DIY Chest Mount for GoPro
Ever shop around for a GoPro Chesty and think $40 is way too much? Yeah, us too. That’s why we whipped up this fairly professional GoPro chest mount on the cheap using the plastic packaging plate that comes with the camera. About 15 bucks and 15 minutes of your time and you’ve got yourself something just as good as the “real thing.”
If you attach a piece to the back you can keep it off your neck.
Very insightful! Never really thought the package can be used for something else other than being a, well, package. Question though: do you have any idea how to make a chest mount or any mount at all with an extended arm so that the GoPro is a few inches from and behind the person? This way, it shoots the behind the back overhead view, kind of like the view seen in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRokRJ8VvA. I know the mount is on a helmet and it swivels, but only wondering if there is any that achieves this outcome without having to use a helmet. I am into running so this will really help a lot. Thanks.
i used this to create one on my own.
it’s almost the same, the only difference is that i uses are 4 buckles so i can use the plate with different belts (to attach it to my leg or somewhere else) i also added a piece on my back where the 4 straps come together, this way i can tighten it more precisely.
by adding an piece of cloth on the baseplate, it’s more comfortabely to wear.
If you dont want to buy the nylon webbing you can use backpack straps.
two points of weakness..
you need to finnish the edges and slots .. when cutting the tool will create small cracks in the plastic which will grow when stressed… once you finnish with the sanding you will need to melt the fine particles back into the pours . use a heat gun lowest setting or butane torch and pass it over the ares that are sanded. a nice gloss will develope that seals and mends the cracks.
when you cut the webbing straps you are cutting the interlocking thread that makes up the material. sewing the straps together will not stop the unraveling once it starts. you must finnish the cut ends buy melting the ends with a hot iron ( soldering iron ) or a butane tourch.
It’s awesome !
Thanks
i love this page and iv’e made a few of the videos so can you throw me a free sticker that i can slap on my stuff ?
After sanding,to refine edges ways better i used a small painting brush with some Trielax (it’s a dissolvent that melts the plastic just a lil and leaves really “soft” edges!!
That’s a really cool idea I may make this when I get home this evening
i do something like that, but i fit the Plastic GoPro packaging plate with a camelback nylon webbings, now the gopro mout is a part of the camelback 😀
Nice write up! Too bad my Hero didnt come with a packing plate. Ill have to just use some ABS and one of the stick on mounts. One tip Ide like to contribute. When dealing with Nylon strapping, the ends fray and can unravel pretty easy. After you cut it, you can use a lighter or candle to lightly melt the ends, then carefully use a quick pinching motion to create a nice solid edge in the nylon. You have to be careful, because if you melt it too much, and touch it, you can get hold melted nylon on yourself. But if you just get it started, you can do it pretty easy. Lick your fingers if you’re afraid of the heat. You could also use a hot iron (an old one that isnt used on clothing!) and press down on the edge. That should work too. Makes it neater and easier to thread.
Just got a Hero 3 for Christmas. Thanks for posting this great idea. I went to my local store and they were out of stock on Chesty and a lot of other items – now I can make my own!
The first thing I made is an adapter to make the GoPro compatible with standard 1/4-20 tripod mounts – Now I can use my existing camera mounts for a lot of stuff.
I use the base plate in another DIY project. How can I replace it ?
Simple: Use one of the plain adhesive mounts and place it centered onto the flat surface of one of the case faces (the transparent plastic case of the camera) cut it off – you will have another 3 spare, :). I used that for my steady cam mount.
I made my own version http://youtu.be/u70j2Bbu9EM