Best Camera Drones for Hiking

Being outdoorsy and backpacking through the beauty of nature and mountains and following hiking trails, we’re always looking to capture the best images and videos ever, particularly by learning how to do it with a drone.

What are the best camera drones for hiking?

When looking at camera drones for hiking, you want a lightweight drone with safety features and extraordinary filming capabilities, such as the DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI Air 2S, Autel EVO Lite Plus, DJI Mini 3, and DJI Mavic 3 Pro. These are our top recommended drones for hiking.

In this topic, we will share everything there is to know about choosing a good drone for hiking and backpacking that will benefit you the most.

We’ll even guide you in making an informed decision between our recommended drones.

Drones for hiking: What do we need to know? #

We all love going outside and traveling to different places, whether by car, train, or simply backpacking through the beauty of nature and mountains, depending on where we live and travel.

But hiking will require us to keep a few things in mind when it comes to the best drone. For instance, you don’t want to carry a lot of extra weight to weigh you down on the hike.

When you grab a drone to take with you, you need to look over a few core points, such as the drone’s weight, the simplicity of using it, and whether the drone has Active Track, avoidance sensors, etc.

But why are those criteria critical when hiking with a drone?

• Weight matters when we’re looking to carry a drone in our backpacks. Hiking for miles and miles will require us to consider being as lightweight as possible and not taking one extra gram more than we need.
• We need simplicity, such as the drone being able to fly immediately without any issues or much setup (such as attaching propellers).
• If the drone has avoidance sensors, it will help you better navigate areas such as forests and trails where obstacles may be in the way, and the sensors to help avoid crashes.
• It would be ideal if a drone for hiking could have Active Track or a similar system with a follow-me mode you can set when hiking to follow you, orbit an area, and so on, to take the best footage of your hike.
• It would also be ideal if the drone could have any kind of zoom to capture from another perspective.

The above criteria are just a few we recommend you look into when choosing a drone for hiking.

But to make the search easier on you, we have considered these criteria and managed to pick our five best drones for hiking.

1. DJI Mini 3 Pro #

DJI Mini 3 Pro SpecsTakeoff Weight249 gramsBattery Weight80.5 grams for the intelligent battery 120 grams for the intelligent battery plusSize (folded)145×90×62 mmSize (unfolded with propellers)251×362×70 mmMaximum Flight Time34 minutes with the intelligent battery47 minutes with the intelligent battery plusSensing System (Obstacle Avoidance)Forward, backward, and downward sensing systemCamera Sensor1/1.3 inch CMOSMax Photo Resolution48MPMax Video Resolution4k 60 frames per second

✅ Why DJI Mini 3 Pro is good for hikers #

• It is a lightweight drone
• It does not occupy much space
• Batteries are also lightweight, so you can take a few extra ones
• Has a forward and backward (plus landing) sensing system
• Fantastic camera quality for both photography and filming
• Can fly for a long time
• May benefit from relaxed drone laws in some countries and territories
• It is easy to set up and fly
• DJI Mini 3 Pro has fantastic flight performance
• It’s not very expensive
• DJI Mini 3 Pro has an Active Track and Follow-me mode

❌ Why DJI Mini 3 Pro may not be suitable for hikers #

• It’s already a one-year-old drone
• You may have to invest in a DJI RC to free up your mobile phone
• Although fantastic, the camera may be inferior to other drones with larger sensors, such as DJI Air 2S or Mavic 3 Pro
• Does not have upward and side avoidance sensors.

In many scenarios, DJI Mini 3 Pro wears the crown as the best travel drone, being lightweight enough to take on hikes. 

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has a fantastic camera for photography and filming at 4k 60fps, obstacle avoidance sensors, and weighs just under 250 grams.

A drone weighing under 250 grams not only may benefit from relaxed drone laws in some countries and territories, but it is lightweight and small enough to take with you on hikes and not feel its presence in weight. 

It can be folded to take up only a little space in your backpack and even fit in oversized pockets. 

Going along with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, the controller is also lightweight, but we recommend you grab the DJI RC with an incorporated screen where you won’t need a mobile phone, which you may require to keep charged during hikes.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has fantastic flight performance and can also fly for quite some time, meaning you may not need as many batteries as with other drones.

2. DJI Air 2S #

DJI Air 2S SpecsTakeoff Weight595 gramsBattery Weight198 gramsSize (folded)180×97×77 mmSize (unfolded)183×253×77 mmMaximum Flight Time31 minutesSensing System (Obstacle Avoidance)Forward, backward, downward, and upward sensing systemCamera Sensor1″ CMOSMax Photo Resolution20MPMax Video Resolution5.4K at 30 frames per second

✅ Why DJI Air 2S is good for hikers #

• It has a fantastic camera with a 1-inch camera sensor to photograph and record, often found only in more expensive drones.
• DJI Air 2S has an Active Track system 4.0.
• It has avoidance sensors to help you avoid crashing your drone. 
• The flight time is decent, around half an hour.
• Good flight range with the O3 transmission system.
• It’s perfect for beginners because it comes with the Advanced Pilot Assistance System 4.0.
• It is foldable.

❌ Why DJI Air 2S may not be suitable for hikers #

• It is quite heavy compared to other sub-250-gram drone options.
• The battery is also heavy, close to 200 grams per battery, so you may have to think about how many to take with you on hiking.
• Although decent, the DJI Air 2S flight time is slightly below the average of other drones.
• The price is reasonable for what it can offer, but there are other drones with similar or better flight performances (except for camera sensors) at lower prices. 

The DJI Air 2S is often overlooked as a drone but is also considered one of the top drones for hiking.

While it may not be the lightest drone to take on your hikes, it has some advantages over the DJI Mini 3 Pro and other drones, such as an upward avoidance sensor and a fantastic camera sensor that can film at a resolution of 5.4k at 30fps. 

DJI Air 2S, in terms of performance, camera quality, and price, sits somewhere between DJI Mini 3 Pro and DJI Mavic 3.

But if you are looking for some fantastic aerial photographs on your hikes and video recordings, DJI Air 2S should be considered because, in this case, we may have to look beyond the little extra weight for what the drone can offer.

3. Autel EVO Lite Plus #

Autel EVO Lite Plus SpecsTakeoff Weight820 gramsSize (folded)210x95x123 mm Size (unfolded with propellers)427x95x384mmMaximum Flight Time40 minutesSensing System (Obstacle Avoidance)3-way 360-degree obstacle avoidanceCamera Sensor1″ CMOSMax Photo Resolution20MPMax Video Resolution6k 30 frames per second

✅ Why Autel EVO Lite Plus is good for hikers #

• It has fantastic camera capabilities to photograph and especially to film.
• The Autel EVO Lite Plus has an adjustable camera aperture. 
• Good flight time of up to 40 minutes, which is above average compared to many drones.
• Has a sensing system (obstacle avoidance).
• Can be folded.
• It can be bought in a super bundle.
• Overall positive talk amongst drone pilots about the Autel EVO Lite Plus. 

❌ Why Autel EVO Lite Plus may not be suitable for hikers #

• It is pretty heavy and bulky compared to other drones
• Can be pricey 
• It is not a well-known brand as DJI, which may not reflect as much trust in the company.

Autel Robotics is yet another company creating consumer drones with fantastic capabilities, such as the Autel EVO Lite Plus. 

We found this drone to be an extraordinary one for hikers looking to acquire a drone to take backpacking.

It can film at a whooping resolution of 6k HDR, can fly up to 40 minutes, and comes in a unique bundle offering you everything you need to keep your drone in the air for a long time and film professionally.

Moreover, the Autel EVO Lite Plus has no geofencing that the DJI drones have. This means you need to pay more attention to zones where restrictions are in place – with this drone, you will not be blocked from doing so. You’ll need to self-regulate.

The Autel EVO Lite Plus has an adjustable camera aperture between f/2.8 to f/11, allowing you to set the correct shutter speed while having your image exposed adequately for cinematic recordings without the need for ND filters in most scenarios.

If you acquire the bundle, you will also have four different ND filters for any hiking scenarios from sunny to cloudy environments, stepping down the shutter speed when it is very bright.

4. DJI Mini 3  #

DJI Mini 3 SpecsTakeoff Weight248 gramsBattery Weight80.5 grams for the intelligent battery 120 grams for the intelligent battery plusSize (folded)148×90×62 mm Size (unfolded with propellers)251×362×72 mmMaximum Flight Time38 minutes with the intelligent battery51 minutes with the intelligent battery plusSensing System (Obstacle Avoidance)downward sensing systemCamera Sensor1/1.3 inch CMOSMax Photo Resolution48MPMax Video Resolution4k 30 frames per second

✅ Why DJI Mini 3 is good for hikers #

• It’s a very affordable and good-performance drone to invest in for hiking.
• It’s lightweight, taking nearly no space in your backpack, and can also benefit from relaxed drone laws (please always check your country’s laws and regulations).
• Decent camera quality for photography and filming.
• Can fly for a long time.
• DJI Mini 3 is simple to set up and fly.
• DJI Mini 3 batteries are lightweight, and you can take more than one with you on hikes.

❌ Why DJI Mini 3 may not be suitable for hikers #

• It does not have any avoidance sensors (except for landing).
• DJI Mini 3 does not have an Active Track or follow-me mode.
• The camera is decent but not the best in its class.

DJI Mini 3 is the later version of DJI Mini 3 Pro, which was released in December 2022, about six months after the Pro version.

This drone packs quite some performance and quality in the same small under-250-gram body that can benefit from relaxed drone laws and regulations in some countries and territories worldwide.

The DJI Mini 3 is a very friendly budget drone and also is fantastic for hikers who want to get a cheap drone to fit anywhere in the backpack or a larger pocket.

Although it may not be as advanced as the DJI Mini 3 Pro, the DJI Mini 3 is indeed a very well-appreciated drone amongst the drone community and pilots because of its low price starting point, which makes it affordable to most people.

And not to mention, the DJI Mini 3 is also a beginner-friendly drone – so it could be a good investment if you are hiking a lot and you want to buy your first lightweight 4k drone.

5. DJI Mavic 3 Pro #

DJI Mavic 3 Pro SpecsTakeoff Weight958 gramsBattery Weight335.5 gramsSize (folded)231×98×95 mmSize (unfolded)347×290×107 mmMaximum Flight Time43 minutesSensing System (Obstacle Avoidance)Omnidirectional binocular sensing systemCamera SensorHasselblad Camera: 4/3 inch CMOSMedium Tele: 1/1.3 inch CMOSTele Camera: 1/2 inch CMOSMax Photo ResolutionHasselblad Camera: 20MPMedium Tele: 48MPTele Camera: 12MPMax Video ResolutionHasselblad Camera: 5.1k at 50 frames per second or 4k at 120 frames per secondMedium Tele: 4k 60 frames per secondTele Camera: 4k 60 frames per second

✅ Why DJI Mavic 3 Pro is good for hikers #

• It has one of the most fantastic cameras (three cameras) on a consumer drone that will fit all your needs when hiking.
• Can zoom up to 28x (hybrid zoom) with the tele camera, offering you a unique perspective when photographing or aerial filming while hiking.
• Can fly for a long period. 
• It is the newest DJI drone packing the latest technologies.
• Has advanced Active Track system.
• It has an advanced return-to-home function.
• The DJI Mavic 3 Pro has an omnidirectional binocular sensing system that will minimize the drone’s chances of crashing and help form a path toward home when RTH is initiated.
• It is a drone made for professionals; therefore, when hiking with it, you should expect professional photo or video results.

❌ Why DJI Mavic 3 Pro may not be suitable for hikers #

• It is an expensive drone if you’re a beginner.
• It’s pretty heavy, at about one kilogram, the drone only, which means you will have to free some other weight from your backpack to be able to take it with you on a hike.
• It may be intimidating to fly such an expensive and high-end drone, and that’s why most hikers invest in something smaller and cheaper to begin with for hiking (unless you’re a professional hiker and content creator at the same time. In this case, it should be a good purchase). 

Maybe you are wondering – why DJI Mavic 3 Pro for hiking? Isn’t it a sizeable bulky drone?

It is true that DJI Mavic 3 Pro, although the newest from DJI after the DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic, is quite a large drone that may sometimes be challenging to take with you on hikes.

But suppose you can free some extra weight just to take such a drone. In that case, you will have only positive experiences, from one of the largest camera sensors on a drone of this size, fantastic video and photo quality, omnidirectional sensors, and many more advanced features. 

Moreover, you have, in fact, three cameras: the Hasselblad camera, medium tele, and tele camera that will allow you to zoom up to 28x hybrid zoom and capture a unique type of shots from the air, making this drone distinctive to take on a hike.

All of these features mentioned above and more will benefit you and allow you to acquire the best images and videos you can get while hiking, and the best experience you can get flying this drone with ease.

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