KraftGeek Glow Ring Travel Ring Light Review (my honest take)
Full disclosure: if you've been here before, you already know I'm a mad fan of the KraftGeek JustTap magnetic tripod. That thing changed my life, I use it all the time. So when this version turned up with a ring light attached, I already had high hopes going in.
I'm just going to say it. I didn't really know what I was expecting from this thing. I was expecting decent.
What I got was actually quite good.
It's the Tripod I Love, With Lighting Built In
Here's the appeal in one sentence: it's the same JustTap tap-to-open tripod I already can't shut up about, except now there's a ring light attached to it. That means one bit of gear does the job that used to take two.
Before this, my portable lighting options were:
- The cheap clip-on ring lights. Can you even see the difference in brightness? Minuscule. This is basically rubbish, don't bother.
- My actual go-to light. Great quality, but it has to attach to something else, either its own tripod or your phone, plus it's got a battery pack you're carrying separately. Great light, annoying to actually use.
The Glow Ring solves both problems in one go. It folds up small enough to fit in your bag, so if you're travelling with it, it's barely taking up any room. You get a brightness dial and a switch between warm daylight and cool tones, and the on/off needs a proper three-second long press so it's not going to accidentally switch on in your backpack.
How Does it Stack Up Against My Studio Lights
I tested this in the office against my usual setup, which is two big softboxes. Curtains drawn, softboxes off, just the Glow Ring on its lowest setting to start.
I don't hate this actually. Then I turned it all the way up and, honestly, I was impressed. My softboxes give a softer light but they also light up more of the background and can get harsh. The Glow Ring on full brightness was too much for what I needed, but the middle setting turned out to be exactly right. Enough of an accent light on my face, without going overboard.
It leans into more of that moodier, face-focused look, which I know a lot of gamers go for. This is something I could genuinely see myself using on upcoming videos.
Taking It Outside (Slopes Are the One Catch)
Setup outside was just as quick, same tap-and-go as always. The one thing I noticed was that on an incline, it felt less steady than my regular JustTap. It's more top-heavy with the light sitting up top, so on a slope it wants to lean. Nothing dramatic, just find level ground and you're fine. And honestly, this is the only bad thing I could find to say about this tripod.
In shaded spots, turning the light on gave a noticeable bit of extra dynamic to the footage, particularly close up. The further away you get, the less effective it is, so it's best suited to mid shot or closer. In full sun it was more subtle, more of a subtle fill than anything transformative, but still helpful when the background is bright and you need a bit more on your face.
As a walk-and-talk tool (think selfie-stick), it held up well. Having a light source that travels with you rather than being a separate thing to carry is a genuine step up from a plain selfie stick.
Summing Up: What I Liked
- All-inclusive solution for filming on the go or in the office, one piece of gear instead of two or three
- Actually portable, fits straight in the backpack
- Rechargeable, no separate battery pack to carry
- Left it running for an hour on medium power, which was the sweet spot in my office test, and it was still at 100 percent
- You can attach your phone to use either the front or back camera.
- Same signature JustTap setup, still the fastest tripod I've ever used
- Properly versatile: got some drone-like shots extended all the way up, can loosen the handle and walk around with it like a proper selfie stick, or just use it as a light, or just as a tripod. Why not have all three options.
Is It Worth It?
You're getting a fast-opening tripod, a magnetic MagSafe mount, adjustable brightness and colour temperature, and a rechargeable battery that lasts well beyond a normal filming session, all in one thing that fits in a backpack pocket.
If you already own the JustTap, this feels less like buying a whole new product and more like upgrading the one you already use constantly.
Want One?
KraftGeek has given me a 15% discount to share, use the code FRANKIEJ at checkout.
Honestly, am I dating myself if I say this is the bee's knees? The best thing since sliced bread? Yep, I'm a millennial. This is my new go-to.
Let me know in the comments what you think, and if it's something you'd use, go grab the code.
