The BEST Adventure Camera for National Parks!
I recently got my hands on the Insta360 X5, and it has been the most fun I’ve had with a camera in a long time!
From my first test with it, I could tell this camera was going to be amazing. The 360° capture meant I didn’t have to think about framing or resetting shots, I could just hit record and move. Hike, ski, walk the coastline, chase the light all while knowing I could choose my angles later…a dream!
Pairing it with the 3m Extended Selfie Stick created these elevated, floating perspectives that honestly looks like drone footage without ever even flying a drone. No extra gear, no complicated setup, just immersive, cinematic shots while staying in the moment!
And the footage? Crystal clear.
Here is everything you need to know!! ⬇️
The Insta 360 X5 Camera
Before diving deeper into how I’ve used it in Acadia National Park and skiing at Loon Mountain, let’s talk about what the Insta360 X5 actually is!
The Insta360 X5 is an 8K 360° action camera designed for outdoor adventures. Instead of capturing one fixed angle like a traditional camera, it records everything around you at once!
For someone like me who’s constantly outdoors all year-round exploring, that flexibility is huge! I don’t have to stop to re-position the camera or worry about missing a moment. I can stay in the experience and sort out the angles afterward.
It’s also built for real-world adventure:
- 8K 360° image quality with incredible clarity
- FlowState Stabilization for ultra-smooth footage in motion
- Up to 185+ minutes of battery life depending on shooting mode
- Waterproof and rugged, built for real adventure
- Fully replaceable lenses for added durability
- AdaptiveTone for natural color and texture in changing light
Why the Insta 360 X5 is the Best Camera for National Park Travel!
The Insta360 X5 makes so much sense for national park travel!
With its unique 360° capture, you truly can shoot first and frame later. It records everything around you: the mountains, the sky, the trail behind you, the ocean below so you don’t have to stress about pointing the camera in the “right” direction. You stay in the experience, and you decide on the angles afterward!
And here’s the part that really changed the game for me: Drones are not allowed in U.S. national parks…Which means those sweeping, elevated, cinematic angles are normally off-limits.
But paired with the 3m Extended Selfie Stick, the Insta360 X5 creates these next-level, almost drone-like perspectives, without ever leaving the ground! You get that floating, third-person, wide-open view of the landscape while fully respecting park rules!!
Plus, it’s small. Lightweight. Easy to throw in your backpack. I carried it from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole to Jordan Pond without even thinking about it. No bulky setup. No complicated gear. Just twist to shoot and go!
The Shot Without the Stick
One of the coolest parts about using the Insta360 X5 is something you don’t actually see in the footage.. the selfie stick! The Invisible Selfie Stick 100% disappears! No pole in the frame. No awkward angle. And, no editing tricks needed. Just clean, smooth footage that looks like someone is filming you from a few feet away!
When I’m out hiking alone, skiing alone, exploring coastal trails alone. I don’t have someone following me with a camera. The Insta360 X5 creates this natural third-person POV that makes it look like you have a dedicated videographer with you, when in reality it’s just you and your camera!
Walking along the shore, skiing down a run, or moving through a national park trail, the footage feels cinematic and immersive, not handheld or selfie-style.
It gives that clean, floating perspective that elevates outdoor storytelling without needing extra gear or extra people.
For solo adventurers, hikers, and travel creators, this feature alone makes the Insta360 X5 stand out from traditional action cameras.
Drone-Like Shots in No-Drone Zones
If you’ve ever filmed in a national park, you already know…drones are not allowed.
And I completely respect that! These places are meant to stay wild and protected.But as a creator, that restriction can feel limiting when you’re trying to capture the scale of a landscape!
That’s where the 3m Extended Selfie Stick completely changes the game.
Paired with the Insta360 X5, it creates elevated, floating, wide-angle shots that genuinely look like drone footage, without ever taking off from the ground. The perspective feels immersive and expansive, especially in places like Acadia where the cliffs, ocean, and sky all deserve to be captured at full scale!!
Because the camera records in 360°, you’re not just getting one angle, you’re capturing the entire environment. The result is these next-level cinematic views that feel dynamic and intentional, even while you’re just walking a trail or standing on the rocks.
It’s the best drone alternative for national park travel I’ve used!
How It Performed on the Slopes
I brought the Insta360 X5 up to Loon Mountain in New Hampshire to test it out on the slopes!
Skiing is the ultimate test for an action camera. You’ve got speed, uneven terrain, shifting light off the snow, cold temperatures, and constant motion…And the Insta X5 handled it all effortlessly!
The FlowState Stabilization is what really stood out. Even on choppier, bumped-up runs, the footage stayed smooth and stable. No shaky, jittery clips. No distracting bounce. Just clean, immersive movement that makes you feel like you’re right there on the mountain!
Because it records in 360°, I didn’t have to worry about keeping the camera perfectly aimed while carving turns. I could focus on skiing, stay in the moment, and reframe everything later.
The cold weather performance was another amazing! Winter days on the mountain aren’t exactly gentle on gear, but the Insta360 X5 kept going. With up to 185 minutes of battery life, I didn’t feel rushed trying to capture clips between runs. I could film throughout the morning without constantly checking my battery percentage.
8K in Real Outdoor Light
The Insta360 X5 handled dynamic outdoor light perfectly!
At Thunder Hole, you’ve got deep coastal shadows along the rocks and bright waves crashing in the same frame. The 8K image quality kept the texture in the stone, the movement in the water, and the contrast balanced without losing detail.
On the slopes at Loon Mountain, bright snow can easily blow out footage. But the snow stayed crisp, the trees stayed defined, and the scene didn’t feel washed out.
Even the audio came through clean and clear, picking up the crash of waves and the sound of skis carving without distortion.
The combination of 8K clarity, AdaptiveTone, and natural texture makes this camera feel built for real outdoor storytelling. It handled everything from bright snow to moody coastal light without losing detail!
Durability & Adventure-Ready
If it’s coming with me, it’s getting hit with coastal spray, shoved in a ski jacket pocket, and carried through wind, sand, and cold mountain air…The Insta 360 X5 can handle it all!
Along the coast in Acadia, the Insta360 X5 handled ocean mist and salty air without hesitation. It’s waterproof and built for real outdoor conditions, not just sunny, perfect-weather days.
On the slopes and in winter temperatures, it kept performing. No freezing up. No fragile feeling. Just solid, reliable footage!
The rugged build feels durable in hand, and the fact that the lens is replaceable adds a layer of confidence I really appreciate. When you’re hiking rocky trails or filming near crashing waves, that matters.
For outdoor creators who are actually out there in national parks, on ski mountains, along the coast this camera feels ready for adventure, not just designed to look good in product photos!
Fun & Easy to Use!
What surprised me most about the Insta360 X5 wasn’t just the image quality, it was how easy and genuinely fun it is to use!
The twist-to-shoot feature makes starting a clip almost effortless. No digging through menus, no fumbling with buttons in the cold wind. Just twist and it’s recording. When you’re hiking coastal trails or walking through a national park, that matters!
The creative modes make it even more fun. Tiny Planet turns wide landscapes into these surreal, almost dreamlike perspectives. Bullet Time adds dynamic movement without needing complicated gear. NDNP and the other creative tools open up storytelling options that feel playful but still cinematic.
And the AI smart editing is a huge win. The Insta360 app automatically pulls together highlight clips, which makes the editing workflow so much faster. For bloggers, explorers, hikers, and creators who are constantly on the move, that efficiency is seriously everything!!
It doesn’t feel intimidating or overly technical. It feels creative. Accessible. Fun to capture and edit with!
Why You Should Get The Insta 360 X5!
From Mount Desert Island exploring the beautiful Acadia National Park to carving ski runs at Loon Mountain up in the NH White Mountains to standing along the winter ocean in York, Maine- this camera came with me through all kinds of adventures!!
What I really love about this camera is that I wasn’t constantly thinking about framing or adjusting angles. I wasn’t worried about missing the shot. I was hiking the trails, skiing the runs, walking the coastline and capturing everything naturally as it unfolded!
For someone who builds stories around movement: hiking, skiing, coastal exploring, etc.. The Insta360 X5 feels less like a camera and more like a creative extension of the adventure itself.
And honestly, this was just the beginning! I can’t wait to bring it into the mountains, out on my snowmobile, and back along the ocean for whatever the next adventure looks like. It’s the kind of camera that makes you excited to create not because you have to, but because you want to! 10/10 rating for the Insta 360 X5! I highly recommend it!
Check out my Acadia National Park Summer Guide if you plan to visit! My Acadia Winter Guide is in the works and will be posted here on the blog soon! Follow along on Instagram to see these adventures come to life in 360° and if you’re ready to start capturing your own, you can get your Insta360 X5 here!
sierra
Hello there! It's wonderful to have you here. I'm Sierra, a NH native with a love for travel and adventure. I have a constant desire to explore beautiful places around the world and go on awesome adventures! I seek to inspire others to travel to see all the beauty and culture the world has to offer! 🌞⛰️🌼🫶🏼🦋🌲📸🥾💛
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