The 3 Best 2023 Trail Cameras. Do you want to buy the finest trail camera on the market? Our outdoor specialists studied more than 60 of the greatest options before purchasing ten of the best to test side by side. Throughout controlled backyard tests conducted throughout the day and at night, we analyzed their detection range, trigger speed, and recovery rates. Then we set them up in the woods for seven weeks, braving humid spring heat and severe downpours. We spent over 140 hours examining over 10,000 photos after field time to compare image quality and performance. We’ve learned which models sparkle and which should be left on the shelf after three bears, four coyotes, and many whitetails.
We’ve tested interesting devices like the best weather stations for your garden and weather radios if you’re searching for additional technology to complement your outdoor pursuits.
Editor’s Note: On July 27, 2023, we updated this review to remove defunct items, retest updated options, and include new cameras from Bushnell, Browning, Reconyx, and Vikeri.
| Awards |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $274 List $157.00 at Amazon |
$72 List | $170 List $142.59 at Amazon |
$130 List $120.79 at Amazon |
$90 List $66.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Excellent detection range, impressive trigger speed | Impressive image quality, excellent day and night detection range | Top-notch image quality, adjustable angle helps with setup | Clear images, impressive value | Great range day and night, lightning trigger speed, good recovery and image quality |
| Cons | Not the best image quality, narrower field of view, average recovery | Not the best recovery rate or trigger speed | Disappointing detection range, battery case ejects to the ground | Comparatively sluggish recovery rate | Water penetrated the housing and fogged the camera |
| Bottom Line | This trail cam stands out for its impressive performance and useful features | An affordable camera that takes highly detailed wildlife images day and night at long range | This aptly-named camera takes striking images with rapid-fire trigger speed and recovery | A solid camera that takes crisp, stop-motion pictures within a large detection range | A compelling trail camera that was less than watertight during our field tests |
| Rating Categories | Bushnell Core DS No… | GardePro A3S | Browning Strike For… | Bushnell Trophy E3… | Vikeri 1520P Wide-A… |
| Performance (25%) | |||||
| Image Quality (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Operation (20%) | |||||
| Features (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Bushnell Core DS No… | GardePro A3S | Browning Strike For… | Bushnell Trophy E3… | Vikeri 1520P Wide-A… |
| Dimensions | 5.75 x 3.9 x 3 in | 7.36 x 5.04 x 3.39 in | 4.25 x 3.25 x 2.5 in | 4.5 x 5.4 x 2.75 in | 5.4 x 3.9 x 2.8 in |
| Still Image Resolution | 30 MP | 48 MP | 26 MP | 16 MP | 5 to 20 MP |
| Video Resolution | 1080P/60 fps (with audio) | 1296P | 1080P/30 – 60 fps (with audio) | 720P (with audio) | DI to 1520P |
Best Bang for Your Buck and Best Nighttime Detection
1. GardePro A3S
Image Quality: 2-48MP | Trigger Speed: 0.1 to 0.6s
The GardePro A3S is an excellent option for anybody searching for a trail camera on a budget, and it offers best-in-class nighttime detection. In our controlled range trials, it was also the only camera that detected movement at 100 feet during the day and night. It boasts one of the widest detection zones of any bar we’ve tested, which makes it an excellent choice for nighttime animal detection at extended ranges. This camera offers amazing picture quality with photo resolution options up to 48MP. During our backyard tests, it caught excellent photos of our testers dashing past at close range (10 feet). The high-definition 1296P videos are also among the finest in the test, with some of the greatest audio quality. A hybrid mode will capture photos and video, eliminating the need to select between the two. The camera also shows a timelapse option, allowing you to plan photo captures without worrying about an animal getting near enough to trigger the camera (100 feet in our tests).
Unfortunately, the camera did not reliably freeze motion, making many of our wildlife images blurry. The wide-angle lens of the camera excels in capturing close-up images. When the subject is far away, however, they seem fairly small and may need help in the remarkable detail of the images, which have a narrow depth of field. GardePro claims a trigger time of 0.1 to 0.6 seconds. In practice, however, we saw it to perform below average in our tests, with the subject arriving unexpectedly in the middle of the screen. The alleged 0.5-second recovery time also left big gaps in movement, giving us just one or two images of an animal as it traversed the screen. The housing body and plastic cam strap clasp are less durable than most other options. However, considering the Price, we are quite impressed with this camera’s performance.
Best Overall Trail Camera
2. Bushnell Core DS No Glow
Image Quality: 8-30MP | Trigger Speed: 0.2s
While the Bushnell Core DS No Glow didn’t beat any of our criteria, it did perform well in our performance tests and achieved good overall results. We could trigger its inactive infrared sensor (PIR) when walking and running at 100 feet during the day and 40 feet at night, one of the greatest results in the test. With a trigger rate of 0.2 seconds, it often captures activity early. This trail camera also offers features such as a field scan and dynamic video, which record video as long as it detects movement. We also found that the no-glow technology generates just enough light to be visible to the human eye, making it perfect for animal monitoring and security. The Core DS is easy to set up and use, and the built-in LCD screen lets you review photos and videos without removing the memory card.
The Bushnell Core DS No Glow is an expensive camera that does not generate the finest quality photos of the cameras we tested, especially at night. Even though the Core DS can capture photos with resolutions as high as 30MP, the field of thought is narrow, and any animal moving faster than a moderate stroll is often blurry. The video quality, on the other hand, is fantastic, with up to 1080P at 60 frames per second shooting. The camera also has a slower recovery rate, so depending on your settings, you will only obtain one or a couple of captures of every animal walking across the frame. Even with the PIR sensor set to maximum settings, the camera captures many photos of swinging branches. Despite these compromises, the Core DS No Glow offers the most balanced performance of any camera we tried and is the best option for most people.
Best for Remote Monitoring
3. Bushnell CelluCore 20
Image Quality: 2-20MP | Trigger Speed: 0.1s
A wireless trail camera app update is one of our favorite causes to pick up our phones. A happy notice will notify you of the newest captures produced by cellular trail cameras, such as the Bushnell Cellulose 20. It’s hard to stress how handy it is to be aware of your local deer population’s daily behaviors or when a bear is passing through without collecting a memory card. The Cellucore camera has no interface, just an on/off button battery port and an SD memory card. The free Bushnell Trail Camera App is used to operate it. On the app, you may modify settings, such as picture quality or switching from photo to video, and organize your images by metrics such as date, time, or moon phase.
Setting up the app is a bother, and you must ensure that you have a Verizon or AT & T signal when you set up the camera (the two supported carriers). (However, you don’t require these services for your phone to interact with the Cellucore; that occurs through the app.) After the first setup, it’s very easy sailing. Unfortunately, this camera’s picture and video quality are nothing to write home about. So much so that identifying the species that passed by might take some time. We were perplexed by a fox, a rabbit, and an opossum. The deer, coyotes, and bears are less difficult. However, you may have difficulty calculating the points. Still, if you want the ease of daily updates, this trail cam is the way to go.
Compare Products
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Best Overall Trail Camera |
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Best Bang for Your Buck and Best Nighttime Detection |
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Best for Remote Monitoring |
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Why You Should Trust Us
We tested these cameras side by side for months to show their strengths and limitations. We spent over 140 hours with these cameras, had them set up in the area for seven weeks, and sorted through more than 10,000 photos and videos. Also We evaluated how effectively each camera operated throughout the day, night, and severe weather and how their features influenced our user experience. Then, using our hands-on expertise, we analyzed and evaluated each one critically to deliver an honest review.
Our trail camera testing is divided into five rating metrics:
- Performance (25% of overall score weighting)
- Image Quality (25% weighting)
- Ease of Operation (20% weighting)
- Features (15% weighting)
- Durability (15% weighting)
Veteran review editors Carissa Stanz, Ross Patton, and Clark Tate spearhead our trail camera review.
Carissa holds a bachelor’s degree in film production and is pursuing her second degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at Oregon State University. She is no stranger to cameras or field research. Her most recent field research used trail cameras to track animal variety and occupancy for a non-profit.
Ross has a formal background in environmental science from the University of Nevada, Reno. He has spent hundreds of hours researching the flora and fauna of the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin. He is also no stranger to remote cameras and sensors of various types. Ross is GearLab’s go-to person for technology advances in digital photos and video.
Clark has a master’s grade in environmental science from the University of Virginia and has spent years designing research and doing fieldwork. Clark, a senior review editor at GearLab, has tested everything from portable GPS devices to remote office equipment.
Analysis and Test Results
Our methodology started with extensive market research to identify the finest trail cameras. We then bought the top options to include in our side-by-side comparison testing, just like you. To create our test plan, we considered the most urgent demands of trail camera users and arranged our investigation appropriately. We rated each product based on its performance, picture quality, ease of operation, features, and durability and compared it to the competition.
Price vs. Performance50556065707580$0$100$200$300$400Overall Performance Score (0-100, higher scores on the right) Price $ (lower is better)
| Value Score (0-100 where 100 is best) | Price |
|---|---|
| 75 | 274 |
| 71 | 72 |
| 69 | 170 |
| 68 | 130 |
| 63 | 90 |
| 62 | 120 |
| 61 | 55 |
| 60 | 106 |
| 59 | 400 |
| 55 | 65 |
Value
You frequently get what you pay for as individuals who spend much time thinking about and evaluating IT goods. This is less true in the case of trail cameras. Depending on your requirements, you may spend a lot less than a top dollar and be fully delighted with your purchase.
Take, for example, the GardePro A3S. It costs less than half the price of the most costly models while providing excellent picture quality and performance. Thanks to its wide-angle lens and one of the greatest ranges throughout the day and night, it boasts one of the widest detection zones of any camera in the test. While it did not deliver our favorite photos, several of its captures are amazing. It is important to note that this model seems less durable, with a plastic clasp on the mounting strap and a lighter-weight housing body. However, if you take care of it, you will obtain your money’s worth.
Another appealing option is the Bushnell Trophy E3 Essential. Though its focus is narrow, it offers a broad field of view and shot some of the finest stop-motion wildlife photos of the test. Its detection range, trigger speed, and recovery rate aren’t as excellent as the top options, but it’s not far behind.
The Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle camera is another good performer at a reduced price. Unfortunately, throughout our seven-week test period, water gathered in the housing. It was a rainy spring in the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, if you have to replace it, this model offers less of a deal. If you live in a dry region or can place this model under an extra shelter, it’s worth considering for its outstanding picture quality and wide lens viewpoint.
Performance
To judge its overall performance, we tested each camera’s trigger speed, detection range, picture recovery time, battery life, and the clarity of its video sound capture (i.e., bird song and deer snorts). The first three points were tested by setting the cameras to their best quality settings, strapping them to a 3.5-foot tall pole, walking, and driving in front of each camera at 10-foot intervals out to 100 feet. We reiterated this at night, which was challenging since sprinting in the dark is difficult! We also tested their video capabilities using the identical setup.
Performance Rating0246810Vikeri 1520P Wide-AngleBushnell Core DS No GlowBrowning Strike Force Pro DCLBushnell Trophy E3 EssentialGardePro A3SVicture HC200Reconyx HyperFire 2Apeman H55Bushnell CelluCore 20Campark T809.0 8.0 6.5
| Product | Performance Rating |
|---|---|
| Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle | 9 |
| Bushnell Core DS No Glow | 8 |
| Browning Strike Force Pro DCL | 6.5 |
| Bushnell Trophy E3 Essential | 6.5 |
| GardePro A3S | 6 |
| Victure HC200 | 6 |
| Reconyx HyperFire 2 | 6 |
| Apeman H55 | 6 |
| Bushnell CelluCore 20 | 5 |
| Campark T80 | 4 |
The Vikeri cam provided great performance results in all the performance tests, with the quickest trigger speed picking up our test runners faster than the others. Thanks to its broad detection zone and wide-angle lens, it detected movement at distances of up to 90 feet during the day and 50 feet at night. It also possessed one of the fastest recovery times, allowing us to play back our photos in ten-photo bursts like a film.
On the other hand, the Browning Strike Force Pro underperformed in specific ways that lowered its total score in this criterion. While this camera has one of the greatest recovery rates in the test (8 flawless photos with a small gap to the following set of rapid-fire images), it also has one of the narrowest detection ranges, failing the backyard trials at 30 feet during the day and 10 feet at night. Its implementation in our wildlife tests was better, expanding to 40-50 feet during the day and 30-40 feet at night, but even that increase needed to be increased to compete with the better options.
We didn’t quite get the angle on this location, but the Browning Strike Force Pro supplied a high-quality video that began when the first deer entered the frame.
The Bushnell Core DS and Trophy E3 offer impressive ranges of 100 feet daily and 40 feet at night. They also have some of the quickest trigger speeds, although they recover slower. Animals move approximately a foot between each photo, so scrolling swiftly seems like a film in fast forward rather than the real-time sensation of action that options like the Strike Force Pro offer.
The GardePro A3S falls short in two categories, with a mid-range trigger speed and recovery rate. As a result, you will receive fewer photos of each animal that goes by. Despite this, it has the most astounding detection range; it is the only option in the test that can trigger a photo at 100 feet when walking or running at any time of day or night.
The GardePro’s ability to capture clear images at night, even of small animals at a distance, impressed us.
The Reconyx HyperFire 2 has one of the slower trigger speeds in the test and a limited range: 40 feet during the day and 10 feet at night in our yard tests, with only slightly better results with wildlife. But it offers top-notch recovery speeds. When in its fastest recovery setting, you’ll see ten seamless images before noticing a break, and then another ten.
The GardePro A3S falls short in two categories, with a mid-range trigger speed and recovery rate. As a result, you will receive fewer photos of each animal that goes by. Despite this, it has the most astounding detection range; it is the only option in the test that can trigger a photo at 100 feet when walking or running at any time of day or night.
The GardePro’s ability to capture clear images at night, even of small animals at a distance, impressed us.
In our yard tests, the Reconyx HyperFire 2 had one of the slowest trigger speeds and a restricted range: 40 feet during the day and 10 feet at night, with only marginally better results with animals. It offers excellent recuperation times, nevertheless. You’ll view ten smooth images before detecting a break, followed by another 10 when in its quickest test recovery setting
Even with the Reconyx’s lower-quality default settings, you receive at least three to six images of each animal instead of just one. This is also true of many of its rivals.
The Trophy E3’s trigger speed allowed it to quickly capture this bear from around 60 feet away after it appeared on the screen.
In addition, we noted which cameras exhibited a detectable flash at night. We saw no animals responding to the Bushnell Trophy E3’s faint glow. The Bushnell Cellucore 20, Reconyx, and Browning cameras emit a red glow that animals occasionally responded to, particularly coyotes. We also tested battery life by leaving the cameras in the woods with their default settings for seven weeks. We don’t consider battery life a defining aspect of overall performance since none of them lost any.
The Reconyx didn’t have the highest image quality in the test but produced some excellent photos.
Image Quality
We thought the photos’ and videos’ clarity and color, the cameras’ ability to halt motion, and how well they focused on things within their field of view to judge image quality. To determine our decisions, we examined over 10,000 photos. Since many cameras offer stunning but distinct photos, this is a challenging statistic to judge.
Browning Strike Force Pro DCLBushnell Trophy E3 EssentialGardePro A3SCampark T80Bushnell Core DS No GlowVikeri 1520P Wide-AngleVicture HC200Reconyx HyperFire 2Bushnell CelluCore 20Apeman H559.0 8.0 7.0 6.5 6.0 6.0 5.5 4.5 4.0
| Product | Image Quality Rating |
|---|---|
| Browning Strike Force Pro DCL | 9 |
| Bushnell Trophy E3 Essential | 8 |
| GardePro A3S | 7 |
| Campark T80 | 7 |
| Bushnell Core DS No Glow | 6.5 |
| Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle | 6 |
| Victure HC200 | 6 |
| Reconyx HyperFire 2 | 5.5 |
| Bushnell CelluCore 20 | 4.5 |
| Apeman H55 | 4 |
The Browning Strike Force Pro came out on top with a broad range of focus, bright, color-corrected images, and the ability to pause motion for sharp images at a walking speed. Its picture resolution may be set from 4 to 26MP; we tried it at 10MP in its normal mode and at 26MP during the range test and in the field. Both resulted in some of our favorite photos. The camera’s 1080P video at 60 frames per second did not produce our favorite videos, but it is good quality.
While the Bushnell Trophy E3 photos are less engaging than the Strike Force Pro because of the narrow field of view and less bright colors, they often capture clear photos of animals in movement; it produced the greatest photos of running deer in our field tests. It also offers a big focus region that extends over a significant portion of its outstanding range.
The photos from the Bushnell Trophy E3 aren’t as spectacular as others, but we noted more moving animals in sharp focus on this camera than the others.
Although it struggles to freeze motion at night, particularly when animals are near the camera, the Vikeri game camera offers amazingly high-quality photos and video. It tends to overexpose the subject, making it look ghostly white. Unfortunately, moisture got into the housing during the seven-week field test. Thus, many daylight animal photos are blurry, and moisture is behind the screen. If you can protect this camera from rain, you’ll get an excellent, wide-angle view of your local animals.
To publish this picture, we had to reduce the quality of the Vikeri video a bit. Nonetheless, it offers excellent color and clarity.
Though the Bushnell Core DS has excellent range and trigger speed, its picture quality exceeds our expectations. The field of view is narrow, doesn’t stop motion adequately, and the images often need to be clearer. Although we still like its photos and videos, the competition could be better.
The Bushnell Core DS’s images could be more appealing in the test, but its performance is remarkable. (The picture is skewed because a bear pushed the camera off-center.)
The Reconyx has a narrow focus range; therefore, photos of animals in motion are often blurry. Nonetheless, it produced some fantastic photos. We also loved the Campark T80’s video and audio quality. We were always pleased to see images from the Bushnell Cellucore appear on our phones, but the image quality does not compare to the other versions we tested.
The Apeman H55 was our least favorite performer. This trail camera produced the most sasquatch-like images, which may explain the moniker.
Ease of Operation
To judge the ease — or difficulty — with which each of these gadgets may be used. We evaluated the usefulness of their guides as well as the ease of initial setup. We noted how effectively they attached to trees and how long it took us to find the proper angle and estimate each camera’s field of view. Finally, we assessed how challenging it was to modify their settings and check their batteries in the field.
02468GardePro A3SBushnell Core DS No GlowBushnell CelluCore 20Bushnell Trophy E3 EssentialVikeri 1520P Wide-AngleApeman H55Victure HC200Browning Strike Force Pro DCLCampark T80Reconyx HyperFire 28.0 7.0 6.5 6.0 6.0 5.5 5.0 5.0 4.0
| Product | Ease of Operation Rating |
|---|---|
| GardePro A3S | 8 |
| Bushnell Core DS No Glow | 7 |
| Bushnell CelluCore 20 | 6.5 |
| Bushnell Trophy E3 Essential | 6 |
| Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle | 6 |
| Apeman H55 | 6 |
| Victure HC200 | 5.5 |
| Browning Strike Force Pro DCL | 5 |
| Campark T80 | 5 |
| Reconyx HyperFire 2 | 4 |
The GardePro’s intuitive interface makes it easy to go through the initial setup and modify settings on the fly. The brief and simple manual provides just the information you need. The GardePro lacks a rough mounting surface on the rear of its housing, which most cameras have to maximize friction against a tree. This makes attachment to certain tree kinds a little more challenging, but not significantly so.
The intuitive interface and integrated screen of the GardePro A3S camera make it easy to navigate.
When the sensor detects you, a motion test mode flashes red to show you what you’re pointing at. The Bushnell Core DS and Trophy E3 and Reconyx and Browning cameras also supply this handy setup aid.
The Bushnell Core DS and Trophy E3 setup procedure is simple, while the Core DS manual is simpler and more streamlined. The menu on the Core DS is simple to use, the screen is bright, and the buttons and switches are easy to use. In addition, unlike the Trophy E3, the Core DS does not need you to open the whole front of the housing to alter settings, so the camera still points at your area of interest. This is plainly shown on the screen, so you know precisely where it is shooting.
The circular layout of the Core DS’s control buttons makes it easier to keep track of what you’re doing.
On the other hand, the Trophy E3’s control buttons are less logically organized, resulting in more frequent errors, and the video stream swings out with the door. While the Trophy’s batteries are safely secured within the housing, the Core DS battery tray removes from the bottom through a button we often overlook. It’s hard to push and annoying to use the tray’s latch, which stops your batteries from flying.
The linear layout of the Bushnell Trophy E3’s control buttons forces you to double-check their symbols often as you navigate the menu. This results in a great deal of errors.
Although its manual could be clearer than the GardePro’s, the Vikeri is almost as easy to use and set up. Instead of utilizing a motion test light to show you where it’s pointing, you can only snap a test photo, which is a bit more difficult. We preferred to stand behind it, with the housing pushed open just enough to view the screen and plan what we’d capture. In place of a cam strap, it also features a thread-through clasp on its strap.
A screen that allows you to review your images and swiftly navigate Vikeri’s menu makes it extremely easy to use.
The Browning Strike Force Pro is constructed similarly to the Bushnell Core DS, except its buttons light up, which is very useful in low light. The Strike Force Pro is also the only camera we tried that angles away from its base, making it easy to accommodate a tree’s lean, but the clawed clasp on the tree strap is annoying to operate. While we like that the fixed camera and integrated screen simplify setup, this model has several limitations. The battery pack, in particular, ejects from the bottom of the camera. However, since there is no latch, it often falls to the forest floor. The fact that the manual could be more handy is also important to notice.
The Bushnell Cellucore is controlled through a smartphone app. Once you download and set it up, the camera is straightforward to operate remotely, but it fell in the ratings for that additional step. The Reconyx’s light-up display makes it very easy to view. However, the one line of text it prompts you with might take a lot of work to interpret.
The bright screen of the Reconyx is fantastic, particularly in low light, but its two lines of text make it hard to navigate the settings.
Features
We extensively examined each camera’s features to create a complete list to judge their usefulness. Then, similar to how we evaluated ease of operation, we tested their efficacy in the field. All cameras offer typical security features, such as lock-compatible housing, although their comprehensive feature sets range significantly.
Bushnell Core DS No GlowBushnell CelluCore 20Reconyx HyperFire 2GardePro A3SCampark T80Vikeri 1520P Wide-AngleVicture HC200Browning Strike Force Pro DCLBushnell Trophy E3 EssentialApeman H558.5 8.5 8.5 8.0 8.0 7.0 6.0
| Product | Features Rating |
|---|---|
| Bushnell Core DS No Glow | 8.5 |
| Bushnell CelluCore 20 | 8.5 |
| Reconyx HyperFire 2 | 8.5 |
| GardePro A3S | 8 |
| Campark T80 | 8 |
| Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle | 7 |
| Victure HC200 | 7 |
| Browning Strike Force Pro DCL | 6 |
| Bushnell Trophy E3 Essential | 6 |
| Apeman H55 | 6 |
Also offering dynamic video capture are the Bushnell Core DS and Reconyx cameras. When triggered, most cameras will only record for a set time. On the other hand, the Core DS will continue to register for as long as it detects movement, making it one of the better options if you’re very interested in video.
The Bushnell Core DS and Trophy E3 cameras show a field scan mode that extends the camera’s range beyond its PIR sensor by recording photos or videos at certain times of day, with or without a catalyst. The GardePro, Reconyx, Vikeri, and Browning cameras deliver similar time-lapse features, which shoot photos at configurable intervals throughout the day without the need for a trigger. The Reconyx will alter the time of the photos as the duration of the day varies over the season, a useful function known as ” solar timing.’
The Bushnell Cellucore 20 links to a cellular network, while the Campark offerswifii access. As long as the Cellucore receives a signal, it will deliver real-time wildlife photos to your smartphone. If you use the Campark near your house or have access towifii, you may download the photos directly to your phone.
The CamPark T80 featured a very appealing operation panel and was the only option we tested that supportedwifii.
Durability
Trail cameras should be tough enough to withstand bad weather and durable enough to withstand some damage. We studied the construction and hardiness of the materials, then left the cameras in the wind, rain, snow, and warmth for up to seven weeks to test durability.
Durability Rating02468Bushnell Core DS No GlowBushnell CelluCore 20Browning Strike Force Pro DCLGardePro A3SBushnell Trophy E3 EssentialCampark T80Reconyx HyperFire 2Victure HC200Apeman H55Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle8.0 8.0 7.5
| Product | Durability Rating |
|---|---|
| Bushnell Core DS No Glow | 8 |
| Bushnell CelluCore 20 | 8 |
| Browning Strike Force Pro DCL | 7.5 |
| GardePro A3S | 7 |
| Bushnell Trophy E3 Essential | 7 |
| Campark T80 | 7 |
| Reconyx HyperFire 2 | 6.5 |
| Victure HC200 | 6 |
| Apeman H55 | 6 |
| Vikeri 1520P Wide-Angle | 2 |
When you buy a trail camera, you’re probably planning to expose it to whatever Mother Nature throws at it for days, weeks, or even months. The Bushnell Core DS and Browning Strike Force Pro were the most powerful versions of the tested cameras. These cameras’ robust locks and watertight housing are particularly appealing to us. It also helps that only the bottom half of the housing opens, allowing less area for water to enter, particularly via the more susceptible roof, where water may flow down into the interior components.
Fortunately, most cases are well manufactured, with excellent-quality clasps to keep the cases closed. The Bushnell options and the Reconyx and Browning cameras feature robust metal cam strap clasps that securely keep the camera in position. Just the Vikeri and GardePro clasps are disappointing, with metal-wire grasping plastic hooks that provide a weaker closure.
During our testing, however, just the Vikeri camera housing leaked. A significant quantity of water gathered at the bottom of the camera, causing moisture to fog the screen and obscure the lens. We dried it out, and it still works, but we would expect this camera only to survive short if you plan on using it in a damp area. Alternatively, the Bushnell Core DS and Trophy E3, as well as the Reconyx, all include a rain cover over the lens to protect against rain, snow, and frost.
Conclusion
Choosing the best trail camera might be difficult. There are many product specifications, configurable features, and price points. We conducted the necessary research and field testing to provide the necessary information. This information helps you find the best trail camera for you.
While some people like to utilize trail cameras for security, we have a review of our top home security cameras if you’re more interested in home security.
