GoPro 9 VS Insta 360 VS Gopro 7 With Gimbal - Can you tell the difference?

[@aka4146]

The GoPro 9 looks just fine to my old eyes.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Sweet! Less for me to cary haha!

[@i_eat_monke971]

Umm why r there no comments on this

[@r56mini]

I ordered a max lens mod for my 9 today. Can’t wait!!

[@tevinabeysekera6038]

@@r56mini I am looking forward to getting one as well? How good is it for you? The hypersmooth stabilization is fantastic but it seems to crop the video a lot, hopefully this lens fixes the issue.

[@jjartiagamtb7049]

what settings are you using on max lens mod?

[@SergioProdi]

I prefer the 9 chest mount because you get more feeling by seeing more of the bike movement and steering. Also the contrast is higher

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Sergio!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hope you guys enjoy this video! It was fun doing something a little different and riding with Andrew! Let us know what you think we should do for our future camera setups! Here is a table of contents incase you want to jump around. Let me know if you have any questions! Oh and don't forget to click 4k for the best quality 0:00 - 0:46 Intro & Overview 0:46 - 1:37 GoPro 9 Max Chin Mount 1:37 - 3:05 GoPro 7 With Karma Grip Gimbal Chest Mount 3:31 - 5:27 GoPro 9 Max Chest Mount + Insta360 Chin 5:43 - 7:14 GoPro 9 Max Chin Mount 7:14 - 9:51 Overview

[@A.D.D.O.C.D.T]

Time stamps are awesome extra effort. 110% quality content. 🤘🪓👑👑🙏

[@WadBerg447]

Do you mind puting a link for this trail? Did you shuttle?

[@Vanadium]

How are you guys editting your insta 360 one R 360 video? My Adobe Premiere wont let me use the whole 180° and re frame it evetime to a tiny part of the whole thing. I use the Insta 360 Plugin for it.

[@trailmonster]

GoPro 9 and 8, hardly a need for a gimble these days.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah it seems like they are getting so close! The only reason I like running the gimbal when I can is because the gimbal allows you to use the full 4x3 sensor size and capture a full resolution image. The "hypersmooth" stabilization crops in on the image between 10 & 20 percent to stabilize it which results in a lower quality image but I don't even know if its really even noticeable on KZbin for most users. Thanks for the comment though! Seems like people are digging the 9 footage!

[@szokrika]

What kind of ring + mount do you use with that gimbal to chest mount it? Would something similar work on a dji gimbal?

[@RollModel724]

@@AprilRideMTB I think you nailed it. If you were making DVDs maybe....but half the time your videos are kicked to 720, and my largest screen is an iPad

[@jltrack]

GoPro is selling the Karma Grip for $99. It brought my dated Hero 4 back to life. A proper gimbal still offers the best viewing experience imo. The onboard stabilization on the new GoPro still has a mechanical feel to the video. Gimbals are a lot to carry around though

[@lindsayoosterwaal6338]

Chin mount benefits from your head being more stable than your chest. The Insta360 seems to be a lot more blurred around the edges and the colour grading seemed more washed out than the GoPro. The colour differences may be fixable in the settings. Great vid Kyle

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Lindsay! Yeah the Insta 360 is using their "ai" color grading and I totally agree. I think that they have the best stabilization but the worst image quality. I am hoping they will come out with something really high quality in the coming year that can compete head on with GoPro :)

[@CaesarIII]

@@AprilRideMTB Try to use the insta360 studio on pc and not the smartphone app. Should work a lot better.

[@CaliradoKid]

Yea. The GoPro Hero 9 really does check all the boxes. It's become my main camera without gimbal and I'm really diggin' the footage. I have yet to put the Max Lens on but I have it. Based on what I'm seeing it looks pretty fantastic.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@ANTheWhizkid]

My humble opinion: I can see the difference between the two gopro setups in this side by side comparison. The gimbal is a bit smoother but honestly, I (as viewer) wouldn't mind at all if you ditch the brick and just continue with the comfy 9. I can imagine, nobody would notice any difference when you take care how you cut material from both cams together.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome! I too can see the little difference and it bugs me a bit but I have to remember that most of the viewers really enjoy the footage and the small difference is ok. Thank you so much for the feedback!

[@CaesarIII]

@@AprilRideMTB Same here. There is a small difference. I'd use the 9 and insta and mix/match the footage. Insta for some shots not possible with the gopro (top of helmet and bird-like view, monted to front fork low to the ground). The stabilization of the insta is top notch though. The blurryness of the insta is mostly due to the fact that it's 5,7k für 360°! Do you happen to own the 4k lense as well? Try this (stabilization is not as good though) Especially following April down a trail would be ace with the insta because of it's reframing of her even though she is around the corner already etc.

[@ANTheWhizkid]

​@@AprilRideMTB Hey thank you so much for the kind answer. When I´m trying to think pragmatic: Do you think it may be worth a try doing an entire episode or all descents (or parts where stabilisation is required) with only the 9 in order to see whether you have been more thrown off by switching forth and back between two different ways of stabilisation, or because of the way, the new camera stabilizes the axis and if the difference is negligible (especially for oneselves inner monk) or not? - Btw. Thanks a lot for the effort of doing such videos. After like 10 years off the mtb I had started again back in June. They help me to not even get used to bad riding habits a lot... and to introduce my girlfriend to mountain biking. Two birds, one stone^^

[@14preston49]

So happy to have a Boise mtb KZbinr to show off our amazing trails

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Preston :) Its been so fun to be a part of this community and we can't wait to see what the future holds! Would love to build a compound or indoor bike park some day if possible!

[@SamBuchmiller]

@@AprilRideMTB Do it! I know several people (including myself) that would gladly pay to use a facility like that during the cold season.

[@alex_smallet]

It would be interesting to compare side by side, but I think gimbal gives more natural feel. Also I had an impression that heavy digital stabilization negatively affects image quality. BTW, I thought BKXC uses EVO SS gimbal. It is smaller and more convenient than Karma.

[@martino76256]

I don't usually comment, but I have to say I'm really impressed with the hero 9 footage, it shows more how steep the trails really are. For me hero 9 would be the way to go in future recordings, also because it gives you a nicer ride

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome! Thank you so much for the feedback! I was really impressed as well :)

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

Max lens mod is amazing! Did you use horizon lock on this footage? You didn't specify. Or did you just use hypersmooth? Horizon leveling does a better job of stabilization and it crops the view but the lens mod brings it back to superview and more. Also, insta 360 will shut off on 5k depending on your settings. It happens usually after 10-15 seconds. Check your settings. 4k on insta never does it. Also, another option is the grav grip. Its new lightweight gimbal that is water proof and takes no batteries and will work with Go pro or insta 360 one R. Going to do a review on it soon. Great video as always.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

They both looked pretty damn good, but given that it's SO close, your point about "I feel so much more free w/o the gimbal" is a MASSIVE factor to me. Shoutout Boise!

[@mtbtrailhunter9311]

I have a GoPro 9 on a chin mount and in my opinion it’s the best way to record

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats awesome! Yeah I am really digging that setup now :)

[@thegnarseeker1574]

Sergio Garcia But you then have to always wearing a full face helmet and they aren't the best helmet to wear when your arent doing downhill. But I do think looks like a good setup.

[@AaronsEnduro]

what chin mount do you use?

[@BispoOnRoad]

The major downfall of digital stabilization is low light situations, apart from that, Max Lens Mod is a GO !

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@OzyMark]

I’ve got my follow up opinion. I’ve been using my GoPro 9 for a while & if your a fumble user, it sux. You limit so much by going super stable that it crops so much off the horizon that it’s a pain in the arse to get a easy shot 100% of the time. I’ve never thrown away so much footage as I have with the 9 compared to a gimbal version. My final is going to try a mobile phone gimbal with the GoPro 9 with no stabilisation set. The phone gimbal motors will be better for the heavy GoPro 9 & will also be better to adapt for the larger size as well. Just have to wait for everything to turn up & give it a try.

[@Yurppppppppp]

I use a Hero 8 without a gimbal and the footage is still very stable. Your Hero 9 footage looks amazing. Definitely no need for a gimbal. Another thing to note is if you have a bad crash, that gimbal or even the GoPro on your chest can cause some serious injuries. I always wear mine on the helmet for that reason.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@angeloco5111]

The 9 with the max lens looks great! I ordered one last week and can’t wait to try it out when it gets here. I didn’t really know him, but I used to see Andrew at our local dirt jumps and skateparks back in the day. Glad to see he’s still riding!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback! Andrew is such a cool guy!

[@adamhulin366]

Bro that 9 is so smooth and gets the gimble off your chest! Hell yeah that stabilization is amaze balls!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad you think so, would be more fun to ride without the gimble!

[@nickscheraldi5867]

The GoPro 9 footage was the best, in my opinion. Chest or chin, depending on what you’re trying to capture, seem to be the safest and nicest views. Great video!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Nick!

[@5150macro]

The 9 was totally watchable. I couldn't really notice any difference between the 7 & 9. The go pro effect does not do you or trail 4 justice. The stabilization makes it look like your riding a flow trail, and the steepness of parts of that trail does not get fully conveyed. Great riding.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats awesome to hear! Thanks for the feedback! Yeah trail 4 is gnarly haha!

[@ajstalter]

I was also thinking that there was almost no difference between the 9 and 7.

[@CalebRogers]

That GoPro 9 is fantastic. The footage is so stable and clean. I'm going to have to get one.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback, glad it helped you make a decision!

[@rhmike4902]

I saw you on bkxc video. I love too see more video here. I love your skills

[@AprilRideMTB]

Awesome, thank you! I really appreciate that, BKXC is such a rad dude!

[@mamawii2415]

Same here

[@NUGGETSHOOTER]

That trail is something else, thanks for the video and currently using the 9 with lens mod

[@AprilRideMTB]

Awesome!

[@doremisqueak]

The way I see it, is that stabilization is often almost too good these days and starts to chip away at the feel of the ride. Case in point: at several points in the video you say the trail is quite gnarly, and sure, the GoPro effect flattens it out, but stabilization just takes the gnar away. It's bad when it shifts too much either way. Too smooth gets boring unless you go hyperspeed with narrow points of reference (like trees) and too shaky is just hard to watch in the best case. Skills with Phil talked about the shakiness and camera position in one of his videos, it's just bang on.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Great points! Thanks for the comment Radek! Yeah we just want to offer the best experience for the viewer. I really appreciate your feedback

[@jeffloucks2120]

For this reason I really like Sony's middle range setting with their optical stabilization. Unfortunately the form factor just doesn't work well for MTB or Moto unless you don't mind side of the helmet or figure out another way.

[@doremisqueak]

@@AprilRideMTB you guys are totally killing it. I love the cheerful vibe, the step-by-step approach and takeaways at the end. You also somehow always manage too squeeze in just the right amount of info for pretty much all levels. Good stuff!

[@JB50713]

I would say gimbals are dead.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks JB! I am so stoked to get all this feedback from you guys :)

[@Daniel08353]

Except... using a gimbal allows little-to-no cropping of the camera - allowing the camera to view more.

[@Coaster_Crazy]

To be honest I think the Hero 7 and Gimble did the best job at keeping everything level

[@ww8wv1]

Well, I have to say that this was the first MTB video that featured the hero 9 that I actually liked. To explain that, a lot of the footage I’ve seen looked to stabilized. It’s mountain biking and I like for there to be some sense of the terrain being ridden. Your hero 9 footage accomplished that.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Jeremy! I think its because I have the Max lens addition on mine. I had to buy it on the ebay from some random seller haha gopro.com/en/us/shop/mounts-accessories/hero9-black-max-lens-mod/ADWAL-001.html

[@adamweb]

Really nice footage, no gimbal needed! I love how Andrew looks half bored/asleep just casually dirt surfing at 40mph hahaha!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha hes so rad!

[@Steveman61]

If I'd be a Gimbal manufacturer I'd start to cry. Incredible good image from the Hero 9!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hahaha I would cry too! Their days are numbered!

[@RUmlas]

@@AprilRideMTB only a matter of time and software will catch up and cropping in digital stabilization will be a thing of the past? Most people using a GoPro won't even notice or care that the image is cropped.

[@adventurecoalition3690]

Thx for the comparisons, great job. Just bought the 9 and love being gimbal free. The stabilization on the 9 is amazing

[@allanridesbikes5856]

I was already impressed with the 7 and now with the 9 out, it's pretty much unnecessary to use a gimbal even more than I thought it was before. There's a purpose for still enjoying the smoothness of the gimbal, but for short clips, I like that raw but stable feel of just the gopro 9 without a gimbal.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Totally agree!!

[@charleswilliams1922]

GREAT VIDEO!! I'm really loving your channel! Final answer.....no need for a gimbal anymore at all. Zero. Good: 9 Chest mounted Better: 7 Chin mounted Best: 9 chin mounted That's how I would rank them, with the 7 and gimbal in a very close 4th. OK...so I have a big interest in this, and while I really loved this video, I think there's one thing that is significant enough, that you really didn't illustrate, based on these trails. RIDING TECHNICAL TERRAIN with rock rolls, drops, and things like that. THAT is where gimbals annoy me, because there's a moment in time when the rider approaches the obstacle, and then the gimbal corrects for the horizon, and we don't see the trail at all. I love Nate Hill's videos, but that happens a lot in his footage. Yes...you can tilt them down, but not in the course or riding a trail without stopping. It also didn't have a lot of really sharp corners..mostly flowing terrain, and that is another spot that gets me, because the camera lags with a gimbal. Maybe with the 9....it won't. THAT is why I GREATLY prefer the chin mounted view on a Full Face helmet....I see where the rider is looking...down, or through corners! Phil Kmetz was the first to really use the 7 like that substantially, and I think his chin mounted footage with the Hero 7 is still the gold standard for POV period...IMO. HOWEVER...the Hero 9 chin mounted, looks even better based on this video. However, the 7's stabilization is so good chin mounted, that if the audio is still superior...I would see no reason to upgrade to the 9 for my videos. Were you using GoPro color, or flat and then grading in post? That makes a big difference as well, in terms of the color profile, because I liked the extra saturation from the 9....more vivid colors. I also liked the wider view...it gave it a more cinematic appearance for this terrain. The chest mounted 9 looked really good as well. BUT...this video doesn't show how it will do in slow tech. I am guessing it would correct for the horizon, and in my eyes, not be as good as chin mounted. But...if you're going to wear open face, I think the 9 chest mounted, ON THIS TERRAIN, was every bit as good as using the 7 with a gimbal. No doubt about that in my mind, from a video perspective. AUDIO....would require a better side by side comparision, because the audio on the 8 was WORSE than the 7. I'll probably end up thinking the 9 chin mounted is superior, but I will also admit....chest mounted always makes it "appear" that the rider is going faster, just from the slightly lower orientation. I think that's artificial though, and still prefer chin mounted, and it's VERY hard to beat seeing what the rider is looking at. Let's hear the audio of the 7 and 9 compared on the chin mount, and then the 9 on the chest mount. I prefer foam covers, which should be very possible without having to use a gimbal anymore!! A little hack I've learned is....if you buy a SURE SM58 mic foam wind cover, and fit it on the camera and cut out a hole for the lens....it does a better job of filtering wind noise than the stock foam ones you buy online.

[@Hardcaslte]

Chin mount is generally a stable setup because your body and neck is doing some shock absorbing for the camera too, so I'd expect that to be stable. But a regular chest mount with no gimbal looking that smooth is pretty remarkable.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@maxtebbs3432]

9 for sure, even if the image is slightly lower quality you seem to be a lot more comfortable riding fast and hard without a gimbal which makes up for any lowered quality. I use a hero 9 and am super happy with the results.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@brianbarr4955]

I could barely tell any difference between the 9 and the gimbal! I would definitely stick with the 9 going forward! Also, for audio that is clipped like that, I used to think the audio was just no good forever, but there’s a product I found called iZotope RX8 that has a de-clipping tool that will all but completely get rid of any clipping from having the audio too high! Idk what editing software you’re using, but it has a nice FCPX plugin too. I have had to use it multiple times to save some audio for my job. The Elements version is only $29 and has all you need for fixing clipped audio. Awesome video as usual! Have really appreciated all your tutorials as me and my wife have just gotten into biking this year!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Dude you are a legend! I will check that out! Thank you!

[@brianbarr4955]

@@AprilRideMTB haha sure thing! Just let me know if you have any questions about it!

[@jasonnell1477]

GoPro 9 on your chest mount with digital stabilization is the ticket! Great comparison!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you Jason!

[@BikeLifewithRob]

Sending it, I think you can toss the gimbals...just my opinion.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok good to know! Thanks Rob!!

[@buethling]

Def agree!

[@stephanadolph6769]

I like all 3 Setups. Gimbal and H7 for the price.Insta360 for flexible looks.And H9 for perfect footage

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@Flex-Jitsu]

Stabilization/Hypersmooth has been great since GoPro 8. And yes, your GoPro 9 video was super steady. So no need for a Gimbal anymore. And I like the chest mount as it give a better POV. Love your videos. Keep up the great work! Thanks!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback!!

[@owentimoteo9653]

That 9 is so stable. Thanks for the video. I’m sold. I’ll make sure to buy on the link below

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Owen! You rock!!

[@themiddleagemasher8108]

Kyle. I KZbin as well I ditched the hero 4 and evo a couple years ago for the hero 7 black. I picked up the hero 9 a few weeks ago. And I’m impressed. I just ordered the max lens mod.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad you like the 9!

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

Glad you got the mod before its sold out again. Use horizon leveling, it crops the picture but the lens mod totally takes it back to superview and more. Horizon leveling blows hypersmooth away is so gimbal killer.

[@bobrose7900]

Hero 9 looked great. The only problem is you have no control over the horizon, but the chest and helmet mount mount worked extremely well... no problems from this end Kyle! Hot-n-dry there, wet and very windy here! Fun video as usual Kyle.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Bob!

[@dannysalasmtb]

Hi Kyle, great video like always. I like the karma grip a bit more but the hero 9 looks great, that said what do you do for audio with karma grip and hero 7? Thank you

[@jaydpee7]

GoPro 9 looked great with its digital stabilization. Also, its picture was very clear. I liked it. The gimbal didn't seem to 'add' anything. Given wearing a gimbal is a bit of an inconvenience, I'd say go with the GoPro 9 and the digital super-ness it's offering. As a viewer, it was very good. The scenery of the Boise area was great to see. If & when possible, showing more of your area(s) is a welcome addition. As always, ... thanks very much.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome thanks Jeffrey! Thats so cool to hear. I can't wait for more Gimbal - less rides!

[@mrsmith4662]

I think it is now 'No' to gimbals & 'Yes' to electronic stabilization. Loved the trail footage, seems you had a great day out - super exhilarating & better without a cumbersome attachment to your chest.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome! Thanks Mr Smith!!

[@thetrailfix]

I shoot with a hero 10 with a noir matter single axis gimbal. I really like that it has the horizon leveling at 5.3K superview, and unlike a full gimbal, the camera can still point up and down on hills. Something about that makes it feel more natural to me, but it's still great to get rid of the nauseating horizon movement, especially in corners, as the max does. And with that, as small as the noir is, it's still a bit of extra weight (3.5 or so oz.) and batteries only go a couple of hours. More to carry and more to go wrong. Because it sticks out more, I think it also bounces the stabilization more on jumps, despite how uncomfortably tight I get the chest mount. So.... tradeoffs. Looking at your 2.7K footage, I don't know if I see enough difference in resolution to justify the noir now in pursuit of 4K+. At least for mountain bike videos. Thinking I might ditch the noir and get a max lens. The max footage looks great in your video, and definitely prefer it over the 7 just because of that full gimbal look vs only horizon lock. The 7 footage is amazingly good still. I imagine you stuck with the Max lens over the gimbal. Oh, I have a OneR also, and it's cool. Same feeling though, it just needs more resolution. Plus, it has more steps on the backend for editing. Anyhow, thanks for the video. Well done and real useful.

[@yzedf]

I usually prefer the chin mount for a couple reasons, looking through the turns and for story telling. The lag of a gimbal really bothers me if it’s having a slow day for whatever reason. Nice to be able to turn your head to catch a nice scenic view without stopping, looking back to watch someone clear an obstacle etc. Not really sold on that lens mod though as I do watch a lot of videos on a 4K tv.

[@paulr8613]

Watched this on a 50inch TV and definitely the gopro 9 , keep up the great content

[@TroyCollier]

Welp there ya have it. Chest mounts used to suck because of the transition between sitting and standing. The chin mount was always the best. But now the chin mount is no different with the hero 9 max lens mod than the hero 8 or 7. The chest mount with leveling is the way to go with the mlm on a gp9. Check out my helmet pole mount using a hero 9 with the Max lens mod facing backwards.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Troy!

[@peterwor]

The 9 looks pretty good especially on the chunky stuff is pretty stable. Really cool to watch you guys just ride too...

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Peter!

[@mannyfnsc29]

I think it's safe to say you can ditch the gimbal at this point. If you like the chin mount, any of the GoPros work well..but personally, I like the immersion you get from the chesty POV.. so, the Gopro 9 on the chest mount is the best option, imo. The Insta picture quality isn't there yet, like you said.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Awesome! Thanks Manny!!

[@tomscally2022]

Interesting, the gimble gives you the stable horizon which is more natural, but the GoPro9 stability is amazing. On a big vista location I think the gimble has the edge, but if you are in the woods/closed in location the the 9 does the job very well. I think with the 9 you will constantly be moving your focus within the frame , which is not always noticable whereas with the gimble you eyes are locked on the same part of the frame as the gimble is doing the work for you. Horses for courses I'd say.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Tom!

[@bjacksonokc]

H9 for sure. I preferred the helmet POV over the chest. Thanks for the videos!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome! Thanks so much Brandon!

[@kevinw6282]

Great comparison, this sort of thing has been needed for a while! There is just something about the image quality and characteristics of the 9, so nice, just really great imagery to look at. I can't see a need for a gimbal after this, and the lack of a horizon lock compared to a gimbal, IMHO, it gives a more natural feeling look to the video. So much of it is personal preference I realize, but I've always thought gimbal videos are a little too overstabilized and they lack some "feel" of what it's like to ride. Great job!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Kevin!

[@workshybum]

The stabilisation from the 9 is very impressive and I don’t notice any real loss of quality coming through my iPad screen, especially as you tube wants to degrade it to 720p automatically anyway. I do prefer it mounted to the chest as you can see how bumpy the trail is by how much the bike is moving and it also gives more a of a first person feeling in my opinion. Footage from the chin is easily good enough though, if you want to ride free of a chest mount. Keep up the great work!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@ryanwest9267]

I think Hero 9 Max Lens on the chin is the best. Also I loved AT's 48 state road trip videos

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hes such a stud!

[@jacktudela4182]

Wow!! That was awesome ride. This video couldn't of come at better time as I am looking in to getting a Go Pro. Thanks Kyle and April.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad I could help! Thanks for watching Jack!

[@HeintjeMTB]

The biggest advantage of your hero 9 setup is the chin mount. After watching a lot of footage shot with a chin mount it is hard to watch footage from a chest mount. Although on these straight line trails it isn't that big of a deal. Once you get to the twisty trails the chesty footage gets so annoying to watch. So if you do not mind riding with a gimbal. Please do not mind having to wear a full face helmet all the time.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome! Thank you so much for the feedback! I will try to incorporate more Chin Mount Stuff :)

[@danielli5931]

I really don’t know what this is, but your videos are informative and entertaining, so still the best

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks Daniel!

[@evolution2ride]

The go pro looks great! I like the chest mount when you are riding in the front and the chin mount view when following.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@TheSmittles]

I am excited to see this comp! Thanks for the great video with multiple mounting setups and multiple cameras! I have recorded a few rides with a chest gimble setup and it has helped me a lot to be able to go back and watch the ride on rainy days and improve lines/see where I could have used other techniques I have learned from you. :)

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad it was helpful Philip and thats a great idea to record your rides to review later!

[@RobertsMoneyTalk]

GoPro 9 on chest was killer!!! I like the point of view it catches more of your bike on the trail then chin mounted!! And the stabilization was right on!! 💯💯👊

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Robert!

[@GaryDonosti]

GoPro 9 + chin mount looks great here, (watching YT at 4k on a good monitor). Maybe a little over bright, I'd like to see the difference in darker scenes and woods.

[@AprilRideMTB]

That's a great point Gary. Our woods are snowy now, so we won't be able to get that footage until spring.

[@rafsxful]

If you get more comfortable using the GoPro9 or the insta360, great. Good for you and good for us. For me as a viewer the video quality is really good with the GoPro9. But I could notice the image quality diference between GoPro and Insta360, being the GoPro better. The Insta360 still isn’t a good replacement for the GoPro. Nice trails Keep riding, keep safe

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@ShandyEB]

Verry smoot digital stabilization Gopro 9, very best Gopro 9, I really want it 😁

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah its crazy! I couldn't believe how good it was with the Max lens mod. Thanks for watching :)

[@ShandyEB]

@@AprilRideMTB key, please look my channel 😁

[@dk-michael]

The GoPro Hero 9 stabilization is fine, but the gimbal definitely level better and there for give a better angle in my opinion. Video quality wise, both are fine and stable enough to enjoy watching.

[@mikerbwind]

Every Gopro has had one or maybe 2 settings that work better than others. I see no need for a gimbal with Hero 7 8 or 9. Horizon lock takes away from the feeling of real world change of rider position. I use hero 7 at 2.7k/ 50fps superview on a chesty. It's easy to fix it firm whilst still being able to alter its angle for seated parts of a ride. Love your videos...especially skills training because you have a different approach to virtually every other yt coach. Your recent jump technique video opened new doors for me.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you for the feedback! Glad the videos are helpful for you!

[@escobarfpv1275]

The digital stabilization was good for the purpose of mountain biking, but that gimbal was rock solid.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@jeremylamplugh5023]

Excellent video (as usual!), In my opinion the GoPro 9 is great and perfectly good, but the Gimbal is ultimately better because of the 'Horizon hugging' disassociation of body angle and Shot Frame. Others have mentioned the problem of over smoothing video and loosing the 'action feel', how about the GoPro 9 on gimbal mount (to take out the big lumps) with the in camera smoothing dialed back a bit (to leave in some fine shake) to promote feel. The other point I would make is that the conditions you have are perfect, plenty of light (super sharp shadows). Unfortunately over here in gloomy old Britain we'd only get days like that for a month or so in the middle of summer. How about a similar test in Low(ish) light when Autofocus and smoothing start to struggle to see if the Gimbal can claw back some ground.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok great points Jeremy! I will try to do a low light test for you guys soon :)

[@da12641]

I wish everyone knew your life story and now that I do, I respect you so much more. After the shit you been through and you still love and respect people, I respect you even more. I am a survivor of the "Killing Fields" and got into MTB December 2018. Sick ride, I was thinking of move to Boise.way back in 2000.

[@AprilRideMTB]

No way! That is insane you went through that! I really appreciate your comment. I just get enjoyment out of helping other people get a little bit of brightness in their day. I am glad you found mountain biking. Thank you so much for being a part of our channel

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

Darren, how did you hear of his life story? Kyle is such a good human and I would love to hear his story. Glad you found mountain biking and hope that it help bring healing to your soul. Ride on.

[@BikingBadwithTC]

Great comparison review. MTBing in low light condition is where gopro electronic stabilization suffers.

[@cesarxavier6402]

I enjoy and learn a lot of your videos guys. Thanks so much!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for watching!

[@ceottaki]

It's amazing what the GoPro 9 can do, you can definitely just use the GoPro 9, no gimbal needed! The 360 is cool, but I thought the colours and image quality on the GoPro were a bit better - but that's subjective, so, just my 2 cents. :)

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@hawaiianpunch6534]

I was watching another vlog and the guy mentioned that you would still need a gimbal for the Gopro 9 on low light. Other than that day time it looks great. If you do foodie tours in the evening I guess you would need one.

[@Tokyo_Views]

Epic video man. You really risked your life. Just ordered max lens mod 👌

[@AprilRideMTB]

Awesome! 😊

[@EnlistedTrailHeads]

Just got my max lense, now I really can't wait to get it out on the trail!!! Amazing riding!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Good choice! Its so rad!

[@dogtag114]

@@AprilRideMTB Can you post the link to the max lense? I can't find it on Amazon

[@DCImaging118]

Honestly think the Hero 9 footage is excellent. Think you can ditch the gimbal and free yourself up! Just got myself a 9 last week. Love it!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Totally agree! Thanks Derek! Hope you enjoy your 9!

[@markymarkpowpow]

nice demo! you guys rocked that trail - loved the vid!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much!

[@brianpulscher6514]

Just bought a 9. Should be here in a few days. Thanks for the review. Now just need the max lens mod. FWIW...for your subscribers, GoPro just dropped a huge sale for black Friday. I saved a BUNCH. Do you ever run top of helmet stuff? I assume it doesn't look much different than the chin mount. As always, great stuff!!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for sharing Brian! I run top of helmet for moto. Kyle does prefer to keep it lower, because he said his body tends to be more upward when riding and it would miss the bike if the camera is too high.

[@kosfilms9070]

Damn at 3:40 I could see how steep it was, unnatural for GoPro footage

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha yeah that chute is insane! I get scared every time!

[@michaelciapessoni5786]

The GoPro nine was amazing, you can barely tell the difference between the two. The technology is really improving. Also with the go Pro nine, distances seem to be accurate. Definitely Recommend upgrading to the GoPro nine for all videos that this would be needed

[@AprilRideMTB]

Totally agree!

[@borasiman648]

I can say with Gimbal(chest mounted) better for all around and mixed lighting conditions and long epic descents. Hero 9(chin mount) for quick ride

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@DiscoDancerNo1]

GoPro 9 looks pretty good. Fun to see you guys just riding and having fun. @andrewtaylor is awesome. Super nice guy and rad on a bike.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank Patrick!!! Hope you have been doing good man! Lets Snogo this winter or something!

[@DiscoDancerNo1]

@@AprilRideMTB I’m down! I need something new to crash on. 😂

[@chrisbennett5796]

I'm going to give the FeiyuTech Pocket 2S a try. It's a miniature gimbal that detaches from the recorder. It isn't on sale yet but it's a startup that looks like it will definitely go into production. I've put my money down for one. From what I can see in the videos it looks like an awesome chest mount camera for mountain biking. I would imagine it is not tough like a GoPro though, and not waterproof. Hey, I live in Australia and it hardly ever rains.

[@grahamcoote1439]

Yeah man the 9 looks awesome on chest and chin. I like the 360 on chin mount too.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Right on! Thanks Graham!

[@torrunelade3004]

To me, the HERO9 looks really good. No need for gimbal. For future videos, some color grading in post would be nice for both the 9 and the 360 footage 👍

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the tips! Yeah I just used In body "GOPRO Color" and Insta360's AI color. Next videos will have a little more of my color preferences on them :) Thanks for watching!

[@Projectnortheast]

I haven't been using my gimbal since the hero 8 came out. While the 8 didn't have great stabilization compared to the 9, if you used the correct harness it helped a ton. Now, I find myself carrying my hero 8 in my pack with stick for 3rd person and the 9 on my chest. Love the ease and simplicity of it VS using my old gimbal set up. I still can't say if the max lense is worth it though to get the horizon leveling. I know for sure the insta 360 is not there, can't stand the gumby arm look...

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@genisis53]

Great video Kyle! I don’t notice anything wrong with the GoPro 9 at all. That trail looked really fun!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks! 👍 Really appreciate the feedback :)

[@kynansecondname7993]

sweet, the gimbal looks super smooth, i have the osmo i think its called and wanted to attach to my chest harness for this reason, only have the silver 4 gopro.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok cool! Yeah i am so torn, the gimbal just makes it look so buttery smooth and I feel like the Hero 9 is like 90% there but I can see the 10% thats missing haha

[@arch417powersports]

Dude, those trails are amazing! Nice riding.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you!

[@nihondragon]

I think the Gopro 9 frees you from using a gimble all the time. Field of view and stability is still awesome. We all love your videos and don't want you to feel bogged down filming them for us. Be free and enjoy your rides 👍🙌

[@kenkorthauer8747]

GoPro 9 looks good. You kept horizon lined up well. I have 7 and certainly not quite as stable. I like gimbal to keep camera level and smooths out video on turns but you 9 was great

[@jellyfishedx]

I still use a gimble but only for my smart phone. Never will need one for my Gopro 9 that's for sure. Thanks for the video.

[@danieleflorean7064]

Personally I prefer gimbal-stabilized footage, I sometimes get motion sickness watching fast-paced descents and the "horizon" stabilization reduces that a lot. But in the end just use what feels better to ride with! Without the gimbal, definitely chin mount, for the same reason.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ok awesome! Thanks for the feedback Daniele!

[@jeffwertz8108]

The real comparison is the best camera on a gimbal versus not on a gimbal. In just a quick watch on my messed up phone i could tell a difference in favor of the gimbal with the 2 generation older camera. One place you mentioned about the horizon line staying the same seated or standing without stabilization. It didn't. It moved when you did. And like you said on climbs. I assume a similar issue on descents unless you set the camera up oriented for descents. But wear what you want. We'll still watch.

[@chopsaw2988]

Ditch the gimbal the GoPro 9 is definitely a plus. Less bulk and no real loss in stability, make riding I bit more comfortable Kyle less to carry less to go wrong.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback Paul!

[@blainebowe73]

GoPro Hero 9 chest mount was my favorite!

[@tonyroumonada]

GoPro 9 looks great to me, I'm very impressed. Seems like a big improvement from the 8. Audio is much better than your 7 too. I have a 7 Black and the stabilization is pretty good, but I've been less than impressed with the audio. Price is right though at $200 less than the 7. Keep doing Boise proud Kyle & April!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for your feedback Tony!

[@greeneyedchul0]

I have the karma grip extension cable that cuts the size of the gimbal in half just relocate the handle to pocket on your back pack

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@greeneyedchul0]

@@AprilRideMTB no problem dude

[@henrikhammaren4118]

Good compairison!! The Hero 9 has fantastic stabilization, no doubt about that. Sometimes I feel that it is more stable than in reality so you don´t " feel the bumps" and therefore loose a bit of the speed and actionfeel. I flip my Gopro setting between "on" and boost and can´t decide which I like better. It´s a give and take. With the Max lens mod you dom´t have that option. I think the Max lens mod with horizion lock will be exellent for skiing and snowbording, where the "floating feel stabilization" gonna fit perfect.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats awesome feedback! Thank you so much Henrik! I will do some more experimenting with it and try some more settings :)