Skip to main content

This dead-simple DIY GoPro backpack mount costs almost nothing to make

DIY GoPro Backpack Strap
GoPro accessories are a dime a dozen. There are more harnesses, straps, cases, and attachments than you could ever possibly use in a lifetime.

Some accessories are better made than others, and prices range from off-the-charts expensive to extremely affordable. But if you consider yourself the MacGyver type and want to save some money along the way, this clever little DIY Backpack Strap Mount might be just the project for you.

Created by Kyle Martin, this little contraptions costs mere pennies and could probably be made with scrap pieces of hardware you have lying around the house. Below are the required components to make the backpack strap:

  • (1) Hard plastic material (cut to the width of your backpack’s shoulder strap)
  • (2) 1-1/4 X 20 round head bolt
  • (2) 1/4 x 20 nut
  • (2) 1/4 x 20 wing nut
  • (1) Flat GoPro Adhesive Mount

Once you have the required pieces, it’s time to get out the tools needed to construct it. Below is a list of tools Martin uses for his project:

  • Measuring tape
  • Pliers
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Screwdriver
  • Marker

When everything is ready to go, it’s on to making the actual strap. For the hard plastic backing, Martin opted for a thin plastic cutting board he acquired from his local dollar store. You can follow his method or simply use an old piece of plastic you have in the garage.

Whatever you use, measure out two pieces large enough to wrap around your backpack’s shoulder strap and cut the material to the appropriate size. Martin doesn’t mention this, but you could use a scrap piece of sandpaper to smooth down the edges to give the strap a cleaner look and prevent the hard edges from scratching you or your clothes during your adventures.

Once you have the two pieces, mark off where you need to drill the holes for the bolts and drill accordingly with a 1/4-inch drill bit. Thread the bolts through the two holes, add the spacing nuts on the opposite side of the bolt head, then place the other piece of plastic on top and add the wing nuts.

The final step is to attach the GoPro Adhesive Mount to the front of your new strap. Once you’ve attached it and let it securely adhere, you’re good to go.

Taking into account the need for a dollar store cutting board and a flat GoPro Adhesive Mount, the project shouldn’t cost you more than $10–15 to make, tops. If you find the time to make this project, we’d love to see your results posted in the comments below.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
GoPro’s Hero 9 Black to include big changes, report suggests
gopros hero9 black to see big changes report suggests gopro  rumored

The leak of apparent packaging for GoPro’s Hero 9 Black suggests that a slew of exciting changes are coming to the next iteration of the popular action camera.

With DJI’s Osmo Action and Insta360’s recently released One R system now on the market, GoPro has some serious competitors snapping at its heels, so it needs to get it right with the Hero9 Black.

Read more
GoPro Labs unlocks hidden advanced features for action cam enthusiasts
GoPro Hero 8 Black

GoPro is experimenting with a host of powerful features that may be added to its Hero8 Black action camera, but you can gain access to the features now through the new GoPro Labs program. The new platform allows GoPro’s biggest fans to play with features still in development, as well as unlocking others that may never actually make it to a GoPro model.

"It allows us to do some pretty funky things with the camera," Pablo Lema, GoPro's Vice President of Product and User Experience, told Digital Trends. "It helps us reach some use cases that are very specific that don’t necessarily have large user bases."

Read more
GoPro’s #HomePro contest wants you to stay stoked while you’re stuck inside
gopro homepro photo video contest challenge featured

Given current events, going viral may sound in poor taste, but GoPro wants to give you a chance to do just that -- without leaving the safety of your home. The company, whose Hero cameras have filmed some of the gnarliest actions sports scenes ever to take place on land, underwater, or in the sky, is turning its lens to a new environment in light of the COVID-19 pandemic: Your living room.

The GoPro #HomePro challenge invites you to share your best indoor or backyard photos and videos for a chance to win a GoPro Hero8 Black or Max camera. The Hero8 Black is our current favorite action camera, while the Max, a 360-degree camera, is a bit more niche, but is still one of the best options in that category.

Read more