15.02.2026
One of the questions I get more than almost anything else is: “What camera do you use?” I get it, because when I was starting out I spent way too long Googling gear lists that were either completely unrealistic for a normal budget or focused on gear people weren’t actually carrying on real hikes.
Everything below is gear I’ve personally bought, carried on my back across multiple countries, and tested in rain, snow, heat, and everything in between.
Quick Reference
Sony A7IV
Camera
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
Lens
Tamron 17-28mm f2.8
Wide Lens
DJI Air 3S Fly More
Drone
Insta360 X5
360 Camera
Rode VideoMic Go II
Microphone
Peak Design Capture Clip V3
Accessory
Peak Design Leash
Accessory
NiSi Variable ND Filter
Accessory
SIRUI AM-225 Carbon Tripod
Accessory
ProGrade SDXC V90
Memory Card
Samsung T7 Shield SSD 1TB
Storage
INIU 20,000mAh Power Bank
Power
Cameras
Trail TestedMy Main Cam
Sony A7IV
★★★★★
Bought this in 2022 and haven't looked back. 33MP sensor, 4K at 60fps with 10-bit colour. A true hybrid that handles both photo and video really well. It's been through Everest Base Camp, the Dolomites, New Zealand and everywhere in between.
Always use both SD card slots simultaneously. Slot 1 primary, slot 2 as a live backup copy. I've had a card fail before and lost footage. It only happens once before you change your habits forever.
It's not the lightest camera, especially once you add a lens, but the reliability has been worth every gram. If you're mainly vlogging and want something compact, a lighter mirrorless might suit you better. But if you want a camera that grows with you, this is it. For batteries I carry three original Sony batteries which gets me through even long full-day shoots.
Trail Tested
iPhone 17 Pro Max
★★★★★
Smartphones are small, lightweight and genuinely capable now. I use mine for quick captures, Instagram stories, and sharing moments as they happen. For 90% of people who hike and want to document it, your phone is honestly enough.
I shoot a lot of B-roll on it too, especially for anything where pulling out the Sony would be too risky or inconvenient. It regularly makes it into my final edits. The upgrade to the Pro Max made a noticeable difference in low light and stabilisation.
Lenses
Budget PickTrail Tested
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
★★★★★
The lens I use 99% of the time. Versatile enough to cover most hiking scenarios without needing to swap lenses mid-trail. The f2.8 aperture gives you beautiful background blur and solid low light. It's been through rain, heat, freezing cold and rough terrain across multiple continents and held up perfectly.
Why not the Sony G Master? Half the cost, lower weight, and the real-world image quality difference is minimal for hiking content. Save your money.
Wide Angle
Tamron 17-28mm f2.8
★★★★★
I don't take this on every trip, but when I know I need wide, this is the one I reach for. My go-to for vlogging-style content where I'm in the frame, astrophotography, wide interior shots like inside a campervan, and anywhere the scenery deserves to fill the entire frame. At 17mm you get that immersive, you-are-there feeling the 28-75 can't match.
When I pack this: Campervan trips, astro shoots, vlogs where I'm talking to camera a lot, and dramatic landscapes where I want to show the full scale.
Drones
Trail Tested
DJI Air 3S Fly More
★★★★★
Drones add a whole new perspective and I absolutely love using them. The DJI Air 3S is compact, has solid flight time, and the dual-camera system gives you incredible creative flexibility. The Fly More combo includes three batteries, which is the minimum you want.
Important: Drones are banned in most Australian national parks. Always check the rules before you go. I've carried it on whole trips and not been able to fly once.
The 1" CMOS sensor is a big upgrade over the previous generation. The dual-camera system gives you wide and medium tele without needing to land, which is huge for creative flexibility mid-flight. I don't carry it on every trip but when I can fly, it's always worth the extra weight.
Trail Tested
Insta360 X2
★★★★★
This camera always gets people asking "is that a drone?" It's a 360 camera, and the invisible selfie stick effect makes it look like floating aerial footage in the edit. Great for capturing unique angles you can't get any other way. I have one of the oldest models. The newer models have incredible upgrades!
The invisible selfie stick feature is the main reason I carry this. It genuinely looks like drone footage when you edit it right, no stick visible at all. The X5 shoots 8K 360 which is a significant jump from the previous version. I don't take it on every trip, but for overseas adventures or anywhere with dramatic terrain it earns its weight.
Accessories
Non-Negotiable
Rode VideoMic Go II
★★★★★
Honest truth: the built-in audio on the Sony A7IV is not very pleasant to listen to. This mic sits on my camera 90% of the time. It runs off the camera's power so no extra batteries needed, and the audio quality jump is massive.
Trail proven. I've had it ice up completely in freezing conditions and it kept working. Reliable, durable, and a genuine game-changer for capturing sound on adventures.
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Must Have
Peak Design Capture Clip V3
★★★★★
One of my favourite accessories. It clips to your shoulder strap and lets you carry your camera on your chest, accessible with one hand in two seconds. I couldn't imagine hiking with a camera without this anymore.
It's a bit pricey but the quality is amazing and it's held up through everything. Works with virtually every camera. The only caveat: for anything involving hands and feet on rock, take the camera off the clip and put it in your bag. Don't risk it on a scramble.
Trail Tested
Peak Design Leash + Cuff
★★★★★
Another handy accessory from Peak Design. I use both the leash and the cuff depending on the adventure. The leash works as a neck strap, the cuff as a wrist strap for when I'm actively shooting handheld and want a more secure grip.
Quick-attach system means I can swap between them in seconds. Easy to attach and detach, making carrying the camera comfortable and secure all day.
Trail Tested
SIRUI AM-225 Carbon Tripod
★★★★★
Tripods are a must. Since I'm hiking through all sorts of terrain and weather, I need something lightweight but sturdy enough to support my camera and lens. The SIRUI AM-225 carbon fibre hits that sweet spot and is much more affordable than most at this quality level.
NiSi Variable ND Filter
★★★★
I always carry an ND filter. Variable ND is the hiking-friendly option because you can adjust the strength on the fly instead of carrying multiple fixed filters. There's a bit of vignetting at the extremes but the NiSi colour accuracy makes the trade-off worth it.
Don't cheap out here. Budget variable NDs introduce ugly colour casts into footage. The NiSi True Color is worth the extra spend.
Budget Pick
INIU 20,000mAh Power Bank
★★★★
I always carry a 20,000mAh portable charger. For most day hikes 10,000mAh is enough, but I run camera, phone and drone controller so I want the extra buffer. The INIU is surprisingly durable for the price. I've had mine for years. Keep an eye out for sales on Amazon.
Memory and Storage
Essential
ProGrade SDXC V90
★★★★★
Memory cards are essential and you shouldn't cheap out on them. For the Sony A7IV you need V90-rated cards to handle 4K 60fps 10-bit footage without buffer issues. I always shoot to both SD slots on the A7IV simultaneously. Slot 1 primary, slot 2 live backup. For drones and Insta360 I use V30 cards, and always carry spares.
I've had a card fail before and lost footage. Using both slots is a simple step that provides real security for your photos and videos.
Samsung T7 Shield SSD 1TB
★★★★★
Reliable storage is crucial. After every adventure I copy everything onto an SSD, then back it up to a hard drive using Carbon Copy Cloner. I also use Backblaze for cloud backup, it's cheap and works seamlessly in the background the moment you plug in your SSD. Three copies of everything, always.
Tech and Editing
Game Changer
MacBook Pro M4 Max
★★★★★
14 inch, M4 Max chip, 64GB RAM, 2TB storage. Upgrading from my 2018 MacBook was genuinely life-changing for editing. DaVinci Resolve playback is smooth, exports are fast, and editing 4K footage no longer means waiting forever for every screen to load. Compact enough for travel, powerful enough for everything.
DaVinci Resolve
★★★★★
My main video editing software and it's completely free. The colour grading tools are the best in the industry. It took me a while to learn and I nearly gave up a few times, but now that I've got the hang of it I can't imagine going back to editing on my phone.
Start with the free version. It has everything you need. Most people never need to upgrade to Studio.
CapCut
★★★★
For quick Instagram stories or simple phone videos, CapCut is my go-to. It's free, intuitive, and has everything you need for fast mobile edits. When I don't need the full power of DaVinci Resolve, this is what I reach for.
Photo Mechanic
★★★★★
Geotagging my photos is really important to me. After every hike I export the GPX file from AllTrails and use Photo Mechanic to geotag all my photos based on where I actually was. It also handles renaming and culling before I import into Lightroom.
A bit of extra work upfront but it makes life so much easier later when you're trying to locate photos by location across years of hiking content.
