The 6 Best Wearable Gimbals
This wiki has been updated 20 times since it was first published in January of 2019. Gimbals are designed to stabilize cameras when filming to eliminate shaking, and are widely used on professional television and movie sets. These wearable models are made specifically for action cams, and can help you record your extreme sports, two-wheeled adventures or other rigorous activities from a first-person point of view without the end result looking like an amateur piece of footage. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. FeiyuTech WG2
2. Evo SS
3. Zhiyun Rider-M
Editor's Notes
September 11, 2020:
Even with the advances in electronic stabilization, gimbals are indispensable for many shots. This is probably doubly true with action cams because they are generally used for extreme activities where it would be impossible to hold them steady in your hand.
Between our last update and this most recent one, we are dismayed to report that there have been no new wearable gimbals of note released, which means we retain and stand by all of our previous recommendations.
Despite the newer FeiyuTech WG2X being available, our favorite is actually its previous iteration, the FeiyuTech WG2 because it is fully waterproof and capable of withstanding brief periods of immersion, whereas the WG2X is just splashproof. It is worth mentioning that the Removu S1 is also splashproof. Of all the models on our list, the above three are the only ones rated for any level of water resistance.
When it comes to battery life, the Evo SS is heads and tails above the pack, offering twice what most others generally offer. That being said, the Zhiyun Rider-M does include an extra set of batteries, so if you don't mind bringing them along on your adventure, it will also get you the five hours the EVO SS boasts.
Though the Hero 8 is often touted as a gimbal killer for its, admittedly, impressive Hypersmooth 2.0 digital image stabilization, anyone who owns one and has tried using it in the dark knows that its performance is underwhelming, at best, in low light conditions. However, before you go out and buy a wearable gimbal just for this purpose, you should know that none of the options currently available are compatible with the Hero 8 right out of the box. In fact, the makers of the FeiyuTech WG2X and FeiyuTech WG2 are the only ones that even sell a component that allows their gimbals to hold a Hero 8, and even then, it is intended specifically for use with the WG2X. That being said, we don't see any reason it wouldn't fit on the WG2. For all the rest, you'll have to figure out how to modify the mounts yourself if you plan on using them with a Hero 8.
February 20, 2019:
Since wearable gimbals are designed to be used with action cameras, we thought it prudent to include some very durable models that are water resistant, such as the FeiyuTech WG2X and Removu S1. The FeiyuTech WG2 is even fully waterproof and can withstand brief periods of immersion, so if you plan on recording paddleboarding adventures, using it while snowboarding, or expect you may often get caught in heavy downpours, it is your best option. Unfortunately, its image stabilization capabilities, while decent, aren't as good as the more recently released FeiyuTech WG2X. If you want the ability to view your recordings on an external screen as they are happening, the Zhiyun Rider-M and Evo SS can provide that, though there are reports of the latter being damaged by just a few drops of sweat. When it comes to versatility, it is hard to beat the Removu S1, as it can be handheld, tripod mounted, or worn, and comes with most of the necessary equipment for all of those usage styles.
4. FeiyuTech WG2X
5. Removu S1
6. Hohem XG1
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.