After years of experimenting I came up with the super easy set-up.
Foolproof shooting for great shots of action, friends, wildlife and scenery.

Need:
1st generation GoPro Session. I paid $149 USD....Don't buy the remote... you don't need it.
Tripod Mount ($6) it gives the perfect elevation to keep cam back on brim, but sees all you need.
1/2" Stainless bolt (1/4" x 20)
2 thick nylon washers

"Kook Hat" with stiff Trucker brim and chinstrap

1st pics show what you need and how to assemble

Most Important:
Set Sessions on "Superview" (thanks mattongoldy, for that key info)

After snug on your head.... use the free "Session's App" to your phone (download)
Turn on your Session's WiFi
Watch your stream on the phone app and set the cam so it just cuts out the front edge of the brim.
All that is easy to do


Simply put the hat on and forget it.
the Sessions is a simple 1 button on..... one button off
don't waste $$$ on the remote, it's harder to use than tapping the button on pick #3


I'll add some different shots I got today (including the critter i almost hit)
and a sampling of what you can get from this little gem.

I plan to add interesting shots when I get them.... please check back to see all the ways to use this cam set up.

Great feedback Rick - I need to get organised so that I can also contribute some footage

Awesome Rick..thanks for the info and shots..looks good and you dont get the Darth Vadar noise effects that you get with the mouth mount lol..SUPbru better get the set up going before you hit Hawaii bro..looking for to seeing some mint sessions bruv
chur

Certainly looks better than my attempt. Do you leave the camera recording the whole time? Personally, I like turning the Session on before each wave as it saves having to search through a lot of vid to find waves.

**** that seal mate, I got attacked by one a few years ago. Teeth marks on my board under where my ass was. Didn't chip me, but got two blokes half hour before and after me had to go to hospital to get stiches. Bastards of things when they attack.

Jeez you scored some magic pics. I'm sure you're stoked!

That is a great shooting platform! Great presentation as well.

Could you please explain the "superview" function?

And how long does the battery last on the Session? I've been spoiled using the GoPro with the battery pack and just letting the video record run constantly, enough juice.
I find when I try to turn it on and off, the on moment gets missed when surprised by a set and gotta immediately get moving.

That is a great shooting platform! Great presentation as well.

Could you please explain the "superview" function?

And how long does the battery last on the Session? I've been spoiled using the GoPro with the battery pack and just letting the video record run constantly, enough juice.
I find when I try to turn it on and off, the on moment gets missed when surprised by a set and gotta immediately get moving.

Really best pics mate, captures the moments just as they are, love it

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surfinJ said..
That is a great shooting platform! Great presentation as well.

Could you please explain the "superview" function?

And how long does the battery last on the Session? I've been spoiled using the GoPro with the battery pack and just letting the video record run constantly, enough juice.
I find when I try to turn it on and off, the on moment gets missed when surprised by a set and gotta immediately get moving.

Hi J
Superview is available on all recent GoPros.
On the Sessions, I set through the Mobil Phone App.... a free download for sessions.
Google Youtube for how to set it on the App..... I bought the remote.... waste of time.


J & CSE... I turn it on and off with the one tap button, which is super easy on the hat lid.
Takes 4 seconds to start recording, so you tap it when a set is coming.... no biggie if you don't get a wave... just tap it off.
I am pretty sure that the battery will last a long time... I get 1.5 to 2 hours out of it.

The Sessions is much easier to turn on and off than the standard GoPro, which is a 2 button affair to shut it down to conserve battery power.

Thanks for the comments.... I am very stoked to have a simple and effective way to shoot surf sessions, and friends.... great at a party as well I imagine

Maiden voyage with the GoPro

Great photos and setup, thank you for sharing. I did something similar on my hat using one of the stick on mounts that comes with the gopro, drilling small holes through it and through the bill and using small zip ties to secure it. My only word of caution is to make sure there are no sharp edges. One time I had to bail and the bill got pushed down over my face. The zip ties scratched my nose, not bad but it could have been worse. That screw head you are using looks like it could do some damage too, so you might want to consider covering it up somehow.

Thanks Robert.... I filed down the screw head to eliminate sharp edges.
I wipe out plenty and no issues so far. It's back on the brim as well.

More shots, mostly from this week.

Today I turned the hat around as an excuse to drop in on friends
It actually has some potential that I want to explore on the right waves.I don't turn.... just slide along to keep the cam facing at the surfer behind. Pretty fun!

Fantastic shots! You must have been close to some of those guys on the waves, and to the sand on the shore (cool to see your shadow on the sand). I have recorded some people on waves but the final version makes them look miles away... (Do you zoom or crop any of them?) But it is great to capture the memorable moments of your session (and the natural beauty of the place).

Yeh Rick just the add. Also when I whent to "quote" your most recent post, instead in the reply window it added only " post unavailable "
Conspiracy anyone!

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SRrat said..
Yeh Rick just the add. Also when I whent to "quote" your most recent post, instead in the reply window it added only " post unavailable "
Conspiracy anyone!

my bad.... I realized I made this post before I made the "Kook Hat" video..... I placed that GoPro vid, to show the Sessions camera.
I deleted todays post, when I realized my mistake.

This came up because I just ordered a new Session4 to replace my damaged on, so I was looking for some info.

SoloShot3 vids are missing the up-close and personal feel and sound that I get from the "Kook Hat Cam".... so I have a renewed interest in my Kook Hat

Here's the vid of how to make it and sample clips

Add one of these lite weight devices for smoother video noirmatter.com/

Now THAT is pretty darn cool..... thanks!

Crap, I just bought another GoPro Sesssions5 today..... this is getting expensive.

I just wonder if it will be too much for my Kook Hat.
Wipeouts are ok with the tiny Sessions, but seems like it adds a lot

close as I can come to real size

Wow how did you get one so quick, ive order a quark but there not dispatching until end of July, really need one for trip in two weeks

its a nice tree in the background .

your getting too high tech ...i can't keep up with you young fellas,

helmets are good too.

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deanrobi said..
Wow how did you get one so quick, ive order a quark but there not dispatching until end of July, really need one for trip in two weeks

Mr Creek is on the 'special order list' .... Just got all the bits for my own Kook Hat Cam (less the Quark)... cant wait to get it all together and have a go!!
You using the voice command feature on the sessions Rick??

He must be, as they are seem to be in limited supply. Disappointed that my Quark won't arrive in time for an upcoming kite surf trip, would have been a great opportunity to put it to the test

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deanrobi said..
Wow how did you get one so quick, ive order a quark but there not dispatching until end of July, really need one for trip in two weeks

ha ha.... I didn't!
That's a total "photoshop" that I did to see if it would be reasonable on my Kook Hat.
You don't want a lot up there to smack you in the face during a bad wipeout.

I applied for the Quark team.
They need an old man SUPster

Just watched that Stephanie Gilmore dvd "Stephanie in the Water"......then looked at her instagram to see what she is up to these days.
Some awesome in the tube footage from her.......a strong contender for the "kook hat"....though camera might not have been actually on a kook hat I supposewww.instagram.com/p/BkWK09EHt-_/?hl=en&taken-by=stephaniegilmore

Supthecreek, those are awesome shots! Thanks for posting this.

You don't fall in much do you :) I always get water spots on my older Hero and I use Rainx.
Any advice...

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windwakerider said..
Supthecreek, those are awesome shots! Thanks for posting this.

You don't fall in much do you :) I always get water spots on my older Hero and I use Rainx.
Any advice...

I have tried
RainX
Frog Spit
Whorley's Wonder (don't EVER use that)
plus other stuff...... none of them work very well IMO

Best fix so far?
Lick the lens, then dip underwater to rinse clean.
Do this every so often during a session and you will minimize the drops.

Also....clean the lens before every session!

I have never tried the GoClear Hydrophobic Lens Protectors..... some say it works, others say no.

Here's a link to one guys solutions (with vids)
clicklikethis.com/prevent-water-drops-on-gopro/

Bottom line, water-drops are a problem..... Licking seems to work best, but far from perfect.

Thanks!

Are the fcs wet baseball caps a solid brim? Or are they Still a bit flimsy? Hard to tell from the pics and need to order online.

I have never owned an FCS hat.... maybe check at a local SUP shop and see one in person.
Hopefully someone will chime in!

My Da Kine hat was a very stiff brim.
Many wipeouts later, it is softening a little.... and I can see the brim move in and out of the frame.
So.... I will suggest that brim stiffness is crucial for a good "Kook Hat Cam"

Yeah.the FCS one's are floppy in the brim ....I 5 minutes Epoxy glued a piece of floaty cut to shape ,old piece of fin cover underneath the brim ,works a treat .
also floats the hat with the session on it

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Tardy said..
Yeah.the FCS one's are floppy in the brim ....I 5 minutes Epoxy glued a piece of floaty cut to shape ,old piece of fin cover underneath the brim ,works a treat .
also floats the hat with the session on it

Nice, I bought one off eBay. I'm sure I can come up with something to stiffen it up a bit if need be. I've got a hero 5 I am going to try hold up.