Our Picks:
Best option: The DJI Mavic Air 2
It is one of the best drones due to its follow-me technology and high definition camera. This is definitely one you’ll want to consider if you need a drone that follows snowboarding.
Also great: Skydio 2
Upgrade pick: The DJI Mavic 2 Pro
When it comes to drones that you can use for skiing and snowboarding, there are a few things you’re going to want to keep in mind. First, the weather is a huge factor. Secondly, you’re going to want to find one that can keep up with the speed of your riding.
We will review some of the best ones out there and explain what you need to know about each of them. We’ll also break down some pros and cons so you can find the right one for your needs.
Things you should know about drones
While most quality drones fly well, the biggest thing you need to know is that the weather will play a huge element in you flying a drone to capture your snowboarding and skiing shots. If you don’t buy a drone that can handle the cold weather and the variety of elements you will encounter while outside, you’re not going to have a good experience filming.
By just making sure you go the extra step to make sure the drone you pick has these features, you’re going to pick the best drone for your experience. Don’t worry, we’ll also select some of our personal recommendations later in the article so you can save the headache of trying to find some that will work best for what you need.
How did we pick?
In order to find a drone that serves a specific purpose, there are a few things you’re going to need to keep an eye out for when you’re shopping. We’ll go through the main things you need to find along with some considerations you should keep in mind while you look.
Weather considerations in your drone
The first feature you’re going to need to find first is a drone that can handle cold temperatures. While there are a ton that is made well, not all of them can handle the freezing temperatures that happen when you’re out in the snow. So, you’re going to want to find one that can handle the cold along with handle getting snowed on. Ideally, you won’t always be filming while it’s snowing out, but even if it’s not at that moment, it’s likely to get some on it when you’re riding anyway, so you’ll want to find one that can handle the moisture without breaking.
Speed considerations
The next most important feature is to make sure you find a drone that can keep up with you while you ski or snowboard. Generally, you’re going to want to find ones that can travel in the 20 to 30 MPH range to keep up with you while you ride. You might even need ones with faster speeds depending on how fast you ride.
Flight ease
Making sure a drone is easy to fly when you’re snowboarding or skiing is another huge consideration. When you’re out in the cold and facing the elements, the last thing you want to deal with is a temperamental drone that won’t fly the way you want it to. Making sure you find a drone that flies easily is essential to making sure you capture the footage you need to.
Auto-follow
Finding a drone with auto-follow is an optional feature, but something you’ll want to consider when you’re shopping. While you could have someone really good fly your drone to make sure you’re not missing a sick shot, the best thing to do is to find a drone that will automatically follow you as you ride.
Obstacle avoidance
If you plan to ride through trees or other tough terrains, you’ll want to look out for a drone that can dodge the branches. Of course, if you plan to ride in more open space, you won’t need one to dodge the branches along the way.
Best drones that follow snowboarding review
Mavic Air 2
Mavic Air 2 features both front and back obstacle avoidance sensors, and comes with DJI’s latest Follow feature-FocusTrack. It is a suite of easy-to-use intelligent tracking modes including ActiveTrack 3.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0. All these tracking modes will help you to easily capture your stunning snowboarding moments.
Another thing that makes Mavic Air 2 the best drone for snowboarding is the long battery life. When flying in cold weather, the battery will drain more quickly, and you will get a shorter flight time. The max flight time of Mavic Air 2 is 34 minutes, which means you will at least get more than 20 minutes’ flight time each charge.
Mavic Air 2 also packs a camera that allows you to shoot 4K 60fps videos at a bit rate of 120Mpbs. It equips DJI’s latest video transmission system Ocusync 2.0 which can give you a stable 1080p live video view with a max distance of 6.2 miles (10 km).
Here is a video showing how to use the FocusTrack Mode.
Key specs:
- Max speed: 42.5 MPH
- Up to 34 minutes of battery life
- 4k60fps camera
- 3 axis gimbal
- 48 megapixels
- Max flight distance: 6.2 miles (10 km)
- Front and back sensors
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Skydio 2
Skydio 2 is one of the most incredible drone options for anyone involved in action sports. It has one of the best follow-me features out there along with precise obstacle avoidance so you can ride anywhere, even though trees, without worrying about a crash.
While the battery life is only 23 minutes and not currently the longest on the market, the camera quality and speed alone makes up for that fact. With the Skydio 2, you can fly up to 36 MPH and capture images with the 4k60 HDR camera to give you one of the sharpest images of most drones on the market today.
With a 3 axis gimbal, you’re sure to expect smooth footage, since that keeps the camera stable as it flies around and takes sharp turns.
What sets the Skydio 2 apart from other drones out there is the impressive obstacle avoidance that’s built into it. While a lot of drones out there struggle hard with noticing obstacles and potentially crashing into them, the Skydio 2 is on top of any upcoming obstacles to make sure it doesn’t hit them as you ride.
Even if the drone loses you in vision, the GPS will keep it flying with you, so you’re not going to lose it while you ride through dense areas.
Key specs:
- Up to 36 MPH
- 23 minutes of battery life
- 4k60 HDR camera
- 3 axis gimbal
- 45 megapixels
DJI Mavic 2
Besides the incredible camera on the Mavic 2, the feature that puts this drone at the top of this list is the fact that the battery is self-heating for colder temperatures. Once the temperature drops between -10 to 6 degrees celsius, the self-heating power kicks in to make sure the battery doesn’t get too cold. You also have the option of manually turning it on if you know that you’re going to be in the cold for a while.
With the included Hasselblad l1d-20c camera with a 20MP 1” CMOS sensor, you’re going to get stunning video as you ride. It gets a good 31 minutes of battery life before it needs a recharge, so if you plan to be outdoors for a long time it’s always recommended to get at least another battery to double your flight time.
Key specs:
- Hasselblad l1d-20c camera with a 20MP 1” CMOS sensor
- 44 MPH maximum
- 8 GB internal storage
- SD card slot
- 31 minutes of battery life
Competition and Comparison
Potensic D60
If you’re looking for a simple drone that just gets the basics done without breaking the bank, you’re going to want to check out the Potensic D60 drone. This drone has some advanced features without being too expensive. The camera is 1080P which is clear enough for most uses, although not ideal if you’re making movies. You’ll need a 16/32 GB SD card to insert in the drone to save all your footage, but that’s a small expense considering the price point of this drone.
This drone will automatically return-to-home if it gets out of range, if the battery is low, or the signal starts to get weak. If you ride a lot, this is ideal because sometimes you will lose the signal as you ride through the trees but you don’t want to lose your drone. It also has three speeds to keep up with you as you ride with an impressive 20 minutes of battery life, considering the price.
It’s a little bit of an advanced drone, so you don’t want to give it to your children, but it’s best suitable for ages 14+.
Key Specs:
- GPS with a return-to-home function
- 5G WiFi enabled
- Takeoff/landing buttons
- 20 minutes of flight time
- 3 adjustable speeds
GoPro Karma
Most people who are into snowboarding already use a GoPro to capture their best shots as they ride. The GoPro Karma combines the best of two worlds: a drone and a good action camera.
The GoPro Karma fits the HERO5, which is currently one of their best cameras for filming and photos. The drone folds up into a small, compact size so you can take it with you on all your rides. The last thing you want is a big, bulky drone getting in the way if you’re only using this as a hobby drone.
While it is mostly a drone, it also can be used as a handheld device or attached to a body mount if you want different angles. It’s pretty easy to fly, so there’s no need to be an expert in drones just to capture your rides. With a battery life of only 18 minutes, it’s not the longest-lasting out there. However, you can always get multiple batteries to make up for that if needed.
Key specs:
- Folds up for easy transport
- Drone, handheld, or body mount mode
- Attaches to the GoPro HERO5
- Autopilot return
- 18 minutes of battery life
Autel Robotics EVO
Autel makes incredible drones that not only have great 4K resolution but also have great technology to boot. One of the strongest features of the Autel Robotics Evo is the fact that you can control the drone up to 4.3 miles away. Most drones get lost and lose signal at a much shorter range, so depending on how long the trail is you’re riding on, you’ll want one that can keep up.
This drone is also foldable, so you can fit it in your backpack as you ride and don’t need to carry a specialty, bulky bag just to get some cool footage. You get 30 minutes of flight time with this drone so you don’t have to keep calling it back only to switch out the battery all the time.
Key specs:
- Compact and foldable
- GPS/GLONASS satellite positioning
- Access live HD footage
- Controller remote for easy flying
Conclusion
Overall, the Mavic Air 2 is our favorite drone of choice for a drone that follows you when you ski. It has a long battery life, intelligent tracking modes, a fast speed, and a 4K camera.
Do you ski or snowboard? Tell us your favorite ways to capture your action shots in the comments below!
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