What’s the Best Camera for Solo Travel? Honest Review of the Insta360 GO Ultra
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As a solo female traveler with over a decade of adventures, finding the best camera for solo travel has been one of my biggest frustrations, since I’ve struggled to film and photograph my experiences.
Sure, I’ve asked others to take my picture with my iPhone, but it can sometimes be awkward or just plain exhausting, as I don’t want to burden someone else on their trip, especially if we’re on the same group tour.
But after using the Insta360 GO Ultra to take photos and videos at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, I discovered a new way to capture my experiences and found its hands-free features genuinely transformative for sharing my travels.
In this post, I’ll share features that impressed me as a travel blogger, the learning curve I experienced, and the types of solo travelers it’s best for, so you can decide whether it deserves a spot in your travel bag.
What is the Insta360 GO Ultra?
The Insta360 GO Ultra is a lightweight, easy-to-use camera that comes in a variety of bundles.
Since I’m a travel blogger, I chose the Vlogger Bundle without hesitation!
Vlogger Bundle
- 1x Standalone Camera
- 1x Action Pod
- 1x Lens Guard (pre-installed on the lens by default)
- 1x Quick Release Safety Cord
- 1x Magnetic Easy Clip – Magnetic mount that lets you clip the camera to a cap
- 1x Magnet Pendant – Magnetic necklace that lets you wear the camera on your chest
- 1x Quick Release Mount
- 1x Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0 Remote Kit
- 1x USB-C Cable
- 1x Mic Air – Microphone
- Quick Start Guide
The only thing not included in the bundle you have to purchase separately is the MicroSD Card.
Unpacking & Setup
Upon quickly receiving the Insta360 GO Ultra (honestly, it showed up so fast), I unpacked it and turned the camera on.
I was immediately prompted to download the Insta360 app to activate the camera.
Can you use the camera without the app? I don’t think so, but honestly, I wouldn’t want to as everything syncing to my phone was so incredibly simple.
The only odd part of the setup was that it took me to a page with instructions in Chinese.
Insta360, I believe, is based there, and maybe that’s why it’s the default, but I just scrolled down to the bottom for other languages to proceed.
Once you’re set up, which only takes a couple of minutes, you can set up alerts to your phone, such as media syncing and Apple Find My.
The latter I really adore as I’m a big fan of AirTags; they are one of my travel essentials, and this works just like them.
Here you can also set up features like Voice Control, where all you need to do is learn the voice commands to get recording.
Or Gesture Control, which allows you to take photos or videos by using gestures like the peace sign or showing your palm.
Lastly, do make sure to take the remote out of the flap of the packaging for the Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0 Remote Kit, as it was a bit hidden there.
Design & Size: Compact Enough for Solo Travel?
One of the reasons I’ve been struggling so much to find the best camera for solo travel is that I didn’t want to carry around something bulky like a DSLR.
Yes, I know they take epic photos, but I also dragged one around England, Italy, and Scotland, and had a crick in my neck because it weighed over a pound.
Luckily, I was borrowing my friend’s at the time and didn’t purchase one of my own, but I really did feel like the great photos weren’t worth the pain.
Comparatively, the Insta360 GO Ultra is only 53g (1.87 ounces) for the Standalone Camera, or as a whole 162g (5.7 ounces).
And if you’re primarily using the Standalone Camera, it’s only slightly larger than most smartwatches these days.
Its compact size also made it easy to stay low-key while recording. I don’t want to be one of those people holding up large, attention-drawing equipment in public spaces, and this isn’t that at all.
Why Hands-Free is a Game-Changer for Solo Travelers
I do a lot of solo European travel, but I’ve been branching out to more adventure-based destinations, such as San Ignacio, Belize, where I climbed Maya temples—everything from Xunantunich to Caracol (one of the largest ancient Maya cities).
I’m a bit of a nervous nelly and tend to hold onto those Maya temples as I climb, side-stepping with the best of them, so I can’t hold something like the Insta360 X5, even though I’d have super cool footage like my TikTok friend, Marsh the Archeologist.
Making a hands-free option an essential feature for the best camera for solo travel!
I’ve also kayaked through caves in Thailand, alright, maybe I didn’t kayak, I had a guide, and he put in all the arm work, I just looked on in wonder while I sat in the boat.
But it would still have been incredibly helpful to have a hands-free camera to capture my first-person experience, rather than worrying about dropping my iPhone into the sea!
Especially if it would have resulted in a TimeShift video of the experience to share on this blog.
Insta360 GO Ultra’s Hands-Free Options
Insta360 offers two first-person POV options: the Magnet Pendant or the Magnetic Easy Clip Headband.
The Magnet Pendant is essentially a necklace with a magnet that attracts to the Standalone Camera.
I tried this over my shirt and under my shirt, the latter is the way they advertise to use it. I wanted to test both for bathing suit situations where I wouldn’t have a formal shirt to weigh it down.
However, I found both created some bounce in the footage, especially if it wasn’t under the shirt, so I prefer the Easy Clip.
I saw far less bounce when I attached the clip to my baseball cap, and my turns were smoother as well.
It was also much easier to record, as I didn’t have to constantly remind myself to keep my arms out of the way (I talk with my hands a wee bit) or hold the Action Pod lower, as I did with the Pendant.
With the Pendant, I found that my hair sometimes got in the shot, which could be remedied with a ponytail, but it wasn’t even something I considered until I saw it on playback.
The only thing I had to remember was not to look up or down too far with the Clip, or I could end up seeing more ceiling or floor than I’d wanted.
However, this was also a benefit, as with the necklace, bending back or forth to tilt up or down would be awkward. With it being on my head, it was much easier to make adjustments.
Watch to see me compare Insta360 GO Ultra’s hands-free recording options:
Image & Video Capabilities
Even though I spent 14 years working in TV and film, I am admittedly not a tech nut for cameras and tend to get frustrated when there are 80 settings to worry about.
However, I found that while there are a few settings on the Insta360, there aren’t an overwhelming number, and there are plenty of tutorials for those who wish to learn.
Without spending an eon on settings, I recorded footage all day at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and didn’t change settings more than once while deciding whether I liked Dewarp or Linear best.
Those are the field-of-view options; you can capture up to 156°.
I got stunning 4K footage, even while on a moving tram, which I did worry at the time might blow out the landscape compared to the shady interior, but I was pleasantly surprised it didn’t!
Please note I didn’t alter the color or speed of the footage below. I only trimmed clips, assembled them, and added music to best reflect what you’ll get straight out of the camera.
If you want to shoot both landscape and portrait, simply rotate the camera to switch between the two. If the lens is on the left, it’s landscape; on the right, portrait.
Or you can shoot in FreeFrame Mode to record in several aspect ratios—great for those who want landscape for YouTube and portrait for TikTok!
You can record in Single Shot, Time Lapse, Slow Motion, HDR, Night Shot, Burst Shot, and Auto.
Additionally, you can take photos while recording video (by pressing the circle in the lower left), which is great for me as a blogger who always needs stills.
Though I’ve yet to have the opportunity to test it, they also have a PureVideo Mode that increases detail in low-light environments.
Something else I enjoyed at the Safari Park was the FlowState Stabilization and 360 Horizon Lock. As I was walking around, up and down hills, I worried about the footage being off-kilter, but didn’t have to worry about that with these two!
The only thing I didn’t love about the video was that you can only zoom in 2x.
While this would be no problem when doing something up close, it proved to be a challenge for any of the animal experiences I had at a distance, as I wasn’t able to record as closely as I would have liked.
📷 This video shows off the best settings for GO Ultra super simply!
Ease of Use
I found this lightweight camera super easy to use via its touchscreen.
Being on the move, I enabled the Grid and Level Indicator to make sure I wasn’t completely wonky as I wore it mostly on my head throughout the day.
I used the Action Pod for playback throughout the day to double-check the footage.
You can record by pressing a button on the Standalone Camera, but I preferred to use the Action Pod as a remote control to ensure I knew what I was recording.
I think with more experience, I’d be more comfortable recording with just the Standalone, but I’m not quite there yet, as it’s different presses for photo and video.
While recording an audition tape, I found the 2.5″ flip touchscreen very easy to use because I could see myself while recording—a blessing for people like me who film alone!
Using their app is also a cinch, as all I did was connect the camera to the app, select the files I wanted to download, and downloaded them.
Battery Life & Storage
While at the Safari Park, my group and I waited in line for the Africa Tram.
If you haven’t been, this is the main attraction of the park, as it takes you through various animal areas on the expansive grounds and cannot be done on foot.
However, when we went, one of the trams broke down, so we wound up in line for over an hour.
Being that it was rather hot that day, I started to melt and thus didn’t pay attention to the camera.
I had the Standalone attached to my hat and the Action Pod in my eco-friendly crossbody bag, which meant the Standalone wasn’t charging during that time.
I’d expected we’d be going any moment, so the idea of the battery draining didn’t even occur to me, but I found that out quickly once we were on the tram, finally.
For clarity, the Standalone shoots for 70 minutes, while the Action Pod goes for 3 hours.
That’s about 200 minutes of run time on a single charge.
And the Action Pod charges the Standalone in about 15 minutes, but as I said, my brain was swimming in heat, so I didn’t even think about it until the Action Pod warned me mid-tram ride that the Standalone was dying.
Just something to keep in mind when using this camera: pop the Standalone in the Action Pod when not in use to keep the battery powered.
As for the microSD card, I’m nowhere near full, but if you tend to take a load of photos and footage, you can easily swap the full one out for an empty at a moment’s notice.
The only thing I wish the Vlogger Bundle came with was a case for the camera, as, even though it comes with a Lens Guard, I still felt like just placing it in my bag could get it scratched.
So what I did was bring along a sunglasses case, put the camera in it, then place it in my bag. Alternatively, you can find a case here.
Mounting Options for Solo Travel
Aside from the hands-free wearable options, you can mount the Insta360 GO Ultra using its built-in magnetic body and a range of accessories.
Yes, I even tested whether it would stick to my refrigerator; it was on there really well!
When recording that audition tape, I set up the Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0 Remote Kit and Quick Release Mount.
While I didn’t need the remote for such a simple setup, I still tested it and found it easy to use.
And if you’re hurting for ideas, the Insta360 website has tons of creative ones!
The Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Multiple hands-free recording options
- Multiple mounting options and magnetic body
- Lightweight and compact
- High quality video
- Shoot both landscape and portrait simultaneously
- Take photos while recording video
- 2.5″ flip touchscreen
- Voice and gesture commands
- Apple Find My
- 15-day return policy
- 7-day price match
- 12-month warranty protection (you can also extend for an additional fee)
Cons:
- Can only zoom in 2x
- Photos are not as high-quality as those on my iPhone
There is also a bit of a learning curve.
Aside from the aforementioned issues with the Pendant (bounce, remembering to keep my arms down), I found that while recording video, I’d hit what I thought was the Stop button only for it to Pause instead of Stop.
It’s shown well in their Quick Start Shooting Guide; basically, it’s user error on my part, not a hardware issue. However, it did frustrate me at first.
I’ve turned off Quick Capture to hopefully help me stop goofing on this.
There’s also the curve in learning to use the Standalone Camera. I have to pay careful attention to my presses and the lights on it to record correctly. I think with time I’d get good at this, but don’t trust myself just yet.
And as I’d love to use this underwater, I’ll certainly have to, as the Action Pod isn’t waterproof, only water-resistant.
The Standalone, however, is waterproof up to 33ft (10m), but you’ll need the Dive Case with the IPX4 splashproof Action Pod to shoot as deep as 197ft (60m).
I would have loved to have this in Belize, as I got to snorkel the world’s second-largest barrier reef, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and even though I packed a waterproof case for my camera, it didn’t work very well underwater.
Luckily, a couple in my tour group gave me their GoPro footage to share with readers!
Instead of fumbling through that incredible experience, the Insta360 GO Ultra would have been the perfect addition to my Belize packing list.
Who Is It For / Who Should Skip It?
This is the best camera for solo travel when capturing close-up experiences or action shots, like hiking, cycling, running, or snorkeling.
As I mentioned, since there’s only 2x zoom, I wasn’t able to record the animals at the Safari Park as I would have liked on the tram.
However, it would have been perfect for these experiences of mine:
- Capturing my travel buddy and me on several winter experiences in Rovaniemi, Finland (e.g., reindeer sleigh ride, a husky safari where I needed both hands to drive the sledge)
- Me ascending the narrow, spiral staircase of St Peter’s Dome in Vatican City (when hands-free would have been a real gem)
- Recording the drive through the desert so I could focus on the road, and then hiking several American Southwest National Parks
- … and much more, making it a good gift for someone traveling to Europe!
There is one health caveat to mention!
If you have a pacemaker, do not wear GO Ultra on your chest or use the Magnet Pendant due to its magnetism.
Price & Where to Buy
The Standard Bundle is currently listed for $449.99.
The Vlogger Bundle I got is $574.
Based on your needs, you can decide what’s best for you.
The only things in my bundle I’ve yet to use are Quick Release Safety Cord and the Mic Air – Microphone.
The former I’d see a use for if I were to do more action-based activities; however, the Mic I’ll certainly put to use on future adventures.
It just didn’t feel like a good fit for the zoo because of the number of people and the fact that I was visiting with a large group who were often talking around me.
You can also find the Insta360 GO Ultra on Amazon, but I don’t see any bundles with the Mic.
- Discount Period: 3/16 0:00 – 3/31 23:59 GMT-8
- Product Offer: Insta360 GO Ultra All Bundles – 15% OFF during Spring Sales
- Exclusive Offer for My Readers: A free Mic Air (valued at $49.99, only available in the Insta360 official store), available while supplies last.
Final Verdict: Is This the Best Camera for Solo Travel?
Yes, having experienced other bulky cameras, the Insta360 GO Ultra is the best compact camera for travel I’ve found.
The battery lasted the whole day at the park.
I still have loads of space left on the card despite recording a fair amount of video and photos.
It didn’t add any noticeable weight to my purse and the compact size made it easy to be low-key about filming.
Just popping it onto my cap made it almost easy to forget I was even recording!
And even better, it meant I didn’t have to bring along a tripod.
While GO Ultra can take photos, its core strength is capturing video, so if that isn’t the main focus for you, another camera will be a better fit.
You can see in the raw images below that I was able to get closer and more detailed/less blown-out shots with my iPhone. However, if I were on the go, say kayaking, and didn’t want to risk losing my phone, the Insta360 image would work just fine with some editing.
GO Ultra is the perfect camera for a solo traveler interested in vlogging or a blogger looking to capture experiences more immersively.
As a frequent solo traveler, I look forward to documenting trips hands-free, so I don’t have to burden anyone else or miss out entirely because I fear losing or breaking my iPhone while juggling everything myself.
Transparency: This was a complimentary item I was gifted in exchange for a blog post, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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