Capturing the Flight Without Losing Your Phone
Soaring over Oahu’s green valleys and blue coastline is the kind of thrill you want to capture, so it is no wonder one of the most common questions we hear is whether you can bring your phone or GoPro on the zipline. The short answer is that you often can, but there are important rules. Here is how to get the shot while keeping your gear, and everyone below you, safe.
The Golden Rule: Secure Everything
On a zipline, loose items are the enemy. Anything that slips from your hand while you are flying is almost certainly gone for good, lost in thick forest or a deep valley, and worse, a falling object can injure a guide or rider below. That is why nearly every course requires phones and cameras to be fully secured or stowed. If you cannot lock it down, leave it in the provided storage instead of risking it.
Phones on the Zipline
Many Oahu courses allow you to carry a phone as long as it stays in a zippered pocket during the ride. Some operators do not allow handheld filming while you are moving, since you may need your hands free for braking or for keeping a stable position. A secure case with a wrist strap is your friend. When in doubt, ask your guide whether you can film on a given line or should simply enjoy the view.
GoPros and Action Cameras
An action camera is usually the best way to film a zipline because it can be worn hands-free. A helmet mount or a chest harness mount keeps the camera locked to your body and your hands free for the ride, which is exactly what guides want to see. Handheld selfie sticks, on the other hand, are often restricted because they can swing, snag, or fall. Confirm the mount rules with your operator before you go.
When You Cannot Film
Some tours do not allow personal cameras at all, purely for safety. It can feel disappointing, but there is an upside. Many of these courses have cameras built into the route and offer professional photos or video you can buy afterward, so you end up with great shots and the freedom to be fully present in the moment. Sometimes the best memory is the one you actually experienced rather than filmed.
Tips for Great Zipline Footage
If your course does allow cameras, a little preparation goes a long way toward footage you will actually want to watch.
- Use a secured, hands-free mount rather than holding anything.
- Start recording before you launch so you never fumble mid-flight.
- Keep your hands where your guide instructs, especially for braking.
- Let at least one run go unfilmed so you can simply soak it in.
Ask Before You Go
Camera policies vary from course to course, so the smartest move is to confirm the rules when you book. As a guide to Oahu’s zipline adventures, we are happy to tell you which courses allow phones, which welcome GoPros, and which offer professional photos, so you know exactly what to expect before you clip in.
Fly, Film, and Stay Safe
Bringing a phone or GoPro on an Oahu zipline is often possible, as long as it is secured, hands-free, and cleared by your guide. Follow the rules, mount your camera, and start recording before you launch, and you will fly away with unforgettable footage of Oahu from above. Just remember to look up from the lens now and then, because the real magic is happening all around you.
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