for road use, but even commuters have to scale the occasional curb or survive a pothole. The mount never lost grip when heading down rough single-track trails rutted with tree roots.

I did manage to literally kick my phone into the dirt once when I got knocked off my bike. Those spring-loaded rubber-lined jaws will hold your device securely on tarmac, cobblestones, and brickwork, but they’re no match for the protection you get from something like a Quad Lock case and mount.

The Loop Micro Mount is designed to be installed semipermanently on a stem cap, and it comes with an extra long bolt and Allen key in the box for that purpose. I like that the mount can be installed in either portrait or landscape orientations. I don’t like that placing the phone into the holder requires two hands to pry those jaws apart.

I also like that you can’t see the removable bolt when the mount is closed and that the entire assembly disappears into the lines of the bike. This not only looks great aesthetically, but it helps to avoid the attention of thieves. Many city and commuter bikes and e-bikes — but certainly not all — are fitted with these standard stem caps. Otherwise, the Micro Mount can be attached to the handlebar with a removable O-ring kit.

Loop says the Micro Mount “fits all major phones,” including the current crop of heavy ultra-max phones. The spec sheet says it supports phone and case widths up to 85mm and depths up to 14.5mm, which should make it suitable for the biggest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S series.

My only concern is how well those spring-loaded jaws will work over time. The metal mount is heavy in the hand and doesn’t feel cheap, but we Amsterdammers leave our bicycles parked outside year round, where they’re exposed to rain, sun, and ice, and suffer lots of abuse when stuffed into parking racks. Loop says the mount is “built to withstand the elements, ensuring durability and reliability in any weather condition.”

The Loop Micro Mount is surprisingly capable for its size and has become my new favorite install-it-and-forget-it bike mount for road use. Its inconspicuous design avoids the attention of thieves, and the mount disappears into the bike’s silhouette until needed.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge