Chase equipment

[Clayton k Cross]

I got my license in april and I want to try and build a storm chasing rig. Does anyone have any tips for chasing or any gear they would recomend or any apps?

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Reliable vehicle with good tires are #1 most important equipment

I think a lot of chasers just use their phone nowadays for apps and video cameras. I've been using a laptop for years.

Make sure you keep emergency equipment in the vehicle like a tire iron, jack, fuses, Rain X, tow/recovery strap, maybe some fluids. You'll be doing a lot of driving. A lot keep first aid kits.

I've included a list of Storm Chasing Equipment that I use personally on my website.

 

[Clayton k Cross]

Thank you for this, is it a good idea to get a few go pros to have all angles of the storm?

 

[Ben Holcomb]

I don't use the go pros but a lot of people do out chasing. Some pretty incredible time lapses generated with that footage. I've got a Sony Camcorder I record most on, but I have missed plenty because I was not able to get my video camera on it.

 

[Clayton k Cross]

I was thinking about getting one for ever angle including dash, backwindow, and the side windows, is that a good idea?

 

[Todd Lemery]

Have one of your buddies chase with you. It helps make all of the driving easier and it’s safer.

 

[Clayton k Cross]

Have one of your buddies chase with you. It helps make all of the driving easier and it’s safer.

I will definitely have to do that. Would you recommend night chasing with buddies or no

 

[Jason Boggs]

I will definitely have to do that. Would you recommend night chasing with buddies or no

It all depends your experience.

 

[Clayton k Cross]

It all depends your experience.

I get my license in April, but I've been watching the weather for about over a year now.

 

[Jamie H]

I'm not sure chasing when you've only just started driving is a great idea to be honest.

 

[Skip Talbot]

I got my license in april and I want to try and build a storm chasing rig. Does anyone have any tips for chasing or any gear

Just some friendly advice, not trying to be a discouraging gate keeper: Beginners often put way too much emphasis on their rigs and gear. Maybe it's this need to feel part of the group or to look legit. And some chasers just want to look like chasers, rather than actually chase. That's fine too. To me, it's like having a show car that you take to meets, rather than being an actual racer.

But for beginner chasers I'd recommend starting with a minimal setup. Have one camera and learn how to squeeze the most out of it. With chasing, and art in general, I feel like people get much better results when they have to be creative with limited tools, rather than being mediocre with gobs of tech. Start small and local, then figure out what you need as you go along.

I was thinking about getting one for ever angle including dash, backwindow, and the side windows, is that a good idea?

How about one 360 cam? I've always found these ultrawide action cameras and 360 cameras to be a fallback, backup. Something like, "I would have missed capturing this entirely if it weren't for this camera", rather than a primary means of documenting the storm. They're so wide and relatively low resolution as a result that the quality can really suffer unless you're directly underneath whatever it is you're filming. And as a beginner, I hope you're not directly underneath the thing, but watching the whole process from the clear air ahead of the storm. In that position, one of these cameras is nice for getting a wide shot of the structure or having a continuous shot of the chase, but managing multiple cameras concurrently, most of which will be recording junk, sounds like an onerous burden for a beginner

 

[Clayton k Cross]

Just some friendly advice, not trying to be a discouraging gate keeper: Beginners often put way too much emphasis on their rigs and gear. Maybe it's this need to feel part of the group or to look legit. And some chasers just want to look like chasers, rather than actually chase. That's fine too. To me, it's like having a show car that you take to meets, rather than being an actual racer.

But for beginner chasers I'd recommend starting with a minimal setup. Have one camera and learn how to squeeze the most out of it. With chasing, and art in general, I feel like people get much better results when they have to be creative with limited tools, rather than being mediocre with gobs of tech. Start small and local, then figure out what you need as you go along.



How about one 360 cam? I've always found these ultrawide action cameras and 360 cameras to be a fallback, backup. Something like, "I would have missed capturing this entirely if it weren't for this camera", rather than a primary means of documenting the storm. They're so wide and relatively low resolution as a result that the quality can really suffer unless you're directly underneath whatever it is you're filming. And as a beginner, I hope you're not directly underneath the thing, but watching the whole process from the clear air ahead of the storm. In that position, one of these cameras is nice for getting a wide shot of the structure or having a continuous shot of the chase, but managing multiple cameras concurrently, most of which will be recording junk, sounds like an onerous burden for a beginner

Would you recommend the Camera AI 360, Camera AI 360 - Ubiquiti Store

 

[Jason Boggs]

I would focus 90% of my attention to learning about safety, storm structure, and etiquette on the road. You don't have to look like a chaser to be a chaser, but looking like a chaser without proper knowledge is not time well spent. That's just my opinion from 27 years experience. Basically, focus on the things that really matter.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Beginners often put way too much emphasis on their rigs and gear.

Agree with this. Happens in many pursuits - obsession with the tools instead of just doing the thing. Even aspiring writers obsess over the perfect software to organize their notes, instead of just getting down to writing.

I would focus 90% of my attention to learning about safety, storm structure, and etiquette on the road. You don't have to look like a chaser to be a chaser, but looking like a chaser without proper knowledge is not time well spent.

This.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

There's definitely a difference between looking like a storm chaser and being a storm chaser. Most of the good ones focus on the latter, which means knowing your stuff when you're out there. Trust us, you'll be doing yourself a big time favor by not spending your time mostly decorating.