Favorite Camera Gear for Outdoor Adventure Filmmaking

Spending time outside – away from the noise – is where I feel most like myself. Whether I’m walking a streambed, hopping rocks, or settling into a quiet riverside meditation, I like to keep my gear simple and dependable. I don’t have time to mess with complicated rigs or fragile gear. This is the camera setup I’ve dialed in over time – stuff that’s been tested by waterfalls, muddy trails, and long days in the mountains.

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I run with two GoPro HERO11 Black cameras, and they’re the backbone of almost every video I make. One usually stays handheld or on a tripod for talking shots and still scenes. The other rotates between my chest mount and head strap depending on the angle I’m going for.

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is my go-to for aerials. I use it when I want to capture the scope of a location, show the surrounding terrain, or get cinematic perspective over water. The Fly More Combo includes 3 batteries, ND filters, and extra propellers – and it’s worth every penny.

Battery life is always the bottleneck with GoPros. I carry nine batteries total so I can shoot all day without worry. If you’re planning to film outdoors in colder temps or remote spots, you’ll thank yourself for the backup power.

I use both the chest harness and head mount, depending on what I’m filming. Chest mount gives a stable, immersive look for climbing or hopping. Head mount is perfect for point-of-view shots while moving through rough terrain or filming river entries.

Lightweight, collapsible tripods let me film walk-up shots or capture still moments like a sunrise or quiet meditation near the water. I rotate between two – a GoPro Shorty Mini Extension tripod and a 10-inch tripod with flexible legs that I can manipulate onto rocks and trees – depending on what I need to accomplish.

GoPros are waterproof on their own, but I still use protective housings for rougher shoots – especially near rivers, waterfalls, or when I know the camera will be submerged.

I learned the hard way that it only takes one rock-hop slip or mistimed tripod toss to scratch a GoPro lens. Now I use tempered glass screen protectors on both the front and back screens – and they’ve already saved my gear more than once. Easy to install, super affordable, and totally worth it.

I run multiple SanDisk Extreme microSD cards for both the GoPros and the drone. They’re fast, durable, and I’ve never had one fail on me. I keep backups on-hand, just in case.

Thanks for checking out my filming setup – it’s what I use every time I head out into the woods, the rivers, or wherever the next adventure takes me. If you’re just starting your own outdoor video journey, I hope this gave you a solid place to start. I’ll keep updating this list as I grow and test new gear out in the wild. Get out there and explore!

Feel free to drop a comment or connect if you have questions or suggestions – and don’t forget to check out the [Gear Room] for more reviews and breakdowns, or head over to the [Videos] section to see all of this gear in action.

Enjoy the day!