Why I’m Considering the Insta360 for Mountaineering | Selling My iPad to Fund the Gear!

How do you document your mountain climbs? I am currently training for a 10-year plan to summit Mount Everest, but recently, I’ve hit a major wall: my current gear just can’t capture the cinematic, dynamic footage I envision.

Modern smartphones have incredible image quality, but there is a limit to how well they can objectively capture the vastness of nature or myself climbing a rocky ridge. That’s when the idea of introducing a 360-degree camera, the “Insta360,” came to mind.

However, simply adding more gear goes against the mountaineering principle of “going lightweight.” In this article, I will share my raw thought process on whether I should sell my tablet to fund the Insta360, along with the overwhelming appeal and the mountaineering-specific concerns I felt after testing the device in Akihabara.

The Limits of iPhone Filming and My “Two Dilemmas” in the Mountains

Right now, I rely almost entirely on my iPhone for video. Every time I see a beautiful view, I take my phone out of my backpack, shoot the video, and piece it together later.

While I’m perfectly satisfied with the image quality, using this method on actual climbs has led to two major issues.

Dilemma 1: The Danger of “Shooting While Walking” and Mental Fatigue

Thinking about the frame and continuity while walking and filming is simply dangerous. Furthermore, as someone who wants to take photos, shoot videos, and think about blog structures, my mind is always busy on the trail. As a result, I’m constantly forced to choose between taking a photo (capturing a moment) or shooting a video (recording the atmosphere).

Dilemma 2: A Severe Lack of Field of View (FOV)

You might say, “Just attach an ultra-wide lens to a mirrorless camera.” However, as a result of strictly minimizing my gear for Everest, my camera setup has settled on a lightweight compact digital camera (point-and-shoot).

Whenever I stand before magnificent scenery in the mountains, I am reminded of how amazing the human eye is. My current camera and smartphone just can’t capture the true atmosphere of the place. I have high hopes that an action camera like the Insta360 can finally capture what my current gear misses.

3 Absolute Conditions for Introducing an Action Camera

To solve these issues, I started seriously looking into action cameras. But adding gear creates new friction, like extra weight and hassle. So, I set three absolute conditions for my new partner.

• Condition 1: Hassle-free enough to “forget I’m filming” On the trail, I want to focus on the mountain above all else. I don’t want to talk to the camera like a YouTuber; I just want to preserve my memories. Therefore, I need something I can just turn on and forget about, without worrying about the framing, plus a battery that can survive long hikes.
• Condition 2: No extra weight or management costs New gear means more weight and more hassle with charging and maintenance. If the drawbacks outweigh the benefits on the road to Everest, it defeats the purpose. The setup must be incredibly simple.
• Condition 3: No time stolen by video editing The core of my content is my blog—putting my thoughts into words. If video editing eats up my writing time, it’s meaningless. The video should just be a “storage space for memories” that is quick and intuitive to export.

It’s Not Just for the Mountains: The Other Reason I Need This Camera

I’ve been talking a lot about mountains, but I have another crucial reason for wanting to shoot videos.

It’s to preserve memories with my kids who live apart from me. As they grow up and become adults, the time they spend smiling and playing with me is incredibly precious. I want to capture the atmosphere of these moments, not to show anyone else, but purely for my future self.

A device that can seamlessly capture both harsh mountain records and warm family time with zero friction. That device was the Insta360 I encountered in Akihabara.

Field Research in Akihabara: Comparing the Big 3 Action Cameras

Keeping my absolute conditions in mind, I went to Akihabara to test the real things. I compared the industry standard “GoPro,” its biggest rival “DJI Osmo Action,” and the 360-degree “Insta360.”

The Ultimate Solution: “Saving the Entire Space”

GoPro and DJI are excellent cameras. However, they are specialized in beautifully cropping the scenery you are looking at. You still have to consciously point the camera, which violates my first condition: focusing on the mountain.

The Insta360 takes a completely different approach. Because it constantly records 360 degrees, it doesn’t matter where the lens is pointing. Just mount it to your backpack, and it saves the “entire space”—your walking figure and the breathtaking view ahead. You can reframe it later on the app, perfectly clearing my third condition of saving editing time and preventing missed shots.

Most importantly, when spending time with my kids, I don’t have to “point a camera at them.” I can just place it in the center while we play, capturing the atmosphere and everyone’s expressions flawlessly.

When I imagined the footage I could capture with this—footage impossible with my current gear—my heart was already leaning heavily toward the Insta360.

The Funding Wall: Decluttering Old Gear and the Alchemy of Assets

I am completely sold on the Insta360. But here comes the biggest, most realistic hurdle: funds.

Having just bought a new MacBook to upgrade my blogging environment, my gadget budget is absolutely zero.

However, my core philosophy for gear is “subtraction.” It’s not about mindlessly buying more; it’s about keeping only what is truly necessary. I decided to review my current environment, sell unused gear, and turn it into funds for the camera.

Here are the three items targeted for this “alchemy”:

1. iPad: With the mobility of the new MacBook and the evolution of smartphones, its role completely overlaps. It’s too valuable an asset to keep just as a “video-watching slate.”
2. Bluetooth Keyboard: Used exclusively for typing on the iPad. If the iPad goes, this goes too.
3. MacBook Pro: My reliable main machine until now. But since the transition to the new MacBook is complete, letting it gather dust would be disrespectful to the gear.

I plan to use services like Mercari and used electronics shops to convert these three items into as much cash as possible.

Selling “past assets” to invest in the latest action camera that will beautifully preserve “future memories” (the road to Everest and time with my kids). This isn’t just an expense; it’s an investment in experiences and a positive gear update.

Summary: From Consuming Content to Creating My Own Life’s Content

The journey to Everest is a constant process of adding and subtracting gear. It’s been about three months since I set my goal and started recording my days like this. Honestly, I never thought everyday life could be this much fun, and I truly feel “alive.”

Whether my gear choices succeed or fail, and all the doubts and struggles along the way—I will live while writing it all out just as it is. I strongly feel that I’ve transitioned from a life of merely “consuming content made by others” to one where “my life itself has become a massive piece of content.”

The new partner that will capture the trajectory of this challenge and the irreplaceable time with my children, along with the raw atmosphere, is the Insta360.

Now, the “Alchemy Mission” begins! I will sell my iPad, keyboard, and MacBook Pro for the highest price possible. With those funds in hand, I’ll go get my new magic wand.

Will I successfully raise the funds? I’ll be posting updates on the sales results and welcoming the Insta360, so please look forward to it!