GoPros are great for when you are hiking, biking, or doing just about anything. Did you know you can also use them for paintball?
The best ways to mount a GoPro for paintball include mounting the camera on the barrel with a bicycle mount. You can also use a head strap mount or install one on the top of your helmet. Side mounts and flat or curved mounts will also work. Don’t be afraid to customize them to fit your helmet.
Since there are a few ways to use a GoPro, you may not be sure how to mount it. This article will describe the six best ways to mount a GoPro for paintball. By the end of this article, you will know which way will be the best for you and the kind of video you want to shoot.
Mount the GoPro on Your Paintball Gun
The first way to mount the GoPro is to put it on your paintball gun. You can mount the GoPro on the barrel of the gun to get a unique view. An advantage of this option is that you won’t have to worry about another player shooting the GoPro while mounted on your head.
Use a Bicycle Mount for the Barrel
If you are looking for a cheap option, you can buy a bicycle mount. You can mount this right on your barrel. A benefit of bicycle mounts is that they usually come with a lot of adjustment options. The mount should fit on any barrel since you can easily tighten or loosen it.
Something to note about the bicycle mounts is that many are plastic, so make sure not to tighten them too much since they can break.
Should I Mount My GoPro on the Paintball Gun?
There are a few things to keep in mind when mounting your GoPro on the gun.
Since the gun barrel will be facing the ground a lot of the time, the video will require a lot of editing if you want to post it anywhere.
Furthermore, due to this reason, there won’t be as much usable footage compared to when you mount it somewhere else like your helmet.
Mount the GoPro on Your Helmet
This option is the most popular for paintball. There are a few different ways to mount the GoPro on your helmet. Let’s take a look at a few.
The Headstrap Mount
This particular mount is one of the most favored for paintball players. Most head straps are affordable and come with a silicone strip on the inside, which will help them stick to the helmet. Something to note about this option is that it adds a bit of height to your head, which you will have to remember when playing the game.
There are two ways you can use the head strap mount. You can either put it under your paintball mask or over your helmet. If you want to protect your GoPro from possible paintball hits, I would recommend putting it under your mask. The only downside of this is that the goggles may get foggy or have some paint residue on them that will lessen the video’s quality.
On the other hand, if you want to add some height to the video and be sure to catch everything with a wide-angle shot, then put the head strap outside of your helmet. If you want a visual example of how to attach the head strap to your paintball helmet, refer to the video below:
Check out the GoPro Head Strap with QuickClip on Amazon if you want to go with this option.
Mount Your Camera on the Top of Your Helmet
Another popular mount that people use is the top of the helmet mount. This mount will add a lot of height to your video and shoot quality video with a clear and straight POV. The one thing you will have to consider about this mount, though, is that it might be easier for other players to spot you since it adds quite a bit of height to you.
Side Helmet Mount
If you do not have a fully-closed helmet, you should consider using a side mount. This mount will give a close POV that viewers will enjoy watching. However, the perspective will be a little off since the camera will be a few inches to your left or right. The video that the GoPro records may also show the side of your helmet.
Flat and Curved Mounts
Another option is to use flat or curved mounts. Flat or curved mounts are a great option if you want something that you can easily install. You can install these mounts on any flat or curved surface so that the mounts will work anywhere on your helmet. To remove them, all you have to do is take a hairdryer and pry the mount off, which will not take much strength.
Check out the Wealpe Adhesive Helmet Mount for an affordable amount.
Modify a Mount for Your Helmet
A lot of paintball players will buy their favorite mount and modify it to fit their mask. Many masks on the market come with a few different openings/holes that give you a few different mounting options. To customize the mount, all you will need is a screwdriver. Let’s take a look at how you can do this.
- Unscrew the screws from the mount.
- One piece of the mount will go on the inside of your mask. The other will go on top of it.
- Take off the lens to make installation easier.
- After taking off the lens, decide where you want to install the mount.
- Once you know where you are installing it, take a screw and place it between the mask’s two vents, driving it in and out. The idea is to make a hole for later.
- Once you have made the holes, use the screws to install the upper part of the mount.
- Install the bottom piece of the mount into the bolts on the other side of the mask.
- Your mount should now be stable!
If you use GoPro mounts a lot, I would consider purchasing the SmilePowo 51-in-1 Action Camera Accessories Kit for GoPro – Amazon. It is a large set that comes with many different accessories for your GoPro that you can use in many different settings, not only paintballing.
What Mounts To Avoid
While there are a few different options for mounting your camera for paintballing, some mounts will not be suitable.
- Chest mounts. Make sure to avoid using chest mounts for paintball. Firstly, the camera will get in the way of your gun and will make it difficult to shoot. Secondly, the video will not catch a lot of action since your arms and gun will be blocking the camera most of the time.
- Chin mounts. Even though the chin mounts are very popular for GoPros, do not use these for paintball. The mount will constantly be in the way, especially when you aim and shoot your paintball gun.
Conclusion
There are a few ways to mount your GoPro for paintball. If you want a close POV, consider using a side mount or a curved or flat-mount. Use a top of the helmet mount if you want to add some height to your video. It will also give a straight POV with no odd angles.
You can also modify a mount to go wherever you want on the helmet by adjusting it. If you want a unique view, you can also mount the camera on the barrel of your gun. Lastly, make sure to avoid using chest and chin mounts.
