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Quick Overview
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Best overall - Editor’s choice | Runner up - Best handheld gimbal for GoPro | Best wearable gimbal for GoPro | Best cheap gimbal for GoPro | Best gimbal for stabilization |
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5 Best Gimbal for GoPro in 2022
Best overall - Editor’s choice - Feiyu G6 3-Axis Gimbal
Highlights:
- The Feiyu G6 is a 3-axis gimbal that guarantees stabilization in all possible movement directions.
- Easy to use quick press buttons to make switching modes easier.
- The pack comes with an adapter for newer GoPro Heros alongside a mini tripod.
Standing atop our list of the best gimbals for GoPro is the Feiyu G6, a 3-axis gimbal designed for handheld use. This gimbal is designed to work mainly with Hero 7 and earlier versions but with the adapter provided, you can use a Hero 8 Black on it.
Using the Feiyu G6 is easy and seamless with the Feiyu On app, which provides you with automatic calibration and firmware upgrades for shooting smooth videos on your action cam. The gimbal connects to other devices via WiFi or Bluetooth, which allows you to control your camera stabilization from your smartphone.
Apart from the standard mode, the Feiyu G6 gimbal also has selfie mode and time-lapse mode. You can easily switch the modes with the quick-press buttons, and it’s displayed on the gimbal OLED screen. Furthermore, the accompanying HolaFoto mini-tripod allows you to place your GoPro on a gimbal in one position and control the movement remotely, providing you with silky smooth footage like never before. You can even do this under harsh weather conditions as the gimbal is splash-proof.
And to guarantee lasting recording time, you can charge your GoPro directly from the gimbal, which comes with a larger 5000mAh battery. The battery can last up to 12 hours upon a full charge, a few hours less when charging your GoPro, but you can extend that by using a power pack to charge the gimbal.
Runner up - Best handheld gimbal for GoPro - GoPro Karma Grip
Highlights:
- It comes in a handheld gimbal design but can also be used as a wearable gimbal.
- Native compatibility with GoPros provides excellent stabilization.
- A weather-resistant shell that allows for use in the rain.
The GoPro Karma Grip is the official gimbal for Hero action cams; hence we’ve listed it as the best handheld gimbal for GoPro. As this gimbal is outdated compared to GoPro Hero releases, this means it’s not entirely compatible with newer Hero 8 and Hero 9 Blacks. Only owners of Hero 7 and previous GoPro versions can enjoy this gimbal.
Using the Karma Grip with your GoPro is seamless and produces impressive pro-level stabilization. The gimbal controls are in complete sync with the camera, which allows you to power your GoPro on/off, toggle modes, add HiLight tags, and start/stop recording footage with much ease. These configurations aren’t as synced on other non-native gimbals, which is a huge plus for using the Karma Grip.
What stands out the most about the Karma Grip is the dual-use as a handheld gimbal and a wearable gimbal. GoPro users can simply detach the stabilizer and wear it on another platform while connecting the battery-housing handle by a 35-inch extension cable. And to top off these fine gimbal features, this device also has a weather-resistant shell that allows you to use it in mildly wet conditions.
Best wearable gimbal for GoPro - Feiyu WG2X 3-Axis Gimbal
Highlights:
- Nicely designed gimbal base, which can be mounted on surfaces like a helmet or worn with a body strap.
- 3-axis stabilization with an angled arm allows up to 70° roll angle rotation and doesn’t obstruct the camera display.
- Connects to Hero camera and mobile app for remote control.
Up next, we’ll be checking our choice gimbal for the best wearable gimbal for GoPro. The Feiyu WG2X gimbal is a 3-axis stabilization device for GoPros with 360° rotation in the pan and tilt axes, while the roll axis does a 70° angle rotation. All of these degrees of freedom have motors responsible for delivering smooth footage for your GoPro while on the move.
For GoPro users who prefer first-person body shots like wearing your camera on a helmet or a body strap, the Feiyu WG2X is your best bet for stabilization. And when you need to use your gimbal on other platforms, you can use this gimbal with an extension bar on a tripod.
Using the WG2X wearable gimbal is smooth, just like the footage it records. The gimbal has a standard shooting mode; then there is an auto-rotation mode and then time-lapse photo mode. These modes can be activated from the gimbal with quick press buttons or remotely on the Feiyu On app. The gimbal connects to both your GoPro and your smartphone for ease of use.
While this gimbal is also not directly compatible with the latest GoPro release, Hero 9 Black, it does great well with all other GoPro versions. It has a built-in 1500mAh battery which isn’t that powerful as it’ll only last about 2.5 hours. It’d be good to go with a power pack while shooting. And to top it all off, the gimbal body is splash-proof, which allows for use in misty conditions.
Best cheap gimbal for GoPro - Hohem iSteady Pro 3 Gimbal Stabilizer
Highlights:
- Up to 4 panning modes and 7 working modes for dynamic shooting and more creativity.
- Great value for a cheaper price point
- Impressive remote control with WiFi or cable connection.
- Splash-proof gimbal body alongside extended battery life.
The hohem iSteady Pro 3 is a premium gimbal with a low price that makes it qualify as our pick for the best cheap gimbal for GoPro. However, despite the relatively low cost, this gimbal packs many top features, making it easily stand out as a quality gimbal for GoPros. One of the main attractions being the multiple panning and stabilization modes it supports, more than most GoPro gimbals allow.
Once the iSteady Pro 3 is connected to a GoPro via WiFi or cable, you can control your Hero camera from the gimbal quick buttons. The gimbal connects seamlessly with the GoPro Hero 8 and all previous versions. Additionally, you can mount your Hero action cam on this handheld splash-proof gimbal for quality stabilization while recording action footage.
As a creative edge, you can record in several modes on this hohem gimbal; including inception mode, which gives the 600° space rotation feel, then there’s the pan follow mode, motion-lapse mode, time-lapse mode, pov mode, pan and tilt follow modes, and sport mode.
All of these afford you more options to make your shooting slicker and looking more creative, depending on the type of video. But, of course, all of these work with the freedom of recording time the 3600mAh battery provides for your GoPro, which you can yet extend by powering the gimbal with a power pack.
Best gimbal for stabilization - Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal
Highlights:
- Excellent object tracking with Smooth 4 stabilization technology.
- A simple motor angle frees up the camera body for on-gimbal control.
- Large battery capacity to last up to 12 hours recording.
The Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal isn’t a dedicated GoPro gimbal. Still, we’ve listed it here as the best gimbal for stabilization because it provides the most impressive stabilization when using the GoPro for a steady shot like in a vlog recording. Ordinarily, this gimbal is made for use with smartphones, but with the GoPro mount adaptor, you can use this gimbal for your Hero camera.
Not all of the gimbal features of the Smooth 4 are compatible with GoPros as the gimbal software is designed for controlling mobile devices. You can first use the gimbal with your smartphone to master the motor movements in the different modes. Then, you can know what to expect when using a GoPro on the gimbal.
Another factor to note is that this gimbal isn’t weather-proof as it’s not designed for outdoor use as in action cams. So, you need to be careful with using this gimbal under harsh conditions. Apart from these clauses, you can expect silky smooth stabilization using this Zhiyun gimbal with your GoPro. The motors are well primed to handle heavier weights than those of Hero cams, making the stabilization more effective.
What makes a good GoPro gimbal?
Gimbals are relatively new when it comes to video gadgets, but they are fast becoming a trend. Owing to their small sizes, gimbals are often used with smartphones and smaller cameras like action cams and some DSLRs. And that’s why we have gimbals designed for GoPros.
How gimbals work is pretty technical and involves a lot of physics and mechanics. However, you don’t need to bother yourself with the technical details to know what makes a good gimbal. The essential information is that gimbals use programmed sensors and motors to support and stabilize a camera while filming on the move to produce unperturbed video footage (1).
A gimbal helps eliminate unwanted shakes and movements, which can make a video recording look unprofessional. These devices use brushless motors, which ensure quiet stabilization, to make slight adjustments in movement to camera position while filming. They are also designed to differentiate the intentional movement of the videographer from unwanted shakes, which is a core gimbal feature.
Wearable or handheld gimbals: What’s the difference?
There are two main gimbal types for GoPros; the handheld gimbal and the wearable gimbal.
The main difference between the two types being that you can attach the wearable gimbal to a close-up surface, whereas handheld gimbals need to be used at arm’s length or on a tripod. Additionally, wearable gimbals often need other accessories like a chest harness or helmet grip for proper use.
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It’s nearly impossible to hold a handheld gimbal for stabilization when filming in a fast-moving environment like in extreme sports like mountain biking. So the practical thing to do is film from a stable surface like the helmet, handlebars, or chest.
Factors to consider in choosing the best gimbal for GoPros
- Stabilization modes
Gimbals often come with different modes, just like GoPro cameras also have. These modes are a combination of motor movements that allows you to record at a given angle. It often determines what the camera lens is aimed at. Most gimbals come with multiple modes, including standard mode, time-lapse photography mode, auto-rotation mode, etc.
Stabilization axes
The axis of stabilization is the direction of movement in which the gimbal is correcting a camera shake. There are three possible axes of stabilization; pitch, roll, and yaw. Not all gimbals allow for stabilization on all three; some come with just motors for stabilizing the pitch axis and roll axis.
Getting a gimbal that can smoothen out your footage on all three stabilization axes means a cleaner feed regardless of shake direction. However, this also means more motors on the gimbal and more movement during stabilization, which would also mean more battery consumption for your gimbal.
Weight
As you’ll probably be carrying the gimbal in your hand or wearing it on your body alongside your GoPro for the whole time of filming, it means you should lean towards a gimbal with a lighter weight. So be sure to check the weight of a gimbal before purchase. Anything between 2 -5 lbs should work fine.
Resistance to weather
A lot of GoPro users record live-action outdoors, ranging from extreme sports to adventures and trips. The chances are higher that the gimbal and GoPro cameras would be used under harsh weather conditions.
It’s therefore crucial for your chosen gimbal to have some protection from water damage. This can come in the form of a splash-proof gimbal body or a weather-resistant design. Of the two options, splash-proofed gimbals are more resistant to heavy rain and snow and hence are more preferable.
Durability
Using a gimbal and a GoPro under rough conditions for outdoor filming can easily damage the devices. That’s why it’s essential to go for a sturdy gimbal made for use under harsh extreme sport conditions. An excellent way to know a durable gimbal is that the gimbal grip is made from a solid material like metal or steel, and the body is at least weatherproof.
Most of the GoPro gimbals on the market aren’t compatible with the Hero 9 Black because they were made for earlier Hero versions. Regardless, the hohem iSteady Pro 3 ranks as the best gimbal for GoPro Hero 9 Black.
Yes, you can use a wearable GoPro gimbal for recording smooth footage while mountain biking. The Feiyu WG2X ranks as the top gimbal choice for this sport.
A GoPro gimbal does wonders for stabilizing a recording, especially when recording live action in an uncontrolled environment like extreme sports. And not only the stabilization, but you also get a creative edge with the gimbal modes alongside the option to control the recording remotely. So, yes, a GoPro gimbal is worth the money.
Conclusion
With a GoPro gimbal to stabilize your Hero camera, you can worry less about the quality of your video and focus on having fun. Although, not just any gimbal would work for a GoPro. You need to confirm the compatibility of the gimbal with the version of your GoPro Hero. And more importantly, for the best gimbal experience for your GoPro, make sure to choose a gimbal with 3-axis stabilization, lightweight, proper handling or wearable for some action sports, resistant to weather, and has a reasonable price point.
The Feiyu G6 gimbal is our top GoPro gimbal pick. It’s a 3-axis gimbal with quality stabilization modes, good handheld performance, not heavy, weather-resistant, and compatible up to the Hero 8 Black. This gimbal is a whole good deal for action lovers who film on a GoPro.
References:
- Maio, A. (2019, August 29). What is a Gimbal? How Can You Use Them to Shoot Better Videos? Retrieved from https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-gimbal-stabilizer/