5 of the Best Trail Camera

What is the Best Trail Camera?

Trail cameras allow you to take photos of wild animals without being near them or disturbing them.

Also known as camera traps, trail cameras can be situated in wild settings and left to be activated when animals pass nearby.

There are a couple of reasons why you might want a trail camera. For instance, some wild animals are too sketchy for photographers to go near them.

Trail cameras also enable you to take photos of wild animals that are social during the wee hours.

Of course, trail cameras are rugged and weatherproof such that the build can handle extreme temperatures, snowfall, and water.

Even if you have no interest in wild photography, trail cameras can also be used as outdoor security cameras.

In this review, we have compiled a list of the five best trail cameras, including relatively affordable ones as well as high-end models.

Some even have 4G LTE, so whatever your budget, you should be able to get a proper trail camera for your needs.

5 Best Trail CameraImage resolutionVideo ResolutionAudio RecordingDisplayData StorageNight VisionWeight
Browning Defender20 MegapixelsFull HD (1080p) Yes YesSD Card, SDHC or SDXCYes (Infrared)1 pound
Bushnell Core Trail Camera30 MegapixelsFull HD (1080p) @60fps Yes YesSD Card or SDHCYes (Up to 80ft)1.2 pounds
Spypoint Link Micro 4G LTE10 MegapixelsN/ANoNoMicro SDNo0.55 pounds
Spypoint Link-S 4G LTE Trail Camera20 Megapixels 480p Yes YesSD Card or SDHCYes (Low-glow LEDs)3.87 pounds
Stealth Cam XV4X32 MegapixelsFull HD (1080p) Yes YesSD Card or SDHCYes (Infrared)1.04 pounds

1. Browning Defender

Best Trail Camera
Best Trail Camera – Browning Defender

Once you’ve slotted all sixteen batteries into the back of the Browning Defender, you can be confident that the power-hungry circuitry will last for long.

In addition, this camera has a display with a menu and a 4-way menu button to help you set it up.

Video enthusiasts will appreciate this camera’s ability to monitor and keep recording wildlife that keeps moving.

In addition, they will also appreciate the resolution in this unit compared to other devices in its price point.

Key Features Include

  • Image resolution: 20 Megapixels
  • Video Resolution: Full HD (1080p)
  • Audio Recording: Yes
  • Display: Yes
  • Data Storage: SD Card, SDHC or SDXC
  • Night Vision: Yes (Infrared)
  • Weight: 1 pound

2. Bushnell Core Trail Camera

Bushnell Core
Bushnell Core

The clever touch in this trail camera from Bushnell is that it has dual sensors, one for daytime and the other for the night.

The daytime sensor prioritizes color and sharpness, while the night sensor prioritizes clear images and high-contrast clarity.

The Bushnell Core Trail is built to withstand inclement weather, and its No Glow LED bulbs won’t disturb wildlife.

In addition, it can capture images and videos in Full HD (1080p) at 60 fps thanks to its 30 Megapixel sensor. This might be all you need in a trail camera.

Key Features Include

  • Image resolution: 30 Megapixels
  • Video Resolution: Full HD (1080p) @60fps
  • Audio Recording: Yes
  • Display: Yes
  • Data Storage: SD Card or SDHC
  • Night Vision: Yes (Up to 80ft)
  • Weight: 1.2 pounds

3. Spypoint Link Micro 4G LTE

Spypoint Link
Spypoint Link

This little camera from Spypoint is a much simpler proposition than all other trail cameras on this list.

It doesn’t capture footage, just images at 10 Megapixels, but it has an impressive trigger response of 0.5 seconds.

You can also configure the Spypoint Link Micro 4G LTE to capture multiple images once its infrared system detects movement allowing you to capture several images in quick succession.

Key Features Include

  • Image resolution: 10 Megapixels
  • Video Resolution: N/A
  • Audio Recording: No
  • Display: No
  • Data Storage: 10 Megapixels
  • Night Vision: No
  • Weight: 0.55 Pounds

4. Spypoint Link-S 4G LTE Trail Camera

Spypoint Link-S
Spypoint Link-S

Standard trail cameras are okay if you want to check the captured footage in intervals or if you want to monitor your backyard. But what if you want to place them in a remote area where Wi-Fi connectivity is not good enough?

The answer is a camera that features cellular connectivity.

Cellular-ready trail cameras can beam footage and send alerts to your laptop, smartphone, or tablet regardless of where you are.

One of the best cellular-ready trail; cameras is the Spypoint Link-S 4G LTE, not only because it can beam footage to you but also because it’s solar-powered.

Key Features Include

  • Image resolution: 20 Megapixels
  • Video Resolution: 480p
  • Audio Recording: Yes
  • Display: Yes
  • Data Storage: SD Card or SDHC
  • Night Vision: Yes (Low-glow LEDs)
  • Weight: 3.87 pounds

5. Stealth Cam XV4X

Stealth Cam
Best Trail Camera – Stealth Cam

If you’re looking for ultimate image quality for your wildlife photography, buying a trail camera with superb resolution, such as Full HD (1080p) or 4K (2160p) makes sense.

The Stealth Cam XV4X resembles a piece of alien hardware, and it can capture footage in Full HD (1080p) during the day and at night.

In addition, it boasts a mind-boggling 32 Megapixel image resolution and a trigger response of 0.4 seconds.

Key Features Include

  • Image resolution: 32 Megapixels
  • Video Resolution: Full HD (1080p)
  • Audio Recording: Yes
  • Display: Yes
  • Data Storage: SD Card or SDHC
  • Night Vision: Yes (Infrared)
  • Weight: 1.04 pounds

Final Thought

All in all, trail cameras come in handy when you want to capture animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.

All the trail cameras illustrated above are tried and tested for any environment, so it all comes down to your preference.

See Also

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Aqua-Vu Underwater Camera

Best 360 Camera

Sony FDR X3000 Review

8K Cameras

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