Insta360 X4 Air Review: A 360° Ski Camera That Delivers

I recently got to experience this 360 view camera and the snow accessory and here are my thoughts. The snow is a place that we know it’s more enjoyable in ‘real time’ and really hard to capture, try though we might. The Insta360 X4 Air is designed ‘pretty close’ to this experience and the main aspect being that when you play it back you can choose the section of your experience, spin the camera around in the film and capture the snow, the sky or the mountains behind. That makes it a very cool and different action camera experience. 

Functionality

Compact and tough, it withstood a heck of a lot of being bashed about in my luggage, my backpack and when leant against the interior of the gondola or regularly dropped on the snow or the ground – just because we’re humans and people are always rushing us  – why do they do that ? At just 165 grams, the camera is lightweight but it feels solid in your hand. The rubber lens cap is a thoughtful touch and much appreciated.

It is a camera that turns everyday skiing into a fairly cinematic experience with the film quality and the clarity and the 360 degree aspect and is easy to pop on and off, essential for protecting the camera when it’s rattling around in a ski bag or pocket but is a camera top that is easy to store in a pocket when the camera is in use. 

Being waterproof to 15 metres, it translates well to snow conditions. ice, sleet and powder, you don’t have to stress that you’re ruining it, making it a reliable companion in unpredictable alpine weather. I also left it in a pool of slush accidentally, but it was fine.

The Ski Pole Mount

The Ski Pole Mount is a nice touch and the person who designed it has sat on a lot of chairlifts thinking ‘how can we mount a selfie stick to a ski pole without the ski pole being a hassle and weighing it down, and it shows. Mounting it is straightforward. The included ski pole mount can be fitted in minutes , simply open the box it comes in, match the correct insert to your pole width and secure it using the provided Allan key to the top 3rd (or thereabouts, play around with it).. 

Once attached, it’s stable and secure, and easy to twist the camera on and off as needed. In practice, it’s something you’ll likely leave on all day, although my husband and I like to switch ski poles between us so sometimes we twisted off the selfie stick bit and put it in the backpack.

Can You Actually Ski With It?

Skiing with the camera does take a moment to adjust. When actively filming, you’ll naturally hold your poles slightly more deliberately in front of you to frame the shot and to be honest, we did parts of the day filming some runs but didn’t want to ski around all day like that but it was versatile and easy to remove, as mentioned. Skiing with it takes a slightly different stance to not rely on your poles, but it quickly becomes second nature. Importantly, the added weight is negligible, and the setup doesn’t interfere with your overall balance. To be honest – if you’re waving your poles around when you ski, like it’s an Aussie flag, maybe it’s time for a lesson? Have you seen how the pros do it?

How’s the Actual Footage?

The real magic, however, is in how the footage looks when you load it. The X4 Air does deliver impressively smooth, vibration-resistant video, even on variable terrain. Thanks to its 360-degree capture and “invisible selfie stick” effect, you’re not just filming what’s ahead — you’re capturing the entire environment. The result is dynamic, immersive footage that feels far more professional than the effort required to shoot it.

The operation is simple but deliberate and it took me a moment, but it may not take you a movement, I run on the ‘dunce’ side with these things (I still can’t operate some features on my tv remote). To start recording, you press and hold the button, then confirm and the same process applies to stopping. It’s not instant, but it’s also not ‘that hard’ .

On the other hand, there’s no second-guessing whether the camera is rolling mid-run, like many cameras. Once it’s on, it stays on. Compared to other action cameras, that reliability is a standout. Remember to ‘hold the button down until you see the red circle go all the way around’ for 5 seconds or so is my tip – this bit took me a while – but you know, I’m a mum with three kids, so my patience is very thin- ha ha !  

How’s the Editing Process? Difficult?

Editing is where the X4 Air really opens up and impresses me. If you’re familiar with Cap Cut, this is very very similar, just remember to download the app on your phone or laptop – or both like I did. 

Using the Insta360 app on your phone or desktop, you can reframe shots after the fact and choose angles and perspectives from a single run – I’m still playing with it to be honest but it’s not hard – I just got busy after my trip, it’s a personal thing. As mentioned, for anyone familiar with apps like CapCut or social media editing tools, the learning curve is very minimal. Add music, trim clips, insert text – it’s all intuitive, with AI-assisted features helping speed up the process.

One thing to note: you’ll need a stable connection between your device and the camera to transfer footage, so it’s not something you can easily do mid-flight. But once connected, the workflow is smooth.

How’s the Clarity?

The screen clarity is excellent, the 360 horizon lock keeps footage level, and features like wind guard audio are there if you need them. Even without diving into every setting, the camera performs exceptionally well straight out of the box. I also used it during a 4WD trip at New Years, we were doing very heavy 4WDing over extreme rough roads in the Victorian High Country and it was smooth and the ability to spin the camera and focus between the far way vistas and the rough road below was the stand out. I was blown away with that kind of utility for the camera. 

The Verdict?

Overall, the Insta360 X4 Air strikes a strong balance between performance and usability. It’s durable, easy to operate, and produces high-quality footage without requiring too much technical expertise. Whether you’re documenting your own skiing or creating content to share, it’s a tool that delivers  and one that’s genuinely fun to use. Yep, I love it.

After a few weeks skiing around Japan, Tomamu was the one that genuinely surprised us. Coming from places like Kamui, which feel raw and local, Tomamu is almost the opposite. It’s polished, well thought out, and built around the full experience, not just skiing. And for a first trip to Japan, that can actually makes a lot of sense.
If you’re the kind of person who wants great snow and a comfortable, easy place to stay, Tomamu is a very easy recommendation.

Snow Bundle RRP$736 – Currently on sale $667.99 

Standard Bundle RRP$639.99 – Currently on sale for $575.99 

All available at:
 store.insta360.com