GoPro is the name in action cameras, sure other companies make action cameras, but GoPro is really the company most people think of when it comes to action cameras. While there had been steady progress in the GoPros over the last few years there hadn’t been anything really exciting until the GoPro Hero 7 Black came out last year. In short, this camera blows away everything that we had before, and is the king of action cameras.

There have been thousands of reviews of the GoPro Hero 7 Black since it came out last year, and I don’t want to rehash everything that has already been said. What I am going to do is give a travelers perspective on the camera as someone who has taken it on a number of trips doing some low key action action activities as well as just normal travel.

Black, Only Black

Before we go any farther I just have to make sure I state that we are talking about the GoPro Hero 7 Black, not the Silver or White. I know it is weird that those are not just color options, but the Silver and White are significantly different than the Black and I do not recommend purchasing either of them. If you want to get a cheaper GoPro I recommend finding a used Hero 5.

What I have Done With the GoPro Hero 7 Black

Before I talk about what I do and don’t like about the GoPro Hero 7 Black I want to tell you what I have done with it so you have some context for where I am coming from, I don’t do anything too crazy, so I haven’t jumped out of a plane or off of a cliff with it.

I have used the GoPro Hero 7 Black on our last four trips to: Moab, Arizona, Cuba and Bahamas, and Hawaii. I have taken it hiking, off-roading, and swimming, as well as used it as our main video camera for our music videos and vacation footage generally.

While using the GoPro Hero 7 Black I have primarily been using it on the Spivo Stick and the flexible tripod grip. When swimming I have just had it on generic float mount.

Pros

Stabilization

If you have heard anything at all about the GoPro Hero 7 Black you have probably heard about its hypersmooth stabilization, and I can tell you it really is everything it is cracked up to be. I honestly thought it couldn’t be as good as the reviews I saw on YouTube made it out to be, but it really is.

Why is this important for travelers? Traveling light is one of the most important things for us, and many other travelers. If we fly we travel with only two carry-ons for three people, if we drive we travel in small cars. Getting cleanly stabilized footage has just never been a reality for us in those circumstances before the GoPro Hero 7 Black. We were not going to carry glide-cams or gimbals with us, because our primary purpose is to experience and secondarily to document.

So for us being able to get this incredible footage out of a tiny GoPro is a huge plus. It really makes getting good travel footage way easier than it ever has been before.

Size

GoPros have always been great for travel because of their size, they take up hardly any extra room in your camera gear, but they greatly expand the types of footage and shots that you can get. The GoPro Hero 7 Black is a compact little camera that is still able to get great footage and photos. Chances are if you get one you won’t have to make any adjustments to what you already take traveling with you. You can just slip it in with your existing gear and be totally fine.

Wide Angle

I would not want to shoot travel photos solely with a wide angle or fisheye lens, but there are times when having that available is extremely helpful. For example on our recent trip to Cuba we visited several squares in Havana which I could not get in a complete picture with our DSLR camera, since I was filming with the GoPro anyway I just used it to capture a wide angle shot to be able to see the whole thing.

Waterproof

GoPros have always been meant for water-sports and other wet environments, but before the Hero 5 (or the Hero Session) you had to remember to bring your waterproof case with you, something I neglected to do on a trip to Lava Hot Springs, which limited what shots we could get. Having it waterproof without a case makes it way easier to be ready to go no matter what.

I love having a waterproof camera with us on our travels even if we are not doing any water activities. It rains a lot when we travel, and so sometimes I can’t really use a camera or phone to take pictures and videos. In these instances it is nice to know that even if it isn’t perfect we will still be able to capture our memories using the GoPro.

There are also some things that we just could not capture if we did not have a waterproof camera. Like when we were in Chania, Greece and we didn’t have a GoPro. I went swimming in the Mediterranean on a glass bottom boat tour, but I have no pictures or videos from that. Contrast that with our recent trip to the Bahamas where I had the GoPro Hero 7 with me, I was able to get plenty of footage of my swimming with the fish at Coco Cay.

Interface

GoPro has never been great at their menu system, but the Hero 7 interface is much better than any of their previous cameras. It takes a little getting used to but once you do it is not difficult to change the settings to make the camera what you want.

Cons

Battery Life

Unfortunately, GoPro cameras have never had great battery life and the GoPro Hero 7 Black does not change that. Batteries tend to die quite quickly, especially when filming at a high resolution and using the hypersmooth stabilization. Carrying an extra battery is recommended and that can be annoying.

Cold Performance

For a camera that is supposed to be used in winter sports in is unfortunate that the GoPro Hero 7 Black seems to struggle in cold weather. I did not take it skiing or snowboarding, but while we were at Goblin Valley and Arches it was somewhat cold and the GoPro really struggled. The battery would seem to die, even when it had just been fully charged. Sometimes the whole camera  would freeze up and I would have to pull it out of the case, open the battery door, remove the battery, and then restart the camera.

Cost

At almost $400 dollars the GoPro Hero 7 Black is not an impulse buy. Although it does seem that prices are beginning to drop now, it is still going to be a pretty big investment for most travelers. I don’t know that it is overpriced, but the cost of getting one is certainly a con in my book.

Recommendation

So after all that, do I recommend that you get a GoPro Hero 7 Black for your travels? Yes, I love this camera and I feel I can recommend it. But I still only do so, if it makes sense for you. If you want a small, lightweight, waterproof camera that you can get really great footage from in order to document your travels then this is hands down the camera for you.

If you are happy snapping pictures and the occasional video clip with your phone and you aren’t going to do anything action heavy or involving water then you really don’t need to spend the money on this camera.