Using your action camera while hiking

  When you are out hiking, you sometimes want to hold on to memories of the landscapes you have seen, the shared moments with loved ones… But carrying a camera or a photo device can quickly become cumbersome. The solution is the action camera: small and versatile, it can be mounted virtually anywhere and is incredibly practical for filming intense activities. The first-person footage looks great and gives you the feeling, when watching it back, of reliving your memories.

While action cameras are popular among water sports and mountain enthusiasts, hikers can make great use of them too. A tricky passage, distant wildlife, or a break by a river bank, for example, can all be moments you want to capture and share with loved ones afterwards. And as some YouTubers already do, these videos can also be shared with a wider audience on social media to showcase hiking routes worth exploring.

From GoPro to more affordable models

The GoPro is the benchmark in action cameras. But at over £500 for the latest version, it is not always an affordable purchase. In specialist technology or sports accessory shops, you will find many other brands that have developed similar action camera models at more accessible price points.

The price difference then comes down to the options chosen: waterproof, Wi-Fi enabled, photo mode, screen, battery life… For a year-round hiker, it is important to make sure your camera is waterproof. In rain or heavy snow, a protective casing will be welcome to protect the equipment while continuing to capture the moment. To share footage quickly, track your location, or record your altitude, some action cameras come with built-in Wi-Fi.

Using accessories to move freely

Whatever action camera model you choose, the advantage is that you can mount them almost anywhere to vary your shots and keep your hands free. On a helmet, on your wrist, on a chest harness, on the end of a pole… A whole range of accessories exists for these small cameras. It is also important to research the available accessories before purchasing a camera.

Filming routes to inspire others

Some YouTubers, such as Randorama74, film their hikes with action cameras to offer a more visual presentation of routes. It can sometimes be difficult to assess the difficulty of a hike from a website, a brochure, or a book — whereas in video format you can much more easily see what lies ahead. Beyond the educational aspect of this type of content, filming and sharing your hike can also give others ideas for hiking routes.