Best Cameras for Skiing of 2024

The best part of living in the 21st Century is that we get to capture the moments from our amazing winter adventures. And thanks to some of the best ski camera brands, we get to capture them in incredible quality, too. There are plenty of cameras out there to help you accomplish this goal, so how do you know what’s the best camera for skiing?

Selecting the best ski camera to suit your needs is always a challenge. But you can relax because The Adventure Junkies have created this easy guide to choosing cameras for you. Also, we will provide you with an understanding of the features each camera has to offer. 

For more of our top ski gear recommendations, check out the Best Ski Waxes.

Reviews - The Best Cameras for Skiing

GoPro Hero5 Session

Specs

• Best For: Overall
• Weight: 0.28 lbs
• Waterproof?: Yes

BEST FOR A SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT SKI CAMERA THAT’S SIMPLE TO USE

PROS: Waterproof up to 10 metres, it is certain to withstand heavy snow conditions

CONS: You can only adjust settings via your phone, (a downside to the one button system)

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TomTom Bandit

Specs

• Best For: Overall
• Weight: 0.41 lbs
• Waterproof?: No

BEST FOR SOMEONE SEEKING GOPRO STYLING WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG

PROS: Compatible with GoPro Mounts for better action capturing

CONS: A rather heavy action Camera

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GoPro Hero5 Black

Specs

• Best For: Screen
• Weight: 0.26 lbs
• Waterproof?: Yes

BEST FOR A LEADING DESIGN WITH AN ALL-ROUND GREAT PERFORMING SKI CAMERA THAT INCLUDES EXCELLENT EASE OF USE AND QUALITY

PROS: The image stabilisation never fails to impress, and the water resistance will work perfectly in snowy conditions

CONS: As the leading action camera on the market, it is very expensive

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HTC Re Camera

Specs

• Best For: Budget
• Weight: 0.15 lbs
• Waterproof?: Water Resistant

BEST FOR A SKIER LOOKING TO MULTITASK ON THE SLOPE, WITH EASY OPERATION

PROS: A one handed design for ease of use

CONS: Water resistant will keep out the snow, but will struggle if you want to use this camera in diving activities additionally to snow sports

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SKI CAMERAS FOR SKIING

VIDEO QUALITY

When purchasing your action camera, the image quality should always be a consideration. A common mistake is to jump at purchasing a high resolution. First, you need to check how well it will operate.

The majority of action camera’s will film in 4K resolution. This is the resolution to seek if you are looking for incredible video footage. The important thing to watch out for is the frame rate the resolution works off. A good quality 4K camera will have a frame rate of at least 30 fps (frames per second).

In more budget brands, you will see 4K resolutions paired with a frame rate of 15 fps. Avoid low frame rates if your budget permits. As the video will come out staggered and shaky upon playback. If you are on a budget when purchasing a ski camera, there is an alternative to 4K resolution with a frame rate of 30 fps. An excellent compromise is a ski camera that shoots in 1080p HD resolution with a frame rate closer to 60 fps. The image quality won’t be as high but the playback will still provide good quality video.

STILLS QUALITY

It goes without saying that a picture is useless when pixelated and blurry. If you want to remember the moment you landed your first 360 off a giant freestyle park kicker, you need a good MP rate. A useful tip from us here at The Adventure Junkies is to look for a model that shows how many megapixels the camera has. These days the top brands will have a camera of at least 16 MP. But a lesser ski camera; will often not advertise their camera’s mega pixels. This is as their camera can’t compete with the competition on one of the key features.

IMAGE STABILISATION

A good action camera can handle exactly what the name suggests, being in the action! Be it a groomed slope run or racing down the off-piste. The latest technology in ski cameras is good image stabilization systems. Any good ski camera will advertise it’s ability to keep up with your fast pace. An excellent image stabilization to look out for is ‘gyro’. This technology is named and modeled after Gyro Camera Stabilizers that keep a shot in your favorite movies level no matter the terrain.

WATER RESISTANCE

A water resistant ski camera will always be a good idea when adding to your winter gear selection. The snow will often spray, fall and crash into your ski camera as you document your time on the slopes. So it is best to have an action camera ready to function in these conditions. A few years ago you had to buy a waterproof housing case to have a waterproof action camera. These days, however, brands are doing their best to create cameras that are ready to be submerged in H20. If you are more adventurous on the mountains, you won’t go wrong with a good water resistant ski camera.

MOUNTS AND ACCESSORIES

The majority of brands now offer mounts and accessories for their ski cameras. This is following in the steps of market leaders GoPro. Mounts and accessories create a variety of footage. They also make being hands-free while you film a lot easier. No more will you be practicing to balance one-handed while holding your selfie stick!

Helmet camera mounts are great starting choice for beginners. They help you capture clear shots of you and your friends riding. Chest harnesses are better for experienced skiers. Beginners will tend to film the floor as they need to improve their posture. Once they have mastered an intermediate stance, a chest harness is a good buy.

SIZE AND POCKET-ABILITY

You will notice we have included the weight of each ski camera in our review section below. This is due to the knowledge that a camera that is easy to put away is sometimes the best feature to look for. A sleek design to minimize the time you spend getting your camera out and packing it away is a great feature. There is only one real downside of some small sized ski cameras. This is that they may not have mounts or waterproof casing that fits them due to their unique size.

EASE OF OPERATION

SINGLE BUTTON USE

These are the latest in ski camera technology advances. The idea is that when using the camera, you only have to use one button to shoot, pause, and turn the camera on and off. These cameras can be fantastic for simple operating. But this feature often results in a lack shooting styles and options, such as slow motion or playback.

PHONE APP CONTROL

Many ski camera brands are now designing their models to combine with your phone. This great option allows a range of operational features. Such as playback, instant video downloading and shooting options. Even a regular track on your cameras battery life! There is a downside of this feature, though. You will have to take your phone out before the start of every run. This is not only time, but also phone and ski camera battery consuming.