Best Gopro Gimbal for Every Hero Model in 2023
Here are the top GoPro gimbals for your HERO 9/10/11, as well as tried-and-true gimbals for older GoPro models. A must-have for motion timelapses and more.
Gimbals are a slightly contentious subject in the GoPro world.
The advent of GoPro’s HyperSmooth in-camera image stabilization has been called the ‘gimbal killer’.
But, this is a tad extreme, as gimbals, a stable of the film and videography industry, will always have a use.
This way of thinking, though, could be why manufacturers, on the whole, have been slow to update GoPro gimbals.
There seems to be little demand, so focusing on smartphone gimbals is more profitable.
3-Axis stabilizer promotes buttery smooth GoPro footage with multiple working modes for the ultimate in filming variety.
GoPro themselves haven’t released a new gimbal since the outdated Karma Grip (which isn’t compatible with the GoPro Hero 8, 9, or 10).
Fortunately, there are now some new options springing up for owners of both recent and older GoPro models.
In the products that make up this list, I’ve made sure to let you know which GoPros these gimbals are compatible with.
Now you can work out which is the best GoPro gimbal for you.
Table of Contents
What is the Best GoPro Gimbal in 2023?
Image | Product | Features | |
---|---|---|---|
Hohem iSteady Pro 4OUR TOP PICK |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → | |
INKEE FalconRUNNER UP |
| Check Amazon Price → | |
Roxant Pro Video Camera StabilizerBEST BUDGET |
| Check Amazon Price → | |
Zhiyun Crane M3 ComboBEST FOR PROFESSIONAL VIDEOGRAPHERS |
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GravGrip V2 |
| Check Amazon Price → | |
FeiyuTech WG2XBEST WEARABLE GIMBAL |
| Check Amazon Price → | |
GoPro Karma Grip |
| Check Amazon Price → | |
Feiyu Vimble 2A |
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Hohem iSteady Pro 4 (Our Top Pick)
- LED lights show the remaining battery charge
- Simple, secure, easy-to-use quick-release mount
- Pairs easily with Bluetooth
- Can control GoPro from the Hohem app
- Won’t work with GoPro Media Mod
Hohem’s iSteady Pro 4 is a function-packed piece of equipment.
It holds your GoPro securely in a simple quick-release mount and from the control pad on the handle you can pan, tilt, and roll your GoPro, all while keeping it level.
And once you pair your GoPro to the gimbal using Bluetooth, your world opens up.
Connect your GoPro to the Hohem app, and you can use your GoPro as a remote camera. You can control it completely from the app, even to set up timed waypoints to create motion time lapses.
This gimbal also contains a battery that holds up to fourteen hours of charge – plenty of time to do the majority of filming you might need a GoPro for.
The Hohem iSteady Pro 4 is compatible with the GoPro Hero 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3.
INKEE Falcon (Runner Up)
- Modes for different gimbal settings
- Wireless control option from handle
- Can be operated from an app
- Compatible with GoPro Light Mod and Media Mod
- Slight motor noise in some modes
- The handle is a little short
This offering, from INKEE, is another good gimbal option for GoPro users. It will have no problem keeping your image steady however you want to move your action camera.
The GoPro connects to the gimbal with a traditional GoPro mount. As this is at the bottom of the camera, it means you can also use GoPro accessories such as the Light Mod and the Media Mod.
With the INKEE Falcon, you get 9 hours of battery life when its in-built battery is fully charged, and it also has a reverse charging function, so you can keep your GoPro juiced up on the move.
Like the Hohem, this can also be paired with and controlled from an app.
One of its best features: you can select from custom modes which lock one or more of the axes, for example, pan and tilt mode, or pan follow mode. That’s creative control!
The INKEE Falcon is compatible with the GoPro Hero 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7.
Roxant Pro Video Camera Stabilizer (Best Budget)
- Good build quality
- Inexpensive
- Available in a variety of colours
- Can be complicated to calibrate the camera with gimbal
- Obtrusive design
The Roxant Pro Video Camera Stabilizer is a relatively no-frills piece of kit.
It has no battery, and there’s no way to pair it with an app, but what it is, is a simple, mechanical gimbal that will help you get smooth footage.
It might take a bit of time and fine-tuning to get your GoPro perfectly balanced and in sync with the Roxant, but once you do you’ll be flying.
The Roxant Pro Video Camera stabilizer is compatible with every GoPro.
Zhiyun Crane M3 Combo (Best for Professional Videographers)
- Ergonomic, compact design
- Built-in fill light
- Can be controlled through an app
- Great build-quality
- Expensive
- Calibration can be complicated
This is a professional-level piece of kit that can be used not only with all the best GoPro cameras but DSLRs.
It’s white, kind of looks like a stormtrooper, and has a host of features to keep the professional videographer happy.
It has 8 hours of in-built battery life, and you can also charge your camera from the gimbal.
You can control the gimbal and any Wi-Fi-enabled camera directly from the Zhiyun Crane’s full-colour OLED screen, or a smartphone using the ZY Play app.
It also has a built-in fill light (handy for those low-light vlogs) and gives you creative filming options with, for example, time-lapse and slow-motion capture modes.
The Zhiyun Crane M3 is compatible with the GoPro Hero 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7.
GravGrip V2
- Battery-free
- Waterproof
- Simple to assemble and use
- Compatible with other action cameras and mobile phones
- Build quality feels cheap
- Limited movement compared to traditional gimbals
The GravGrip V2 is a battery-free hydraulic camera stabiliser that will stabilise your camera on a tilt axis. Not being able to get those seriously low-angle shots will be a thing of the past.
Although its range of movement is limited compared to other gimbals – just along one axis – as it has no electronic parts and is therefore waterproof, you’ll be able to use it in a greater variety of weather conditions.
All in all, a very useful piece of equipment to have in your arsenal, perhaps as a compliment to one of the other gimbals on this list.
The GravGrip V2 is compatible with all GoPros.
Best Gimbals for Older GoPros (HERO8 and Earlier)
Not everyone has one of the latest GoPros, and not all new GoPro gimbals are compatible with the older models.
There’s still a lively market out there for people who are just getting into action cameras and buying older GoPros to have a go with them before committing to something more expensive.
So which gimbals could these folk use? Here are some options:
FeiyuTech WG2X (Best Wearable Gimbal)
- Lightweight
- 4 shooting modes
- Can be controlled through an app
- Splash-proof not waterproof
- Ultra-compact design limits available controls
The FeiyuTech WG2X is one of the few gimbals that is made to attach to your body. You can wear it using the GoPro chesty, or any other compatible chest harness.
You’re not limited to that though. It also has a tripod mount thread, which can be used to attach a selfie stick or compact tripod so it’s as if you have a traditional gimbal.
It has four shooting modes and a rechargeable battery that lasts about 2 hours.
The FeiyuTech WG2X is compatible with the GoPro Hero 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4.
GoPro Karma Grip
- Easy to mount camera
- No calibration or balancing required
- Can transfer files to a computer through gimbal
- Relatively expensive
- Only two default operational modes
This, GoPro’s first official gimbal, is compatible with the Hero 7 Black, Hero 6 Black, Hero 5 Black, Hero 4 Black (Hero 4 Harness required), and the Hero 4 Silver (Hero 4 Harness required).
It’s extremely easy to mount – plug the camera in, close the side door, done – and to use. Unlike some gimbals, as this is made specifically for GoPros, once the camera is mounted, there’s nothing else you have to do, no balancing necessary.
Another benefit to this being a GoPro-specific accessory is that you can control your GoPro directly from the gimbal’s handle.
The GoPro Karma Grip is compatible with the GoPro Hero 7, 6, and 5.
Feiyu Vimble 2A
- 10 hours of battery life
- Telescopic arm
- Good build-quality
- Can be fiddly to mount camera
A motorized gimbal for you to pan, tilt and roll your older GoPro. And like many of the gimbals for the latest GoPros, one with which you can use a dedicated mobile app for control.
You can operate the gimbal directly from a telescopic handle that has an extra 7.2 inches of length. The handle has a built-in battery, too, that has ten hours of life when fully charged.
It’s a no-nonsense piece of kit that is going to give your GoPro footage that extra dash of stability.
The Feiyu Vimble 2A is compatible with the GoPro Hero 8, 7, 6, and 5
Does a GoPro Need a Gimbal?
Technically, no.
GoPros, with their in-built HyperSmooth Flow image stabilization, do a lot of the work previously outsourced to gimbals in-camera.
But there are several reasons you might still want to use a gimbal with a GoPro.
Firstly, when you pair your GoPro with an app, you can use it as a remote camera. Stick your GoPro on the gimbal’s tripod and you can control it from your phone.
Secondly, image stabilization works by cropping parts of the original footage, so you might lose part of your point of view. If you turn off image stabilization in-camera and use the gimbal to stabilize, you’ll end up with a wider perspective.
Thirdly, image stabilization doesn’t work as well in low-light conditions or if you’re using an ND filter. Gimbals fix this.
Fourthly, the gimbal has a battery of its own, so can either increase your shoot duration or be used to charge your GoPro.
Finally, nothing beats a gimbal for shooting cinematic footage. There’s a reason they’re still used on film sets.
How Do You Attach a GoPro to a Gimbal?
It depends entirely on the brand of gimbal.
Some have quick-release mounts, others mount by way of a traditional GoPro mount, while others might hold the GoPro in place with a clasp.
Here are some general steps to take:
- Ensure that the gimbal you are using is compatible with your GoPro model.
- Turn on the gimbal and place it on a flat surface. Make sure the gimbal is balanced and calibrated before attaching the GoPro.
- Attach the mounting bracket to the GoPro camera using the screw provided.
- Attach the mounting bracket to the gimbal, making sure it is securely attached.
- Turn on the GoPro and ensure that it is properly aligned with the gimbal. Make any necessary adjustments to the camera position.
- Turn on the gimbal and begin using it to stabilize your GoPro footage.
GoPro Gimbals: FAQs
What does a GoPro gimbal do?
The best GoPro gimbal allows your camera to film buttery smooth footage while panning, rolling, and tilting. It also holds your camera steady while you move.
One of the best ways to think of a gimbal is like car suspension for your GoPro. Without suspension, you’d feel every bump.
Is buying a GoPro gimbal worth it?
It’s definitely worth it if you want to create cinematic footage or give your film an extra layer of stability, on top of GoPro’s HyperSmooth.
As many GoPro gimbals can be placed on a tripod and controlled using a smartphone app, they’re also great options to turn your GoPro into a remote camera.
Another use of a gimbal is as a selfie stick or boom combined with a battery. You can either extend your shooting time significantly or charge on the go.
What is the best gimbal for GoPro Hero 11?
In my opinion, the best GoPro gimbal for the Hero 11 is Hohem’s iSteady Pro 4. This gimbal has all the features you’d expect from a gimbal for GoPro in 2023.
Which brand of gimbal stabilizer is best?
I think if you’re looking for a professional piece of equipment, the Zhiyun crane M3 is a great choice.
Can you attach a gimbal to a chest mount?
Yes, you can. The FeiyuTech WG2X, for example, can be attached to a chest mount such as GoPro’s own chesty.
Are GoPro gimbals waterproof?
As they contain moving electrical parts, most of them aren’t (although they’re often splash-proof). Hydraulic gimbals though, like the GravGrip V2 are completely waterproof.
Time to Stabilize Your GoPro Camera! Final Words
To gimbal or not to gimbal, that is (or was) the question.
Hopefully, by now you know whether you should or shouldn’t.
In my opinion, although GoPro’s HyperSmooth does a great job of stabilizing video, having some sort of GoPro gimbal gives you an extra level of control and smoothness that will really elevate your footage both in terms of quality and creativity
They can unlock new types of camera angles for you, and also act as remote cameras.
The flexibility GoPro gimbals can give you means it’s worth having one in your bag.
3-Axis stabilizer promotes buttery smooth GoPro footage with multiple working modes for the ultimate in filming variety.