The Best Trail Cameras, Picked By An Avid Outdoorsman

Photo resolution: 30 megapixels | Video resolution: 1920 x 1080 at 60FPS | Night vision: Yes | Audio recording: Yes | Power: 6 AA batteries | Battery life: 1 year

Pros: 

• Sensors for day and night
• Limited light emissions 
• Integrated LCD display

Cons: 

• Expensive

With its 30-megapixel resolution and 1080p video at 60 frames per second, Bushnell’s Core DS No Glow camera captures high-quality content across a variety of landscapes and conditions. That’s because, unlike entry-level trail cameras built with one sensor for day and night photos, the Core DS No Glow features one sensor for daytime use and another for improved illumination at night. Meanwhile, Bushnell’s “No Glow” technology eliminates light emissions while capturing photos and video, so animals won’t get spooked when the camera triggers, and would-be burglars won’t know they’re being filmed.

Beyond the basic stats, Bushnell builds this trail camera with a weatherproof housing that’s designed to withstand Mother Nature’s fury, from heavy storms to claws and antlers. The unit is easy to set up, and an integrated LCD display allows you to review content on the device—no need to remove the SD card or pull the camera from its hiding spot every time you want to view content. Powered by 6 AA batteries, Bushnell claims one year of battery life, and it ships with a respectable two-year limited warranty.

There’s no denying that the Bushnell Core DS No Glow is expensive—when it’s not on sale, this single trail cam costs about as much as an entire home security system. But at the end of the day, you’re in the market for a trail camera that delivers crystal-clear quality, and anything less is a waste of your hard-earned money. For that reason, we think it’s worth the upfront investment.

What the reviews say: “After returning a couple of less expensive units, [I] spent a little extra for this name-brand trail cam,” one user notes. “Outstanding picture quality in both still and video mode. Been running 2 of these for about a year now in rain, snow and 100 degree heat with no problems at all.”

Photo resolution: 24 megapixels | Video resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) | Night vision: Yes |  Audio recording: Yes | Power: 8 AA batteries | Battery life: 6 months

Pros: 

• Affordable
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Ships with a memory card

Cons: 

• No built-in display

The Campark T90 Trail Camera won’t get you an interview with David Attenborough, but it will capture respectable 24-megapixel shots and 4K footage for less than a couple of tanks of gas. The wallet-friendly unit features built-in Wi-Fi to quickly and easily move footage to your phone or laptop, and the files are compressed to save space, which means you’ll spend less time buying and swapping full SD cards. For what it’s worth, Campark also ships the T90 with a 64GB memory card, so it’s ready to use right out of the box.

Low-glow lights similar to those in the aforementioned Bushnell allow the T90 to capture photos and video in total darkness without spooking wildlife. And the 0.2-second trigger time makes it highly unlikely that you’ll ever miss a shot (unless you’re keeping tabs on the Road Runner). Should you choose to install the T90 on your house as a dedicated security camera, you can also hook it up to a 6V power supply, thereby eliminating batteries completely.

The only feature we wish the T90 offered was a built-in display that gave you the ability to review photos and video before uploading content to your phone or laptop. That said, the available app still syncs the camera with your phone in seconds, so you’ll have to step outside to link up with the camera, but you can evaluate media from the comfort of your home.

What the reviews say: “This is my second Campark camera. I liked the first but they have made some nice improvements on this one. Better latches, robust case, full sized SD card, and the ability to check with phone,” says one buyer, adding that it “works as well as my more expensive cameras.”

Photo resolution: 42 megapixels | Video resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD) | Night vision: No |  Audio recording: No | Power: 4 AA batteries | Battery life: 13,000 images

Pros: 

• Beginner-friendly
• Trigger is fast enough for most uses
• Two-year extended warranty if you register in time

Cons: 

• Nighttime photos can be grainy 
• Needs ideal conditions to capture clear pictures and video

If the latest trail cameras leave you feeling more overwhelmed than excited about the prospect of monitoring wildlife, dip your toe in the water with the Moultrie Micro-42i. This simple, beginner-friendly unit features the basics without all the bothersome bells and whistles, allowing you to better understand the ins and outs of trail cams before committing to more advanced options.

Under the hood, Moultrie outfits this simple trail cam with a 42-megapixel sensor that captures clear photos and HD video (without audio) of objects up to 70 feet away. Its 0.4-second trigger is fast enough for most movements, and it stores content on a 32GB SD card (sold separately). If you register the unit within 60 days of purchase, Moultrie will provide a two-year extended warranty, but you’ll still receive a one-year warranty if it’s not registered in time.

Realistically, the Micro-42i doesn’t capture clear photos or video unless conditions are right, and some reviews suggest that nighttime photography is grainy, but if that’s what you’re after, you’ll need to pay a bit more. If, however, you’re comfortable with a simple trail cam that caters to hobbyists and lets you learn the basics, this one will serve you well.

What the reviews say: “Picked up two of these a few months ago and am very impressed with the quality of the pictures and video. No frills or crazy extras, they are simple and easy to setup.”

Photo resolution: 3 megapixels | Video resolution: 720p HD | Night vision: Yes |  Audio recording: Yes | Power: 12 AA batteries | Battery life: 5,000 images or 1 year

Pros: 

• Send content remotely from any location
• Comes with password protection 
• Impressive memory storage

Cons: 

• More expensive than non-cellular trail cameras
• Requires a cellular plan

Cellular trail cameras are equal parts impressive and irritating. While they have the ability to remotely transmit content from distant, hard-to-reach locations via a cellular phone network, they’re more expensive than localized trail cams and most are incapable of sending video. They also require a cellular plan that’ll cost you anywhere from $5 to more than $20 per month.

If you find yourself monitoring wildlife in remote locations, then you’ll probably need a cellular unit, and the Reconyx HyperFire 2 is the best cellular trail camera you can get. Known for its quality images and bombproof housing, the HyperFire 2 is designed to be reliable, thereby reducing the likelihood that you’ll need to check on it in person. Reconyx builds this camera to capture three megapixel stills or 720p HD video with audio, but it can’t send any recorded video to the cloud (video is stored locally on internal memory). Its detection range of 100 feet should capture a plethora of wildlife, and there’s no visible flash from the infrared flash that captures content at night.

Thankfully, Reconyx outfits the HyperFire 2 with a number of handy features that make it easier to stomach the $600-plus price tag. For instance, it comes with CodeLoc password protection that adds a four-digit security code to prevent unauthorized use. The 512GB of memory storage is also impressive, and BuckView software lets you map and manage your cameras and images. While you’ll be paying a lot up front, you can expect some quality features in return.

What the reviews say: “I’ve owned many different cell cams. The Reconyx is expensive but so reliable. I have 7 of them running. They sip batteries. They trigger well. The phone app is easy to manage them. Customer service is great. You get what you pay for.”

Photo resolution: 12 megapixels | Video resolution: 1080p HD | Night vision: Yes | Audio recording: Yes | Power: 8 AA batteries, integrated solar panel | Battery life: Unlimited with integrated solar panel

Pros: 

• Integrated solar panel for unlimited battery life
• Camera quality that fits most needs
• Invisible LEDs

Cons: 

• Solar panel won’t work if conditions are cloudy

Most trail cameras will run for months or years before they need more juice, but if you’d rather avoid batteries altogether, consider picking up Spypoint’s Solar-Dark Trail Camera. While it can run on a set of 8 AA batteries or a battery pack (sold separately), the unit is built with an integrated solar panel that delivers unlimited battery life. If conditions are right, you’ll never need to fuss with batteries again.

Spypoint outfits the Solar-Dark with reasonable optics that should get the job done most of the time. The 12-megapixel photos offer plenty of detail, 1080p footage looks good on a small screen like your phone and invisible LEDs prevent animals from getting spooked by a flash. The camera quality isn’t breathtaking by any means, but it’s well-suited for most needs. Consider your environment before investing in the Solar-Dark Trail Camera—if it’s usually cloudy, this might not be the model for you, but if it’s sunny, you can kiss all those batteries goodbye.

What the reviews say: “The best thing I found on it which was a value over other trail cams is the solar battery,” writes one reviewer. “I live in a very hot and direct sun location and the battery has yet to go down. It runs all night and recharges during the day. No extra AA batteries needed since I bought it.”

Photo resolution: 40 megapixels | Video resolution: 1440p HD | Night vision: Yes | Audio recording: Yes | Power: 8 AA batteries | Battery life: N/A

Pros: 

• Solid nighttime performance 
• 80-foot detection range 
• Features a burst mode

Cons: 

• App has mixed reviews

Most trail cameras capture plenty of quality content during the day, but some hunters and wildlife watchers argue that the most animal activity happens at night. Since many trail cameras struggle to take clear shots after the sun goes down, you may want to consider a cam that specializes in night performance so you don’t miss a second of the action. As far as nighttime detection goes, the Stealth Cam Deceptor No-Glo Trail Camera covers all of the bases. 

This trail camera churns out content with a 40-megapixel photo resolution and 1440p video resolution at 30 frames per second, meaning the pictures and videos you take will appear crisp and clear. The Stealth Cam Deceptor No-Glo also features a burst mode that captures up to three photos per triggering, and has a detection range of 80 feet in a variety of weather conditions, according to Stealth. On the flip side, though, the Stealth Cam Pro app that’s used to connect your trail cam has mixed reviews. Some customers shared issues with the app’s functionality, while others say they’ve experienced little to no problems. 

What the reviews say: “Been running two Deceptors now for a couple weeks and wow, the photo quality is unbelievable,” writes a reviewer, adding the “detection range is great.”