In the decade or so since their launch in 2004, GoPro have revolutionised the market for personal video cameras and action cams, becoming the most popular camera manufacturer in the world, selling literally millions of devices a year and kickstarting a whole genre of incredible video content to boot.
Given that Christmas has just passed and there’s a reasonably high chance that you might now in fact find yourself in possession of one, scratching your head on where to start, we’ve pulled together 8 of the best GoPro videos the internet has to offer for a bit of inspiration.
No pressure.
Want to get more out of your GoPro but don’t have access to the edge of space or a wingsuit? Check out our list of 8 creative things you can do with your GoPro at home.
1: Jeb Corliss – ‘Grinding the Crack’
With over 30 million views on this video alone, Jeb Corliss has a whole series of death-defying flights caught on cam and under his belt. We think we’ll take the long way down, for now.
2: Lion Hug
A pair of lions show off their affectionate side to Kevin Richardson, AKA The Lion Whisperer (incidentally, probably the best job title ever). Top marks for using the GoPro to really capture the lions’ size and power, even in this heartwarming moment.
3: Avalanche Cliff Jump with Matthias Girraud
Skiiers Matthias Giraud and Stefan Laude race an avalanche and escape in the most dramatic way possible in this classic clip. We still gasp at 1:00 minute in, every time.
4: Kitty Rescue
In this classic video, when fireman Cory Kalinick spots a suffocating cat in a burned out house, he saves and resuscitates it – icy hearts are melted and internet history is made.
5: Backflip over 72ft Canyon
This frankly insane stunt was pulled by Kelly McGarry at the Red Bull Rampage in 2013. He came second. We don’t even want to think about what it takes to win this thing.
6: Race the Tube
Who needs public transport? This sprinter races London’s Circle line from Mansion House to Cannon Street, and catches it all on film. The random passengers celebrating at the end makes it for us.
7: Biting Elbows: The Stampede (Music video)
Probably one of the most creative uses of the camera’s versatility, Biting Elbows’ video for their single Bad Motherfucker has gone completely viral since its release in 2013. Making use of everything from impressive parkour to good old-fashioned ultraviolence, they created a whole gangster/sci-fi action film – all filmed on head-cams.
8: Felix Baumgartner – Red Bull Stratos
Daredevil Felix Baumgartner captured the whole world’s attention in 2012, when he stepped into a pod, travelled 24 miles up to the edge of space and then… jumped out. He broke a number of records, including being the first human to break the sound barrier without a vehicle – and all filmed on GoPros. Check out the footage of his achievement.
