The Griffin Montana Mongoose vise is a great fly-tying vise to have and a must-have for any fly fisher who is serious about his craft. This vise is a high-quality piece of equipment that provides a stable base when tying small midges to larger streamers.
Its comfortable, compact design and ergonomic grip make it a very versatile vise to have and use. It is a very good vise to use as a traveler’s vise because of its size and ease of assembly.
Check current prices and reviews on Amazon with this shortcut link 👉 Griffin Mongoose Fly Tying Vise
Having a good fly-tying vice is imperative to your progression and ability to tie well. Yes, sure, you won’t need the best of the best for a while, but it is worth investing in something that will always work well and function. The Griffin Mongoose is a great bang for your buck when compared to other vises in this price range.
What vise came out on top in my review and what vise do I recommend? 👉 Peak Rotary Fly Tying Vise
Overall Rating Compared to Other Popular Fly-Tying Vises
In my comparison the Griffin Mongoose came in second to last place out of the 6 fly tying vises tested. (This is purely my opinion using a vise I personally purchased) Check out my Review Summary 👉 HERE
Griffin Mongoose
It’s important to note that all the vises I reviewed are fundamentally good. The Griffin Mongoose seemed unnecessarily complex to me. The clamp works well but was difficult to use compared to the others. I’m not saying Mongoose is bad, just I’d recommend others in this price range. Lots of extras came with the vise which was nice.
Below is my scoring. With 10 being highest
- Ease of Use = 5
- Vise Clamp = 10
- Weight = 3lbs, 8oz
- Assembly score = 6
- Rotary = 7
- Fit and Finish = 7
Guide Recommended Pro Tip: Download the FULL Fly Tying Vise Comparison PDF here 👉 Fly Tying Vise Comparison and Review
Description of the Griffin MONGOOSE Fly Tying Vise
The Griffin Mongoose comes in a nice, padded protection box where all the pieces to the vise fit easily and securely.
The vise itself is made from high-quality materials, ensuring that it will last for years to come. The base is made of cast aluminum, which provides a solid foundation for the vise, while the jaws are made of a hardened steel. This combination of materials ensures that the vise will not rust or deteriorate over tie and will maintain its strength and rigidity
The base plate has a decent length to it, meaning the length-to-jaw ratio is good, and the vise shouldn’t tip over when tying. The offset vise jaw is a little odd when you first assemble the vise, but you will get used to it in no time and shouldn’t let it worry you too much.
One of the notices of the Griffin Mongoose fly-tying vise is its ergonomic design. The gooseneck-style neck is positioned in such a way that it is easy to grip and control, and the adjustable arm provides a comfortable and stable platform for the non-tying hand while tying. The vise is also lightweight, making it easy to move and position as needed. The stem extension is a great feature to have and will work very well with the c-clamp when tying at a writing desk or coffee table.
One of the key benefits of the Griffin Mongoose fly-tying vise is its affordability. Retailing for under $200 despite its high quality and versatility, this vise is priced very competitively, making it an excellent value for any fly fisher. The vise is also easy to use and maintain, making it an ideal choice for those who are new to fly tying, as well as experienced traveling tyers.
For a video break down of the Griffin Mongoose Vise
Pros and Cons of Griffin MONGOOSE
Hook Clamping
This is one of the most important features of a good vise. You don’t want the hook to slip in the jaws when you are tying your pattern. On the smaller fly patterns, you will still be able to get away with the hook holding, but as you move to larger hooks, they will start to slip. Unfortunately, the Griffin Mongoose vise didn’t do too well in our strength test, and the hook slipped before it bent. All is not lost. As I mentioned, it will work wonders for the smaller flies. The vise is good hooks from 4/0- #28’s.
Jaw size- The vise’s jaws are designed to grip hooks of all sizes and are adjustable to ensure that they can accommodate any hook you may need. The jaws battle with the larger hooks, but this is something to remember. You can still tie a large range of sizes before this happens.
Base and Weight
The pedestal base plate weighs just over 3 lbs which makes it in the middle of the weight category when compared to the other vises. I’m a fan of heavier base plates, but in all honestly, the Griffin mongooses base plate works well. Along with the base plate, a c-clamp also comes in the kit, and what is really cool about the Griffin is that the vise stem has an extension arm. This is great! So, when tying at a coffee table or low desk, you can position the vise to the right height to tie with it properly. This is especially helpful to the taller folk.
Rotary Function
The rotary function has been redesigned for maximum efficiency. The new rotation lock screw allows the tyer to have complete control during the rotation, and the Delrin bearing provides the smoothest of rotations.
Fit and Finish
Along with its fancy little box, the Griffin Mongoose vise really does look the part. It is very comfortable with tying on and will be great for an entry-level tyer to learn the ways of the fly-tying world.
Ease of Assembly
The assembly of the Griffin can be a little tedious, but it is still straightforward. I think the trickiest part is the assembly of the jaws on the stem and securing all those little screws and the correct angles. What is a little off-putting so that the jaw head is mounted slightly off the center of the stem? But otherwise, it is easy to put together.
Guide Pro Tip: Hey, I’ve got a FREE Fly Tying Class. Videos, and written instructions can be found with this shortcut link 👉 How to Tie Flies Step by Step
Extras Included with the Griffin MONGOOSE Vise
The Griffin comes with loads of extras; this is great, especially if you are starting out. A c-clamp, bobbin holder, extension piece for the stem, bobbin, and bobbin threader are all included in the box, which is really handy.
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One Last Fly
In conclusion, the Griffin Mongoose fly tying vise is a must-have vise for any fly fisher who is serious about their craft. Its high-quality construction, versatile design, and affordable price make it an excellent choice for fly tier’s of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced tier, the Griffin Mongoose fly-tying vise will become indispensable to your fly-tying setup.
Kyle Knight
Fly fishing has been my passion and pursuit for the past 20 years. I am a South African based fly fisherman who loves nothing more than spending a day on the water. Fly fishing is more than catching fish, being in the outdoors with good friends and family is what it is all about.