The 12 Best Cycling Camera – Helmet or Handlebar – Cheap/Top/360

The Best Cameras for Cycling Compared: from cheap to top.
Where to mount a bike cam (handlebar, helmet, & more…), how to choose an action cam, and some 360 models

So what is the best camera for cycling? Is there a product that can claim to be the best bike action cam? Let’s see what we find out for the year 2023.

Recently action cameras have turned into the staple of mountain biking, many bicycle tourers and bikepackers went intensively into vlogging, and even road cyclists are starting to use action cams, especially cycling safety cams.

You rarely see a single rider who doesn’t have one of these strapped on his/her helmet or on the handlebars (or chest, or… we’ll see).

Due to this huge and ever-growing demand, there are many manufacturers who have introduced new action cameras on the market. GoPro is a world-renowned brand, but are still GoPro the best bicycle cameras?

There are many others like Sony, Garmin, and Olympus which are coming out with impressive stuff. And then a plethora of cheap Chinese brands that are getting better and better. 

We put together a list of the best action cameras (in our opinion) for cycling. Several of these we tried ourselves in our numerous touring and bikepacking trips, while for others we relied on reviews from friends and online. Read on to find the one to capture the most thrilling moments of your biking life. 

12 Best Cycling Cameras in a Nutshell

• AKASO V50 Camera – Best Budget Helmet Cam 
• VEMONT Action Camera 1080P 12MP Sports  – Best Cheap Dash Camera for Cycling  
• APEMAN A80 Camera – Best Budget Lightweight Camera
• GoPro Hero 11 Camera – Best GoPro for Cycling
• GoPro Hero 8 Camera – Best GoPro for the Money  
• Sony FDRX3000 Camera – Best Cam for Cycling in the Rain
• Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 – Best Bike Camera for Vlogging
• DJI Osmo-Action Camera– Best MTB Camera
• Olympus TG-Tracker Camera – Best Cam to Track your Bike Rides
• Fly12 CYCLIQ Action Camera – Best for Cycling Safety Camera  
• Garmin VIRB-360 Camera – Best 360 Bike Cam for Wet Weather
• GoPro MAX Action Camera – Best for Live Streaming  

Best Bike Cams – Comparison Chart

Products	Megapixels	Max. Resolution	Sensors	Waterproof Depth	Battery	Price Tag
AKASO V50 Camera	20	4K/30-fps	WiFi GPS NO	30-meter	Two-1100mAh	$$
VEMONT Action Camera 1080P 12MP Sports	12	1080P/30-fps	WiFi GPS NO	30-meter	Two-1050mAh	$
COOAU Native 4K	20	4K/24-fps	WiFi GPS NO	40-meters	Two-1050mAh	$
GoPro Hero 10 Camera	23	5.3K/60fps 1080P/240-fps	WiFi GPS	60-meter	One- Lithium-Ion	$$$
GoPro Hero 8 Camera	12	2.7K/60fps 1080P/240-fps	WiFi GPS	60-meter	One- Lithium-Ion	$$
Sony FDRX3000 Camera	12	4K/10-fps	WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC GPS	60-meter	One-NP-BX1	$$$
Olympus TG-Tracker Camera	12	4K/30-fps	WiFi GPS Compass Altimeter	30-meter	One- Lithium-Ion	$$
Fly12 CYCLIQ Safety Cam	12	1080p/60fps	WiFi & Bluetooth	01-meter	One-Lithium Metal	$$$
XiaoMi MADV 360	24	4K/30-fps	WiFi GPS	01-meter	One-2600mAh	$$$
Garmin VIRB Ultra 30	16	1080P/120-fps	Bluetooth WiFi GPS	10-meter	One- Lithium-Ion	$$$
Garmin VIRB-360 Camera	15	4K/30-fps	NFC WiFi GPS	10-meter	One-Lithium Polymer	$$$$$
DJI Osmo-Action Camera	12	4K/30-fps	Bluetooth & WiFi	10-meter	One-1300mAh	$$$
GoPro MAX Action Camera	16	55.6K/30-fps	Bluetooth & WiFi	40-meters	One- Lithium-Ion	$$$$

4 Best Cheap Action Camera for Biking

1. AKASO V50 Camera – Best Budget Helmet Cam 

Are you a bike rider and looking for the best helmet camera to record your trips? You don’t want to sell a kidney? We recommend you buy the AKASO V50 action camera, probably the best budget camera for cycling for the specs (20MP and 4K with a 30-fps image).

Akaso is one of the many Chinese tech brands that are coming out like mushrooms after a rainfall. The Chinese though are getting very good at this, we can’t afford to ignore their efforts, especially when they come out with such a cycling action cam like the V50.

Due to the great price-to-quality ratio, the Akaso is also a great gift for travelers of all kinds, not just cyclists.

Sensitive Touch Screen Interface 

The AKASO V50 action camera has an inbuilt 2-inch high-responsive IPS touch screen. You can preview the photos and video, customize settings, and makes shooting easier than before. 

Enhanced EIS 

It is equipped with advanced EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), which gives smooth and steady videos. It ensures a brilliant shooting experience for the price also when riding on bumpy terrain. Maybe not the best for MTB though.

Wireless Control 

The V50 cycling cam features a 2.4 GHz inbuilt WiFi connection so you can connect it to your smartphone through the iSmart Pro plus app. So easy to share your videos and pictures to social media, directly from the cam. 

Pros

• Adjustable viewing angle between wide, super wide, narrow, and medium 
• Comes with two 1100mAh rechargeable and long-lasting batteries
• Features a distortion calibration that improves image distortion
• Durable and offers a waterproof depth is about 30-meter (with included case)

Cons

• Updating firmware is a big issue
• Poor quality in low-light
• Distortion and enhanced EIS can not be used simultaneously
• No audio when used with the case

2. VEMONT Action Camera 1080P 12MP – Best Cheap Camera for Cycling  

For less than 40 bucks, you can’t really expect the best, nevertheless, the design of the Vemont 1080 action camera fulfills your need for several cycling styles. It has a built-in Wi-Fi connection and supports both Android and iOS.   

The full 1080P HD resolution

The combination of 1080P and 12M captures decent-quality videos and pictures easily. Given its low price range, it is a great gift for cycling friends, kids, and more.

 Wide Angle Lens and Image Stabilization

The best feature of the Vemont action camera is its 170-degrees wide-angle lens. Image stabilization is poor when compared to more expensive cameras.

LCD Display and Accessories

It has a large screen LCD display screen, which allows you to view pictures or videos more clearly. Your package comes with eighteen multifunctional accessories. 

Pros

• Comes with dual rechargeable 1050mAh batteries
• Suitable for numerous sports like hiking, cycling, diving, and underwater activities
• Waterproof depth is about 30-meter or 98-feet (with case)
• Equipped with 12M, 1080P, and 30-fps
• Freaking cheap

Cons

• Poor quality of pictures in low light 
• Short-lasting batteries
• Only 2 FoV options 170/150°
• Poor audio (none with case) – no external mic port

3. COOAU Native 4K – Best Lightweight Camera

Are you looking for the best action cameras for cycling that come with a long-lasting battery to record long bikepacking journeys? We recommend you purchase a COOAU Native 4K camera.

This action camera is equipped with dual 1350-mAh batteries that can record up to 1.5 hours at 4K resolution.  

Image Stabilization

COOAU Native 4K camera has an inbuilt smart gyroscope and electronic image stabilization (EIS), which delivers a surprisingly smooth video for the price tag.

Waterproof Performance 

The manufacturer uses an advanced IP68 waterproof case that can bear high-pressure underwater more than 40-meters or 131-feet. Therefore, you are able to explore and memorize the unique and unknown world of underwater, let alone cycling under heavy rain.  

Dash-Cam Mode

Not cycling-related but the COOAU Native 4K camera features a Dash-Cam mode that connects to your car charger. The camera will start recording automatically once the car’s engine started. Furthermore, automatically store files and shutdown with the car’s engine. 

Pros

• Great Image Stabilization
• Comes with 20-MP & max resolution is 4K @ 24-fps
• Equipped with HDMI output and WIFI feature
• Comes with a waterproof case and other multiple accessories
• 4x digital zoom

Cons

• No GPS
• Poor Audio

5 Top Cameras for Cycling – The Very Best

4. GoPro Hero 11 Camera – Best GoPro for Cycling

You can’t mention action cameras without thinking about GoPro. The Hero 11 is the newest flagship from action-camera’s inventors GoPro, an innovative model that comes with quite a few updated features.

With the late 2022’s model Hero 10, GoPro had already made some major changes to its most popular product, namely a front-facing color LCD screen, which finally solves the issue of framing yourself while vlogging, a larger back screen, and the usual improvements in resolution and image stabilization.

When comparing the 2022 Hero 11 vs Hero 10, it mostly goes down to the all-new GP2 processor, which speeds up the user interface, doubles the frame rates, and powers up what is probably the best image stabilization algorithm in the world of action cams. 

The resolution reaches 5.3K up to 60fps (4K video: up to 120fps, 1080P: up to 240fps) with an impressive 24.7MP for stills. Battery life is slightly improved and highly dependent on the use, from 1 to 32hrs estimate, but more so is low-light performance, the Hero 11 gives really satisfying results in dim environments.

The new camera-to-app cable makes it super-quick to transfer content and upload videos and photos to the cloud while the GoPro recharges. 

Since already the Hero 7 era, GoPro’s cutting-edge construction makes them waterproof up to 10m even without a case, so finally eliminating the issue of muffled audio.

The built-in microphone has indeed been improved, even though it is still mono and not comparable to the Sony.

Software controls have been introduced, such as exposure control, protune, touch zoom, and others.

Professional Quality 

GoPro Hero-11 camera features Hyper-Smooth video stabilization that captures professional-quality footage with no gimbal stabilizer. Furthermore, you can film ultra-high-definition 5K videos at 60 fps. 

Super Slow Motion

Maybe what made GoPro so famous has always been its incredible slow-motion features. The GoPro Hero-11 camera is able to record full HD 1080p at the astounding rate of 240-fps. That’s an impressive slow-motion capability for truly breathtaking videos. Great especially for MTB, bike polo, and other action-heavy cycling activities.  

Accessories Kit 

Another great selling point is that the GoPro Hero-11 camera comes with a bundle of accessories kit, MicroSDHC 64-GB U3 memory card, and a spare original battery. 

Pros

• Both portrait and landscape orientation is accessible
• 24.7MP can capture a detailed and vivid image even in burst mode
• Best image stabilization feature, ideal for recording your cycling tricks 
• Built-in GPS
• Waterproof without a case
• Improved Audio

Cons

• Batteries not compatible with Hero 8 and previous models
• Expensive

5. GoPro Hero 8 Black – Best GoPro for the money

Although an aging model, the Hero 8 is still a great action cam, and it’s now offered at an attractive price. It’s waterproof without a case and has got manual software controls, an improved microphone, and image stabilization.

The built-in microphone has indeed been improved, even though it is still mono and not comparable to the Sony.

If you don’t need the best but still a good quality camera that can shoot professional-looking videos, then the GoPro Hero 8 is one of your best options.

The GoPro Hero 8 comes in Silver Version (cheaper) and Black Version (top).

Pros

• 12MP
• good image stabilization
• Built-in GPS
• Waterproof without a case
• Improved Audio

Cons

• Firmware issues
• Case quality is poor

6. Sony FDRX3000 Camera – Best Cam for Cycling in the Rain

We used a previous model of the Sony FDRX3000 camera and were quite happy and impressed, especially with the audio features and image stabilization, a bit less with the image quality.

The 2020 Sony FDRX3000 could ultimately be really the best action cam for cycling! Zeiss lens, 3x Zoom, splashproof and waterproof up to 60m with the case, stereo audio and noise reduction, GPS… and I could go on with more cool features!

Viewing Angle

It is equipped with the ZEISS Tessar lens. You can choose from 3 different viewing angles as per your requirements. Selectable viewing angles are medium, narrow, and wide. 

Premium-quality audio and video

You are able to capture fast-moving objects and a multiple burst mode setting is accessible. Additionally, it has an inbuilt microphone that records high-quality stereo audio without any wind noise. 

Enhanced Convenience   

It is a combination of NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity. These allow you to direct connection and control with your smartphones. You can also adjust the beep volume.  

Pros

• HDMI, USB, and microphone jacks are placed on the back of the camera for ease of connection
• Inbuilt GPS
• Great audio
• Image stabilization couldn’t be better

Cons

• Short battery life
• No screen
• Very pricey
• Not compatible with GoPro accessories

7. Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 – Best Bike Camera 

Garmin recently went into the action camp market with a couple of models, which are quite interesting and present an innovative approach.

The VIRB Beach Camera has voice control, built-in GPS (of course) and external sensors with connectivity to Garmin devices, able to capture performance data like speed, elevation, heart rate, and G-force.

It has one of the best bike camera display (1.75-inch touch screen) and a bundle of included accessories that make most competitors pale in comparison. You can record ultra-high-definition 4K/30-fps footage also underwater with the waterproof case.

VIRB Edit and App

It is equipped with three-axis image stabilization, which permits you to capture steady and smooth videos. You can also use a free desktop application to edit, compile, and share your footage from a camera.

High-sensitivity Sensors 

Garmin VIRB Beach camera equipped with inbuilt GPS and sensors which allows you to capture data of G-Metrix to prove how fast, how high, and how far you went. Additionally, a high-sensitive microphone also records clear audio.  

Mounting options

Your purchase comes with a SanDisk micro-SDHC 32-GB memory card, case, chest harness, floating handle, helmet/head strap, bike handlebar mount, and anti-fog kit.  

Pros

• Control it with your voice due to Sensory TrulyHandsfree technology 
• built-in GPS and sensors
• Loads of mounts and accessories
• Smooth and high-quality video

Cons

• The quality of the editing software is bad
• Pitiable battery performance
• The most expensive bike cam on this list 

8. DJI Osmo-Action Camera- Best Bicycle Camera

World-leading brand in commercial drones, DJI has manufactured one of the best 4K action cameras for cycling. Super-small and compact, it packs a lot of hi-tech – including 2 LCD displays, DJI Osmo-Action is the only action cam with a selfie screen.   

CMOS Sensor and Lens 

DJI Osmo Action camera has a powerful 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and a broad f/2.8 lens supporting 4K 60ps HDR video recording.

Moreover, you can also capture slow-motion objects videos at 1080P and 240 frames per second. These allow you to capture professional and high-resolution videos wherever you want. 

DJI’s RockSteady EIS

DJI is famous for the great quality of its image stabilization algorithm, RockSteady EIS, which delivers shake-free footage.

HDR Support

If you like HDR shots (High Dynamic Range) then DJI Osmo-Action camera should be your first preference. You can also enjoy a great dynamic range improving the transition between dark and light. The HDR function can be operated also on hyper-lapse and time-lapse modes.   

Pros

• Selfie screen
• Comes with a lot of mounts and accessories
• Waterproof without a case up to 30 feet
• Amazing image and audio quality
• Can mount filters

Cons

• No GPS
• No live-streaming
• No stabilization in HDR mode
• The mobile app needs work
• Battery life could be better

2 Best Cycling Safety Cam

9. Olympus TG-Tracker Camera – Best Cam to Track your Bike Rides

The Olympus TG-Tracker is a rugged and bulky action camera with a lot of interesting features and an affordable price tag. Designed like a mini camcorder, the Olympus (6.35 ounces) is more than twice as heavy as the GoPro and almost double its size.

But it also has a foldable and orientable display, a lot of external controls, and it’s waterproof without a case of up to 30 meters/100ft.

With all these tracking capabilities, the Olympus TG Tracker can also be used as a great-performing cycling safety cam.

 Action Tracking Sensors

It is equipped with five inbuilt action track sensors that automatically capture extra data to compel your audio and video. These include GPS and an accelerometer. e-compass, temperature sensor, and barometric pressure sensor. The Olympus TG-Tracker records your ride like a cycling computer (and even better)! All these data can also be recorded independently from the video and viewed in the app.

Ultra-Wide Field of View

The only cycling cam in this review to have a 204 degrees FoV, really ultra-wide and immersive, maybe too much. While it is great to have more surroundings in your capture, this is also harder to manage, and some unwanted stuff can get into the frame.

There is an option to change the FoV to a handier 157 degrees, although it is a bit hidden in the menus.

Tilt-Out Display Screen

Olympus TG-Tracker action camera comes with a 1.5-inch LCD tilt-out monitor screen, no other action cam has that. You can view your photos and videos as well as customize multiple settings according to your requirements. 

Pros

• Impressive sensors pack – tracks everything.
• Tilt screen.
• Excellent electronic image stabilization and image quality even in low light.
• Built-in 60-lumen light.
• Comes with three-pronged mount adapters.

Cons

• Bulky and heavy – Limited mounting options.
• Awkward mechanics.
• The field of view may be too wide and hard to change.
• Occasional fog buildup on the lens.

10. Fly12 CYCLIQ Action Camera – Best Cycling Safety Camera   

If you are looking for a long-lasting battery along with a safety camera then we recommend considering the Fly12 CYCLIQ action camera. You can use it for long rides, record everything, and use the footage in case of an accident.

The Fly 12 CYCLIQ is an integrated system comprising a 1080P full HD bike camera, a 400 Lumen bicycle light, and a bike alarm. This device easily integrates with Strava.

The Fly 12 records MP4 1080p HD video at 60fps or 30fps, or 720p video at 60fps. It’s clear enough to get a good definition, helped by electronic image stabilization. The viewing angle is 135 degrees. The unit is IP67 rated, so it can handle rain, and dust and be submerged in a meter of water.

Camera plus Bike Light

This camera comes with a combination of bike light and a full high-definition camera. Your purchase saves weight and decreases the clutter on the handlebar. 

Incident Protection 

The best thing about the Fly12 CYCLIQ action camera is that you can convert it into a bike alarm. When your bike is touched Fly12 CYCLIQ camera beeps, starts recording, and starts flashing. Furthermore, you will receive a notification on your smartphone. This is the best cycling safety cam available on the market.

CYCLIQ also manufactures a rear light and safety cycling cam, the Fly6, check it out here.

Pros

• Integrated 400 lumens light
• Anti-theft alarm
• Equipped with inbuilt Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity

Cons

• Heavyweight action camera
• Image quality is not great for the price-tag
• Little versatility of use and mounts
• Pricey

3 Best 360 Cameras For Cycling

Camera – Best 360 Bike Cam for Wet Weather

Garmin presents its 360 monster-cam, a monster of performance and, unfortunately, also price (600+ USD). The VIRB-360 action camera can capture a whole sphere of high-resolution audio, videos, and photos.

It comes with efficient video stabilization, a cinematic 5.7K resolution at 30 fps (but you’ll have to stitch the image yourself), or 4K (auto-stitches simplify the editing process). 

Hyper-Frame Director Mode

This Garmin VIRB-360 camera offers a Hyper-Frame Director mode. This mode offers you incredible editing power. Similarly to the Xiaomi Madventure, you can reframe contents with ease after filming. 

Desktop Software and Mobile App

You can use both a free mobile app and desktop free software for editing, stabilizing, and sharing audio, videos, and photos. You can connect this camera to both Android and iOS devices by using the NFC connection.

Best for Adventures  

This rugged construction camera can capture underwater moments without a waterproof case. A winning point when compared to the Madventure The underwater depth is about 10 meters. This small-size camera is ideal for plentiful water, beach, and snowy adventures.  

Pros

• One-Lithium Polymer battery can shoot up to 1 hour
• Reliable, durable, and energy-efficient camera
• Inbuilt 4-microphones capture full-sphere 360-degree audio
• Easy to use with VIRB Edit desktop software or VIRB mobile app

Cons

• Live streaming only on Apple devices
• Not street-view compatible
• Overheating issues
• Image quality is not up to the price expectations
• Kidney-selling price-point

13. GoPro MAX Action Camera – Best for Live Streaming  

GoPro MAX is the 360 model from GoPro, designed for versatility. As opposed to most 360 cams, here you have the option to shoot traditional GoPro angles, with a choice of 13mm, 16mm, 19mm, and 27mm.

An unbreakable stabilization feature, a user-friendly app, and full manual controls (bitrate, shutter speed, white balance, exposure, and so forth), make this expensive cam a great choice for those who can afford it.

Its front-facing display is a unique feature in the 360 cams world, making this the ultimate product for cycling vloggers, also thanks to the reliable live-streaming capabilities.

Digital Lenses

The camera has two lenses, like every 360 cam, but can multiply them to four through a digital lens function, allowing shooting in any direction without moving the camera.

These lenses include narrow, wide, Max SuperView, and distortion-free linear. Therefore, you are able to capture a view from different angles as you require.   

Advanced HyperSmooth 

Max HyperSmooth is the king of stabilization, which delivers the clearest and smoothest video when compared to other action cameras (except maybe the Xiaomi). You can also change its horizon leveling whenever it is required.  

Editing and Reframing 

Using the mobile GoPro app, you can easily transform 360-degree footage into conventional photos and videos. You can edit, playback, and share this content with your friends, family, and social media. 

Shotgun Mic Performance

Directional audio in Hero mode lets you prioritize sound from either side of the camera, no matter which lens you’re using perfect for logging.

Pros

• Max HyperSmooth stabilization really performs well
• 16MP at 5.6K30fps delivers great-quality photos
• Interesting Time-Warp mode (able to take panorama cam movements)
• This waterproof camera can capture memorizing moments  

Cons

• Poor focus in low light
• Stitching lines are sometimes visible

Things to Consider When Buying a Cam for Cycling

Image Stabilization

This is pretty much the standard feature on every action camera on the market. But not all of them perform the same, and you have to keep in mind that image stabilization is maybe the key feature when using a cam for cycling.

Especially for mountain bikers, but not just for them, the bumps can make your footage incredibly shaky, to the point of being unusable. You want the best image stabilization ever, even at the cost of sacrificing image quality.

The technology that is used for image stabilization in most cases is gyro or optical. Gyro has a sensor for electronic movement for the eradication of shakes. 

On the other hand, optical image stabilization has lens movers that counteract any jerks or shakes. But none of them both are better than the other. 

Size & Weight

The best action camera for cycling needs to be lightweight and it doesn’t need to be that big either. No matter how you use it, your camera needs to be lightweight and small in size for ease in use. 

Video & Photo Quality

It is obvious that going for a better image quality will require paying for it, quite a high price if you want the best.

The minimum resolution on a modern action cam is 720p but you should go for a 1080p FHD (Full High Definition) if a (semi)professional-looking quality is what you want to achieve.

The top cams nowadays can record 4K footage, but do you really need that? Do you have a computer capable of editing that footage? 4K quality is much higher than FHD but not all displays can reproduce it, the file sizes are huge, and the battery drains faster.

Yes, you must keep in mind that with better image quality battery life will get influenced heavily.

On the other hand, 4K makes you cable of cropping the video and still have an FHD video. (4K is 3840 x 2160 pixels, against the 1920 x 1080 pixels of FHD), which opens interesting video-editing possibilities.

But if you’re not a pro videomaker, just want to try out recording some bike adventures, and don’t want to spend too much, we recommend going for a FHD (1080px) action camera.

Where to Mount a Bike Cam

Primarily, there are two main mounts that you can use for your action camera on a bike: handlebar and helmet.

With the helmet mount, you will get a more immersive experience. The angle will change as you turn your head and the video will be a lot more engaging, but also a bit confusing if you move your head too much.

The video from the handlebar mount is not very engaging but the view will be a lot more stable. You will have to compromise on the shock absorption feature, cause the handlebar gets all the bumps.

On the other hand, you can easily turn a handlebar camera on yourself, and even talk into it while you’re cycling – cycle-vlogging – pretty trendy… but you’ll need good audio features for that (more about audio later).

Very popular among mountain bikers is the chest strap camera mount, which shows the front of the bike and the terrain in detail. Cool angle for tricks and action footage.

There are many other ways to mount an action cam on a bike: using selfie sticks (tied with zip-ties or such), or movable clamps – just to mention a couple.

The availability, compatibility, and variety of the mounts should be taken into account when choosing a video camera for cycling. GoPro-compatible mounts became the standard, with many Chinese brands using the system.

Classic camera screw-mounts, on the other hand, enable compatibility with tripods and selfie sticks. Adapters screw/GoPro are also easy to find and cheap.

Does a Cycling Cam need to be Waterproof?

Most of the bike cameras mentioned here can easily survive a big splash of water and even medium-light rain. This should be enough for most cyclists.

Some of the cameras also come with depth capabilities and they are inherently waterproof, some require an underwater case, which usually compromises the audio recording, while other up-market models have a full impermeable construction

Ease of Use

In such a scenario where you are sitting on the bike, ease of use refers to how easily you can use the camera on the go and how easy it is for you to use while you are wearing gloves.

All the buttons need to be very easily accessible so you can easily access all the controls while you are riding. 

Inbuilt GPS

If you like to map new horizons then you should go for an inbuilt GPS feature as well. This is not going to be the primary feature of your camera but it’s nice to know where each picture was taken.

Built-in GPS indeed, adds a geotag to each of your shots, making it ultra-easy to create nice photo maps with apps like Komoot or Strava.

Storage capacity

All modern action cams work with SD cards, but not some don’t support 64GB or 128GB cards.

A big storage capacity is always good but if you are not the type to film your entire 4-hours ride, and can remember to frequently transfer media between your devices, then even a memory of 16GB to 32GB will work well for you.

Battery Life

Another important point for you to consider before buying the best action camera for cycling is battery life. As there is an increased demand for lighter, smaller cameras with power packed in their lens, batteries will always have a hard time. 

The battery technology is the one that really lags behind in all technology. Therefore, our options are going to be limited here, you won’t find a high-quality cam that will last more than 4 hours.

Field of View

Field of View is a parameter measured from the front leans and expressed in degrees. It is the equivalent of focal length in traditional photography.

A 140-degrees FoV means that the camera is able to cover 70° from either side of the lens as well as up and down. A lens with a 10mm focal length has a Horizontal FoV angle of 120°, and a Vertical FoV of 100°.

An action camera is by definition, a camera that can capture as much action as possible without you having to aim, thus the wide Field of View.

Typical FOV values are (Linear 90° → Wide 130° → Superview 170°), by including more surroundings, the result is a more immersive video.

Technically, the FoV is determined by the amount of space between lens and image sensor (the further the lens is from the image sensor, the narrower the FOV). On GoPro’s, the field of view is determined digitally by cropping and scaling the widest possible image.

Wide angles though distort the image. Most action cameras, however, have distortion control settings built into them that slightly reduce FOV but takes away 95% of the distortion, without noticeably reducing quality.

360 cams have a 360° field of view, like a sphere, it means they capture everything around them. The result is odd, but you can then crop the image obtaining any angle you like, any perspective of the surroundings. Of course the narrower you crop, the more resolution you lose. 360 cams are great for bikepacking videos and cycle touring vlogs.

Connectivity

If you are looking at high-end options then you will have Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, and NFC. However, these connectivity options are not mandatory for normal operation but with these, you can live stream or watch your ride after connecting your action camera with other devices. 

Conclusions

It’s hard to come out with a winner here, is there really such a thing as the best bike camera? It really depends on your intended use and your budget.

• If you want something cheap, we recommend the AKASO V50
• If you want the top, our pick is the Sony FDRX3000
• If you want to enter the magical 360 worlds, get a MADV XiaoMi

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