GoPro Chest Mount Harness for HERO Cameras

by GoPro

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 2 x 5 inches ; 8.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0025UEQQW
• Item model number: GCHM30
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #2 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Digital Camera Accessories > Accessory Kits
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 6, 2009

Product Description

Chest Harness for your quick-release HERO camera. Makes it easy to capture immersive video and photo footage from, well...your chest. Perfect for skiing, mountain biking, motocross, paddle sports, or any activity where you want to get a "lower than the helmet" view of the action. See more of your arms, knees poles, and skis while skiing...or your arms and handlebars while biking or riding your motorcycle. Recommended as a more immersive way to film than on the helmet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great PoV perspective that can provide better footage than a helmet mount, July 25, 2010

By 

D. Vu (Perris, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: GoPro Chest Mount Harness for HERO Cameras (Electronics)

Review updated 2011 Aug 10:

Vs. Helmet mount for mtn biking:

Pros:
- Better PoV perspective which captures more movement of your arms and your gear in action
- Better ground detail
- Better clearance from branches

Cons:
- Can't easily aim it behind you while on the bike and looking back at friends riding a section you just rode
- More wind noise, due to it capturing the sound of wind deflecting off your chest

Footage from my GoPro on my helmet mount wasn't very spectacular. It seemed a bit slower than in real life and made everything look flat, from making obstacles look insignificant to making pitches look level. Moving the camera to the chest mount gave my footage better ground detail to help with depth perception and since it captured my position, arm movement, and gear's movement, it gave a sense of the technique I was using to handle the steep pitches. The ground and foliage seemed to zoom by faster too, which seemed to give a better sense of speed. It made my PoV footage seem a lot more interesting to watch. I still have a helmet mount for certain situations, but this is now my preferred location/way to mount/wear a camera on my body.

Both are kind of finicky to aim. I find the best way is to not use leg attachments if at all possible. The chest mount requires the camera to be tilted up, since your chest will be at an angle to the ground, else you will be filming your bikes top tube and your knees. I found that mounting the camera upside down with it tilting upwards just enough that it allows the camera to be coerced out if you open the rear hatch is just about perfect and is how I realign it each time if I happen to move the camera from mount to mount. I then use the UPd mode (available after a firmware upgrade for the regular HeroHD 1080) or just rotate it 180 in editing software (don't flip, as that reverses the left and right orientation). Using leg attachments will make it prone to shaky video and risk being jarred loose out of position (kills the flow looking down and seeing you need to fix the aim).

The GoPro tends to have rattling/clacking sounds which can be minimized by padding the clip interface with some tape to tighten it up and maybe padding the case with tape to dull the sound of dirt bouncing off the case.

If I were to ride solo (time trial style) or behind a better rider on a generally non-stop fast and flowy ride, I'd definitely opt for the chest mount. If I were to ride with buddies who were slower, I'd opt for a helmet mount, just so I could just pullover my bike, put a foot down, and turn my head and film them attempting a section I just rode. If the view was great and I'd want to get some riding by footage of scenery off to the side, I'd use a helmet mount too. If I wanted to ride stylish, I'd just opt for a non PoV view or give the camera to someone else who would act as a chaser.

IMO, this is one of the big reasons to get the GoPro over other PoV cams. Get it, use it, and learn to love it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GoPro Chest Harness, February 8, 2010

By 

Tom Vincent "TVTom" (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: GoPro Chest Mount Harness for HERO Cameras (Electronics)

I recently purchased an GoPro HD helmet-cam and this mount has made my skiing video's look stable as compared to using the helmet or head band mount that's included in the package. I guess its skiing style but I tend to move my head around more often then my chest. My chest is typically looking downhill in the direction of the fall line making for a stable platform keeping my viewers from getting sick. This is an accessory item that you should consider purchasing if you like making skiing or biking video's. I'm a big guy (6ft 225lbs)so I was concerned about this thing fitting me but to my pleasure I found that the straps are adjustable, stretch & a buckle next to the camera mount makes for quick removal. Also, it's easy to turn the camera on and start a video shoot with the camera being so close to your chest. I highly recommend using one of these if you want stable looking video's. I give it a thumbs up!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, simple mount, February 7, 2010

By 

J. Gaetani - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: GoPro Chest Mount Harness for HERO Cameras (Electronics)

This is a great mount for any activity where you are facing forward. It is not so great for sideways facing activities (aka snowboarding, skateboarding). It is very comfortable and well made. It does what it should.