Who uses a hat cam? What sort? Any points pro & con?

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I'm looking around for a head cam but am a bit overwhelmed by the choice and the technical jargon. Can anyone help?

Ideally, the camera will fit onto my crash helmet as well as my riding hat (if that's even possible) and it would be a bonus if I could also bung it on the dashboard in the car.

Does anyone on here use a hat cam? If you do, could I ask you what you use and whether you're happy with it? What sorts of things do you like about it and what makes it a pain to use?

Thanks peeps :)
 
Many people on HRSA use cams, and they all report that it helps slow drivers and keeps them safer when riding. There is then the obvious funny parts of your hack when you are talking rubbish to yourself! lol

If you are interested have a look at the FB page, we have a 10% discount on selected cameras from hedcamz

https://www.facebook.com/groups/horsesafetyawareness/
 
I got a cheapie one (about 20 quid) from amazon. I got it to make videos of our rides, Its got a button that I can easily turn on and off which is convenient because even with a big memory card it only records about 20 mins before being full. I found it tricky to get the angle right though, I had to have a few rides before I got the right angle that shows the road and horses poll, and not sky or plain old tarmac. But it does what it needs to and the quality is good, I would spend great amounts on one to be honest.
 
contour roam 2. mounts to my equisafety hi viz head band. not cheap but good hard wearing kit. you can mount it anywhere you can stick it or strap it. waterproof. mine will record for a couple of hours. it has a laser alignment, so before you start you can check its pointing the right way.
thnk it cost around £180

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y1YUlYWP5o

is a video of mine. you can hd this film is a low res to speed up youtube
 
We use the Muvi. Its about £20 from Amazon - but you do need to buy a spare high volume card as the one it comes with is too small. You can clip it to your BP or coat (an advantage that as the view doesn't swing as crazily as it does when you turn your head) Fix it to your hat with gaffer tape, or clip it onto one of those Hi Viz hat bands. With a large card we get about 6 hours recording time. You do need a bit of a play to know how to get it pointing the right angle but once you get that sussed it is great. The body of the camera is small and flat so it is less of a risk (IMHO) to ribs or head should you fall. Plus at £20 if it is smashed in a fall it isn't too expensive to replace! We record training rounds, competitions (with permission!) use it out hunting and on hacks. I'm trying to get a "smile you're on camera" Hi Viz jacket as there is quite a bit of evidence that drivers behave better if they know they might be filmed!
 
I use a GoPro, absolutely brilliant! Use it in my lessons, sometimes get my instructor to wear it when giving me a lesson, took it out to India when I rode across the desert there and it is still perfect order! You can get a range of mount for it so it could go in your car and on your helmet etc.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll look up the cameras suggested.
equi said:
There is then the obvious funny parts of your hack when you are talking rubbish to yourself! lol
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Ah, yes. ...hadn't thought of that - glad I'm not the only one who does it :D

domsmith said:
is a video of mine. you can hd this film is a low res to speed up youtube
Click to expand...
I can't see the video atm but I'll try again later (it's my laptop not your video).

Shay said:
The body of the camera is small and flat so it is less of a risk (IMHO) to ribs or head should you fall. Plus at £20 if it is smashed in a fall it isn't too expensive to replace!
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That's a good point. I was wondering how things would work if I came off my bike (have done in the past and rolled quite a distance so certainly don't want to be doing that with something bulky attached to my crash helmet).

I partly want the camera for fun but also partly because of some of the unbelievable things I see on the roads. Maybe we should post some of our videos on HHO ;)
 
I've got a Drift helmet camera and whilst the quality of the footage is pretty decent, I just can't get it to stay stable on my helmet. I find that it wobbles around quite a bit (especially when trotting!) and does sort of weigh my head down to one side. It's also a bit fiddly to use... there is a wrist band with a start and stop button but the only way to know whether you've successfully switched it on or not is to hear the beep. That's not so easy when you're riding and it's windy!

I've just ordered a GoPro as after some research that seems to come out on top. They are costly and fortunately I can put mine on the company, but if you want really good quality footage and an all round decent product that seems to be the best choice.
 
I have a Go Pro Hero 3 ( Christmas present) I am really pleased with it. I have the app for my i-phone and manage the footage n there. This version has a remote control that I attach to the D ring of the saddle it's really useful, I have only had it mounted on my helmet I don't even know it's there. I was lucky enough to film us jumping a fallen branch that was blocking a bridle path a couple of weeks ago and as I hack alone that footage is just priceless :)
Top tip about getting the instructor to wear it hadn't thought of that.
 
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