As a creator who relies on action cameras for everything from mountain biking trails to underwater shoots, I’ve lost count of how many times my GoPro has shut down mid-recording due to overheating. It’s not a rare fluke—it’s a pattern. The camera gets hot, the red warning light flashes, and then it powers off, taking valuable footage with it. This isn’t just frustrating; it’s costly when you’re on location and can’t reshoot.

GoPro’s overheating problems aren’t anecdotal. They’re well-documented in real-world use, and I’ve experienced them across multiple models. No matter the settings or environment, the thermal throttling kicks in too soon, cutting recording short when I need it most. For important shots—like a once-in-a-lifetime climb or a timed event—I simply can’t risk it.

The only scenario where I’d even consider trying new GoPro hardware is if they sent it to me for free. And even then, I wouldn’t trust it for critical work. I’d use it only for casual, low-stakes testing—never for client projects or personal milestones where lost footage means lost memories.

That’s why I’ve stopped recommending GoPro entirely. When I need reliability, I turn to DJI or Insta360. Their cameras handle heat better, record longer, and just plain work when I need them to. Until GoPro fixes its core thermal issues, I’m done betting my footage on their promise.