The best GoPro accessories really do make the GoPro experience even better. GoPro Hero cameras are useful in a huge range of situations, and the best accessories help customize yours for very specific sports or activities – to help get those unique angles that are not usually possible with traditional cameras. We'd bet that's why you got a GoPro in the first place.
For example, if you're taking your GoPro camera on bike rides to capture the sense of speed and freedom, a helmet or chest mount will be perfect. For deep underwater, a protective case will improve the GoPro's waterproofing. Or, if you're trying to create professional quality vlogs for YouTube then an external microphone is will vastly improve your audio. We've included accessories for the latest GoPro Hero 11 and earlier models. Tailor your choices to your goals.
GoPro makes plenty of its own accessories, but there are also many third-party alternatives. Some are cheaper and still good, others are cheap and best avoided. In this guide we've included a mixture of the two and only put in accessories we think are genuinely worth the money.
We've also put in some basic, generic camera accessories that pretty much any photographer or videographer will want, like bags and memory cards. In this case, we've gone with trusted manufacturers like Manfrotto and SanDisk.
GoPro has never been one to sit on its laurels, and the latest Hero cameras can be extensively customized with a fantastic selection of media mods, such as the Max Lens Mod, which is perfect to record your POV street photography. We've given these Mods their own dedicated section in this guide.
Of course, even if you're still rocking an older GoPro Hero camera like the Hero 3 (and why not, if it still works?) there are loads of great accessories that can improve your shooting. We've made sure this guide is useful for everyone no matter what type of GoPro they're using.
So, with all that out of the way, let's get to the accessories!
The best GoPro accessories in 2023
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Best GoPro mounts
If you’re planning to take your GoPro mountain biking, hiking, or on other similar adventures, you’d do well to get yourself this hands-free Chesty mount, allowing you to fully immerse your viewers in the action.
Made from lightweight, breathable fabric, the Chesty also sports a quick-release buckle that allows it to be slipped on and off with ease, which we appreciate. Its adjustable straps ensure it fits over a vast majority of body types. There is enough flexibility that it can be worn over heavy jackets for adventures in the cold.
We like this because it combines multiple useful accessories into one. The Handler is both a handgrip and flotation device. This means that while the non-slip grip should allow you to keep a hold of your camera in the water, if it did slip out of your hands, it won't sink to the bottom of the ocean.
The equipped wrist-strap lanyard also helps with keeping the device secure and close by. Making it easier to get creative angles and stable video footage, the Handler is a do-it-all grip that works in multiple environments. What's more, thanks to the built-in quick-release plate, it's easy to swap the camera from one mount to another in rapid time.
The classic suction cup. Mount your GoPro onto a car, boat, dirt bike – basically anything with enough flat surface to make the attachment. The cup’s grip has been tested at speeds of more than 150mph, so we feel more than confident in opening up that throttle and letting rip, safe in the knowledge that adventures will be captured (and the GoPro not lost).
Extending to an impressive 38in (97cm) and collapsing to just 15in (38cm), El Grande is a great choice to take on travels for capturing unique perspectives and getting selfies. We appreciate the integrated ball and socket design at the end of the pole, which makes for easy camera swivelling, and the oversized grip means my fingers get a good purchase. What’s more, it’s waterproof.
Also, see The best selfie sticks
The Fetch can be mounted on your dog’s back or chest, providing two different perspectives. It’s comfortable, breathable, and also machine-washable, which is useful if or when your dog decides to roll in something unpleasant with the camera attached.
It’s adjustable to fit dogs weighing 15 to 120 lbs (7 to 55kg), though if you’ve got an extra-tiny puppy, you can reduce the size by removing the chest mount.
This impressive 3-Way is an amazingly versatile piece of kit – you can fully extend it to 20in to use it as a selfie stick, collapse it down to 7.5in and use it as a security camera grip, or erect it as a tripod to provide static camera support.
It isn’t quite as stable as a dedicated tripod, but if you're not using it in high winds or on particularly tricky surfaces you should be fine. If, like us, you like to travel light this is a fantastic space-saving accessory that offers tremendous use in many situations.
Sometimes you just want to capture that perfect first-person perspective. The Head Strap + QuickClip from GoPro is a useful double package that includes both a fully adjustable head strap and a clip designed for quick attachment to caps, belts, and similar items of apparel. It’s a useful pairing that can work in many environments to capture unique perspectives, and we don't mind the price, either.
The Jaws Flex Clamp allows you to securely attach your GoPro camera to objects ranging in size from 0.25 to 2in (0.6 to 5cm) in diameter. The malleable neck allows you to position the camera exactly as you want to best capture what you want it to see, though if you want a lower shooting profile you can remove the neck and attach the camera directly to the clamp itself.
The Jaws are designed to grip irregular shapes and even extremely thin objects of less than a centimetre, meaning you can be sure of a secure grip on practically anything.
GoPro offers a few helmet mounts for different types of protective headwear, but the Front + Side Mount is the most versatile of the bunch. As the name implies, you can stick it on the front or side of your headgear, depending on what suits you best, and it comes with an included Swivel Mount assembly that makes it easy to adjust the angle to your liking.
See also Best helmet cameras
While GoPro-branded accessories tend to be more expensive than third-party alternatives, the Shorty is a really strong product and is definitely worth considering if you're looking for a mini-tripod, handgrip, or extension pole – as it's all three! Collapsing down to 11.7cm and extending out to 22.7cm, it covers loads of shooting situations, and its three legs fan out into a stable support for quick tripod shots.
See also Best selfie sticks • Best invisible selfie sticks
Useful for bike handlebars, ski poles and other similar applications, this secure mount uses a hinged, non-slip design to clamp on securely. Its 360° base allows for easy changes of angle, and if you’re using it in combination with other mounts like a helmet mount, the mounting buckle allows you to quickly swap the camera on and off.
With its many-jointed legs and grippy, rubberized feet, the Gorillapod from Joby has long been a favorite among photographers looking for versatile camera support. Wrap it around a tree branch, hook it to a car door, or just rest it on a rough surface, and you’ll have yourself a reliable base.
Its sheer versatility makes the Gorillapod the best tripod for many run-and-gun shooter, and the Action Tripod is specially optimized for GoPro cameras – its compact form factor makes it a great addition to a GoPro-focused kit bag.
This strong simple clip has coated metal grips onto which the GoPro's clip can easily be dropped and rotated, making for something which can be attached to your backpack strap, or nearby furniture, then directed anywhere in 360-degrees for easy framing.
The magnetic mount can also be used without the clip to attach the GoPro to metal objects – from gym equipment to fridges – for equally convenient placement, and as an established GoPro product it's been tested on many generations of GoPro with extremely positive feedback.
GoPro Mods for Hero11, Heor10, Hero9, Hero8, and Max
The GoPro Volta is a tripod and grip, as well as a wireless remote with a reach of up to 98 feet when paired with a Hero 9 and Hero 10 Black. It’s also a 4600mAh power bank that works with any USB-C device.
A worthy addition to any GoPro user’s arsenal, its permanently-fixed cable is clumsy, and the grip is relatively pricey, but its utility can’t be argued with, and as part of the Creator Edition bundle, it upgrades the GoPro into a mega-portable entry-level filming rig.
This Mod was first introduced with the GoPro 9, but is compatible with every GoPro up to the 11 and 11 Mini. This is a super-widangle adaptor, that widens out the coverage of the lens to a staggering 155° field of view. It also increases image stabilization, give you access to the Max Hypersmooth facility found on the GoPro Max
On the GoPro 9 and GoPro 10 the Mod also adds 360º horizon lock. This means the camera can be rotated through 360º and still keep the footage completely steady against the horizon. This feature is now built-in as standard to the Hero 11, without the need for this ultra-wide lens converter.
While it's been possible to augment GoPro cameras with professional accessories for some time (and you'll see a few on this list), the Media Mod represents GoPro's latest attempt to bring that kind of stuff in-house.
This Media Mod – upsized for the larger chassis on the Hero9 Black – is designed as a one-stop-shop to bump up the production value of videos shot on the Hero 9; it contains a built-in directional mic as well as a 3.5mm mic port; two cold-shoe mounts for attaching other accessories like lights; and an HDMI output for monitoring and playback.
See our full GoPro Media Mod review for more details
This is the original Media Mod launched to help GoPro users turn the Hero8 Black into a serious vlogging or filming rig. It’s got the same built-in directional mic, 3.5mm mic port, an HDMI output for monitoring and playback, and two cold-shoe mounts for attaching other accessories.
Those two cold-shoe mounts are designed for Light Mod and Display Mod, the latter of which essentially makes the Hero8 Black match-up to the pricier Hero9 Black, at least in one key area.
If you're going to be shooting exciting vlogs and selfies of your travels with the Hero 8 Black, then it helps to have a screen that lets you see what you're doing. A clear riposte to the DJI Osmo Action and its front-facing screen, the Display Mod gives Hero8 Black users the option to have a flip-up LCD of their own.
Worth mentioning that this mod requires the Media Mod in order to work, so it does involve a bit of an outlay, but if you're planning on a lot of vlogging it's a must. The inclusion on the Hero9 Black and Hero10 Black of a front-facing color screen lessens the appeal of the Display Mod, though its built-in rechargeable battery and micro-HDMI connector may still constitute an upgrade for serious filmmakers.
For a little extra light to have in a pinch, the Light Mod – which attaches to the Media Mods for the Hero8 Black, Hero9 Black, Hero10 Black, or Hero11 Black – is an excellent choice. It's got four levels of brightness for fine-tuning the amount of light you want, as well as a 30-second Overdrive mode that puts out maximized brightness for when you need to push a little further. It also has a strobe mode for signaling and visibility and puts out light with a color temperature of 5700K.
See our full GoPro Light Mod review for more details
Spare GoPro batteries
The GoPro Hero11 announcement also introduced a new Enduro battery, which is compatible with the Hero 10 Black and Hero 9 Black only. With an increased 1720mAh battery capacity, you can increase the runtime of your Hero11 Balck by 38% and up to 40% with either a Hero10 or Hero9 Black.
The GoPro Hero9 takes a different battery to all previous Hero Black models – with an increased 1720mAh battery capacity. You might surmise that this means that you get a longer running time from the bigger pack – but in fact, the extra juice is needed to run the introduction of the front LCD screen.
It's easy to chew up your battery life when making full use of the GoPro Max's 360-degree shooting capabilities, so make sure you've got all the spare power you need with this extra rechargeable battery. Keep it as a spare and you'll be more than covered for a full day's shooting in glorious 360 degrees.
This one-size-fits-all battery for the majority of recent GoPro models – including the Hero 8 Black and Hero 7 Black, but beware! This won’t work in the new Hero 9 Black, which has a new, bigger battery. For the older GoPro models, however, this inexpensive battery is a great backup to have on your travels. You’re likely to bring a GoPro to places where you won’t have access to a charger, so make sure you have a spare battery to avoid losing power at the worst of times.
Spare batteries are a must for any serious shooter – you don’t want to take your GoPro out for a day only to discover you forgot to charge it the previous night and are now toting a stylish but functionless brick to the beach. The Dual Battery Charger from GoPro allows you to charge two batteries at the same time, and comes with a spare in the box, meaning it’s easy to make sure you’re gassed up and ready to go.
Read more: The best camera battery
GoPro housings
If you're planning on some diving excursions with the Hero 9 Black or Hero 10 Black, then this protective housing should definitely be your first port of call. It extends the underwater range of the camera to 60m, and has a useful skeleton backdoor for improved audio capture. It doesn't just have to be used for underwater adventures; it can be a useful way to keep dust and debris off the main body of your GoPro Hero 9 or Hero 10 Black if you're taking it on a bike ride or similar.
There's a basically identical housing available for the Hero 8, and if you have an earlier model there's also the Super Suit, detailed below...
Some people find out the hard way that GoPro cameras do not float. Don't be one of those people; get yourself a Floaty and never have to worry about your GoPro Hero19 Black, Hero10 Black, or Hero 9 sinking beneath the depths. The bright orange coloring also makes it easy to see if you lose your grip on the camera, and the extra layer of protective padding is no bad thing either. If you're a Hero8 owner, there's also a Floaty specifically made for that camera.
Speaking of waterproof camera models, while GoPro has started adding native waterproofing to its more recent Hero cameras, the deepest they’ll go is 10m. If you plan on diving and are using a Hero 7 Black or older, your best bet is GoPro’s own Super Suit. Its included Waterproof Backdoors allow for diving down to up to 60m (196ft), and it has a flat glass lens to deliver maximum sharpness.
The case also serves as protection against dust and flying debris. The Waterproof Doors can be swapped out for Skeleton Doors to allow for use of the touchscreen, though this will make the case no longer waterproof.
If you are using the GoPro Hero 7 Silver or Hero 7 White, then you need to buy this underwater housing if you want to take your action camera deeper than the 10m that the basic camera provides. This Protective Housing offers the ability to go to 40m underwater, making it a great choice for scuba.
GoPro extras
A compact and well-designed backpack for a day’s hiking, cycling, skiing or snowboarding, the Daytripper replaces the slightly larger GoPro Seeker backpack. Its hero feature is a built-in mount on the left-hand shoulder strap that can take any model of GoPro.
This compact 15-liter backpack also has an easily accessible compartment for cameras, batteries, and memory cards on top, and behind the straps is a zone that can take – and protect – a 15-inch laptop, while the main area can easily house a DSLR and other gear.
Read full GoPro Daytripper backpack review
Casey is a simple, straightforward semi-hard case designed to keep your GoPro and all its ancillary accessories safe in one place. It’s got a customisable interior with adjustable dividers, so you can make the space your own, and there’s also a removable pouch insert that’s great for small bits like SD cards. The hard shell protects against shocks, while the weather-resistant design adds a layer of protection for inclement weather.
SanDisk’s reputation for high-quality SD cards is well-deserved. The Extreme series pairs lightning-fast read/write speeds with a hardy build that’s waterproof, temperature-proof, shock-proof, and X-ray proof.
Among the best memory card options on the market, these are 4K-ready, with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) ratings, so you can be confident in capturing even the highest quality of the footage.
Also, see Best microSD cards
Here's an easy way to transfer your files from card to smart device: the GoPro Quik Key, which as the name implies, attaches to your keys and specialises in fast transfers. Simply stick the card in the reader, plug it into your device via micro USB, and you're away, able to quickly share your creations via the Capture app. It's also got a weather-resistant cover, ensuring you can take it anywhere you need to go.
There are so many camera backpacks to choose from, but this bag from Manfrotto is specifically designed for users of GoPros and other action cameras. While it’s small enough to take as carry-on luggage, it can hold up to three action cameras with accessories, and even comes with its own GoPro mount on one of its straps, making it great for recording your travels. There’s also space for a tablet and a holder for a tripod, making it one of the best camera bags for the adventurous photographer.
Though GoPro on-board sound recording is getting better and better, if you want maximum quality you’re going to want to spring for a dedicated microphone. One of the most cost-effective is the RØDE VideoMic GO, an eminently capable, high-quality directional video microphone that will dramatically improve the audio you’re capturing. Be aware that some older models won’t have the appropriate jack so you may need an adapter.
See also Best microphone for vlogging
If you need extra illumination for your shoots then the Lume Cube is a great choice as it’s built from a tough metal shell and waterproof down to 10m, meaning it can take the same sort of punishment as your GoPro camera.
It puts out a generous amount of light, especially at short distances, and while its size means it only has one control button (which allows you to power it up and cycle through four brightness settings), it also offers Bluetooth control via mobile.
See also Best LED light panels
While many GoPro cameras are controllable with your phone, many phones aren’t equipped for the kinds of challenges you might put your GoPro through.
That’s where the waterproof (10m) Smart Remote comes in. It’s wearable, waterproof, and can control up to 50 GoPro cameras at the same time from up to 180m away. Its built-in LCD can also mirror the camera’s screen for quick confirmation of status and settings.
See also Best camera remotes
It was an extremely welcome move when GoPro started introducing touchscreens into its Hero cameras, but screens of course do need to be looked after, and this is doubly true for action cameras that are thrown into tough situations.
GoPro’s screen protector set is a simple, inexpensive solution, not only safeguarding your screens from scratches and smudges but also reducing glare on sunny days, making the screen easier to see and use.
FAQs
What GoPro accessories are essential?
First and foremost you'll need a storage card – generally the bigger the better. Next on the list for most people should be spare batteries, because the GoPro's size means that batteries have a limited life. After that your choice of accessory will be dictated by what you're doing – a travel grip like the GoPro Shorty for vlogging, for example, is a popular choice.
What is the main drawback of a GoPro?
Because a GoPro has to be small, and do a lot of computing work to process stable video, it does use battery faster than a big camera. That's why it's important to keep more than one if you're looking to capture a day (or more).
Why are there so many GoPro accessories?
There are a lot of accessories for a few reasons. Mainly you can do a LOT with the GoPro; it's compact, waterproof (since the HERO5), and has a very widely used (and strong) mounting system. If you can think of a sport, game, or traditionally difficult filming scenario, you can bet someone has made a GoPro adaptor for it. Probably several. We're just picking the best!
The number is also pushed up by the fact that not every GoPro is exactly the same; the shape (and battery shape) changes over time, so essentials change too.
What we look for in GoPro accessories
GoPro accessories come in all shapes, and sizes and all have a unique way in which they can help us improve our filmmaking. These might gain you extra height while on location or keep your GoPro from sinking after that radical wave, thanks to flotation handles or surrounds.
All the accessories within this guide are either produced by GoPro themselves or by third parties that we know offer great solutions at a good price point to help boost your filmmaking. From chest mounts, and spare batteries, to lens mods - there is something for everyone on any budget.
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