Putting a 360º camera on the front of a packraft is the best way to film packrafting trips. It gives a great angle to capture both the rapids coming up ahead and the paddler’s reactions at the same time. But finding a camera mount that can actually survive whitewater is another story.

I designed this "spider mount" out of necessity after we broke many other mounts. We used to use flat acrylic pieces with GoPro sticky mounts on top to hold the camera, but they tended to be brittle. On a packraft trip down the Rio La Venta in Mexico, someone instinctively grabbed the camera on an acrylic mount to steady a boat and the sticky mount ripped right off the acrylic. After having a few other acrylic pieces break on various trips, I decided it was time for something tougher.

This new spider-shaped mount is designed to strap securely on top of a packraft’s bow bag. The curved, wide stance keeps the camera stable, while the built-in cleats make it easy to tie down or take off. Most importantly, when 3D printed in ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate, a thermoplastic known for its superior UV, weather, and impact resistance), it’s rugged enough to handle the wear and tear of a serious expedition without breaking.