A hat camera will capture memorable hacking moments and could provide useful footage in the event of an accident while hacking a horse on the road.
Just like dashcams are becoming the norm in cars, wearing a camera when you’re riding is also being encouraged. We all know that hacking out on the road can be a stressful experience — wearing high vis gear and your usual safety gear is a must — and now a good helmet camera will record encounters with other road users, good or bad, as well as capture the best bits of your ride.
When you start looking for a hat camera, you’ll soon discover the choice is huge and you can find yourself becoming confused over which one will be best. Use this guide to help you choose a camera that suits your needs, without breaking the bank.
What to look for in a hat camera
As you’re looking through the features of each camera, there are a few that you can’t really go without…
Size and weight
The first thing to consider is the size and weight of the camera. Mounting a big, heavy camera on your riding hat is going to be uncomfortable when used over a period of time and is likely to affect your balance, too. Go for a camera that’s lightweight and compact, so you’re less likely to notice it on your riding hat. Bear in mind also the effect its weight might have in the event of you falling off.
Durability
Spending time around the yard and your horse means your gear will take a bit of a beating. Selecting a hat camera that’s tough and will stand up to being exposed to the elements, horses, and dirt is a big consideration.
Resolution
Resolution is arguably the most important thing to get right when choosing a camera. The higher the number of pixels, the clearer the image it records will be. This is imperative when you are wanting to capture important details like vehicle registration numbers and people’s faces. When you zoom in to read a number plate on a camera with 2,000 pixels, the image will retain more clarity compared to footage taken on a 1,080-pixel camera. Yes, you can tell the difference. For footage to be considered evidence by the police or an insurance company, these finer details must be clear and easy to read, not blurry.
Waterproof
While a waterproof camera isn’t essential — unless you’re planning on going swimming with your horse — opting for a camera that’s waterproof or comes with a waterproof case is a good idea. This means you can use it in all weathers and don’t have to worry about mud or water damaging it.
Mount
There are currently very few cameras that are made specifically for riding hats. However, many cameras come with a host of accessories, including straps that you can use to secure the camera to your hat. You need the camera to be held securely in place so that you record great footage, but you don’t want to be worried about it falling off when you’re galloping and jumping.
Battery life
One final consideration is the battery life. You don’t want it to run out and stop recording your ride.
Shop for hat cams
Techalogic Dc-1 Dual Lens Helmet Camera
Price £179.95 (plus £14.95 for an elasticated hat strap)
The DC1 is designed as a safety camera specifically for riders. It features dual front and back recording for an all-round recording of your ride and records super-sharp HD video that’s easy to edit thanks to the latest Sony Starvis Exmor Sensor.
It can also take photos and you can watch and playback footage with the Techalogic WiFi app. This camera is water and dust resistant and records for up to 2.5 hours.
It weighs just 104g and is held securely in place by an elasticated hat strap.
Apexcam M90 Pro Eis Action Camera
Price £72.99
This camera captures ultra-high-definition images and video footage. It also features EIS electronic image stabilisation for great quality images.
To capture more of your ride, this camera has a 170° wide-angle lens. You can also record time-lapse videos and burst photos, giving you lots of choice and fun.
It comes with a case that’s water-resistant up to 40 metres. There are 20 additional accessories, including a selfie stick, two rechargeable batteries and other helmet accessories.
Gopro Hero8
Price £259.98 (includes one year GoPro subscription)
A tough waterproof camera that captures 4k videos and 12 megapixels photos.
The HyperSmooth 2.0 video stabilisation has three modes. It can be adjusted for the activity you’re doing, which means the footage you get is clear, and the wide-angle lens captures more of your ride, too. Plus TimeWarp 2.0 produces great time-lapse videos.
This camera comes with two rechargeable batteries and a number of other accessories.
Veho Muvi Micro Hd10x Camcorder
Price £99.95
The Veho Muvi HD10X Micro hands-free camcorder is lightweight and small. The simple plug-and-play system makes it easy to use.
The spring-clip provided means you can attach it securely to your clothing or you can purchase a hat cam strap from Rider Eye (price £16 – ridereye.co.uk).
Battery life is up to 80 minutes and charging time is 90 minutes.
Apeman A77 Action Camera
Price £57.99
This action camera records 4k resolution videos and takes 16 megapixels photos, while its 170° lens will capture all the best scenery on your hacks.
A remote control to wear on your wrist enables you to take photos and record video in any situation. This camera comes with a waterproof case and is compatible with IOS and Android, so you can control the camera via your smartphone.
You also get two rechargeable batteries that can each record up to 90 minutes of footage.
Campark X20c Action Camera
Price from £61
This sports camera comes features a 170° wide-angle lens so you can capture a wider angle without losing any detail.
The ultra-HD video records all the action and there’s built-in wi-fi, a touch screen, and it’s waterproof. The camera comes with two rechargeable batteries, so you’ll have up to 90 minutes of recording time.
The wrist remote control lets you activate the camera easily while you’re riding.
Rider Eye Hi Vis Tabard with Pass at Max 10mph
Price from £28
Size: One size fits all
Colour: Orange, yellow, pink
This isn’t a camera — but it goes very well with one. This new tabard from Rider Eye was released after the maximum speed to pass horses was changed to 10mph in the Highway Code.
The tabard also features a camera and ‘filming’ notice to make drivers aware that they are being recorded. There are additional options, such as lights and a pocket.
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