Action cameras are up for any outdoor activity. These rugged waterproof camcorders can accompany you to places you wouldn’t dare take a smartphone including up a ski slope, on the water, or attached to your bike. While they are there, they can capture fantastic quality 4K footage with built-in image stabilization helping smooth out the bumps and waterproofing (often with a separate case) to keep them running whatever the environment or elements throw in their lens.
When you’re skiing and have the cam on your helmet or similar you don’t want to be trying to find the ‘on’ button so action cams will have remote controls to start and stop recording or, in the case of Go Pro, cool voice activation features. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
GoPro Camera Hero 7 Silver
Tough, intuitive and fun to use
GoPro is still the action cam to beat and this entry-level model is a great performer. It’s rugged and waterproof with no need of a case and has an intuitive touchscreen that makes capturing great video a cinch. You get 4K 30fps video and 10mp photos which you can take with voice commands or the photo timer.
Dragon Touch 4K Action Camera
Lots of camera for not much cash
This versatile 4K action cam has good specs for the money with 4K/30FPS, 2.7K/30fps,1080P/60FPS video and 16MP photos. The wireless wrist remote lets you operate the camera within a 33ft range and the waterproof case is good down to 100ft. It comes with lots of accessories including two rechargeable batteries adding even more value.
AKASO EK7000 4K WiFi Sports Action Camera
Everything you’d expect and long battery life
Akaso has packed a lot into their 4K action camera. It offers 4K 25fps and 2.7K 30fps video with 12MP photos at up to 30 frames per second. There’s a wireless wrist remote and built-in wifi so you can connect to the app. As well as the waterproof case, good to 100ft, the two batteries will each last up to 90 minutes - enough action for anyone.
APEMAN A87 Action Camera
Impressive specs for the price
The latest model of Apeman’s action camera promises an impressive 4K at 60FPS and an 8× zoom lens. Six pro modes let you tweak for the conditions or you can select automatic on the 2-inch touchscreen display. Electronic and gyro stabilization will keep shots steady even in the waterproof case. It comes with two batteries and accessories in a carrying case.
Bottom line
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Action cameras are great to bring along on any trip outdoors. They come into their own by being able to go where most cameras and smartphones shouldn’t - where it’s wet, icy, muddy or bumpy which takes in everything from skiing to biking and climbing to boating. That said, they’re welcome on more sedate walks and camping trips too where you don’t have to worry about breaking them. You can often capture video from unique perspectives too, whether it’s attached to your kayak or the dog’s collar. The action camera we would recommend for most people who want to get involved with this exciting way of preserving memories from amazing experiences in the outdoors would be the GoPro Camera Hero 7 Silver. GoPro invented the whole concept and are still the brand to beat when it comes to offering a tough, waterproof camera that’s easy to use and downright fun to have around.
If you want to spend less money, the Apeman A87 is a good budget option. It has impressive specs, good stabilization and comes with all the accessories you need to start on your action cam odyssey.
