10 Best Cycling Action Cameras [GoPro & More] For Adventures
/Getting your storytelling or POV (point of view) footage in when you’re cycling halfway through the world may be left untold when you don’t have the best cycling camera.
I started with photography but soon realised that these stories are left unfinished as I wasn’t able to capture the true essence of cycling on a bike as I passed through towns, landscapes and endless horizons.
Storytelling has changed massively in recent years, and it’s no longer just about capturing footage but about taking along people (or whoever your audience is) on a journey to see things from a different lens!
With HD, inbuilt stabilisation and longer battery life, the latest cycling action camera is no longer just a GoPro but there are new cycling camera brands out there that are consistently pushing the arc.
There’s Insta360, DJI, SJCAM built for action cameras, dashcam or just plain commuting. I have used the GoPro on my bicycle touring trips but since then there are tons of valued and quality action that have entered the market.
Here are the best review cycling cameras or action camera for all your cycling adventures.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. I only provide unbiased and completely honest recommendations. Read more about the site’s privacy policy.
Also Read: Best Smartwatch For Cycling & All Day Riding
Best Cycling Cameras in 2024 That’s Worth Your Budget
1. GoPro Hero 10
If you are talking about the best action camera in the market, GoPro comes up at the top of the list — you’re not only paying for the brand and its features, but the experiences and shared community and range of accessories that come with their kit.
The GoPro Hero 10 is its latest model and its known for how fast, responsive and smoother it is compared to its predecessors. You’re paying for a powerful new GP2 engine making it double the frame rate for rock-solid smooth footage.
It is no longer just about 4k, but the fact that you can go up to 5.3K is a nice to have quality if you’re crazy about pixels. Most people often stick to 4K/30 or 4K/60 to stretch the battery life.
If you’re all about user interface and want things supper snappy from live preview to transferring videos, the upgrade from your previous GoPro models may be worth it.
Pros:
Extremely fast
Captures longer stationary shots
Live streaming option
Professional quality
Better audio
Cons
Overheating
Fast battery drain out
2. GoPro Hero 9
Still hits the checkboxes as one of the best GoPro out there, the GoPro Hero 9 has 5k, in-built stabilisation (perfect for cyclists), the built-in software is way more put together than previous gopros
The built in software is much more polished than previous GoPros! The best part about it is that it has a front display + rear touch screen making it way easier for framing and intuitive camera control. The screen works well and makes it much easier to take selfies or film yourself!
The Hypersmooth keeps getting better and better, you can count on this GoPro to have the best-advanced video stabilisation ever. Also, the fact that you can record timelapse scenes as you move or anywhere else is pretty amazing.
This tough as nails GoPro is great for rugged terrain, especially if you’re out and about in the gnarliest conditions making it super ideal for cyclists on your adventures!
Pros:
Improved battery life
More stability
Built-in features are great
Liveburst option
Cons
Old batteries are incompatible
3. GoPro Hero 8
Obviously not the latest entry model for the GoPro series, but still a value-for-money action cam with all the right features, including an in-built microphone.
The 4K video is pretty good and HyperSmooth stabilization works well on the Hero 8. With 3 levels of stabilisation, from — On, High and Boost — you can pick the best option for whatever you do.
It has got all the workings of the main model and has much more vibrant and crisp footage. It's less noisy and the clarity is much much higher compared to the Hero 7.
The battery life is even decent and could go on for about about 60-70 minutes of recording time with the highest-quality settings.
Pros:
Streamlined design
Image stabilisation
Audio built-in
Waterproof features without any casing required
Cons
Firmware issue - gets frozen
Overall built may look plasticky
4. DJI Osmo Action
The DJI Osmo Action made a big impact when it was released in 2019 and for all the right reasons, it looks similar to GoPro, has that front-facing feature which wasn’t possible in the earlier entry models of GoPro.
It can even shoot video at resolutions up to 4K60 and 1080p240 and for photos its goes up to 12MP in both JPG and RAW formats.
The image quality is more DSLR like and the shooting options are limitless and you can still use every GoPro mount out in the market.
For this price point, you get all that you need an action cam that doesn’t skimp on quality. The RockSteady technology combines EIS with complex algorithms, delivering stable, shake-free footage no matter how heavy the action gets.
Osmo Action is also waterproof at depths of up to 11 meters, making it quite the versatile machine out there!
Pros:
Front-facing camera
Ability to use GoPro mounts
Waterproof with no casing needed
High quality image and footage
Cons
No live-streaming
Lack of GPS
Cumbersome installation
5. Insta 360 One R Twin Edition
If you despise fiddling with another action cam, and want to cover an all-rounder 360 footage, the Insta 360 One R Twin edition works to your advantage.
It is a great option for those 360 degree footage when you’re cycling and want different kind of angles. It transforms on the fly from a 360-degree camera to a wide-angle 4K 60fps action camera, all you need to do is swap out the lenses.
FlowState also helps you achieve gimbal-like stabilization without the gimbal due to their new scene-detection algorithm, your footage stays clear and steady even in low light.
Their app makes it easier to edit on the go. It does all the stabilizing and can also motion blur the footage for a quick edit on the phone.
Pros:
360 degree functionality
Shoot in 5.7k
Great stabilisation
Colour grading
Cons
Can’t use other editing apps
Battery life
6. SJCAM C200
The SJCAM C200 is a nice GoPro alternative for long travel episodes and vlogs involving cycling adventures.
It is designed as an easy-to-use, portable camera that shoots 4K video and is able to capture smooth footage up to 4K/24FPS resolution no matter how intense the movement is
It is also a great documenting camera as the C200 can recognize faces in any scene, and take photos automatically when set. You don’t have to fiddle with a lot of buttons to achieve that.
The cherry on top of everything is that you get a whole bunch of accessories in the forms of mounts that’s pretty useful. The added bonus of it being waterproof for this particular price point is a huge steal!
Pros:
Great pricepoint
Waterproof
Ultra wide angle
Variety of accessories
Cons
Not entirely 4k
Lower FPS rate when recording in 4K
7. Akaso Bravo 7 LE
A Chinese company, Akaso that makes GoPro lookalikes for half the price. Sometimes we don’t need all the workings of an expensive machine if you’re starting out with vlogging and capturing adventures, an entry-level will do.
The camera is able to shoot 4K30 video and take 20MP photos. The action cam is also equipped with improved 6-axis EIS to provide gimbal-like stabilization.
Their professional functions are limitless — there’s the digital zoom function and various shooting modes, such as time-lapse, burst photo and fast motion.
It’s also waterproof so the IPX7 water-resistant design can protect the action camera from rain, snow and water splashing. There’s also accessories for mounting the camera, the dive housing, the second battery and the wristband remote all at that price.
Pros:
Great quality for the cost
Waterproof
Variety of accessories
Cons
Software bugs
Lower FPS rate when recording in 4K
8. Dragon Touch 4K
A spare camera for those throwaway action cam episodes that has no fancy frills could actually be beneficial - the Dragon Touch 4K is exactly that.
Don’t expect the best in stellar quality, but just another action cam to record your short cycling trips. The recording time is 1080P for about 90 mins and 4K/2K/about 60 mins.
The action camera features multiple functions including driving mode, image rotation, time-lapse, loop recording, slow motion, dramashot, exposure and white balance.
Pros:
Remote control
Waterproof
Cons
Poor battery life
4k recording available at only 30fps
9. COOAU 4K Camera
A cool alternative to the other "legacy brands” out there. The COOAU 4K has some raved reviews for those looking for an action cam that captures quality videos.
With the highest native 4K 60FPS & 20MP resolution, the COOAU can capture videos or photos with richer details realised by the advanced SONY sensor, intelligent chip and 7 layers of optical glass lens.
Just turn on the electronic image stabilization (EIS) for shake-free and super smooth videos.
There’s also rechargeable high capacity 1350mAh batteries that provide longer recording time and life span than other cameras. The remote control enables you to control the helmet camera without having to hold it.
The COOAU 4k Camera also comes with a whole load of accessories such as an external microphone, bike mount, bike helmet mount, and more.
Pros:
Affordable price
Accessories
Battery life
Audio quality
Cons
Slightly shaky
Wifi connection
10. REMALI CaptureCam
If you’re looking for value and a good-rated camera on Amazon stores, the REMALI CaptureCam delivers in all departments for your bike adventures.
The CaptureCam has the functionality and versatility to capture them all in crystal clear 4K, 2K, 1080P or 720P HD. the lightweight yet sturdy body when in its protective case is great for rough offroad terrain or even mountain biking adventures.
You can also conveniently capture all the action from over 30 ft. away by using your remote control. The remote also comes with a practical wrist band strap that allows you to wear it on your wrist so you can shoot your cycling adventures from afar.
Pros:
Affordable price
Accessories
Waterproof
Extra batteries
Cons
LCD screen
Camera quality could improve
How To Choose The Best Cycling Camera/Action Camera
How to choose the best cycling camera or action camera
1. Battery Life
It goes without saying that battery life is one of the most important criteria when choosing a camera. If you’re on month-long trips, you do not want to keep charging your camera (that happened to me in Central Asia).
This is important for bike touring trips where charging devices on the go can be tough.
2. Image Stabilisation
Image stabilisation is one of the most important features in any action camera. You want to make sure that all action cameras are Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) enabled which helps improve shaky video by maintaining a consistent framing between multiple video frames.
3. Video and Photo Quality
There’s a lot of action cameras out there offering sub-par quality and promising 4k videos, the most basic thing to know is that your chosen action camera should have a minimum of 1080p video quality.
Another thing is to consider higher frame rates to allow for more freedom to control your footage when editing videos. Choose one that has 30 fps at the very minimum.
4. Wide field of view
You want to capture views that cover everything on your adventures. It is possible to get a good wide field of view with today’s action cameras. At the very basic, a 170-degree view is great but if you want to push it further, the best would be a 360-degree view.
Also Read:
Got a favourite? Share with me in the comments below on your favourite cycling camera!
