The best GoPro mount for mountain biking is the GoPro low profile helmet swivel mount. I love this mount because it is super lightweight, and ridiculously versatile, and it is a helmet mount, which is easily the most stable way to mount your GoPro camera for the best possible shots.
Mountain biking is easily one of the most exhilarating sports you take part in (so much so that it is set to start rivaling other high school sports), but sometimes you want to share your experience (from your vantage point) with some of your friends. To accomplish this, you’ll probably be getting a GoPro. But of course, the GoPro is only one of the necessities you’ll need to achieve that, and you’ll also need something to mount the camera too.
Best GoPro Mount for Mountain Biking
Best GoPro mount: Low Profile Helmet Swivel: GoPro Hero
Helmet shots are always epic. The problem is that most helmet mounts and cameras are too heavy and cumbersome. Because of that, they typically make riding uncomfortable.
The GoPro Hero and this low-profile mount for it take away the most significant reason people don’t like riding with cameras on their helmets. The frame is barely even noticeable, and the best thing is that you can place it anywhere you want to on your helmet.
I recommend under the visor’s peak, it offers great footage, and you don’t have to worry about it pointing too high or too low.
It rotates 360° for catching footage in any direction you choose. Great for capturing fellow riders behind you on a train.
Puluz 360° Rotation Handlebar Mount
Handlebar mounts are good for capturing footage of the trail. Specifically, it shows the viewer exactly how difficult the terrain you are traversing is, and you can even flip the camera around to watch yourself and film your reactions to the most difficult of your ride.
The bar is easy to mount and fits the GoPro Hero action cameras. I love these mounts for their simplicity, and the price is pretty much unbeatable. I really enjoy the color options as well.
The biggest issue you’ll have with the Puluz 360° handlebar mount is tightening it down enough to be comfortable that your angle will be secured. To get around this, you should use a pair of pliers to cinch down the mount. The last thing you want is to find out that you’ve spent the entire day recording the clouds because your camera moved during the ride.
CamKix Chest Mount Harness
A chest harness is an excellent way to catch some high-level action footage. Whether downhill riding or trail riding, this is a camera angle that comes out great when everything is put together properly.
The straps are fully adjustable and built to withstand heavy use. The quick-release j-hook is perfect for positioning your camera to look out in front of you, where the action is. Or even looking up directly at you.
If you can’t tell by now, I love the shots that include my face!!
It is compatible with all GoPro Hero models and includes a storage bag for easy transportation.
The most prominent issue with these mounting systems is that your footage is going to be very rough. Unless, of course, you purchase a camera gimbal to smooth out the video. The problem with that is, gimbals are not an inexpensive product, certainly not if you want one that works well.
So if you don’t have a gimbal or aren’t willing to purchase one, then you may want to stay away from this chest-mounted system.
GoPro Pro Seat Rail Mount (GoPro Official Mount)
Seat rail mounts are awesome for viewing what is behind you. Well, actually that is the only thing you can record with this mount. But I enjoy using this for recording trains with buddies. Now I wouldn’t recommend having too much footage from this angle.
The GoPro Pro Seat Rail Mount is extremely light and even more durable and compatible with pretty much any bike (maximum allowable width is 5 cm).
This isn’t going to be a mount that everybody will use. However, if you are looking for a way to get some interesting new camera angles for videos, this is going to be an excellent pick-up for you.
Why You Need a Camera Mount
Cameras are a great thing – DUH! And with today’s technology, cameras can accompany us anywhere we go. Like… literally everywhere. I’d wager that more than 9 out of 10 people reading this have a high-definition camera in their pockets or within arm reach right now. And half of you are probably reading this on that same HD camera.
But holding those cameras while you are trying to capture action-packed shots from a first-person view is downright annoying. And in the case of mountain biking – impossible.
Wouldn’t you know it, that is where a mount for your GoPro camera comes in handy. All you’ve got to do is secure the mount, then secure your camera to that mount.
Viola! You are now able to transport viewers directly into the experience of mountain biking.
Types of Mounts for Cameras – Best GoPro Mount for Mountain Biking
Finding the best GoPro mount for mountain biking isn’t as simple as finding the mount with the best reviews and buying that one. You’ll have to consider what type of footage you want as well. Do you want a higher angle? Do you want chest cam angles? Or do you want the camera mounted on your bike?
These are crucial questions to answer when deciding on which type of mount you want.
Bar Mounts
These mounts are pretty typical. They attach to the mountain bike and give you a pretty stable view of everything you see. I like these mounts because they can be placed pretty much anywhere you want.
It may sound silly, but one of my favorite views to get footage of is the rear suspension. Bar mounts are perfect for these types of shots. Sure, you wouldn’t want to make your entire video from this vantage point, but it is interesting to see how just how hard your suspension is working when you hit those tougher trails.
It’s also an easy way to capture shots of your buddies riding behind you.
Helmet Mounts
This is probably the most stable place to mount your cameras, and therefore the most popular way. These camera shots are great because they are much more steady than when the camera is mounted to your bike or even your chest.
Why? Because your head acts as a gimbal (a tool that keeps your shots smooth, rather than choppy and bumpy) so your shots are insanely more watchable. The best part is that you don’t have to buy any additional equipment. Gimbals can be quite expensive.
Chest Mounted Straps
These offer excellent footage, and it allows you to include some amazing shots of your handlebars and all that handwork you are putting in during the most extreme rides.
Chest harnesses can be extremely uncomfortable, especially on hot days – you WILL sweat profusely with these. Also, because your body will be bouncing all over the place, your footage will be extremely rough. You’ll need to purchase a gimbal if you want watchable shots at this angle.
Fork Mount
Another area of the bike that makes for interesting footage (albeit in very short bursts) is the front wheel. Fork mounts are closer to ground level, so you get a much more detailed look at what is going on in front of you. This can make for awesome action shots.
Helicopter Mounts
Helicopter mounts are helmet mounts that offer some incredible footage. The mount is a bar that sits atop your helmet and rotates throughout your ride. The result is astonishing footage that circles while you riding, making for some great moments.
Obviously, having a large bar helicopter around your head is extraordinarily uncomfortable. I wouldn’t recommend using this for long periods. But put this on your helmet for a few minutes at a time, and you’ll come home with some epic action footage.
But the biggest problem is actually finding one of these amazing mounts.
Alright, we’ve got plenty of different angles and types of mounts you can use for the best videos possible. Now let’s look at specific mounts that we think are best.
Something To Watch Out For
Action cameras are becoming more and more popular as technology gets more affordable, and just overall better. Take one look at YouTube, and you’ll immediately realize how many people are uploading their rides for the world to see. And I love it!
But, for each amazing video that somebody captures and uploads, there are hundreds of awful ones. And that is to be expected.
When you first start recording your rides, there are several mistakes that people tend to make. The biggest is not having their cameras angled properly. Check out this article detailing how to make your videos the highest quality possible.
When recording your ride, you want to make sure you are recording the action that is taking place. You don’t want to show an angle that is too low or too high. Think Goldilocks here; you want your angle to be just perfect.
So once you start recording, make sure you look at the angle that your camera is pointed to, and adjust it accordingly. Also, you want to be certain that you tighten your mount so that your camera angles don’t dip or rise by mistake.
Secondly, if you opt to use a chest-mounted camera angle, please do all of us a favor and purchase a gimbal. You want to produce the smoothest, most professional content possible. And the herky-jerky nature of mountain biking is not conducive to that. A gimbal can change the entire feel of your video.
