Looking for the inside scoop on one of the best adventure camera’s on the market? The Insta360 5X is a weather-ready camera capable of capturing unique angles in a variety of conditions with wind-guard audio. The 360 is ideal for adventures looking to capture video specifically.

Why this blog? Hi there! My name is Maddy and I’ve worked as a freelance writer and photographer/ outdoor guide since 2018. I’m committed to helping you find the best gear for your adventure!

My Insta360 was gifted in order to review. This blog uses affiliate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

Insta360 5X Review: Best Outdoor Adventure Camera For Video

From wind-resistance to price points, here are some things to consider before buying the Insta360 5X:

1) Price Point vs Value

The Insta360 5X costs $550 USD for the camera alone, but for best use you’ll want to pair with a selfie stick or tripod. This puts the 360 at the more expensive end of adventure cameras (compare to the typical GoPro at $450).

Compared to the GoPro, the 360 offers more flexibility when it comes to framing and creative angles leading to a lot more artistic control. I personally have found the 360 to be more user-friendly than the GoPro as well, and easily gone from shooting directly into post-production for Vlogs. While the GoPro probably remains your best option for true action photography, the 360 works better when it comes to creative storytelling, capturing more and giving you more to work with.

Another video camera option at a similar price point is the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR. This will run you near $500 for the body alone, and a good lens will run you probably closer to $600. This is the camera I have used for most of my career as an outdoor content creator, primarily for photography. The SL3 is really a fundamentally different tool than the 360, but I think they work in concert really well to build out any aspiring outdoor content creator’s kit.

2) Video vs Photo Capability

The Insta360 5X really shines when it comes to wide, sweeping angles that capture an expansive scene and, in my opinion, makes for the ideal camera for vlogging. The low-light settings and underwater capability, as well as capability of shooting in up to 8k (even in the 360 setting) make it extremely versatile for camping.

I’ve used the 360 on two major trips (which I’ll share more about below!): thru-hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail and winter camping in the Outer Banks. One of my big takeaways is that while the 360 excels at those sweeping wide angle shots and pretty much everything needed for vlogging, detail shots and zoom isn’t really a thing (though you can close-crop in post-processing). For this reason, I’ll probably plan to always bring another camera of some sort, even just the iPhone, to support the 360.

3) The 360 Photo/Video

The most interesting aspect of the Insta360 is the 360 photo/video itself, which is basically an all-around view from the camera that allows you to reframe your shots in post processing after shooting. This can lead to some really cool angles and allows a lot of creative control.

I’m still playing around with and learning exactly what the 360 camera has to offer but I have so far found it a very intriguing tool. The “tiny earth” angle (above) is just one of the options for framing in a 360 photo — all of the photos in this article were shot in 360 mode, but to be honest I find the normal video settings some of the most functional and biggest pros of the 360. It just takes really nice basic video, which is important for the average vlogger.

Also, lol at my fully missing hand in the 360 “tiny earth” photo above. It’s not actually missing, it was just SO COLD it was buried in my sleeve.

4) Drone-like shot capability

Another big pro of the Insta360 is that when paired with a long (three meter!) selfie-stick you can emulate a drone like shot. This can be especially useful when backpacking or in wilderness areas.

To be totally honest, I’m not a big fan of the look of drone photography, and since a lot of the content I capture is on wilderness trips where drones are often not allowed, I don’t for see myself using this feature often. Even if the Insta360 is not a drone, I wouldn’t want to post something that gives the impression that drones are allowed in national park.

5) Replaceable lens

I’m hard on photography gear — I’ve actually already scratched the Insta360 lens on it’s very first backpacking trip. The good news is it’s super easy to replace the lens with a lens replacement kit. I would mention that the one potential con I’ve noticed is that the lens scratches pretty easily, so you do really need to baby it or be ready to replace it.

My lens scratched being tucked in my backpacking bag’s side pocket, with nothing in the pocket to rub up against other than a smooth plastic water bottle and the nylon of the pocket itself (no rocks or debris, the bag was new and clean) which was pretty surprising. Anyhow, just remember to use the lens protectors and don’t be afraid to replace the lens.

6) Underwater capability

The Insta360 is waterproof up to 10-15m, which I haven’t personally tested (YET) but look forward to trying out this spring and summer. This was one of things about the 360 I was most excited about. Expect a full report in the near future right here 🙂

7) Insta 360 while Thru-Hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail

My first use of the Insta360 was early this February on the Trans-Catalina Trail, a hike on an island in California. I hiked 40 miles in 4 days filming throughout using a mix of shots from the Insta360 and my phone.

The Insta360 turned out to be the pretty much ideal backpacking camera. It was lightweight and fit into side pockets making it very easy to access throughout the hike, and had really beautiful low light capabilities for filming around the campfire.

8) Insta 360 while Winter Camping Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The second trip I took the Insta360 on with the purpose of making a vlog was a winter camping trip in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. We were contending with a historic snowstorm just North of us, temperatures below freezing, and winds gusting to 40 mph.

The thing I was most impressed with on this trip was the wind/noise reducer, which allowed me to retain audio quality, even with a tent shaking around me or walking and talking in winds that were basically blowing me sideways.

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