There was a time when hikers stopped to draw pictures of the beautiful scenery they encounter. A little later on, people took photographs to document their trek. It started with 35mm cameras and then digital cameras before cell phones became smarter and smarter. Nowadays, we have high-end and affordable drones taking even more magnificent shots and videos from angles hikers and backpackers are not able to see from where they stand.
Drones have a given a new meaning to documentation. Filmmakers have taken to flying drones to get the shots they want. Weddings are even more beautiful with aerial shots of the church, garden or wherever the nuptials are held. Experts in different fields now depend on drones to monitor wildlife, map a region, survey farms, inspecting hard-to-reach and dangerous areas, and delivering packages. There are also companies working on drone taxis that will help make travel faster and ease traffic situation. Perhaps the most important use of a drone is for search and rescue missions.
For now, we’ll focus on something simpler. Below are the best yet affordable drones you can take for a hike.
Holy Stone HS170 Predator Drone
Beginners would want something cheap yet good enough for their first drone. The Holy Stone HS170 is one of the most affordable drones in the market today. It is also good enough for newbies to bring to a hiking trip.
The HS170 is equipped with a headless slight system, which makes it easy to operate. It can also do mid-air flip with just one push of a button. It also boasts of a 6-axis Gyro Stabilization System and low-interference 2.4GHz technology. The HS170 lasts for 8 minutes in the air and has a range of 30 to 50 meters.
Holy Stone HS160 Shadow Drone
The Holy Stone HS160 boasts a Wi-Fi FPV 720 high-definition camera that’s capable of taking videos and still shots, LED lights for better visibility, and an extra battery.
This Holy Stone drone is ideal for backpacking since it’s extremely portable. The flexible blades can be folded, which makes it easier to stash inside your backpack. Plus, these affordable drones are easy to operate with their one key for starting and landing.
The Holy Stone HS160 costs only $89.99 on Amazon, down from its regular price of $129.99 at the moment.
Altair Aerial Blackhawk
The Altair Aerial Blackhawk is easy to confuse with other high-end drones. That’s because it has impressive features such as a 6-axis gyro, 3 different speed levels, brushless motors, and an action mount that’s compatible with a GoPro Hero.
The Blackhawk also comes with an independent ESC and built-in automatic lock protection. It has a 300-meter maximum range and 15 minutes of flight time, which are impressive for a $109.80 drone.
Altair AA108
If you’re looking for an affordable drone that does what you need it to do, the Altair AA108 is a great place to start. It pales in comparison to the other affordable drones here with regards to features but it’s a good drone for beginners.
The Altair AA108 is equipped with a 120-degree wide-angle 720p HD camera capable of real-time first-person view. It’s portable and lightweight at only 85 grams. It has 3 different speed levels, a reach of 100 meters, and 10 minutes of battery life.
Among the affordable drones in this list, the Altair AA108 is perhaps the best one to get your kid, especially since you’re only spending $119.80. Even adults will find these drones good ones to have when hiking.
Yuneec Breeze Flying Camera
The claim to fame of the Yuneec Breeze is its ease of use, which is a good quality for newbie drone flyers out on a hike. Its 5 flight modes allow the hiker to take different shots, including selfies and “follow me,” without much difficulty.
The Breeze comes with a 4K Ultra HD camera with 13-megapixel resolution. You can also use these affordable drones indoors thanks to their built-in indoor positioning system.
Yuneec Breeze retails for $184.49 on Amazon.
Geniusidea Follow Drone
The Geniusidea Follow lives up to the company name with its impressive features in an affordable drone. Follow comes with a 4k HD camera with up to 12-megapixel resolution, which is great for selfie lovers. It also lasts as long as 20 minutes in the air.
What sets Geniusidea Follow apart from other affordable drones is its body. While most drones are made of plastic, carbon fiber, or a combination of the two, Follow is probably the most resistant to crashes and blows with its rubber body.
For only $289.99, the Geniusidea Follow is a great drone to use in woody and mountainous areas.
Parrot Bebop 2
The Parrot Bebop 2 is a mid-range drone ideal for hiking. It’s compact and weighs only 1.1 pounds. The Bebop 2 possesses a 1080p full HD camera and shoots 14MP photos. It also comes with Fisheye Camera and a built-in 180-degree angle camera. Furthermore, it’s accompanied by the Parrot Cockpitglasses, a pair of FPV glasses, which will let you see what the drone sees.
The Parrot drone has a 1.2-mile range, 25 minutes of battery life, and a 3-axis gyro, which helps you take stable and smooth videos.
The Parrot Bebop 2 costs at least $478.88 on Amazon.
DJI Spark
DJI provides consumers with a cheaper option to the Mavic Pro. The DJI Spark boasts a 1080p camera at 30fps and hardware image stabilization courtesy of its adjustable 2-axis gimbal. It can fly for as long as 16 minutes and can reach up to 2,000 meters of range.
The DJI Spark measures 170mm diagonally so it’s basically as big as a smartphone so carrying it on your back during hiking is not an issue. The problem is that it doesn’t fold like other drones.
At $399, the DJI Spark is a great choice for beginners who want to fly a drone during a hike. On Amazon, the Spark is being offered at a bundle price of$519.99. This includes a remote controller, cable, charging hub, 2 Lithium Polymer batteries, and a shoulder bag.
GoPro Karma
GoPro got a bad rep with its Karma line. The company was forced to recall the first Karma drones off the production line after they exhibited some technical issues, particularly losing power mid-flight. Fortunately, the new GoPro Karma is finally living up to the hype.
The GroPro Karma boasts of its three-axis gimbal called the Karma Grip. This feature allows hikers to take handheld and body-mounted videos and photos aside from the usual aerial experience. Add 20 minutes of fight time and 3,000 meters of operating range and you’ll understand why this action camera is a great hiking buddy. The only issue with the Karma Grip is that its travel case is a little too bulky.
The GoPro Karma sells for $749.99 on Amazon right now. That’s a 17 percent discount from its regular price of $899.99.
DJI Mavic Pro
When we talk of drones, we talk of DJI, particularly the Mavic Pro. The DJI Mavic Pro is arguably the best of its kind, which makes it hands down one of the best drones to take for a hike.
Mavic is equipped with a 4K-ready video camera on its 3-axis gimbal. The camera is capable of 30fps and 12 MP stills. It can reach a distance of 8 miles or 13 kilometers with a maximum flight time of 27 minutes.
The DJ Mavic Pro comes with a pocket-sized remote controller featuring the company’s own OcuSync transmission technology. This allows a range of up to 4.3 miles (7 kilometers).
Despite its impressive qualities, the Mavic Pro is pretty lightweight, which is an important factor when you’re out hiking or backpacking.
The DJI Mavic Pro costs $999, which goes against the “affordable” part of this post. However, that amount of cash is well worth it considering how brilliant these hiking drones are. Plus, this bundle from Amazon comes with a padded sling backpack, a 32 GB card, a couple of cable sliders, and a lot more.
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