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 there are also some worthy competitors, some of which can do more than the GoPro.
To figure out which cameras are the best, we dove with them, climbed with them, surfed with them, and handed them to reckless 12-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 September 2024: We’ve added some initial notes about the GoPro Hero 13 Black, Hero 13, and DJI Action 5 cameras. We’ve removed the DJI Action 2 as its no longer widely available.
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