Choosing the right action camera used to be simple: Go with GoPro. That’s still good advice, in that the GoPro ranks high on our list and is our top pick for most adventure-seeking photographers, but we’ve finally found a few worthy competitors.
To figure out which cameras are the best, we dove with them, climbed with them, surfed with them, and handed them to reckless 11-year-olds on bikes. We found a number of great options that will record, and survive, your adventures on the ski slope, beach, or skate park.
If an action cam isn’t your speed, be sure to check out our other guides, including the Best Compact Cameras, Best Mirrorless Cameras, and Best Instant Cameras.
Updated February 2024: We’ve added the Insta360 Ace and Ace Pro, along with a few new accessories to help you do more with your action cam.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
