Handboards That Have Built-in GoPro Mount Inserts

bodysurfing handboard gopro mount insert

I knew I wanted to film my bodysurfing adventures before I even bought my first handboard. There is a part of me that does not fully trust adhesive mounts (even though they do work well) so I needed a board that had a built-in GoPro mount insert to securely fasten my camera to the deck.

What bodysurfing handplanes have a GoPro mount insert built in to the board design so you can attach your camera? This feature is available from the following brands:

Slyde Handboards
Ecto Handplanes
Garage Handplanes

Keep reading to find out which specific handboard collections from these brands feature the GoPro mounting insert. Also, it will explain how can to identify if a handboard has a GoPro mount insert and if you really need one.

handboards that have a built-in GoPro mount insert feature

So far I have only discovered that Slyde, Ecto, and Garage handboard brands incorporate the GoPro mounting insert feature. This is extremely convenient for filming purposes.

Slyde handboards is one of the more popular and mainstream handboard brands on the market. They have 3 board designs (Wedge, Phish, Bula) that include the GoPro mounting insert feature.
Ecto Handplanes incorporated the GoPro mounting insert feature into their Ecto Glass board design. This is a super smooth board that is built for speed and lift.
Garage Handplanes also use the GoPro feature at the nose of their board for an amazing POV shot and selfie mode. You can find this feature on all of their handplane collections.

what is a GoPro mount insert?

A GoPro mount insert is a high-density insert feature located on the deck of your handboard that allows you to easily and securely attach your GoPro. You can attach another waterproof camera if it uses the GoPro mount accessory.

For example, the Proshot case I use for filming has a GoPro attachment accessory created into the design of the case. This allows me to easily set it up for filming on my handboard.

Bodysurfers will appreciate any convenient way to film their epic wave riding journeys without losing their valuable technology. This GoPro mount enables them to do that.

how to identify a GoPro mount insert

Determining if your board has a built-in GoPro mount insert is a very easy process. Here is a zoomed-in view of this insert to help you identify what it looks like.

It is a thin, rectangular indent. It looks like a piece of the board was removed from the deck.

You will notice a small metal screw that runs diagonally through the board into the open area of the insert. Don’t worry, it is NOT broken. It is designed this way to fasten the mount to the board.

GoPro insert dimensions

The GoPro insert measures roughly 1” x ¼” and is just a ½” deep. The opening of this insert provides enough clearance to fit your GoPro FCS fin plug snugly into place.

GoPro mount insert board placement

You will notice for the Slyde Handboard collection (Wedge, Phish, and Bula) that the GoPro mount insert opening is located towards the nose of the board. This provides an amazing POV as you are traveling through barrels.

From this placement, you can also capture amazing selfie shots if you flip the lens around to face you. This way you can film yourself carving waves while the water flowing behind you. Both shots are great for creating your own videos.

This feature could possibly be designed into different areas of boards. It would be cool to have a board with multiple insert locations as well to safely capture wave riding footage from different angles.

benefits of a GoPro mount insert

Having a built-in GoPro mount insert on the deck of my handboard was one of the main selling points for me. Why do you need one? I listed some of the key benefits below:

Ability to easily film POV or selfie mode
Safe & convenient way to film “hands-free”
Very secure method of attaching your camera to the board
Reassurance that your camera won’t get swallowed by a wave
Easy to assemble and disassemble

This GoPro insert feature gave me confidence that I could film myself riding waves and not lose my valuable camera. Discovering that you lost your filming equipment to the ocean would be a terrible way to end an epic day of bodysurfing. This tiny little screw and opening will help ease your mind and save you potential headache and heartache!

could a GoPro mount insert fail?

A GoPro handboard mount insert could fail. The screw could rust and break or the mount could slip out if the screw thread is stripped. Anything could happen as you take on more gnarly waves right?

Don’t let this fear stop you from filming though. Slyde has put a lot of time and effort into the design of their board and they stand behind their work. They are one of the most reputable brands in the industry.

I have been filming using the GoPro mount insert for about a month now and have not lost my camera yet. It remains firmly attached to my board at all times.

GoPro mount insert durability test

Here is what I did to test the strength of the mount insert screw. After securing the FCS fin plug mount by tightening the screw with my fin key, I proceeded to try to dislodge the plug with my own bare hands with some considerable force.

Then I held the entire board horizontal to the ground by the actual mount. It did not detach or crack. My efforts to remove the fin plug mount proved to be futile. Hopefully, this is enough evidence to prove that your camera will be safe!

does your board actually need a built-in GoPro mount insert?

If you want to film yourself bodysurfing then a GoPro mount insert would be an extremely convenient feature to have but it is not necessary. There is the option to use adhesive mounts for your handboard or you can hold a buoyant selfie stick while you ride waves.

However, the safest and easiest way to film yourself riding a wave is to use the built-in GoPro mounting insert. This will free up your other hand so you can paddle to drop into the barrel. The GoPro mount insert will prevent you from losing your camera by keeping it firmly attached to your board.

adhesive mount vs built-in mount plug insert

Is an adhesive mount better than the built-in mounting insert? In regards to overall strength and integrity, the built-in mount is better in my opinion. However, the adhesive mount is very strong and does have advantages such as being able to film from different angles.

My only gripe with adhesive mounts is the overall integrity of this product. I’m not sure how well these hold up in rougher conditions and for how long.

The fact that the adhesive mounting kit includes an anchor to additionally tether your camera to the board makes me think that it could possibly detach from your board. Personally, I feel more at ease using the built-in GoPro insert.

*In the next few weeks I’m going to test the adhesive mounts for their durability and create an entire post around this debate. Stay tuned.

are boards with GoPro mount inserts more expensive?

The GoPro mount insert feature may add to the price slightly because it is such a desirable feature and requires more detail during the manufacturing process. This single feature alone is not entirely responsible for the expensive price tag of Slyde handboards. It is primarily the handboard design material and shape of the board that drives the cost.

is it difficult to install a GoPro mount into the insert?

It is very easy to install a GoPro mount plug into the insert. You can assemble and disassemble it in under 2 minutes!

However, you want to make sure you install it correctly so it does not detach while out in the water. If you are concerned about how to do this, I wrote a guide on how to attach your GoPro to your handboard step-by-step.

do handboards with built-in mount insert come with the mount plug accessories?

Handboards with the GoPro insert feature DO NOT come with the mounting plug attachment needed to mount your camera. These boards are only designed with the slot opening and screw to hold the mount plug in place. Therefore, I recommend purchasing this FCS fin plug mounting kit for a GoPro because it has everything you need.