GoPro Hero 3+
Long the highest-profile product in this competitive category, the GoPro Hero 3+ camera may look like you’re auditioning for a role as a Telatubby when you mount it on your helmet, but—as our tests reinforce—it still remains one of the category’s top contenders. A variety of settings and mounts offer versatility, and the video clarity (the real purpose of getting a helmet cam) is stellar. Minor hits like the two-hour battery life and no direct on-boarding monitor show that there’s still room for improvement, however.
Drift Ghost-S
Ranking just as high as the GoPro (with a score of 90 out of 100) in our extensive testing, the Drift Ghost-S offers some serious resolution (1080p at 60 frames per second) but our tester found it easier to use that the Hero 3+. A serious battery life (3.5 hours) and an overall rugged architecture help it stand above the rest of the cams that we put through the ringer, but the six-ounce weight is a bit heavier than others. The price? Like our rating, it’s also a tie with the GoPro at $400.
Garmin Virb
The Virb scored ten less than the GoPro and the Drift, but at $350 this camera should appeal to the slightly more cost-consciences. The camera’s limitations—like the inability to tilt the lens and the fact that it’s merely water resistant—may explain why this one is slightly cheaper.
—Nathan Borchelt
Read about all the helmet cams we tested, rated, and reviewed.
