Best buys · The fun stuff

The best action camera worth buying

Our pick is the GoPro HERO. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The action camera

GoPro HERO

Waterproof without a case, mounts on a helmet, a handlebar or a dog, and the stabilization makes a rough trail look like a smooth shot.

Buy it for
Bikes, boards, water, and filming the kids without holding a phone.
Skip it if
It will mostly film birthday parties. Your phone already does that.

What actually matters when buying an action camera

  1. Stabilization. It decides whether the footage is watchable.
  2. Waterproofing without a separate housing.
  3. Mounts for what you do. The mount ecosystem is half the reason to choose a camera.

Either side of the pick