Welcome to ThinkVail – shop our list of the best helmet action cameras featuring GoPro, AKASO, Sony,Y1, SJCAM, Velocity Clip and more.
When you hit the slopes of Vail, Colorado, you will want to to capture your epic descent down Genghis Khan in the Back Bowls, your crazy tricks in the terrain park, or your kiddo’s first gondola ride up the bunny slope. Here’s a list of this year’s best helmet action cameras for skiing and snowboarding.
Action cameras are amazing, they make your photos and videos come alive – and lets you share it with friends and family so they can see you as you ski down a mountain or make huge carving turns in deep powder in the backcountry.
In addition, most action cameras have a wider lens so you can get more width to your images. These cameras are so slick and cool and because they are mounted on your ski helmet, your hands are free and you don’t have to worry about the camera, it’s just there, recording the perfect family vacation. In this GoPro generation, this is the way to go!
See Also: Year’s Best Ski Helmets
There are a lot of choices out there and it can be a little intimidating talking to the guys behind the counter about these kinds of cameras so here’s what’s important in a great helmet action camera.
This is key on action cameras, currently most cameras shoot in awesome 4K, which offers faster frame rates and super-smooth video footage. 4k cameras are Ultra HD which means they do not pixelate at higher resolutions and can be displayed on digital television, smartphones, tablets and computers and even digital cinematography. This is what you want if you want really good video quality.
OK Vail, Colorado gets snow, a lot of snow, like 375 inches annually. All this snow means a lot of water in your hair, down your jacket and on your camera. Your camera needs to stay dry in a spring blizzard or a huge powder dump without failing. Having a water-proof camera or at least a waterproof mounting box insures your camera stays safe and dry.
This is sooooo important nobody wants to be missing runs or getting left behind because they are fiddling with their camera. Action cameras need to be simple and easy to use.
This is a no-brainer, you will be wearing this thing on your head, maybe all day, it needs to be light so it doesn’t push your balance off while skiing and snowboarding or give you a headache by the end of the day.
You want to be able to securely fasten the camera to your helmet so it doesn’t fall off into the deep snow where you won’t find it again till summer. Also you want the camera to stay where you position it so you always know what the camera is filming.
If you don’t have WiFi or Bluetooth the SD card will need to be removed and then a card reader is used to export photos and videos to your phone or computer. This is just a pain in the butt, especially when you are traveling.
You will need a SD Memory card, you will need to download an app to make the camera work, make sure you have a helmet mount that holds the camera securely, adhesive tape usually works fine but it is not as reliable as a strap.
GoPro is the long-standing leader of the action camera industry, heck, they pioneered the industry. This model offers lots of features to make capturing your adventures fun and easy.
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If you are looking for a good-quality, straight-forward, water-proof, affordable, action camera that is very easy to use, has WIFI and is PERFECT for beginners then this is the camera for you.
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This camera is VOICE ACTIVATED and is programmed to automatically take a photo, shoot burst, begin recording, stop recording, or turn off. Super convenient camera and camcorder with a lot of very good extra features.
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Sony has been making incredible cameras for decades so they are a name you can trust, especially when it comes to high-quality action cams. However, you will need to buy a helmet mount separately for it to work on your ski helmet.
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SJCAM uses the best quality components and pays attention to detail because that’s essential to making a quality action camera. And that’s exactly what this is, a powerful, quality camera in a small, convenient package. Put it on your ski helmet and you are ready to capture your adventure.
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Turn your own smartphone into action camera and you will save a lot of money and frustration. This is great for the person who wants to see if they are even interested in action video without spending a lot of money.
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Helmet action cameras capture your amazing adventures while on the ski mountain or any outdoor activity. All of these cameras will ensure you capture and keep these once-in-a-lifetime memories and share them with friends and family.
See Also: Navigating Vail Ski Mountain
We hope you enjoyed this article about the year’s best helmet action cameras. Which is your favorite action helmet camera. What do you like to do most with your camera? What’s your favorite brand of action camera and why? What’s your must-have feature for an action camera? Please leave a comment with any feedback, reviews, or experiences you have had with any helmet action camera, we’d love to hear it! Thanks for reading.
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Related Articles: Best Ski Helmets
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View Comments
I am amazed at how the options have increased and the prices have decreased over the years. I have always thought these types of cameras out of my budget range. Have you heard of WIFI memory cards? I have an EyeFi Card in my camera. It adds WIFI capability to any camera that uses SD cards. I love mine and it could open up the ability to look at other cameras that don't have WIFI but have great features otherwise. Great selections on this list. I will have to bookmark it.
Hi Maryanne,
Thank you for the comment and yes these awesome action cameras are now available in most everyone's budget. No, I had not heard of the EyeFi Card, but that does sound very cool and could offer more options. A usual complaint is the the SD Cards are not read by an action camera I wonder if these WIFI memory cards are easier for the camera to read? I will need to do a little research and find out more. Thanks so much for the intel.
I always just thought of GoPro when I think of these types of action cameras. I didn't realize there were so many other options. I like the one with voice control! Thanks for so many options and for explaining all the differences. I also think it would be fun to put one on my dog :-)
Hi Lynne,
Thanks for your response. Yes the YI Voice Control Action Camera is really pretty cool. It makes operating the camera especially with gloves and ski poles super easy. I can't imagine that my dog would let me put a camera on him, he'd spend all day just trying to get it off, but it might be fun footage to watch!
Nice article.
As another stated, GoPro usually comes to mind when I think of these. I have been wanting to get one and with the holidays coming up, I can point the family in the right direction. I quite like the variety out there and might consider another brand.
Hi Brandon, yes there is a lot of variety out there now in Helmet Action Cameras. Although GoPro is the industry leader there are a lot of really good cameras out there with a much more affordable price tag!
Great article about helmet action cams. I am in the market for something like a GoPro and it's nice to see that options for a decent cam that isn't outrageously expensive are getting better. I was pretty surprised with the quality of video from the SJCam and I like that you have the option to turn off fisheye.
Hi Tricia,
So happy this post about the best helmet action cameras was helpful for you. Yes, the SJCam is an amazing camera with lots of features and even though it is amazingly small it deliver some great high definition video and stills. Enjoy the SJCam it will capture your adventures beautifully.