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Hands-on Review of the Wasabi Power Clutch for GoPro Cameras

The Wasabi Power Hand Grip is an external USB battery and hand grip in one. It's a convenient way to add extra battery power to extend your GoPro filming.

Wasabi Power Hand Grip

A few things to note: it obviously doesn’t come with the camera. It does come with a micro-USB and mini-USB cable, but it doesn’t come with a USB-C cable for the HERO5 models that I’m using for this photo (and newer models), so I’ve used my own. And it comes with a standard black plastic bolt, not the blue aluminum one I’m using in this shot.

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 4 months ago // Categories: Batteries & Charging, Mounts & Grips
Tags: GoPro Fusion, GoPro HERO (2014), GoPro HERO (2018), GoPro HERO Session, GoPro HERO+, GoPro HERO+ LCD, GoPro HERO3 Black, GoPro HERO3 Silver, GoPro HERO3+ Black, GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Session, GoPro HERO4 Silver, GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO5 Session, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, GoPro HERO7 White, GoPro HERO8 Black, GoPro HERO9 Black, GoPro MAX

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You don’t have to use a GoPro long to run into the battery life issue. GoPros do lots of things well, but battery life is not one of their strengths.

There are ways to work around it. On some models you can swap out the battery for a freshly charged one.

You can also power the camera from an external USB powerbank. The problem with that approach is that most of the time it’s pretty cumbersome and not particularly convenient for filming on the go.

Wasabi’s solution to that problem is to combine an external USB powerbank and a grip. The result is the Wasabi Power CLUTCH for GoPro Camears (also sometimes listed as the Wasabi Power Hand Grip).

It looks just like any regular GoPro grip, but inside is a 5200mAh battery.

Wasabi Power Hand Grip

See the note in the caption for the photo at the top of this review for the accessories that are in this photo that are different to the ones included.

It has a standard GoPro mount on the top.

Wasabi GoPro Power Grip

And it has a socket for a regular 1/4-20 tripod stud on the bottom, so you could attach the whole thing to a regular tripod or strap or anything else that uses a standard tripod attachment system.

Wasabi GoPro Power Grip

The ports for charging and powering are behind a rubber cover:

Wasabi GoPro Power Grip

At left is the standard-size USB socket for power going out. At right is the micro-USB socket for power coming in to the grip. In between is a small orange button that’s the on-off switch and four small LED indicators that show the charge status.

And the body of the grip is covered with a textured rubberized surface that works well with cold and wet hands.

Wasabi GoPro Power Grip

Things the Wasabi Power Hand Grip is Not

There is one very big limitation of the Wasabi power hand grip that’s essential to know before you buy it: it’s not waterproof, especially when you’re using it to power the camera.

The reason is simple. You need to attach the charging cable to both the battery and the camera, and on both ends that means exposing the ports on both ends.

You can, of course, remove the cable and use it just as a grip while filming and then use it later for charging the camera after you’ve finished filming. There’s a rubber trap door over the ports on the grip that offer some weather resistance, but it’s still not waterproof.

It also doesn’t float–which isn’t much of issue since you don’t want to get it wet anyway.

And it’s not a telescoping selfie-stick. It’s a fixed grip about 8 inches long.

Housing Compatibility

For power to flow from the battery to the camera you’ll need to run a USB cable. Of course, that also means that many of the waterproof housings won’t work with it because they don’t allow access for the charging cable to the camera. So you’ll need some kind of frame mount or skeleton housing.

While these frame mounts work well, they also often mean that you’ll need to remove the cover door over the ports. They’re designed to easily snap on and off for this very reason.

And with the new design introduced with the HERO8 Black, you’ll probably want to switch out the side door with one that’s compatible with accessing the USB-C port.

Camera Compatibility

Because this is essentially a standard external battery, it’s compatible with all of the GoPro cameras. You will need to make sure to use the right cable, of course–there are three different USB ports that GoPros have used over the years. I’ve put together a guide to which USB cables for which GoPro cameras here.

One aspect to factor in is that if you plan to power the camera while filming, you’ll need a frame mount that allows access to the USB ports on the camera itself. That might mean removing the door over the ports.

Technically, you can use other cameras and smartphones with this. The only GoPro-specific aspect to it is that the mount that’s fused to the body of the grip is the GoPro-style mount. But with a simple adapter that’s included in the box you can turn that into a normal tripod mount that’s compatible with just about any camera on the market.

Also included in the box is a universal smartphone holder, so you can easily mount your iPhone or other smartphone. Then it’s just a matter of swapping the cable out with whatever cable is compatible with your camera or phone.

What’s in the Box

  • Wasabi Power Hand Grip
  • micro-USB cable
  • mini-USB cable
  • GoPro-style thumbscrew
  • wrist strap
  • Universal smartphone cradle

If you’re using one of the newer GoPros since the HERO5 models, you’ll need to pick up a USB-C cable separately; it doesn’t come with one.

Wasabi GoPro Power Grip

Specs

Weight: 6.4 oz
Length: 8 inches
Input: Micro USB, 5V, 1A
Output: USB, 5V, 1A
Capacity: 5200mAh
3.7V 5200mAh 19.24Wh

Real-World Results

How much battery life you’ll get out of a GoPro–or any camera, for that matter–depends on what settings you’re using, whether you’re chimping with the back screen a lot, how much use the battery has seen, and even environmental factors like temperature (lithium batteries perform poorly in very cold temperatures). So it’s impossible to give a definitive amount of time for battery life.

Wasabi claims that the Power Hand Grip will add around 5 hours to your shooting. I was interested to put that to the test. So I put a 128GB card into a GoPro HERO5 Black and did a continuous video at 1080p30 (Protune off). I made sure that both the camera’s internal battery and the hand grip battery were fully charged.

It ran for over 10 hours before both batteries were drained and the recording stopped. That’s a big improvement over using just the internal battery. With the same camera, same card, and same settings, I repeated the test without the power clutch, just using the internal battery. It ran for about 2 hours 15 minutes before the battery died.

That difference makes sense. The regular GoPro HERO5 battery is rated at 1220mAh, while the clutch grip is rated at 5200mAh, so you’d expect to get about four times as much again (the internal battery (1220mAh) plus the clutch grip (5200mAh) gives you a combined total of 6320mAh).

Things Worth Knowing

You can run many GoPros without an internal battery installed, but you’re likely to get more reliable results by leaving the internal battery in and having it fully charged up front. That should ensure that the camera gets its required flow of power even in the high-end, processor-intensive video and burst modes.

Wrap Up

I’ve found it to work well. As a grip, it does what it needs to do. As an external battery, in my experience it exceeds the manufacturers claims.

So long as you’re shooting in dry conditions and are fine with having to connect the two with a short USB cable, the Wasabi Power Clutch Grip is a very useful GoPro accessory that doesn’t have much in the way of competition at the moment.

Buy Them At

I bought mine at Amazon.

Wasabi Power Clutch (Power Bank Hand Grip) for Compact Digital Cameras,...
Wasabi Power Clutch (Power Bank Hand Grip) for Compact Digital Cameras,...
  • CAPACITY :: Get 5200mAh of extended CLUTCH power -- in your hand and when you need it; Premium cells for...
  • COMPATIBILITY :: Works with all GoPro mount cameras; Requires Frame or Skeleton housing for access to USB...
$24.99
Check Price on Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-04-17 at 22:23. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

  • GoPro HERO5 Batteries and Chargers
    Batteries and Chargers for the HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018)
  • ProMount Gopro Arca-Style Quick Release Plate
    Arca-Style Quick Release Plates for GoPro Cameras
  • GoPro HERO5 Black vs HERO4 Black Right Side
    How to Turn On a GoPro that Won't Turn On
  • Nitecore UGP5 GoPro Battery Charger
    NiteCore UGP5 Charger for GoPro HERO5 Black Batteries
  • Wasabi Power Batteries for the GoPro HERO5 Black
    Updated Third-Party Batteries for the GoPro HERO5 Black
  • GoPro HERO3 Battery Recommendations for the HERO3 Silver & Black & HERO3+ Black
    GoPro HERO3 Battery Recommendations for the HERO3 Silver & Black & HERO3+ Black
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on December 30, 2020

Categories: Batteries & Charging, Mounts & Grips
Tags: GoPro Fusion, GoPro HERO (2014), GoPro HERO (2018), GoPro HERO Session, GoPro HERO+, GoPro HERO+ LCD, GoPro HERO3 Black, GoPro HERO3 Silver, GoPro HERO3+ Black, GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Session, GoPro HERO4 Silver, GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO5 Session, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, GoPro HERO7 White, GoPro HERO8 Black, GoPro HERO9 Black, GoPro MAX

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GoPro News & Deals

New Smart Remote GoPro will be announcing the new Smart Remote for the HERO9 Black on December 17, 2020. The HERO9 Black isn’t compatible with the previous version of the Smart Remote.

HERO8 Black firmware v2.0 now available. Enables webcam mode; enables Display Mod compatibility; expands HyperSmooth 2.0 High and Boost availability to more video settings; general bug fixes. Update through the mobile app or manually.

GoPro Launches New Live Streaming Service for GoPro PLUS. GoPro has launched their own live-streaming platform for PLUS subscribers. It’s a pretty bare-bones offering for now, with livestreams shared with a dedicated URL. This is alongside their efforts to make the HERO8 Black useful as a webcam when connected to a computer (via USB plug-in-play, not requiring the Media Mod accessory with HDMI out). New firmware adds that functionality for Mac users, and the Windows version is in Beta.

New GoPro Zeus Mini Video Light. GoPro has released released a new video LED light designed to complement their GoPro cameras. It’s tiny, waterproof, and has a built-in magnetic swiveling clip. It’s waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), has four levels of brightness, and includes a diffuser to cool the color temperature to 5000K. GoPro claims that the built-in battery lasts up to 6 hours (presumably at the lowest brightness setting, although they don’t specify). It’s available now and priced at $69.99.

DJI Osmo Action firmware update adds live streaming. DJI has released a firmware update for the Osmo Action (v. 01.08.00.10) that adds live streaming support, so you can upload directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (it goes through the DJI Mimo mobile app). They’ve also improved the in-camera video stabilization. You can find the new firmware here.

New Underwater Housing for GoPro HERO8 Black from Isotta. Isotta, an Italian brand specializing in underwater housings, has announced a new high-quality underwater housing for the HERO8 Black. It’s an aluminum housing depth-rated to 650 feet (200 meters), has a one-handed open/close switch, double o-rings, and can be used with filters. There’s also a dual-handled tray to go along with it. And like all their housings, it’s in their distinctive red. Priced at $450, it’s only for those who need a highly specialized piece of underwater kit. It’s available for preorder from underwater specialists Backscatter.

Light Mod Now Shipping The Light Mod, one of the three new GoPro accessories, is now shipping. It’s a standalone light that is waterproof, rechargeable and compatible with all GoPro mounts. It was originally announced along with the HERO8 Black, but it hasn’t been available until now. It’s priced at $49.99, and you can find them at GoPro.com.

GoPro MAX Now Shipping. The new 360° camera, the MAX, is now shipping.

GoPro HERO8 Black and Max Unveiled. The new GoPro cameras and accessories have been unveiled. I have a rundown of the highlights of the HERO8 Black here.

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro HERO7 Black. I’ve posted my detailed hands-on comparison of the Osmo Action and the HERO7 Black. There’s a lot similar between the models, but once you start digging down into the details there are differences that can help in choosing between them. And each has strengths the other doesn’t have. You can find my review here.

GoPro HyperSmooth vs DJI RockSteady. The new DJI Osmo Action also has built-in electronic stabilization to smooth out video. They’re calling it RockSteady (GoPro has HyperSmooth). I’ve been out testing them side-by-side. You can see the results here.

GoPro Deals page. I’ve put together a dedicated page on GoPro deals. So if you’re looking for cheap GoPro deals, check it out.

DJI Osmo action 4K Camera. Best known for their camera drones, DJI has released a new 4K action cam that’s taking direct aim at the GoPro HERO7 Black. It shoots up to 4K60 video and 12MP stills, includes electronic stabilization, has high-dynamic range video at 4K30, voice commands, a touchscreen on the back and another smaller live view screen on the front, and is waterproof down to 36 feet (11 meters). It’s priced at $349, and they’re now available at B&H Photo.

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About Me

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

I’ve owned and used every GoPro since the HD HERO and particularly like finding new and different ways to use them to capture photos, video, and time-lapse.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

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