GoPro HD Hero2 Camcorder Review

Waterproofing & Ruggedization

The Hero2 itself isn't exactly rugged, but it comes with a waterproof casing that, much like a plate of armor, hugely increases the durability of the camcorder. The case also makes it possible to use the camcorder up to 197 feet underwater, which is far deeper than most waterproof camcorders are capable of traveling (regular waterproof camcorders—without a waterproof case—can usually function 10 - 30 feet underwater).

The waterproof case is designed well and its hard-plastic design feels very strong. After a number of uses, we did notice the locking mechanism on the top of the case would occasionally pop off of its hinges when we opened or closed the lock. This never resulted in water actually entering the case, but it was somewhat disconcerting, and it made us realize the case had a more fragile design than we first believed. Our point is, this case will probably take damage eventually, so treat it with care if you want it to last.

GoPro's main competitor, the Contour camera company, also makes a waterproof case that allows its camcorders to travel to the same depths (197 feet). The thing we like about GoPro, however, is that this case comes free with all Hero2 camcorder package. Contour charges an extra $40 bucks.

At the base of the waterproof case is a small connector that can be linked with GoPro's available mount systems. The camcorder comes with a few mounts that use a snap-connector system (kind of like the clips on a backpack) that are both easy to hookup and simple to remove. This makes swapping the camcorder to and from different mounts a very easy task, especially when compared to Contour's somewhat frustrating mount system.