The Best GoPro Cameras to Bring on Your Next Adventure
Whether you want a camera that can keep up with your adventurous lifestyle or one that will commemorate life’s biggest moments from a point-of-view angle, we love using GoPro cameras for both video and photos.
GoPros have a long list of, well, pros. So much so, it could even be where the brand got its name. The company makes cameras at various price points and with varying features, but they all have in common their small size. Designed to be handheld or mounted on anything from a helmet to a snowboard to a selfie stick, GoPros are ideal for anyone concerned about weight. Whether you don’t want to weigh down your suitcase with a bulky camera or change the balance of your snowboard, there is a GoPro for you.
With so many models, it can be difficult to tell them apart. Fortunately, GoPro offers a handy comparison tool on their website. We’ve also done the work for you and rounded up some of our top picks for GoPro models, as well as some accessories worth considering. If you’re ready to capture your next adventure, we’ve got the action camera that will help you do it.
1. GoPro – HERO9 Black
BEST OVERALL
The HERO9 is the latest offering from GoPro’s main line of cameras, and it has several key features that are an upgrade over the previous model, the HERO8. Several of the critical upgrades are designed to make it easier to capture what you want to see without constantly monitoring the record button. Arguably the most significant upgrade is the live preview screen that lets you view what you’re recording. Other features include hindsight, which allows you to save footage 30 seconds before hitting the record button to avoid missing a special moment. Scheduled capture enables you to pick the start time of your recording in advance, while duration capture makes it easy to set how long the camera records before automatically stopping.
Buy: GoPro Hero 9 (Best Buy) $349.99
Buy: GoPro Hero 9 (Amazon) $358.00 (orig. $399.99) 10% OFF
2. GoPro MAX 360 Action Camera
IMMERSIVE VIDEO
The average GoPro allows you to enjoy and relive the action. The GoPro MAX will make you feel like you’re actually in the moment. That’s because of the unique front- and rear-facing cameras that let you capture panoramic views of your adventures. Or, you can switch to the regular front-facing camera. With six built-in microphones, you’ll hear all of the excitement, too. Horizon leveling reduces choppy and bumpy shots for a smooth, cinematic feeling.
Buy: GoPro Max 360 (Best Buy) $499.99
Buy: GoPro Max 360 (Amazon) $528.00
3. GoPro HERO8
FEATURE RICH
The GoPro HERO8 has all the bells and whistles you want and some you didn’t even know you needed. It comes equipped with three different levels of stabilization, expandable mods for vloggers and the like, live-streaming in 1080p, TimeWarp 2.0 time-lapse videos, LiveBurst photos, and SuperPhoto +HDR still-image capture. You can take spectacular photos and videos no matter where you are or how fast you’re moving and share them almost immediately with your loved ones.
Buy: GoPro Hero 8 (Best Buy) $299.99
4. GoPro HERO7 Black Bundle
BEST BUNDLE
As one of the older models, the GoPro Hero7 is relatively easy to find at a value price. Take this option from B&H Photo and Video, which includes a bundle of the Hero7 Black with a handgrip, head strap and 32GB microSD card. The Hero7 Black is a slightly more advanced model than the HERO7 Silver, with a 240 fps frame rate than the Silver’s 60 fps.
5. GoPro HERO7 Silver
BEST VALUE
The GoPro HERO7 Silver camera is a great travel and adventure companion for capturing your most precious moments right there in action. It’s got 4K30 video and time-lapse recording capabilities, so you can quickly turn whole events into short, shareable clips. It has a rugged and waterproof design, and you can easily navigate between capturing modes on the intuitive touchscreen. Stay in the moment and use your voice to order your camera to start recording, take a picture, or stop recording.
Buy: GoPro Hero 7 Silver $199.00
Best GoPro Accessories
While the GoPro is quite durable, it can be worth getting accessories such as waterproof cases and padded travel pouches. Plus, a range of accessories makes filming more straightforward, such as a hands-free mount. These are some of the best official GoPro accessories to buy.
1. GoPro Protective Housing – HERO9 Black
BEST FOR DIVING
GoPro built this official case specifically for protecting the GoPro HERO9 Black. The protective housing is waterproof down to 60 meters, while the transparent build allows you to view the camera’s LCD screen.
2. GoPro Chesty Performance Chest Mount
BEST FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING
Whether you’re running, cycling or kayaking, there are a ton of situations where you might want to keep your hands free while using a GoPro. This mount is worn as a chest harness, and it clips in to make it easy to take on and off. Best of all, this mount is compatible with all GoPro Hero camera models.
3. GoPro Casey Semi Hard Camera Case
BEST FOR TRAVEL
Unless you’re shooting all of your footage in the backyard, you might want a way to get your camera from point A to point B. Fortunately, GoPro’s Casey camera case is a great way to do just that. It features modular cells, which make it easy to organize your camera and accessories. The semi-hard case is durable but not so stiff that you can’t pack it.
4. SanDisk – Extreme PLUS 128GB
BEST MEMORY CARD
It should go without saying that you need a way to save your footage, and the Extreme Plus memory card from SanDisk is a great way to do it. It has a sizable 128GB capacity, and it’s capable of supporting 4K UHD video recording, allowing you to make the most of your GoPro camera.
Buy: Sandisk Extreme 128GB $36.99
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1. GoPro HERO8 Waterproof Action Camera
The GoPro HERO8 has all of the bells and whistles you want, and some you didn’t even know you needed. It comes equipped with features like three different levels of stabilization, expandable mods for vloggers and the like, live streaming in 1080p, TimeWarp 2.0 time lapse videos, LiveBurst photos and SuperPhoto +HDR still image capture. You can take spectacular photos and video no matter where you are or how fast you’re moving, and share them almost immediately with your loved ones.
Pros: Most technologically advanced features of any GoPro thus far, streamlined design that’s easier to fit in your pocket, lens that twice as impact-resistant.
Cons: The battery door is easy to maneuver but a bit flimsy, could get lost if changing batteries in intense climate.
Buy: GoPro HERO8 Waterproof Action Camera
2. GoPro HERO7 Camera
The GoPro HERO7 camera is a great travel and adventure companion for capturing your most precious moments right there in the action. It’s got 4K30 video and time lapse recording capabilities so you can turn whole events into short, shareable clips easily. It has a rugged and waterproof design and you can easily navigate between capturing modes on the intuitive touchscreen. Stay in the moment and use your voice to order your camera to start recording, take a picture or stop recording.
Pros: Stunning video capabilities, time lapse videos, easy navigation, powerful touchscreen, voice activation not seen in the HERO6.
Cons: Doesn’t have the still camera capturing modes that the HERO8 has including LiveBurst and SuperPhoto.
3. GoPro HERO6 Action Camera
This GoPro HERO6 design features twice the performance of the HERO5 model including 4K60 and 1080p240 video. It has advanced video stabilization and captures smooth footage in your hand and mounted. It’s also waterproof up to 33ft without housing, and the touch and zoom playback features make it super easy to preview your own footage.
Pros: Advanced video capturing capabilities, waterproof, smooth footage, easy playback.
Cons: Does not have voice control features of the HERO7 model.
Buy: GoPro HERO6 Action Camera
4. GoPro HERO Session
Waterproof, compact and able to shoot stunning 1080P video, the GoPro HERO Session is perfect for anyone who wants a tiny camera that can capture big action.
Pros: Easily download your videos and images straight to your phone thanks to the Session’s WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Shoot time-lapse and burst images, film professional quality videos with 100 frames per second, mount the Sessions to just about anything, and control video and photo recording with the simple push of a button.
Cons: The Session doesn’t have a screen that allows for in-camera editing. It also doesn’t have the same level of stabilization and the HERO4 and HERO5 or voice activation.
5. GoPro HERO5
Capture professional-grade 4K video and 12MP photos in three modes with the waterproof and durable GoPro HERO5.
Pros: An upgraded version of the GoPro HERO4, the HERO5 has voice control, video stabilization, a 2-inch display screen that allows you to preview and trim videos, the QuikStories function, which uploads content to your phone and edits it, and 12MP photos that can be shot in single, burst and time-lapse form.
Cons: The HERO5 is the most expensive GoPro on our list. Some customers also found that the footage can look grainy in low lighting.
6. GoPro HERO4
Featuring best in class image quality and shooting in HD 4K for professional quality videos, the GoPro HERO4 has a processor that is two times more powerful than its predecessors.
Pros: The GoPro HERO4 lacks some of the features of the HERO5, but that means a smaller price and physical size. The HERO4 isn’t waterproof, but can be made waterproof with a case, although it does add bulk and will be bigger than the HERO5. The HERO4 shoots in 1080p video or 720p for slow motion playback. With built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, the HERO4 can directly download to your smartphone or computer. Using Protune with SuperView, the HERO4 captures cinema-quality videos even at night thanks to Night Photo and Night Lapse settings.
Cons: Unlike the HERO5, the HERO4 doesn’t have a 2-inch display that allows for previewing videos.
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