GoPro Uses & Ideas: 13 Fun Things You Can Do

So, you’ve got a GoPro, but are you truly harnessing its potential?

This guide to all the most original GoPro uses and ideas is your passport to a world of creativity, fun and innovation!

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or a laid-back hobbyist, I’ll introduce you to some novel uses for your GoPro.

From unexpected vantage points to exciting new adventures, prepare to see your world through a whole new lens.

You’ll discover not only the conventional uses of the best action camera ever but also the lesser-known, imaginative ways it can bring moments to life.

I’ve experimented with various GoPro models over the years in various settings and scenarios, which I’ll describe below.

It doesn’t matter if you have the latest GoPro Hero12 or an older version – there are plenty of fun ways to use it.

So, gear up because you’re about to discover ideas that will transform how you use your GoPro.

13 Fun Things You Can Do With a GoPro: Uses & Ideas

1. Pop it in a Washing Machine

Chuck your GoPro in a washing machine. Why not? Toss it in with all your dirty laundry and hit start.

Maybe it’s time to check what the inside of a washing machine looks like when it’s spinning.

You can throw in some unusual items to keep it interesting, like a teddy with a confused stare or a rag doll.

To achieve the best shot in a washing machine, attach the GoPro to the washing machine door.

If you leave it loose, it will definitely end up hidden under the laundry the entire spin.

Run the quickest cycle. A long spin cycle could get repetitive.

Select the cold wash. If the temperature goes over 125 F or 50 degrees, the camera will power off.

• Best SD cards for GoPro cameras

2. ‘Cook’ in a Pizza Oven

It is a little too hot in an oven to use your GoPro when something is cooking, but you can still do something exciting and visually impressive.

Strap it on the end of a pizza peel (when the oven is turned off or cooling) – a pizza peel is the tool used to place pizzas in hot, flaming pizza ovens.

You can capture some ‘hot’ video action without harming your GoPro.

Just for the record, you need to try and keep GoPros in the range of 68°F (20°C) ± 9°F (5°C) for best performance.

 

3. Toss it from a Height

GoPro’s are durable, and if you are willing, you can put yours to the ultimate test.

Drop it off a cliff when you are rock climbing, or let it fall from the fourth story of a building.

This way, you can capture the footage as it hurtles through the air.

Okay, I don’t mean to be completely reckless; you don’t want to break or lose your awesome GoPro.

Check where it will land is not too hard, and it will be easy for you to find it.

We still want to ensure it isn’t smashed to smithereens at the bottom of a rocky cliff!

Side note: despite what you might see on Instagram, never try this with your iPhone: a GoPro is a safer option since it’s more rugged.

• How to Vlog with a GoPro

4. Dive with the Sharks

All the best GoPro cameras were made to be put to the test. Could your GoPro survive a dive with the sharks?

They are designed to withstand 70- psi pressure at a depth of 33 feet (10 meters).

Using GoPro dive housing, you can push that distance an extra 20 meters.

I prefer not to use waterproof housing. Depth isn’t everything. I find the underwater housing adds extra bulk to the camera, making it cumbersome to use.

A waterproof GoPro camera is preferable for ease of use when shooting underwater.

These cameras are waterproof down to 10m (33ft) without a housing as long as all doors are properly closed:

HERO12/11/10/9/8/7/6/5 Black, HERO11 Black Mini, HERO7 Silver/White, HERO (2018), HERO5 Session, HERO4 Session, HERO Session without a housing:

With waterproof housing:

HERO12/11/10/9/8/7/6/5 Black users who need to dive deeper can utilize the appropriate dive housing, enabling the use of your camera as deep as 60m.

HERO7 Silver and White can use the Protective Housing to use the camera up to a depth of 131ft (40m).

Florida is one of the top destinations for shark diving in the world. So hit the south to grab your out-of-this-world footage.

You are guaranteed to capture incredible clips that will put Jaws to shame.

If swimming with sharks is not your cup of tea due to understandable worries about losing a limb.

Try the less risky option. Attach your GoPro to a shark-proof chain and lower it into the shark-infested area.

• Should You Use a GoPro for Pictures? (Photography Guide)

5. Scuba Dive with Friendly Sea Creatures

If you love the idea of scuba diving with wild creatures but sharks aren’t your thing.

You can opt to take a dive with more friendly sea animals, like a dolphin pod.

Snorkelling with a GoPro attached to a mount will win you some amazing clips. Underwater terrain makes for fascinating footage.

Make sure it is a new GoPro and is water-resistant. Some of the older versions are not waterproof.

• Best GoPro Settings for Travel, Action, Sports & More

6. Attach your GoPro to a Family Pet

This is my all-time favourite, as I love to know what my animals get up to when left to their own devices.

It also gives you a view of the world from a doggy perspective.

You can use your GoPro to make time-lapse videos of all your dog’s activities.

Capture footage of your hound in the middle of ball-catching action, digging and sniffing.

If you think this is totally your thing, you can buy a specialized GoPro dog harness.

How cool is that! This harness will keep the GoPro perfectly balanced on your pooch’s back.

It beats fiddling with straps and masking tape to keep a GoPro secured to your hound.

A GoPro dog harness is easy to mount and well worth the investment.

Attaching GoPro cameras won’t be suitable for all pets. The camera is too big for the smaller of our furry friends.

If your GoPro falls off, this article on finding a lost GoPro will be handy!

7. Strap a GoPro Camera to a Lawn Mower

If you are a gardening fanatic, you will enjoy some GoPro gardening action.

Attach the GoPro to the front or side of a lawn mower or whipper snipper. This way, you can catch footage of cutting action.

To keep things safe, use the GoPro app to operate the camera remotely.

8. Spyware for Toddler Movies

Ok, now we know this is a little taboo, so we have to be a little cautious about how we do this.

Nobody wants to be spied on. But a spy camera is priceless when you have babies and toddlers in the house.

You can use a chest strap and attach a GoPro to a toddler for the afternoon as long as it’s not annoying for them.

You can narrate a short movie, “An Afternoon in the Life of a Toddler.” GoPro videos are great to have for memories.

 

Another great trick is to attach a GoPro to your kid’s mountain bike when they go mountain biking.

You can capture their two-wheeled adventures and play the video back to them in slow motion.

• Should you pay for a GoPro subscription?

9. Catch Pranks with a Hidden Camera

Another idea is to play an April Fool’s prank and film the trick with a hidden camera.

If the camera is too obvious, you are going to ruin the prank. Your victim will get suspicious.

Hide the camera under your shirt, strapped to a chest harness. You can cut a hole in a T-shirt and hide the camera behind it.

Or set the GoPro up in a vantage point to capture the action, such as on a shelf hidden behind some books.

• Best hidden camera detectors

10. Cook with it

This is fun, one that everyone can have a shot at. Get your ingredients ready, turn the music up high, and cook up a feast.

Whack the GoPro on your head and start to chop, dice, and stir.

The GoPro signature distorted wide-angle view will make an interesting cooking video.

11. Take it to the Amusement Park

If you go to an amusement park, it is obligatory that you take your GoPro to capture the rides from a unique perspective.

Use your GoPro to take a time-lapse video of the wild helter-skelter rolls and bumps.

Capture the shocked expressions of your friends and family as you whirl around the edge.

12. Attach it to a Tennis Racket

 

If you are a tennis fan, this one is you. Well, even if you aren’t a fan, you’ll be happy with the footage you catch.

Strap the GoPro to the handle of a tennis racket to catch shots as the ball hits the shaft.

Not only will you get some awesome sports shots, but you can refine your backhand skills.

13. Ask ChatGPT where to place GoPro cameras

There are many options for fun creativity when using a GoPro. This includes travelling in hot air balloons, speed boat rides and videoing electric storms.

The options are endless, so we asked ChatGPT about some unusual places you can place a GoPro for inventive footage:

1. Inside Instruments: If you’re a musician, place a GoPro inside your guitar, drum, or any other hollow instrument. It offers an intriguing perspective of the instrument in action.
2. Pet’s Point of View: Strap a GoPro to your pet, whether it’s a dog, cat, or even a horse, and capture their world from their eye level.
3. Chandeliers or Ceiling Fans: Get a bird’s-eye view of a room or an event. This is especially effective during parties or gatherings.
4. Underneath a Skateboard or Bicycle: This offers a unique ground-level view and showcases the dynamics of the ride.
5. Inside Appliances: For a fun project, place a GoPro inside a washing machine (ensure it’s waterproofed!) or refrigerator to get a quirky view of mundane objects.
6. Suctioned to Moving Objects: Use a suction cup mount to attach a GoPro to the side of vehicles, amusement park rides, or even a moving elevator for dynamic shots.
7. In the Ground: Dig a small hole, place your GoPro inside, and capture foot-level views of people walking by, or even the rain’s impact on the ground.
8. Floating on Water: If you have a buoyant mount, let your GoPro float on a pool, pond, or river to capture leisurely flowing shots.
9. Inside a Bookshelf: Capture time-lapses of your day from the perspective of a book looking out!
10. On a Rotating Platform: Whether it’s a lazy Susan or a pottery wheel, attaching a GoPro gives a spinning perspective.
11. Food and Drink POV: Attach a GoPro to a bottle or even a fork to give a ‘food’s journey’ perspective.
12. Mailbox or Door: Capture a day in the life of your mailbox or front door, recording everyone who comes and goes.