We previously purchased one of the GoPro shade-style accessories offered on Amazon or Etsy. Testing occurred on October 27, 2025, and the results were disappointing, though not unexpected. A Shade Device alone cannot defeat the heat. Passive shade protection is not enough!

During the evaluation, a GoPro Hero 13 equipped with the shade accessory overheated after 34 minutes. By comparison, GoPro Hero 12 and Hero 10 cameras mounted in our CAMCooLER 9Thirteen active cooling system did not overheat. The ambient temperature was 87°F at 2:00 p.m. when the test began, increasing to 90°F by 3:51 p.m., well after the shaded camera overheated at 2:36 p.m. Camera placement favored the shade accessory, providing maximum solar protection to that device while exposing the CAMCooLER-cooled cameras directly to sunlight. The use of a black CAMCooLER enclosure had no negative effect on performance.

Some may suggest lowering the resolution and framerate to mitigate overheating, such as 1080p or 720p at 30 or 24 fps on the shaded camera. While such recommendations are not incorrect, users should NOT need to compromise image quality when a viable active-cooling solution is available. Our testing proves it—shade alone isn’t enough. A simple shade device delivers only a modest 14% improvement over no shade at all. In real-world conditions, that difference doesn’t stop overheating. CAMCooLER’s active-airflow design changes the game—our coolers didn’t overheat, period. Passive cooling can help, but it’s only part of the equation. True thermal performance requires active cooling that moves air. This test demonstrates that relying solely on a shade device is insufficient for most recording scenarios.

Overheating happens because cameras need airflow, not just shade. Passive cooling can contribute to heat reduction, although it represents only a portion of an effective thermal-management strategy. Adequate airflow is essential. Our engineering team has devoted hundreds of hours to airflow modeling to achieve thermal optimization, balancing cooling performance against acoustic output. Undersized fans provide inadequate airflow, while oversized fans produce excessive noise. An external microphone is recommended, since airflow does reach the camera’s internal microphones. Even an inexpensive, non-powered microphone performs adequately. When positioned on the camera case, fan noise is negligible, and at a distance of approximately 18 to 24 inches from the cooler, fan noise is effectively eliminated.

CAMCooLER has been actively cooling action cameras since the release of the GoPro Hero 8 in 2019 and continues to set the industry standard. Our cooling technology is proven where performance matters most. From military testing divisions and rocket-engine development testing to nuclear engineers, race car teams, and aviation programs, professionals rely on CAMCOOLER to keep cameras running in extreme environments. Thousands of sport parents trust us too, capturing every play without the fear of overheating. When the footage matters, CAMCOOLER delivers especially at the 2024 Indy 500. Multiple CAMCOOLER units kept cameras recording in the stands through the heat and action of the race. However, many products currently sold on Etsy and Amazon represent derivative copies of our original design, which uniquely integrated fence mounting, shade protection, and active fan cooling. A provisional patent application was filed in 2020. However, obtaining an issued patent and enforcing the associated rights present separate challenges. Ultimately, we elected not to pursue the full patent process, as prioritizing speed to market and making this design available to customers sooner was the better strategic decision. On a side note: Hey Don, we noticed that your product page includes a “patent pending” claim. As a reminder, a patent application can only be legitimately filed by the original inventor or by an entity that has properly acquired rights from the inventor. If you were not the original designer of the product, claiming “patent pending” would be inaccurate and could be considered misleading.

Beware of imitations. New knockoff products have emerged, attempting to copy our design without delivering the proven performance of the original. The shade device tested appeared well constructed, yet passive cooling alone will not succeed in most high-temperature scenarios. It also prevented the use of a ¼-20 mount due to case interference. We have also observed imitations of our fan-based cooling system, including imported units from China with plastic buttons and mounting hardware of unspecified composition. Copies are easy to produce. Reliability is not. Knockoff sellers have no track record, no service, and no guarantees. Other knockoff systems use zip ties as structural fasteners, or require users to place a fan inside the battery compartment, which risks introducing dust into the camera. Not good for camera longevity.

Historically, we advised removing the internal battery to reduce heat load. This is no longer necessary because current GoPro firmware does not charge the battery while recording, eliminating that heat source. However, users should ensure the battery is fully charged before filming to prevent inadvertent charging before filming starts and that associated thermal buildup.

CAMCooLER is the professional’s choice! We design and manufacture every cooler in the United States with purpose-built components and rigorous testing. Although imitation may be regarded as a form of flattery, our original, thoroughly tested design remains the superior solution. Real-world validation in extreme environments, including the Arizona desert, confirms its effectiveness. Recording at 1080p in ambient temperatures up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and at 4K in temperatures up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, remains well within the capabilities of our coolers. As always, user results may vary depending on camera condition and other operational variables.

Performance limitations do still exist, such as recording constraints at 5.3K in high heat or pushing 4K in temperatures exceeding approximately 105°F. These challenges are not unique to GoPro; all major action camera brands display similar overheating behavior when operated without our active cooling system.