Insta360 X5

As a physicist and engineer, I use the X5 for multi-pitch climbing, ski touring and alpine tours, where there's no time to frame shots.

Highlights

On a backpack pole mount, or a back harness like those used for biking, the invisible pole disappears and you get amazing drone-like climbing videos. The lens guards are replaceable, which is a big plus on rock.

Drawbacks

Connection: Pairing was fine, but the app connection drops now and then.

Helmet: Too bulky, and the tall shape puts the center of gravity unfavorably high.

Underwater: The fisheye lenses are designed for air. Underwater they lose their refractive power, so images get blurry and stitching fails. You need the dive case, and this isn't clearly advertised.

Battery: Weak; bring spares for longer tours.

Suggestions: A more stable connection, a more compact shape, clear info on the dive case and a longer battery life.

For climbing, the X5 pulls off perspectives you simply cannot get with a normal action cam. Mounted on an invisible selfie stick attached to a dedicated camera harness or extending out from your backpack, it delivers insane, drone-like third-person views on exposed walls where flying a real drone is impossible. The 8K resolution handles harsh light transitions between shaded caves and bright rock effortlessly, letting you pull crisp still photos straight from the video, and the replaceable lenses are a lifesaver if you scrape the rock. Just forget about mounting it on your helmet—the tall, heavy body throws off your balance and catches on overhangs.

Take it into the water after the crag, however, and the experience gets frustrating fast. While the camera body survives down to 15 meters, water refraction ruins the focus of the bare fisheye lenses. Underwater shots without a housing come out blurry and unsharp, and the stitch line completely breaks apart. To get clear, seamless underwater footage, you are forced to buy and pack the bulky Invisible Dive Case.

4 / 5 Stars — Unbeatable for third-person climbing shots off a backpack pole or dedicated camera harness, just keep it off your helmet and don't expect usable underwater photos without the extra dive case.

For climbing, the X5 is a game-changer. Clipped to a harness or sticking out from a pack, the invisible selfie stick delivers insane, drone-like third-person angles on exposed multi-pitch walls where flying an actual drone is impossible or obnoxious. The 8K resolution and larger sensors handle harsh light transitions between shaded gullies and bright rock faces effortlessly, pulling crisp still photos straight from video. Best of all, the user-replaceable lenses mean an accidental scrape against rough rock is a quick swap rather than a dead camera. It is too bulky and heavy to attach to the helmet.

Take it into the water without accessories, however, and the experience falls apart. While the camera body survives down to 15 meters, water refraction throws off the curved fisheye lenses. Bare-camera underwater shots come out soft and out of focus, and the stitch line completely breaks down. To get sharp, seamless underwater footage, you are forced to buy and pack the bulky Invisible Dive Case.

4 / 5 Stars — Unbeatable for solo or partner climbing shots, just don't fall for the "waterproof without a case" marketing if you actually want clear underwater photos.