MUST HAVE Insta360 X3 Accessories

People have contacted me, mentioning that they're encountering camera problems. When I inquire about their SD card, they often indicate the wrong one. The SD card I use for both the X3 and my other action cameras is the SanDisk Extreme. The crucial aspect here is that it should be labeled as v30 or higher. I personally opt for the 256 gigabytes version, which usually costs around 30 to 35 dollars on Amazon. Considering that in the past, the same amount of memory would have been priced at a thousand dollars, this is an incredible deal. Nowadays, you can get it for just 30 bucks on Amazon.

The reason for using the Quick Reader is to quickly transfer the footage to your phone for editing using the mobile app. Once you're ready to transfer, you can take the Quick Reader out of the camera. It has a lightning port on the bottom, so you can plug it into your iPhone. When you do this, you'll receive a prompt on your iPhone asking if Insta360 would like to communicate with the Insta360 X3 Quick Reader. After tapping this prompt, the app opens, and you can immediately access and view your footage on your phone.

When I'm actually out shooting, I have a preference for this cover. However, my go-to choice during active shooting is the neoprene rubber lens cap they offer. It conveniently pops onto the lens, covering only the top portion. This way, I can make adjustments or review footage on my camera while ensuring the lenses stay protected. I can easily remove the cap when I'm ready to shoot and put it back on when I'm finished, providing solid protection for the lenses. This protective measure is of utmost importance.

This is probably the accessory I use the most out of all the ones I have here. It's the Insta360 invisible selfie stick, and I utilize it not only for the X3, but also for my other action cameras. The reason is quite clear when you see how swiftly and effortlessly it folds down. I believe its folded length is around nine or nine and a half inches, while the extended length goes up to approximately 44 inches. The beauty is that there's no complicated twisting involved – you just push it down to collapse and pull it out to extend. This ease of use is quite remarkable, especially considering the impressive 44-inch extension.

I believe that while it might not be a necessity for everyone, the extended selfie stick is something that most people should consider getting. Although it might not make it to the top of my must-have list, I think many individuals will find it appealing. This particular model is crafted from carbon fiber and starts at a length of 11 centimeters when closed. Its maximum extension reaches an astonishing 300 centimeters, which is quite impressive – it's even hard to fit within the frame.

I always make sure to have the Insta360 all-purpose tripod with me. It comes with a rather amusing backstory. These extensions make the base even wider, which is quite handy. When you place this tripod on the ground, it offers an even more stable foundation for your 360 camera, significantly reducing the chances of it tipping over.

Another crucial addition to my gear is a suction mount, and the one I currently use is the Falcon F22 Quick Release Suction Cup Mount. To enhance its functionality, I pair it with a magic arm. This setup features two receiver plates on the magic arm, allowing it to easily slide onto the rail of the suction cup mount. Once attached, I can secure the suction cup onto the outside of my van or onto the interior windshield, perfect for capturing dynamic driving shots. The magic arm holds everything firmly in place, maintaining stability even while on the move. It's an incredibly secure setup that delivers reliable results.

It's essentially a bendable bar that you can shape into different positions, and it will hold its form. On one side, there's a quarter 20 mount, and on the other side, another quarter 20 mount. This design allows for a couple of applications.

Insta360 offers a handlebar bike mount that's specifically designed to attach around the stems of your bike, mounting on both sides of your handlebars for an impressive front-facing shot. However, on some bikes, like mine, the bit in the middle isn't wide enough to fit it directly, so I have to position both arms on one side, and it still works effectively.

Another useful mounting option is the seat post mount, which attaches to the underside of your bike seat. This extends out behind your bike. Now, similarly to the previous mount, the provided pole's length is limited. It only extends a certain distance. However, I have a workaround. Instead of using the provided pole, I attach my standard selfie stick – a must-have if you own this camera.

Another set of mounts worth considering are the bite mount from GoPro or any bite mount you might have, along with a chest mount. These can be especially useful for activities like mountain biking or motorcycle riding, where you're seeking unique perspectives. With the X3's 4K mode, you can capture shots through the handlebars. Mounting the camera on the handlebars and setting it to 4K mode allows it to capture in a single direction, ideal for getting those distinctive shots. Both the chest mount and the bite mount work well for this purpose.

This instantly transforms it into a quick-release setup. Then, I attach the male part of the Invisible Selfie Stick onto it. I can tighten it quite firmly since this part permanently stays on the selfie stick. It's always ready for use, eliminating the need to remove or reattach it. Now, I can simply click the selfie stick onto my tripod, press the button to secure it, and just as easily detach it when needed. This quick-release feature makes the whole setup even more convenient than before.

I always make sure to have extra batteries for this camera. Surprisingly, I get remarkably long battery life from this camera. For instance, on a full day of snowboarding, I often find that a single battery is sufficient. However, it's always a smart move to have an additional battery on hand. In fact, I'd recommend having two extra batteries, bringing the total to three, especially for safety's sake. This way, you're well-prepared for any adventure you're planning to capture. The advantage of having three batteries is quite apparent.

Insta360 offers a charging hub that can simultaneously charge three batteries using just one USB-C port. This little device is quite handy. Having a charging hub that can handle multiple batteries at once really simplifies life and makes things much more convenient.

An incredibly useful accessory is the Ulanzi PT20 bracket. This little bracket mounts to the bottom of your camera, essentially going through the selfie stick or any other mount you're using. By attaching the bracket to your camera, you can then use the audio adapter. Plug it into the top, and it will route audio to the camera. This bracket is ideally designed for the Rode Wireless Go system. You can connect the Rode transmitter to this setup, attaching it to your shirt or hip with a lapel microphone running up to your neck. This way, you can wirelessly transmit audio to your 360 camera.

The Insta360 X3 – my absolute favorite action camera. Having spent around two decades working with action cameras, I've come to realize that the true magic lies in the accessories. These accessories grant action cameras their versatility, enabling us to position them in creative ways to capture those amazing shots.