These Helmet Cameras Capture Your Rides and Provide a Little Insurance

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A helmet camera (an action camera that you strap to, yup, your helmet) is a great device for capturing the coolest moments from every ride. These small, lightweight, rugged video recorders can handle all sorts of abuse—an accidental swim, a drop, freezing temperatures, and more. They’re awesome to have on when you’re mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, jet skiing, and parachuting, or just for a ride around the city.

They’re also valuable tools for documenting accidents, since they can provide video evidence for insurance purposes or help unravel how a crash or injury occurred. Similarly, they’re great for training since they can help you understand how you approached an obstacle on a ride after the fact and figure out a better way to tackle that hurdle going forward.

Some action cameras can record in 360-degree format in high enough resolutions to fill a 5K TV with a crisp picture. Others offer varying width formats for everything from panoramic-like views to Instagram-ready recording. To help you figure out which may be the right one for you, we’ve reviewed the best helmet cameras. Find our full thoughts below. But first, some quick info on the top five, plus important aspects to keep in mind as you go about making your decision.

The Best Helmet Cameras

• Best Small Action Camera: Insta360 Go 3

• Best Cube Camera System: DJI Action 2

• Best Image Stabilization: GoPro Hero 12 Black

• Best for Vlogging and Live Streaming: GoPro Max

• Best 4K Action Camera Under $100: Akaso EK7000 Pro 4K

What to Consider

The five most important things to take into account when buying a helmet camera are video quality, battery life, storage capacity, app integration and editing, and accessories. Any great action camera—even a budget model—should record in at least 1080p. Some of the newer, high-end cams can record 6K video. Also, when considering video quality and capabilities, you’ll want to note the frame rate. Higher frame-per-second (FPS) rates mean a camera can shoot better, buttery smooth slow-motion shots.

Finally, for better video quality, look for a model with image-stabilization technology. Better image stabilization is the difference between a video that can make you motion sick and one that looks like it was shot by a professional with an auto-adjusting gimbal.

Battery Life

Most great helmet cameras have batteries that can last for shooting up to 2 hours of video. How much video a battery can handle also depends on the resolution at which it’s shooting. Higher resolution recordings tend to eat up more energy. Thankfully, most action cameras have replaceable, rechargeable batteries, so you can extend your shooting time by swapping in a fresh one. However, most use proprietary batteries, meaning you’ll have to buy the company’s model. If you only need the action camera for shorter shoots, this shouldn’t be a problem. But if you’re filming 6 or more hours of video, you’ll likely need three batteries.

Data Storage

The higher the resolution of the footage, the more data storage you need—and the device has to transfer it fast. Thankfully most cameras use replaceable mini SD cards and can transfer data at well over 100 megabytes per second. But you’ll want to make sure the SD cards you buy are compatible with your device. You’ll have to consult the owner’s manual to determine this. We recommend the SanDisk Extreme Series (including the Plus and Pro) line of cards, which is easy to find in most stores and offers a good value for the speed at which they can transfer data.

Connectivity Options

Most helmet cameras have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone/smartwatch apps that allow you to start, stop, and control settings from your devices. Some have remote controls you can mount on a handlebar or elsewhere on your body or bike, and even voice control. Options like these are important for when the cam is attached to your helmet or bike frame, or anywhere you can’t easily access the buttons.

A screen—especially a touchscreen—is a nice feature as well if you want to review your shots while in the field, like when you’re sessioning a jump or parts of a terrain park. GPS is another nice feature to have but isn’t necessary since many riders also track their adventures with cycle computers or apps.

Durability

As the name suggests, an action camera should be able to withstand a beating or being dropped in a puddle. Most have some degree of waterproofing, but you can also house it in a waterproof case if you plan to use yours while swimming or diving. Similarly, you don’t want to damage or scratch the lens or lenses on a 360 action camera—as such, many companies offer lens protectors.

Accessories

A good action camera is mountable in a variety of positions. Some companies, like GoPro and Insta360, offer curated bundles for sports like cycling. These will include helmet mounts, chin mounts, and frame mounts—you could have a camera on your frame focused on your pedal strokes if you wanted, or looking up from your handlebar at your chest. Both are great views for trainers and coaches to watch. Other accessories can make your camera fully waterproof for surfing, snorkeling, or fishing. The opportunities for accessories and mounting your helmet camera are as wide as your imagination at this point. For instance, there are now accessories that allow you to mount a camera to your chest or a backpack strap, a chin guard on a downhill mountain bike helmet, or even a mount to hold the camera in your mouth.

Apps

The accompanying apps for action cams—like GoPro’s, Insta360’s, and DJI’s—not only function as remote controls for the cameras, they’re also video editors. Cutting video, especially 360 video, is daunting on its own unless you have a lot of experience with professional video editors like Final Cut. But the apps for your smart devices and computers use a lot of AI to help you sort through the video. They can help you pick the best shots, select the best orientation in a 360 video, and even automatically cut clips from a longer video, adding in scene transitions and other effects. As of early 2024, we’d dare to say that Insta360’s app is easier to use and the most effective at cutting video and posting directly to social media channels.

How We Selected

I’ve been recording our adventures and misadventures (like smacking into tree branches) while mountain biking, hiking, and on the slopes for years now. I have also written about action and helmet cameras for other publications, like Treeline Review. When considering which cameras make for the best helmet cameras, I thought about how I’ve used action cameras in the past and what makes for the best features. This included considering whether a camera has multiple shooting modes, framing ratios (including 16:9—like a smartphone image—and wide angle or even 360 degrees like the Insta360 X3), and specialized modes like slow motion and speed-burst.

I also considered high frame rates, which makes editing in slo-mo shots easier, like the 240 FPS rate boasted by the GoPro Hero 12 Black, as well as high resolution. Whether or not the camera provider has a good app editing ecosystem—as do Insta360, GoPro and DJI—also factored in. These smart device apps allow for remote-control and editing on the fly. I also looked at whether you’d need to resort to an external video editor, as with the Sony DCS-RX0 II, which has different benefits for advanced video editors.

There are some other high-end models and new models I haven’t had a chance to test personally, like the Insta360 Ace Pro with a larger, 1.3-inch image sensor or Insta360’s latest, the X4 (which launched on April 16) with 8K, 360-degree recording. I also weeded out some lesser models that had short battery life, lower frame rates, poor or no image stabilization, or an app ecosystem that was harder to use or share from, like an Oclu action camera I tested years ago.

These selections on our experiences with the best ones we’ve used, as well as the action cameras we see the most in the wild and hear the best feedback from our fellow outdoor adventurer friends. We also consulted recent reviews of helmet cameras from other sources, like Popular Mechanics, and considered cameras with a wide range of prices and applications.

Hero12 Black Helmet Camera

GoPro is the OG of modern action cameras. The Hero 12 is its newest flagship with some refinements over the Hero 11, including an updated image-stabilization package and a lens mod that allows it to shoot with a field of view of up to 177 degrees—one of the widest in the business that isn’t a 360-degree camera.

The Hero 12 has a front screen and a rear touchscreen. It can take still photos at 27 megapixels or stills from movies at 24.7 megapixels. It can also livestream at 1080p and uploads directly to the cloud. Its Hindsight feature captures up to 30 seconds prior to hitting record, which is great for catching bad drivers and easily missed moments.

Go 3 Helmet Camera

The Insta360 Go 3 is currently one of the smallest action cameras available. It can mount via a bracket to a helmet and also mounts to various surfaces via magnets. It’s smaller than most headlamps and light enough that even a cat can wear it without noticing it. The camera shoots up to 2.7K video and has image stabilization and voice-control among other features.

It’s an upgrade from the Go 2 with higher video resolution and its removable case now has a bigger battery and a flippable touchscreen that also acts as a stand, charger, and basic remote control. You can access more functions through the app, which also serves as a video editor for the camera.

Action 2 Helmet Camera

This action cam from DJI, well-known for its camera drones, has a relatively unique form: It’s modular. The camera cube module itself has 120 GBs of onboard storage, a touchscreen, and a battery that can last for 70 minutes. The second cube is a battery that extends its runtime to up to 180 minutes. One version of the second cube is a battery unit itself, another has a front-facing screen as well as a battery. Both have expandable SD card slots.

The cubes connect via magnets and lock together with clips, keeping the device waterproof down to 10 meters. In addition to connecting to other modules by magnet, the Action 2 also has magnets to connects to mounts, like a lanyard or helmet bracket.

EK7000 Pro 4K Helmet Camera

The EK7000 Pro is a capable helmet camera with a rear-facing touchscreen that can shoot in 4K while still costing less than $100. The action camera has image stabilization and, while it isn’t waterproof itself, it does come with a case that’s waterproof down to 40 meters.

For its price, Akaso brings in a great variety of advanced features, but it won’t deliver the same experience as some of the other cameras on this list.

Max Helmet Camera

The GoPro Max is markedly different than the brand’s Hero line, shooting in 360 degrees and recording 360-degree sound, as well. This will add a unique perspective the next time you’re on a mountain bike while being, say, chased by a grizzly bear, like this poor guy.

The camera also features GoPro’s great image stabilization, which makes looking around in 360 degrees much easier and less jarring for viewers. Plus, users can livestream stabilized video in up to 1080p.

DSC-RX0 II Helmet Camera

It’s insane to think that something smaller than a spare inner tube can record up to 1,000 FPS. But that’s what this professional-quality camera offers. The DSC-RXO II also has one of the largest sensors in an action camera, which makes it great for recording in low-light conditions. The camera also has a Zeiss lens and flip-up screen.

It’s also the most expensive action camera on this list and has some of the most complicated controls, as it’s geared more toward professionals than consumers.

Hero 9 Helmet Camera

The Hero 9 is a more affordable GoPro that still delivers high-end performance for cycling and other activities. It has a rear-facing touchscreen and a front-facing color screen. The camera is controllable via the app and through voice, so you don’t have to take off your helmet to change settings or start recording.

The camera can record up to 240 FPS, giving it 8x slow-motion capabilities to show off that epic Superman trick your buddy did at the bike park.

X3 Helmet Camera

The Insta360 X3 is a great 360-degree action camera that’s easy to use. And the editing tools in the smart device and computer apps make it easy to cut videos, add visual and audio effects, and post footage to social media.

Insta360 also introduced one of the most robust accessory markets we’ve seen, with packages designed for biking and mountain biking, snow sports, and more. We also love that Insta360’s software automatically detects and deletes its selfie sticks and other mounting hardware, giving you a hover-like view however you mount the camera.

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