A GoPro BacPac is an essential add-on for your GoPro. Here are some of the key features you should be looking for as you decide which BacPac to buy:
- Battery life is very important, and there is some variation among models. You’ll have to weigh the strength of the battery against other features to determine which BacPac to buy. Many BacPacs have a battery that adds to the life of your GoPro’s battery, while others run off the internal battery.
- Another key consideration is the weight of the BacPac you choose, especially if you’ll be using your GoPro on long hikes where you have to carry all of your equipment on your back. Some BacPacs are lighter than others.
Newmowa 2500mAh Power Battery Bacpac for Gopro Hero4, Hero3, Hero2
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Our next pick is the Newmowa Power Battery BacPac, which fits the GoPro Hero 2, 3 and 4 models. We like it because of its light weight – when you put it on your GoPro, it adds only 2 ounces of weight, making it ideal for long heights. Its rechargeable lithium ion battery will triple your shooting time, and if you want to shoot in water, you can do it with the waterproof case. It’s also one of the least expensive models on our list.
On the downside, it’s important to note that the waterproof case included with this BacPac fits only the Hero 4, not the earlier models. It also physically doubles the size of your camera, something that may be an issue for some users. The battery also can get hot during long shoots, so keep that in mind. On the whole, though, this is a good product at an affordable price.
Wasabi Power Extended Battery compatible with GoPro HERO4, HERO3+, HERO3
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Our next pick is the Wasabi Power Extended Battery, which is compatible with the Hero 3 and Hero 3+ and the Hero 4. You can use it with any standard USB charger, which is nice if you end up needing to find a replacement charger quickly. It’s tiny, weighing in at less than an ounce, and you can order back doors for it if you want for a small additional charge.
There are a few potential negatives to consider here. While there is an indicator to show that the pack is charging, there is no clear indication when it is fully charged. Also, while it does extend the battery life it’s really only for about an hour and a half, or about the same length as the internal battery, meaning that it’s not ideal for very long shoots. And finally, this pack works well in warm weather but tends to drain fairly quickly in cold temperatures.
Vicdozia 2.0 Inch LCD BacPac External Monitor Display Viewer Non-Touch Screen
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The #7 pick on our list is the Vicdozia LCD BacPac, which we like for its nice clear display and sturdiness. This is a thin screen that doesn’t add much bulk at all, and it’s hardy enough to be used in any temperature from -20 Celsius to 70 Celsius. There’s no lag in video viewing time, which is great if you want to be able to be sure about the quality of the footage you’re getting.
The primary downside of this BacPac is that it runs off of your GoPro’s internal battery so if you want to extend the battery life you’ll still need to add an external battery pack. However, it also doesn’t really drain the GoPro battery so you shouldn’t notice much effect from attaching it. It fits only the Hero 3, 3+, and 4 models, so if you have an earlier model you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Lightwish 2.0 inch LCD BacPac External Monitor Display Viewer Screen Accessory Kit
The #6 pick on our list is the Lightwish 2-inch BacPac accessory kit. We like it because it’s very lightweight, weighing in at just over four ounces. It comes with two protective cases to keep your GoPro safe no matter where you use it, and it attaches securely to the camera so you won’t have to worry about it coming loose.
There are a couple of things that could be better on this BacPac. First, it’s not a touch screen. Because of the protective cases it’s a good choice for mounting to vehicles when you wouldn’t be able to use a touch screen anyway, but not so great if you want the ease of touch controls. Second, it doesn’t extend the life of the battery because it draws down on the GoPro’s battery.
Best GoPro LCD Touch BacPacs in 2019 