Action cams
RUNNING
1 DJI ACTION 2
Running action cameras have to be as unobtrusive and light as possible, which is where the DJI Action 2 comes into its own. Weighing in at a featherlight 56g, and with an ingenious magnetic mount that’ll grip onto any lightweight running t-shirt or top, the DJI Action 2 is ready for whatever run you’re planning, from road to trail and beyond. Capturing at up to 4K@120fps, it’ll run for around 70 minutes too, so ideal for up-to-10K distances, unless you’re a super-fit pro athlete. And the ultra-wide 155-degree field of view will make sure no detail of whatever scenery you pass on your way is missed either. £349, dji.com
DIVING/SNORKELLING
2 GOPRO HERO 9
Just like its big brother, the GoPro HERO 9 Black is waterproof to 10m as standard, which is more than enough for surface snorkelling trips. However, for deeper waters you’ll be needing the £55 waterproof housing accessory, which will see you right till 60m – far deeper than you’ll probably go. There are many mounting options, many with large, dive-specific handles, and don’t forget a lanyard with clip for those boatladder balancing moments. The HERO 9 can also capture 5K video + 20 megapixel photos, and the auto white balance is a vital asset in darker waters.
£529.98, gopro.com
SKATING
3 DJI POCKET 2
If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate skater selfie-machine, then the DJI Pocket 2 has you covered. Tiny but perfectly formed, the killer feature of this little gem is the three-axis gimbal that’ll stabilise even the grittiest urban concrete pathways and byways. An added bonus is the ActiveTrack that’ll lock onto faces and keep them in frame – by physically moving the lens – unlike comparable software fixes. A two-hour plus runtime is more than enough for multiple takes and tricks, while the final benefit of this little 4K Ultra HD/60fps camera is the AI editing tool, which takes all the pain out of chopping up clips. £339, dji.com
KAYAKING
1 GOPRO HERO 10 BLACK
The GoPro HERO 10 Black is not only an excellent action camera, it’s also a great fit for kayaking because it’s waterproof to 10m right out of the box. There are also vast arrays of aftermarket GoPro mounts available, from clamps to fit one to your paddle, pads to fit to the boat, or helmet mounts, depending on which POV best suits the action sequence you want to capture. Once attached, the GoPro HERO 10 Black will effortlessly produce industryleading video quality (up to 5.3K@60fps or 4K@120fps), and coupled with top-notch stabilisation, it’ll be a pleasure to watch too. £529.98, gopro.com
ROAD CYCLING
2 AKASO BRAVE 8 Although most decent-quality action cameras are perfectly good for a road biking trip, they often need new mounts, or have to be strapped to a helmet, which doesn’t guarantee the footage will necessarily be good. The Akaso Brave 8 swerves this problem by supplying a handlebar mount as standard, as well as a variety of other useful accessories, including a rather nifty dual battery charger. With good stabilisation, 16x slo-mo and knocking out 4K 60fps video and 48M photos, the call of the open road can now be answered – and captured for later social media bragging. £239.99, akasotech.com
BMX
3 INSTA360 ONE RS
The Insta360 One RS Twin edition has several tricks up its sleeve that make it an excellent choice for big air moments on the track. Most obvious is the 360 POV lens module, which can achieve a resolution of 5.7k@30fps but that can be switched for the new 4K Boost Lens in a jiffy, letting you capture just over 6K in 6K Widescreen Mode. A new, heat-dissipating quick-release case allows for fast battery or lens changes – both easy to do in gloves thanks to the large modular design. And the new-and-improved in-camera stabilisation is just the job to smooth out the minor bumps and wobbles. £499.99, insta360.com