Last month I made some new friends over at Grovemade, when they sent over for review what has become my new favorite iPhone dock. The wood finish on this has a very classic, custom, and well crafted look (100% made in Portland Oregon), and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it to anyone in the market for a simple docking solution.
The first impression of any product is the box it comes in. For the Grovemade Dock, it comes in a very sturdy, stylish, and layered cardboard case, and even if you purchase several items from them, they will always send this one separately, and there is a very good reason for that—it is hefty. The base is made from a three pound slab of black powder coated (or plated silver) steel, and it feels fabulous in your hands. I would describe it as being similar to hovering a strong magnet over top an iron support beam.
I seriously love the weight of this dock. It is not ridiculous, but substantial enough that wherever you put it, it is not likely to be going anywhere unless you really want it to. I have also been impressed with its fit, finish, and overall functionality. I’ve owned several wood retro docks over the years, and this one has some of the best wood crafting of all of them. You can tell that someone put a lot of time into this piece, and it was not just churned out through a robot saw.
The top portion of the dock is made of 100 percent renewable bamboo that has been sanded and polished to a very fine finish (it also comes in maple and walnut). Underneath the bamboo cover includes a clever base design that allows it to be compatible with either an iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5s, and 5C, and it also includes a hidden channel for sound to pass through freely, so you can still hear your music and ringer while it is cradled. It sits gently on any surface with four rubberized feet that have been adhered with proper glue for added durability.
This bamboo iPhone dock has turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for $79 through the Grovemade website. And if you think this review seems gushing, wait until I introduce you to their line of iPhone and iPad cases, which I found to be even more impressive.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech